https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-297-Expansion-of-the-Blacksmith-Camp/13031165/
Chapter 298: Spirit of the Dragon Serpent
Chapter 298: Spirit of the Dragon Serpent
September 25, 2017
Today, if it weren't for Pan Feng's elite-level armor, he would have likely been in a dire situation, but at the very least, he would need some serious recovery time for his injuries.
This very situation prompted Lu HaiKong to make a decision to arm his generals. At the very least, each of them must have a set of elite-level equipment!
Having witnessed Cheng Yi's elite-level equipment, Lu HaiKong knew it was among the best in its class. Suddenly, an idea struck him—perhaps Elder GongSun could replicate it.
Lu HaiKong initially thought the old man would make all sorts of excuses, but to his surprise, the old man readily agreed.
"Hmm? Replication? Easy-peasy. Leave it to me, Old Hammer. I've been idle for a while, and my skills are getting rusty."
Lu HaiKong didn't get his hopes up at the old man's response, as he knew the old man's nature, or rather, the system's inherent limitations. Free lunches were rarely an option, and Lu HaiKong wasn't naive enough to expect the Elder GongSun to work for free.
"Well, the elite-level equipment is free of charge, but it'll take about three days to make a set. Of course, there are ways to speed things up." Elder GongSun glanced cautiously at Lu HaiKong, having picked up some of Old Man Wang's sly habits after spending so much time with him.
Lu HaiKong frowned. "Cut the chatter. I don't have time to waste. Just give me the price, and I won't shortchange you!"
"Alright!" Elder GongSun's eyes lit up at Lu HaiKong's words, and he smiled broadly.
"The elite-level equipment is free, but it takes three days to make a set. Each additional thousand gold will speed up the process by one day.
The excellent-level equipment costs ten thousand gold per set and takes fifteen days to forge. Similarly, each additional thousand gold will reduce the time by one day."
Elder GongSun smiled and presented the price list. The prices were not expensive at all; in fact, they were quite reasonable. According to this list, completing an excellent-level equipment set in one day would only cost twenty-five thousand gold, which was a very good deal.
"So, if I give you three thousand gold, can you immediately make a set of elite-level equipment for me? And if I give you twenty-five thousand gold, can you make a set of excellent-level equipment in one day?" Lu HaiKong asked.
"Well, I'm not a god, you know. With three thousand gold, the fastest I can make an elite-level set for you is in one day. As for the excellent-level equipment, the very fastest I can do is five days."
Lu HaiKong pondered for a moment, feeling that there was a catch in this price list because it seemed too good to be true. After some thought, he decided to abandon his initial plan of arming everyone with excellent-level equipment in one go.
"Alright, then. Make fifteen sets of elite-level equipment as quickly as possible."
"Sure!" Elder GongSun quickly calculated the cost in his head, feeling a bit nervous about the forty-five thousand gold required. He couldn't help but smile widely, even with Lu HaiKong standing right there, and got straight to work.
The old man, Elder GongSun, strutted out of the blacksmith camp, gathering all the advanced blacksmiths before commencing work. It was only then that Lu HaiKong realized the reason behind the old man's astonishing speed - the pricing list was a clever ploy.
The advanced blacksmiths, who had been forging Vermilion Lances, were now mostly idle due to the old man's work. If Lu HaiKong were to request the forging of Elite-level equipment, it might bring the entire blacksmith camp to a halt.
What Lu HaiKong didn't know was that the pitfall wasn't just in the pricing; it was also in the material consumption.
If Elder GongSun himself forged a set of Elite-level equipment within three days, the material consumption would be minimal, and the process would be three times faster. However, the materials required to forge a set of Elite-level equipment would be at least ten times more, making it an enormous pitfall in terms of material costs alone.
But Lu HaiKong was unaware of this at the moment. After dealing with Elder GongSun, he had planned to leave.
The last time Lu HaiKong opened a Silver Chest, he obtained a 'Mysterious Merchant Summoning Charm' which he hadn't used yet. He intended to return and use it on his way back.
"Hey, wait a minute, young man! I have something good here; do you want it?" Lu HaiKong hadn't taken many steps when a seedy figure stopped him.
The one who intercepted Lu HaiKong was none other than Old Man Wang, who, like Wang Jun, hailed from the same mountain camp where Lu HaiKong had once been a bandit.
Lately, Old Man Wang hadn't been doing well. After Lu HaiKong's blacksmith camp started operating, he rarely purchased equipment from him. As for skill manuals, the Fire Word Regiment had raided many mountain camps, but they hadn't obtained much other than an abundance of skill manuals.
So, Old Man Wang lost a significant client in Lu HaiKong. He had even entertained the idea of selling skill manuals on Commercial Street, but Lu HaiKong didn't drive him away. Instead, he informed the mountain camp that skill manuals were regulated, which completely killed Old Man Wang's already struggling business.
Fortunately, Old Man Wang knew Elder GongSun, or he might have ended up working for Lu HaiKong like Wang Jun.
"The 69191 book is the best version!"
From Wang Jun, Lu HaiKong learned that this old man was not just a merchant but also a talented individual with a unique skill, though Wang Jun didn't specify what it was. Lu HaiKong's Appraisal skill didn't seem to work on this guy.
The more mysterious the old man seemed, the more intrigued Lu HaiKong became. However, the old man was not only seedy but also lazy, showing no interest in working for Lu HaiKong. Despite Lu HaiKong's efforts to persuade him for half a year, the old man remained unmoved.
"What? Are you finally willing to sell your skills and work for me?" Lu HaiKong teased the old man.
"You're the one with a team of talented people now. Why would you need an old man like me?" Old Man Wang said, pulling out a necklace from his pocket.
Lu HaiKong used his Appraisal skill on the necklace, and his eyes narrowed.
Spirit of the Dragon Serpent
Equipment Rank: Elite (Upgradable)
Equipment Effect: Gradually increases the wearer's Constitution, Strength, Agility, and Intelligence.
Equipment Description: Slay Serpentine Draconic Beasts to upgrade this equipment.
(End of Chapter)
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