A New Friend

This is the second time Jack met someone that didn't look at him with a mocking gaze or shoo him away when he tried to touch their product. All he could feel from his demeanor is the warm and welcoming nature of a real merchant.

Fascinated by his behavior, Jack asked, "I want to buy armor. Do you mind if I try some of yours?"

"Of course not, young man. My name is Taurd Thruldrendikr, leader of the Dragon Hammer Workshop. Welcome to our store."

"Jack Walker, thank you."

Both of their hands meet before moving up and down a few times. Then, Tarud added, "But before that, can I see your spear first? I am interested in the material that used to craft it."

"Sure. I intend to sell it and buy a new one, could you appraise its value for me? Or maybe buy its raw material. I think the fang is worth a few coins."

Jack didn't want to carry a weapon that big like an idiot when he can't even use it properly. Besides, he won't need it for the time being because he wants to stay at Alexandrium and learn more about this world before going out and adventuring.

While studying, he could spend his spare time figuring out the best course of action he could take.

After receiving the handmade spear, Tarud starts examining every inch of its parts, starting from its base to the spearhead. He even checks the dried tendon that binds the Fenris fang to the wooden shaft like solid steel.

Watching Tarud examine its shaft more than its tip made Jack quite puzzled. But he didn't dare to disrupt the dwarf concentration. According to the lore he knows, Dwarf races are experts in weaponry, so being silent is the best help he could offer.

After a while, Tarud finally put the spear on top of a glass display case, then rubbing his beard as he was thinking about something. His square but kind face moved up and down a few times before his deep voice resounds in Jack's ear.

"Did you make this, Jack? When?" Ask Tarud with one eyebrow raised.

"Yes. I made it in the Shadowless Forest about fifteen days ago.

"So… Will you buy it?" Asked Jack, half skeptic, and half hopeful.

After observing Jack's gesture, Tarud replies with a solemn expression. "Of course, if you decide to sell it to me. I suggest that instead of selling them, you can make them into a powerful and unique spear for yourself.

"This spear is poorly made but very practical. I like the idea of using a beast tendon to bind the spearhead into the shaft. Judging from your appearance, it seems that you are making this one in a very stressful environment.

"Usually, an amateur will use a rope, but the end result will be too impractical, broken, even before they could use them. I am astonished by your creativity. Not many people can do what you did in a state of emergency like that, not even me."

Both of them are staring at each other for a few seconds, but before Jack has time to reply, Tarud continues.

"But the most unbelievable thing you do is choosing this piece of wood as its shaft. This wood is called Streaf Wood, and it only grows deep within the Shadowless Forest and in the Sacred Forest. And you say you make it in Shadowless Forest? God! You must be through a lot, young man.

"This piece of wood is priceless. I haven't seen it for like, 20 years. You can make a strong but flexible spear with it. The fresher the wood, the stronger and flexible the weapon will be.

"And the spearhead is made of an old Fenris Wolf, rare and valuable raw material. It is not as strong as steel but has a unique trait of absorbing poison. If we used both of them as a material, the spear would become a very deadly weapon.

"I like people like you who have good creativity even when you are not a craftsman. So I advise that you entrust this to me, and I'll craft it into the best spear ever created n Alexandrium."

"Are you really sure about that?" Jack is a little doubtful. His words smell too sweet, but the way he says it and his expression look sincere in Jack's eyes. Either he is telling the truth, or his real identity is a master swindler.

Noticing hesitation in Jack's eyes, Tarud hurriedly added. "Of course. It's an honor for a craftsman to make a rare weapon with rare materials. You only need to pay for the additional ingredient to process it. The rest is on me."

"How much?" Jack's interest piqued. Even though he has quite a lot of money, spending them for a weapon he doesn't necessarily use is too extravagant.

Worried that Jack will change his mind, Tarud answered right away. "It's hard to say before the process is done, but at least around two gold coins. Don't worry, you don't need to pay for it now. After the weapon is finished, you can either pay it or sell the spear to me for 30 gold coins. How about it?"

[One gold coin = 25 silver coins = 625 bronze coins] [One platinum coin = 100 gold coins]

Tarud can't hide his excitement. He seems really eager to start making the spear right away, like a kid finding a new toy. But deep inside, he is also worried that Jack will decline his offer.

'Thirty gold coins are about $90.000! Damn! If I know about it beforehand, I would have brought all of them here.' Jack pretends to think about it, but in truth, he was calculating how much money he could get if he brings all the Streaf Woof back to Alexandrium.

After a while, Jack offers his hand to seal the deal.

Tarud laughed, before pulling out a yellowish-brown contract of custom weapons order, filled the blank part with the order specification, his name, and Jack's name. Before validating it with his Workshop's Insignia. A valiant dragon holding a hammer and anvil.

This world hasn't invented a printing tool, so most parts of the contract have been written before.

After signing it, Jack put the contract inside his dirty bag with a satisfied expression. 30 gold coins are more than enough to lead a good life in this world, and for Jack, it was like getting another cake for his birthday.

"So? Can I try the armor now?" Ask Jack with a smile on his face.

"Hahaha… Of course, follow me." Tarud matched Jack's expression before guiding him through a door behind the counter.

The room behind the door is full of mannequins wearing armor in different sizes, styles, and colors. Each armor has its own uniqueness as if every single one of them is personally made for a specific person.

Realizing Jack was astonished by such a view, Tarud explained. "Our workshop specializes in making weapons and armor by request and some woodworking too, so we don't have many goods in stock.

"But I'm afraid that all of them already belong to someone else. But don't worry, we still have some more in the next room. The person who ordered it never came back. Maybe they died in a mission or just didn't have money to pay it. Hahaha.

"Wait a minute! If I am not mistaken, we have armor that matches your body size." Tarud opened a wooden wardrobe and looked for the armor he was talking about.

After a few moments, he finally found it. "Ah! Here is it. We have five sets of undershirts for that armor, so the other four should be in the storehouse. Wait a minute, I will retrieve them for you. In the meantime, go try it in that room."

After showing Jack the fitting room, Tarud left him.

A greyish-black leather armor with a metal protector in its chest, back, legs, arms, and a matching helmet rest in his hands.

Jack really likes the crow-like design. The craftsmanship is superb, as every detail of the armor has its own meaning.

Simple and not to stand out, yet elegant and have high durability. Really fit an armor specially designed for an adventurer. Jack wondered how much the armor cost.

Because his old clothes are already tattered, Jack couldn't wait to try them, so he walked briskly toward the fitting room, slid the curtain aside, and entered it.

But when seeing his reflection in the full body mirror inside the fitting room, Jack dropped the armor in his hands and screamed.

"Holy Sh*t! Is that me?"