"I thank all of you esteemed guests once again." The sect leader of Zeus's Fury, Li Long, said with a big smile then pointed at Prince Consort, "I think the Prince has something to announce then we can end this banquet."
"Thank you, Sect Leader." Xiao Chen said as he took the table, "For years, I have seen Master Aodhfionn work for the kingdom with his tears and blood. He forged countless crafts for all of us, and we all used his crafts."
People looked at Aodhfionn and Xiao Chen with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. Aodhfionn was always moody. When he didn't want to forge, even the Sect Leader would be kicked out of the shop. He would swear, belittle, insult and even beat sometimes. There were people he would outright refuse to forge for. Yet, Prince Consort said they all used his crafts? Aodhfionn worked with his tears and blood? Blood of theirs? Sure, tears of theirs? Definitely, but never the other way around.
"But, I finally found a way to ease his mind. I met a blacksmith before I met the love of my life, Princess Moon. That blacksmith was heavily wounded when I found him, and of course, I nurtured him to his health.
A week ago, he sent me a letter and told me he wanted to come to the capital and work for its people. At first, I was unwilling. After all, we already had a master who worked so hard for us. But today I understood. As Young Hero Ezio said, Master Aodhfionn is old. He is tired. He needs help." Xiao Chen said as he smiled kindly at the duo. Ezio was clenching his fist so hard that his nails pierced his skin. He wanted to walk over to the smiling bastard and cut his head off. Aodhfionn on the other hand was watching everything calmly.
"I would like to introduce Master Haznir. He is a Rank IV Blacksmith." Xiao Chen said and a dwarf walked into the room with small steps. He had blonde hair and a beard reaching to his feet. He was wearing regular clothes and had muscular arms. He stood next to Xiao Chen but no one could see him. An elder brought a high chair and the dwarf jumped on it.
"Hello everyone. I am honored to work for this Kingdom. Of course, I also owe my life to the Prince, I will work hard to pay for it." He said with an ugly smile.
His words brought the house down. Even the lowliest sect disciples were fervently applauding. The only two who didn't were Aodhfionn and Ezio. Xiao Chen was looking at them with a grin. He silently worded out 'Checkmate' to his master. Ezio was boiling with anger but there was nothing he could do.
"Let's go." The Dwarf master said and left the venue. Ezio hurriedly trotted behind him.
"Master, what are we going to do?" He asked in panic.
"Nothing. We can do nothing." Aodhfionn said while walking hot in anger.
"What does he plan to do?" Ezio muttered.
Prince Consort was believed to be a hero in the Kingdom. A few years back, the King of the Country fell ill. The Crown Prince was about to take the rule but was executed by his second brother because clues were found against him.
The Second Prince and Third Prince fought over the throne and ruined the kingdom. The people of the kingdom suffered while the war between the two princes brought disaster. Princess Moon with no other choice left the country as she was about to be sold to a sect by the Second Prince. One of the biggest four powerhouses in the Kingdom, Prometheus's Suffering Sect, agreed to help the Second Prince to take over the throne in exchange for Princess Moon.
Princess Moon walked all over the country and came upon Prince Consort as they fell in love. For his lover, Prince Consort stopped the war between two princes and saved the Kingdom. But some thought it was too good to be a coincidence. And there was no reason for him to let Second and Third Princes go, but he let them anyway.
"Master, what did Prince Consort ask you to do?" Ezio asked with curiosity. It was already the middle of the night when they arrived at the forge.
"He wants me to forge a big number of weapons for the subjects of this Kingdom. He believes that they will fight for the country." Aodhfionn sighed as he shook his head. "Most of the civilians are just regular people, thus cannot fight against the trained soldiers of two princes. Prince Consort wants to close the gap with mah weapons."
"You think he is trying to make them fight again?" Ezio picked up the clue.
"Obviously. The two princes are preparing for another war against Prince Consort. Their men were prisoned at the time but when Prince Consort sat on the throne, he let them go. If the folk were armed at this moment, when two princes start a war, the people of the country would be first to fight against them.
"He is kindling strife for a civil war," Ezio exclaimed.
"Aye, but Ah don't know what for. Ah can't see his angle. He was able to kill two princes, but he let them go. He even let their men go. Ah don't want people in this country to die. The King was a bosom friend of mah, but Ah am helpless. Prince Consort has a guardian stronger than me."
"But now, he has another Blacksmith at his side. He is also Rank IV," Ezio said grimly. "Master, he is trying to tarnish your reputation and influence."
"Ah know that lad," Aodhfionn whispered. "But at this point, there is not much I can do."
"I—" Ezio was about to say something but the dwarf master cut him off.
"Go get some rest, lad."
Ezio went to his room and lay down on his bed. He couldn't think of a solution to help his master. He was too small, too weak to change the big game. He was helpless.
"Main, is it a good time?" A voice traveled to his ears while he was drowning in depression.
"What happened, Alcy?" Ezio asked as he entered the Mysterious Room.
"I found the formula." Alcy smiled as he passed out a paper. Ezio took it as he praised.
"Already? You are good."
"Thanks to Doc. His untimely awakening allowed me to find the formula faster. He helped me with the anatomy." Alcy gave the credit to the new resident of the mindscape.
"Blossom Dust, Power Orange, Nightmare Grass, Patching Cotton…"
"They are not expensive items," Ezio asked in surprise. "Only a few rare items. Rest are common stuff that can be found everywhere."
"They are not. I can't believe how much profit they make out of this paste." Alcy said with a smile. "10 liters of this paste would cost only 1000 gold. They sell the liter for 10 times that price.
"Is it as good as they promoted?" Ezio asked with a glint in his eyes.
"Almost. It really can help them to feel the acupoints by automatically testing every one of them. In the long run, it is not advisable, but people using these pastes can't go far anyway, so it is not harmful. It also slowly tears the muscles and heals them to strengthen them." Alcy explained.
"I see." Ezio nodded then asked with a grin, "Can you improve the formula?"