Borne and Lucius quickly made their way through the alley toward the south district, crossing several stone bridges and narrow alleys.
They finally arrived at the southern part of the city.
This area was noticeably different from the bustling market of the eastern district; the air was filled with a thick scent of iron rust and the smoke from burning coal.
The southern district was scattered with low and rough workshops and forges, with shards of stone and metal fragments littering the ground, as if it were a world specially made for craftsmen and creators.
Their gaze quickly fixed on a dark grey stone building.
It was a conspicuous blacksmith shop, with a large iron hammer sign hanging at the entrance.
The walls around it were blackened with soot.
The ground in front of the door was strewn with rusty metal scraps and coal ash, looking somewhat coarse and uneven.
A strong smell of iron and burning charcoal wafted from outside the shop, indicating that there was busy forging activity inside.
"That's the place," Lucius pointed and led Borne toward the shop.
At the entrance of the blacksmith shop stood a few soldiers wearing uniforms from other provinces.
They were lazily leaning against the wall, chatting while handing their weapons to the apprentices of the blacksmith shop.
The soldiers' uniforms bore different badges and colors, indicating they were from different units.
"Soldiers from other provinces?" Borne asked softly.
His gaze swept over the soldiers, noticing their uniforms' styles and colors differed from those of the garrison in Celestoria.
"Seems like it," Lucius replied.
As they approached the door of the blacksmith shop, they heard the heavy sound of hammers striking anvils.
Each strike was forceful and rhythmic.
Accompanying the hammering was a sizzling sound of molten metal and the roaring of flames. The air was thick with heat and smoke.
Walking into the blacksmith shop, Borne was immediately hit by a wave of heat.
He saw several muscular, middle-aged blacksmiths, their upper bodies bare and covered in sweat, swinging massive hammers.
They were hammering red-hot iron blocks, which were being repeatedly forged in the blazing fire, gradually taking the shape of sharp sword blades.
"Are you here to repair weapons or order new equipment?"
A young apprentice, noticing their entrance, greeted them warmly.
Lucius smiled slightly and replied.
"We'd like to buy some new weapons. We've heard your blacksmith shop is known for its excellent craftsmanship, so we came here specifically."
The young apprentice nodded and led them toward the counter of the blacksmith shop.
"We have the best blacksmith in this city. His skills are quite famous in Celestoria."
Borne looked around curiously.
He saw all kinds of weapons hanging on the walls: long swords, short sticks, bows, and some peculiar weapons Borne had never seen before.
Each weapon appeared exceptionally sharp, exuding an aura of deadly menace.
Seeing customers approaching, the blacksmith paused his hammering and looked up at Borne and Lucius.
His face was covered with soot and sweat.
He put down his hammer, wiped his forehead, and walked toward them, his voice deep and strong.
"What do you need?"
Borne immediately stepped forward and spoke.
"I need a light armor-piercing hammer and a dagger, and also a good bow.
The hammer needs to be lightweight but sturdy enough.
One side should be flat, and the other pointed, capable of piercing through a beast's skull.
The dagger should be multifunctional, not just sharp but also able to saw thingsI also need a good bow.
The only requirement is that it must be sturdy enough to withstand the attacks of a mid-tier magical beast."
Lucius waited for Borne to finish speaking before adding his own request.
"I want a medium-length sword without a crossguard. It should be slender, slightly curved, and single-edged. The scabbard should be lightweight.
Also, I need a sharp dagger for close-quarters combat—something light and easy to conceal."
The blacksmith frowned slightly as he listened to their demands, feeling a bit of a headache.
He sized up the two warriors in front of him, clearly seasoned veterans who had survived many battlefields.
He dreaded dealing with people like this because they often had extremely exacting requirements for their weapons.
Sighing, he thought for a moment and then nodded.
"Your requests are quite high, but I will do my best to fulfill them.
We don't have ready-made weapons like the custom pieces you are asking for right now.
It will take at least four to five days since we have too many orders, and the workshop is already working at full capacity," he explained, pointing at the blacksmiths hammering away and the busy apprentices in the shop.
Upon hearing this, Borne frowned deeply. He and Lucius did not have that much time.
He shook his head and said firmly, "That's not enough time. We can pay extra, but you must finish in two days."
The blacksmith thought for a moment and agreed to their request.
"If you're willing to pay an express fee, I'll prioritize your order. The weapons will be ready in two days."
After some negotiation, Borne and Lucius paid an additional eighty coins for the rush order.
They stepped out of the blacksmith shop and onto the bustling street, where people moved back and forth, and the shouts of vendors filled the air, mingling with the scents of food and spices.
Lucius raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face, and nudged Borne with his elbow.
"How about we head to the Red House for some fun? I've heard the girls there are very welcoming.
Someone like me, with a kind heart, can't stand to see those girls without a steady income.
If I don't go and support their business, they might not have anything to eat," he said with a grin.
Borne couldn't help but twitch his lips at Lucius's shameless excuse.
"No thanks, I'm saving my money for some healing herbs. If you want to go, go by yourself."
Borne pushed Lucius's arm away, clearly not interested in his suggestion.
Lucius shrugged and sighed dramatically, pretending to be disappointed.
"Alright, you're always so serious."
The two decided to part ways; Borne planned to buy some medicinal herbs.
Lucius waved his hand and turned toward the direction of the Red House, looking quite enthusiastic.
Meanwhile, Borne turned his attention to the other side of the street, remembering that he had seen an pharmacy when they passed by earlier.
He started walking in that direction, mentally making a list of the herbs he needed.
But soon, his attention was caught by a strange sight on the street.
Along the edge of the street he had just passed, a large group of beggars suddenly appeared.
They were dressed in tattered clothes, some even barefoot, their faces covered in dirt and weariness.
Those who had been sitting quietly in the corners now seemed unusually active.
One after another, they emerged from hidden corners and quickly rushed toward the same direction, as if something were drawing them in.
Borne frowned, feeling a bit puzzled.
"What's going on?"
Out of curiosity, Borne decided to follow them.