During his time at the forging room, he had managed to level up again reaching level 11. He wanted to join Rudra and the rest of his team to finish the quest as soon as possible. If he didn't finish in the two hours remaining, he would be out of the game for enough time that most will reach level 10. In his excitement of creating an original weapon, he misplaced his priorities and focused on creating more spears rather than going to the team to finish the quest of the village head.
Afterwards, he quickly made his way to Kade. Though he created quite a few equipment and an original equipment, he didn't have a decent pair of daggers. The highest-level daggers he had right now, were the antelope horn daggers which level 8 daggers. These were three levels below his own level.
If he had to have any hopes of finishing the quest in 2 hours, he needs to equip better weapons first. As he reached Kade, the first thing he wanted to ask whether he could exchange original equipment for forging points.
He didn't want to exchange the forging design right now as doing that would be detrimental to him. Once, the forging association has the design, it can be bought by other members of the forging association. It had very little probability for someone else to be a member of the association at this stage. But he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks and allow some guild to get a hold of these from the forging association. He couldn't allow to do that if he wanted to make money off the design.
"An original creation by you!?" asked Kade in surprise as he took the spear which Shadow held out to him. "That's impressive. You are sure to go far in your life, kid," said Kade. "But right now, you can't exchange these for contribution points. Though it is an original creation. It is a BlackIron spear. I can't really get you any contribution points for it unless you decide to provide its design."
"I am willing to provide it to the forging association, but not right now. I would be willing to do it tomorrow. I only wanted to see if I could exchange these for a pair of daggers," said Shadow slightly disappointed. To begin with, it was a slim chance of exchanging equipment with the forging association.
The forging association hardly ever exchanges equipment or resources for contribution points. The only method to gather contribution points was providing new designs or completing quests. Quests usually provide contribution points. But sometimes they also provide additional rewards like armaments or forging designs.
"I can't help you in this regard. The only way you can get more contribution points is to give resources to me or provide the design to the association," said Kade. "But, you have another way of getting contribution points now. You can check the forging association quests. There might be something that interests you there."
"Damn! I totally forgot about the association quests. I can check them now that I am above level 10," thought Shadow remembering the notification the system gave him last time.
"The quest board would be outside. It is right beside entrance of the workshop. Sir Renner has also recently posted few quests on it. You might find them useful," said Kade pointing him outwards. "I would also be glad if you could provide more resources for me," he continued.
"Let me please have a look at the quest board, Master Kade. I will try to bring new resources the next time we meet," said Shadow as he went out of the office and walked toward the quest board in the corridor.
There were two quest boards beside the entrance of workshop. One was large and had the forging association requests, the other was smaller. "The smaller one was probably from the outfit of soldier lead by Renner," though Shadow as he disregarded the smaller board and focused on the big one.
The forging association quests were always the same. It had request for materials or sometimes a few NPCs would request armaments of the forging association which would be forwarded onto the quest board. They would always get contribution points for completing these quests.
Though Shadow immediately began browsing the quest board, the sad part was that he couldn't complete any of these quests. It was filled with requests for materials that were level 10 or above. There were only two level 10 material requests. To finish any of these, he would have to go and help his team in clearing the path. Now, the reason for him to reach level 10 for the forging association quests was obvious.
Upset with the forging quest board, he moved his attentions towards the other board. This board had the name "White Bane Corps" on it. Shadow was surprised to see this. "Sir Renner is leading the White Bane Corps?!" thought Shadow.
White Bane Corps was a unit which worked directly under the king of the White Heart Kingdom. It was an elite unit which was deployed first in case of all scenarios where the kingdom was in danger. It was similar to the Heavenswill legion, except that it was under the control of the White Heart kingdom and not the temple.
"It must have come to Blackrock Town to secure the town premises as it was a beginner village that changed to a town," thought Balthazar. "Would probably only be till someone finishes the quest of clearing the path to the city."
Luckily, this board had request that suited more to his situation. There were two quest which garnered his immediate attention. One was named "Quingol Bandit". It was a quest to attack the bandits and reduce their number. The quest make it look like the Bandit camp had become another place similar to the goblin camp which would respawn monsters periodically.
The other quest was to help the garrison with armaments. The notice read, "With the sudden growth of the Blackrock Town, the borders have increased. The town forces require more equipment. Willing to buy all kind of weapons and equipment at level 10 or above."
Though the barracks only provide experience and coins for the weapons. Shadow got an idea that could work. All the military forces had forgers as a part of their ranks. If this is the story line that was chosen, he could go and try to sell forging design to the White Bane Corps.
With that idea in mind, he made his way to the barracks. Instead of going to the gate as he previously did, he went towards the tents at the camp. He was stopped by a soldier and asked what he came for?
"I have come to provide armaments as per Sir Renners request at the Forging Association," said Shadow as pulled out a spear to show the guard. "I can take the armament in his place," said the guard stretching his hand to take the spear.
"I have another proposition for Sir Renner that would allow you to get more of these," said Shadow suggesting that he wanted a meeting with Sir Renner. Seeing that the soldier didn't change his disposition, he pulled out a forging design and showed it to him.
"You are willing to sell a forging design?" asked the soldier. With the forging design, the soldier couldn't really stop him. He didn't have the rights to negotiate for the design, but he couldn't let the garrison lose a chance to get a forging design.
"Yes, and I have more than one forging design to exchange," said Shadow which convinced the soldier to bring him to Renner immediately. He quickly led him into a tent into a tent where Renner was sitting on the ground sharpening his blade.
"What brings you here, adventurer," said Renner in an uninterested tone as he continued to sharpen his blade.
"I came to see that the White Bane Corps require more weapons," said Shadow showing the spear to him.
"The White Bane Corps hardly ever requires anything from adventurers, Mr. Shadow. The quest I put up at the forging association was for the town guard. I would love to finish fortifying this place and return as soon as possible," replied Renner in the same tone still without looking at Shadow.
"I understand Sir, but I have come to you not to offer armaments but forging designs. I have an original forging design. Though it is only a blackiron weapon of level 10, I believe it can speed up your efforts," said Shadow quickly explaining his idea. Though he came to the barracks hoping to sell the designs, he was not so hopeful after seeing Renner's attitude.
"Hmm! That would help speed up the efforts of my men. A spear design would definitely help improve the guards' standards," said Renner finally lifting his head to look at Shadow. "Now, tell me what you hoped to get in return for the design," asked Renner getting up.
"I would like to receive a pair of level 10 daggers in exchange for the design. It would help me with the town head's quest and help me reach the city," answered Shadow truthfully as he held out a forging design. It was best to not lie with higher leveled NPCs, especially when they are NPCs with authority like Renner. If he was found out, he would be in deep trouble.
"A couple of daggers for a forging design? That is hardly a fair trade," said Renner suspiciously as he took the design to examine it. "It is a valid design and something that requires the materials available in the plains."
"Why would you want to exchange the forging design for just a pair of weapons?" asked Renner as he still wouldn't trust Shadow. He wouldn't have been a good commander if he was someone who would easily trust others.
Balthazar couldn't obviously explain to an NPC, his need to finish up the quest within two hours. "I just want to clear up the path to the city as fast as possible," said Shadow as he didn't have any other options.
"Even if you are willing to accept this exchange, we can't have the good name of the White Bane Corps tarnished. Such an exchange would diminish our reputation. If you don't want anything else, I suggest you chose something kind of armaments. If you are adamant about not requiring other armaments, I can give you a few contribution points, but you can't be made a member until you are stronger," said Renner.
System: You have been made an interim outer member of the White Bane Corps. You have earned 100 contribution points. Can only be used after tier 2 when you become a proper outer member of the White Bane Corps.
He got a better deal than he had hoped. Contribution points for the White Bane Corps was something he had never even heard of in his previous life. Though he can't determine their value of these contribution points, he was sure that becoming a member of something like White Bane Corps would have its advantages. With these contribution points, he definitely had a good chance of entering the NPC-player group when he reached Tier 2.
"This concludes our transaction, adventurer. If you have any other things to exchange, I suggest you do it as soon as possible. I would be relieved of my duties after the path to the city is cleared. All the quests, I posted would be retracted after that and the town guard will take over after that." said Renner as he pulled out a pair of daggers and gave it to him.
The daggers looked like they have been made from the claws of a monster. The blade was in the shape of a claw but had a blood red color. The handle was made of leather with a red gem on top of the pommel.
[Red Claw daggers] (Bronze dagger)
Level 10;
Requirements: Strength: 25; Endurance: 15;
Attack Power +50; Intelligence +3;
Passive Effect: Ambush skill would have a 30 % chance to cause a random bleed effect.
Special Effect 1: Red Rage: Smashing the pommels of the pair of daggers would cause a burst of energy to come out and injure to come out increasing the strength and endurance of the player by 20% for a period of 10 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes;
"Thank you," said Shadow taking the daggers and walked out. Once, out he started to exchange the spears and halberds he crafted with the guard keeping only a couple of them for Rudra and Tetsujin to use once they reach level 10.
He got a total of 22 spears, 6 pairs of daggers and 5 halberds which he made. Among them, the spear and halberds could be used right now to gain experience from the quest that Renner posted. After all, he didn't complete that quest, but rather had a transaction with Renner.
Each of the level 10 weapons gave him 100 experience and 5 silver if he sold it to the soldier. Though it was a small amount, the important thing for him right now is to gather experience points. With the exception of 2 halberds, he sold of the remainder of the level 10 equipment to the soldier to reach level 12 before he made his way to the rest of the team.