Chapter 114: The Last Day
Chapter 114: The Last Day
"Moon Demon Scale Powder?"
"Sorry, Lin Sai, I know nothing about this."
"But regarding the Flow Crystal you mentioned, I seem to have some impression. It should be a high-grade ore, and Irel mentioned it over a decade ago. It's likely that only he in town knows anything about it."
"..."
"Alright, I won't bother you anymore."
After bidding farewell to the town's collector, Kazok, Lin Sai walked down the street with a slightly dejected expression.
During the three days of preparation for the counter-attack against the Beastfolk, Lin Sai spent the first day entirely in the mine, tirelessly mining and smelting metal.
He was well aware of the dangers posed by the Beastfolk.
Therefore, he not only crafted weapons and equipment for himself but also produced a considerable number of armor-piercing arrows and other items for the other Awakened in town who would be participating in the battle.
Moreover, the day's work also brought Lin Sai an unexpected reward.
He discovered two types of special ores, one of which was molybdenite, used to make titanium alloy, and the other was sixteen pieces of Explosive Flint.
Explosive Flint was originally just the most common flint, which would produce sparks when rubbed against metal.
However, the piece Lin Sai found was a flint infused with Essence.
This transformation altered the properties of the flint, causing it to release explosive flames far beyond that of ordinary flint when vigorously rubbed, hence the name Explosive Flint.
When Lin Sai dug out this flint with his pickaxe, the iron tool in his hand was even cracked by the explosion, and if not for his quick reaction, his eyebrows might have been burned off by the erupting flames.
Lin Sai had two options for using the Explosive Flint.
[1 Explosive Flint + 1 Bamboo + 1 Charcoal + 1 Combustible Powder = Explosive Powder]
[1 Iron Pipe + 1 Flintlock + 1 Explosive Flint + 1 Log = Flame Flintlock Gun]
For the first option, Hidden Frontier did not have bamboo, so Lin Sai naturally couldn't synthesize it.
However, the second formula revealed to him that the Explosive Flint infused with Essence could directly replace flint in the production of flintlock guns and provide a brand-new upgrade effect for the weapon. Lin Sai naturally changed his gun synthesis plan.
Unfortunately, Awakened in the lower stages could not possibly craft such infused materials; they could only be found in nature.
"If all the synthesis materials were replaced with this, there should be even more powerful items to create."
After completing the mining work, Lin Sai maintained his usual daily routine on the second day, cultivating crops in his house, honing his skills, and studying information from books.
And on the third day, the current day, these two types of materials were unheard of by most people.
It was only then that he learned from the collector about Irel, who might have information about the Flow Crystal or Moon Demon Scale Powder.
When Lin Sai followed the suggestion and rushed to the artisan's hut, he found the door wide open, and loud hammering sounds echoed from within.
"Joel? Mr. Irel?"
Lin Sai called out, but no one responded.
The noise inside drowned out his voice.
"No wonder the door was left open."
Lin Sai shrugged and stepped inside.
He saw Irel preparing his equipment for the next day's departure, while Joel assisted him from the side.
Their focus was on three types of equipment: armor, spear, and pike, all of which were simple, easy to use, and could play crucial roles.
Lin Sai observed Irel's movements.
The old artisan was well-versed in the equipment-making process, his movements were smooth and confident, and there was a distinct rhythm to his actions as he crafted the gear, undoubtedly showcasing the artisan's skills.
The most striking feature was the tools in his hands.
Unlike Joel, who had to constantly search for and replace tools in the workshop, Irel's tools would automatically appear in his hands when needed—a hammer when he needed to hammer, and a pair of pliers when he required pliers, which would disappear when not in use.
"A toolbox..."
Lin Sai had heard Joel talk about this before. It was a skill that Artisans could unlock at the third stage, called "Toolbox." They didn't need to transform a backpack into a portable bag like Lin Sai did. Instead, they inherently possessed a personal space where they could store various tools they needed as Artisans. The limitation was that they could only store Artisan tools in this space, unlike Lin Sai's bag, which could hold all sorts of things, except for living creatures.
At that moment, Joel noticed Lin Sai entering the room. Joel was busy, holding a pair of red-hot metal plates with a pair of pliers in his left hand and a hammer in his right, shaping the metal with each muffled strike. Joel was so engrossed in his work that he couldn't even step away from the workbench.
"Lin Sai, what brings you here?" Joel shouted.
"My teacher and I have been busy these past few days, so the order you placed might be delayed by a few days!" Lin Sai shouted back over the clanging and clattering.
"It's not about the flintlock!" Lin Sai clarified.
"I just came to ask if you've heard any news about the Flow Crystal or Moon Demon Scale Powder!"
Joel's expression turned slightly dazed. He was only a first-stage Artisan, and he vaguely remembered hearing those names, but they didn't seem to fall within the scope of materials he could use.
In contrast, Iriel, who had been polishing a short sword, set it down and turned to face Lin Sai.
Walking to a comfortable distance for conversation, the old Artisan asked with a subtle tone, "Lin Sai, why are you asking about these two things?"
Giving someone uncertain hope wasn't always a wise choice, especially when the town was facing such a dire crisis. So, Lin Sai didn't directly answer but explained euphemistically, "If I can obtain these two materials, I might be able to solve the town's current problem."
"..." Iriel stared at Lin Sai with a peculiar look but provided an answer, "Both of these items are extremely rare materials, and you won't find them anywhere in Hidden Frontier."
"Forget it, just give up," Lin Sai insisted.
"Do you know how to obtain them?" Lin Sai asked persistently.
After a brief moment of thought, Iriel explained, "The Flow Crystal is a precious material found in large crystal mines near glaciers, but the conditions for its formation don't exist in Hidden Frontier. As for Moon Demon Scale Powder, it's a powder obtained from the wings of Moonlight Moths, a powerful beast species that is at least at the fifth stage. Have you ever heard of any signs of their presence in Hidden Frontier?"
Lin Sai was speechless. Both answers essentially dashed any hope of him collecting these materials.
But Lin Sai wasn't ready to give up, "Is there no way to obtain them at all?"
Iriel scoffed, "Unless you can fix that Teleportation Array!"
"Then, there's a chance to buy them in any world with a megacity. Of course, you'd need money, perhaps even several hundred Fortunix Gold Coins or the Purified Gold Coins of merchants!"
As Iriel's words trailed off, he turned back to his work, no longer paying attention to Lin Sai. Tomorrow was the day when people and beasts would fight for their lives, and he couldn't afford any negligence in his work.
Lin Sai bid farewell to the two Artisans and left the Artisan's hut.
"..."
"My purpose must have been obvious," Lin Sai muttered as he walked through the town.
According to the information Lin Sai had, Iriel had also tried to fix the town's Teleportation Array, but his Artisan skills and the town's situation made it impossible. The previous conversation had made this clear.
Currently, Lin Sai had already inquired with most of the Awakened individuals in town who might possess advanced materials.
He sighed as he reached the central statue of the Great Explorer in the town. After pausing for a few seconds, Lin Sai, unable to find anyone else to consult, headed north towards the Lord's Manor, "Now, my only option is to ask Uncle Andre..."
(End of Chapter)
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