The Snake Armor was leagues better than the Stainless Steel Sword. Even a novice could rampage through low-level monster zones wearing the Snake Armor without worrying about mishaps. And if hunting snake-type monsters, it would be a total game-changer.
"Edward's hoping to trade the Stainless Steel Sword for the blueprint, which just proves he's a real Lord," the middle-aged man mused. "For a Lord, the value of the Blacksmith Shop blueprint is crystal clear. Maybe there's a chance... that Edward would trade the Snake Armor for it."
He stared at the chat window, hoping for a pleasant surprise from Edward. However, Edward's response was a letdown.
Edward: "Not trading the Snake Armor, only the Stainless Steel Sword."
The middle-aged man, unwilling to give up, pressed on. "Man, you must realize the value of the Blacksmith Shop blueprint. With it, you could forge your own gear on your territory and become an equipment merchant. Given the low drop rate of gear on the island, the Blacksmith Shop could make you rich overnight, no more worries about territory resources."
Edward: "You make a good point, but it's not feasible right now. Crafting gear requires a blacksmith, and that's a challenge. For the foreseeable future, the Blacksmith Shop blueprint is of no use to me."
Middle-aged man: "You could think more long-term, boss."
Edward: "Having foresight is good, but focusing on current development is crucial. I can wait for another Blacksmith Shop blueprint to surface while I look for a blacksmith. There's no need to trade the Snake Armor right away."
"As of now, the Snake Armor holds more value than the Blacksmith Shop blueprint."
Reading this, the middle-aged man fell silent. Edward had a point.
Middle-aged man: "Won't you reconsider, boss?"
Edward: "When I find a blacksmith, if your blueprint is still unsold, maybe we can make a deal then."
The middle-aged man felt helpless. Who knew when Edward would find a blacksmith? A day, two days, or a week? Edward could afford to wait, but he couldn't. He was desperate to level up.
Every day he held onto the [Blacksmith Shop Blueprint], his level was being suppressed. With high-level gear, he could quickly widen the gap between himself and other professionals. Speed was of the essence.
Compared to becoming a top-tier combat professional, what was one blueprint worth? The most important thing was...
With a higher level, the bounty from hunting would skyrocket. That's the snowball effect. The sooner it starts rolling, the bigger it gets. Still, the middle-aged man wanted to struggle a bit more.
He left Edward hanging for over an hour. But to his disappointment, Edward didn't bite, nor did he show any signs of backing down.
"Captain," one of his team members said, "Edward isn't wrong."
"The Blacksmith Shop blueprint really can't compare to the Snake Armor at this stage."
"After all, blacksmiths are hard to come by. They're only found in strongholds occupied by native intelligent creatures, but which Lord can take over a stronghold these days? And even if one did, subduing those creatures is tough."
"In the short term, any Lord who gets their hands on a Blacksmith Shop blueprint can only set it aside."
"Even if Edward is a top-tier Lord."
"Yeah, Captain, there's no need to fixate on the Snake Armor. With the Stainless Steel Sword, our squad can still sweep through those low-level monsters."
In the cave, the team members were more anxious than the middle-aged man himself, persistently persuading him.
"Alright, guess that's the only way," the middle-aged man conceded reluctantly and contacted Edward again, offering to trade the [Stainless Steel Sword].
This time, Edward didn't refuse.
Upon receiving the message, the middle-aged man logged onto the trading platform, found Edward's listing for the [Stainless Steel Sword], submitted the [Blacksmith Shop Blueprint], and requested the trade.
The transaction was completed swiftly.
A sword with a metallic sheen materialized in front of the middle-aged man. He grabbed the sword and swung it with force. Instantly, the air split, emitting a piercing screech.
"Nice blade," the middle-aged man exclaimed, his spirits lifted despite the earlier setback.
The rest of the team was equally thrilled. With this [Stainless Steel Sword], they could all enjoy the sensation of their levels soaring.
"Tomorrow's goal, everyone levels up."
…
In the Lord's Hall, Edward looked at the [Blacksmith Shop Blueprint] in his hands, unable to suppress a grin. Trading a mere level five common piece of equipment for the blueprint was a steal for him.
Right now, it was a good deal, but in two or three weeks, when the Lords had grown stronger and more flush with resources, this blueprint could fetch a fortune at auction. After all, it granted the ability to craft one's own gear.
Given how low the drop rate for equipment was in the Worlds' Floating Isles, as evident from the trading platform, rarity indeed dictated value. If Edward could start producing his own equipment, he'd make a killing overnight.
Under Edward's gaze, the details of the [Blacksmith Shop Blueprint] appeared:
[TerritoryBlueprints]
[Type: Blacksmith Shop]
[Uses: One-time]
[Construction Requirements: 200 units of wood, 100 units of stone, 300 units of iron ore]
[Special Note: The Blacksmith Shop is one of the most crucial buildings for a Territory. With it, a Territory can thrive and strengthen. However, note that a Blacksmith Shop without a blacksmith cannot produce equipment.]
"All exclusive military units of a Territory are combat types."
"There are no civilian professions."
"So, to find a blacksmith, one must look to the native inhabitants of the Worlds' Floating Isles."
"Among many intelligent races, there are specialized blacksmiths, such as the famously skilled Dwarf Blacksmiths, Elf Blacksmiths..."
"Additionally, there are Goblin Blacksmiths, Human Blacksmiths, and so on."
This information was what Edward had gleaned from the [Professionals Forum], shared by the first wave of professionals who arrived at the Worlds' Floating Isles, and it was highly valuable.
"Reports claim that subduing native intelligent creatures is not easy."
"Because the natives see us, the professionals from Earth, as evil invaders. Encounters are life and death matters, making their loyalty hard to earn."
"However, for me, it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Because I have Angel."
In just one day, Virginia and others had 'recruited' over a hundred Goblin converts for Edward.
These Goblins, all native intelligent creatures of the Worlds' Floating Isles, were easily purified and converted to the faith of the Holy Light.
In other words, securing a native blacksmith for Edward would be a breeze. All he needed to do was capture one and let Virginia and her team handle the rest.
"Maybe I should start by asking those Goblins for some information."
…
Stepping out of the Lord's Hall, Edward saw several bonfires set up on a nearby clearing. Each fire was surrounded by many Goblins. The task of dissecting monster corpses had just wrapped up.
The Goblins had stored the collected meat and monster materials in the Warehouse. Edward planned to exchange some of the meat for basic resources later, while saving the monster materials for future equipment crafting.
At the moment, some Goblins were using the bonfire to grill meat, while others watched the scene with devout faces. The meat was a blessing from the Lord of Holy Light, and they were thankful.
It was then that Edward felt more mystical energy flowing into his body—the power of the Goblins' faith in him. While it was of little use now, these small contributions would eventually help him ascend to divinity.
Edward waved over a Goblin warrior. "What's your name?"
"The great god, I am called Lenn," the Goblin replied.
Goblin Lenn, though a level three, was still frail and short. He trembled before Edward, hardly daring to lift his head. [The gaze of the God of Faith is not to be met directly.] This was a sacred rule etched in the hearts of Lenn and all Goblin followers.
Edward asked in a gentle tone, "Lenn, in your Stronghold, or should I say, your Tribe, are there any Goblin blacksmiths?"
"Yes, yes, Lord," Lenn quickly nodded, extending three thin fingers. "Our Tribe has three blacksmiths, one of whom is a mid-level blacksmith."
"Very good, Lenn," Edward said, his smile returning. "Tell me, what is the overall strength of your Tribe, and where is it located?"