Chapter 7: The Commission

Two weeks after reopening Black's Forge, Bron had settled into a new routine. His regular customers—mostly independent C and D-rank Hunters—had returned, relieved to find their preferred craftsman back in business. Word of his E-rank certification had spread quickly, bringing a steady stream of new clients seeking Association-approved work.

The registration also provided unexpected benefits. Suppliers who had previously been hesitant to deal with an unregistered craftsman now offered him premium materials at standard rates. The Association database gave him access to technical specifications for monster parts he had never encountered firsthand. Most valuable was the classified research on material combinations—information gathered from decades of crafting experimentation across thousands of registered smiths.

Bron was careful to maintain his cover, creating quality work that matched E-rank expectations while occasionally producing "breakthrough" pieces that could be explained by talent and dedication rather than SSS-rank abilities. He kept Sovereign's Grasp hidden from view when customers were present, using them only in private to enhance his crafting.

On this particular morning, Bron was experimenting with a new technique he had discovered in the Association database—a method of tempering steel using controlled application of Wind element monster essence to create micro-channels that reduced weight without sacrificing structural integrity. He was so absorbed in the process that he almost missed the shop's notification system alerting him to an incoming official communication.

Setting aside his work, Bron activated the Association terminal that had been installed as part of his registration package. The screen displayed a formal commission request, marked with a priority classification he hadn't seen before.

[ASSOCIATION PRIORITY COMMISSION]

[CLASSIFICATION: RESTRICTED]

[REQUESTING OFFICER: COMMANDER AMAYA FROST]

[RANK: A]

[DIVISION: SPECIAL CONTAINMENT UNIT, EASTERN SECTOR]

[COMMISSION TYPE: SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT]

[DETAILS: RESTRICTED UNTIL ACCEPTANCE]

[NOTE: All registered crafters within the Eastern Sector are receiving this request. Selection will be made based on qualification and availability.]

Bron stared at the notification in surprise. A-rank Hunters rarely commissioned work from crafters below B-rank themselves. The Special Containment Unit was an elite division that handled the most dangerous Gate threats—the same team that had arrived to deal with the Reaper Mantid during the breach.

His first instinct was to decline. Drawing attention from high-ranked Association personnel was exactly what he had been avoiding. But refusing a priority commission without good cause could raise questions about his commitment as a registered crafter.

Moreover, Bron felt a stirring of curiosity. What kind of specialized equipment would an A-rank Hunter need that couldn't be provided by the Association's dedicated crafting division? And why broadcast the request to all registered crafters regardless of rank?

After careful consideration, Bron selected "Express Interest" on the terminal. The screen immediately updated:

[INTEREST ACKNOWLEDGED]

[INITIAL QUALIFICATION ASSESSMENT: PENDING]

[PLEASE STANDBY FOR MATERIALS SUITABILITY TEST]

Before Bron could wonder what that meant, the terminal produced a small tray containing five unlabeled material samples.

[IDENTIFICATION TEST INITIATED]

[TIME LIMIT: 10 MINUTES]

[PLEASE IDENTIFY ALL SAMPLES WITH PROPERTIES AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS]

A timer appeared on screen, counting down from ten minutes. Bron understood now—this was a screening method to filter out crafters who lacked the necessary knowledge for the commission, regardless of their registered rank.

For most E-rank crafters, accurately identifying unlabeled rare materials would be challenging within the time limit. For Bron with his Material Insight skill, it was trivial.

He picked up the first sample—a translucent crystalline substance with a bluish tint. His skill activated immediately:

[Abyssal Frost Crystal (B-rank)]

[Properties: Temperature Stabilization, Pressure Resistance, Dimensional Anchoring]

[Applications: Deep-Gate Exploration Equipment, Dimensional Stability Devices]

Bron entered the information into the terminal, being careful to simplify his analysis to match E-rank expectations while remaining accurate. He proceeded through the remaining samples in the same manner:

A flexible fibrous material: Void Silk (A-rank), used for stealth applications and energy dampening.

A metallic alloy with an iridescent sheen: Harmonic Steel (B-rank), capable of resonating with specific energy frequencies.

A viscous golden liquid: Temporal Resin (A-rank), with properties that could slightly manipulate local time flow for preservation or acceleration.

A black powdery substance: Nullifier Dust (S-rank), extremely rare material that could temporarily suppress specific types of monster abilities.

Bron hesitated at the last entry. S-rank materials were rarely encountered by anyone below S-rank themselves. Demonstrating familiarity with it might raise questions. After a moment's consideration, he entered a partial identification, noting its basic suppression properties but expressing uncertainty about its full capabilities—what an exceptional E-rank might reasonably know.

He completed the test with over five minutes remaining. The terminal processed his responses, then displayed:

[ASSESSMENT COMPLETE]

[QUALIFICATION: APPROVED]

[CRAFTER BLACK ACCEPTED FOR COMMISSION CONSIDERATION]

[COMMANDER FROST WILL CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS DETAILS]

[ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME: 24-48 HOURS]

Bron closed the terminal with mixed feelings. He had successfully navigated the test without revealing too much of his knowledge, but had also placed himself in consideration for a high-profile commission that would inevitably bring scrutiny.

At least he had a day or two to prepare before the Commander contacted him. Time to research who exactly Amaya Frost was, and what her Special Containment Unit might need from an apparently ordinary E-rank crafter.

The following afternoon, Bron was finishing a routine maintenance job on a C-rank Hunter's armor when his door chime sounded. A tall woman entered, her presence immediately commanding attention.

She wore the distinctive midnight blue uniform of the Special Containment Unit, with A-rank insignia on her collar. Her silver-white hair was pulled back in a tight braid, emphasizing sharp features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to evaluate everything they fell upon. A long scar ran from her left temple down her cheek, ending at her jawline—the mark of a close encounter with something extremely dangerous.

"Crafter Black?" she asked, though it was clearly not a question. "Commander Amaya Frost. I believe you were notified about my commission request."

Bron wiped his hands on a cloth and nodded. "Yes, Commander. Please come through to the consultation area."

He led her to a small side room he had set up for client discussions, furnished with a table and comfortable chairs. It was specifically designed to feel welcoming while keeping the main workshop—and his more advanced projects—out of direct view.

"Can I offer you refreshment?" Bron asked, following the formal protocol for receiving high-ranked Association personnel.

"No," Frost replied simply, taking a seat. "I prefer to address business directly."

Bron nodded and sat across from her. "Then may I ask about the nature of the commission?"

Frost studied him for a moment, her gaze uncomfortably penetrating. "Your identification test results were interesting. Four perfect identifications and one partial on an S-rank material. Most E-ranks struggle with three."

"I was a Gate miner before awakening," Bron explained, using his prepared response. "Years of hands-on experience with materials before acquiring crafting abilities."

"Yes, I read your file." Frost placed a small device on the table between them. It projected a holographic privacy field around the room—standard procedure for classified discussions. "What wasn't in your file was your involvement during the recent Reaper Mantid incursion."

Bron kept his expression neutral. "I helped a trapped civilian. The Association medical team handled the rest."

"According to witnesses, you engaged the Mantid directly. Unusual behavior for an E-rank crafter with no combat training."

"Desperate circumstances," Bron said with a shrug. "I couldn't leave someone to die."

Frost's expression didn't change, but something in her eyes shifted. "That's precisely why I'm here, Crafter Black. Your commission test results were good, but not exceptional compared to some B-ranks who responded. What interested me was the report from that incident—specifically, your resourcefulness and willingness to act under extreme pressure."

She tapped the device, changing the hologram to display technical schematics for what appeared to be specialized gauntlets.

"My unit is preparing for a deep-Gate operation. We've detected unusual activity in a newly formed Gate in the Northern Wilderness Area—readings unlike anything previously recorded. Standard equipment is proving... inadequate for the unique environmental conditions."

The schematics rotated, showing internal mechanisms designed to regulate temperature and pressure.

"I need stabilization gauntlets capable of withstanding extreme conditions while maintaining precise control functionality. The Association's standard crafters have produced prototypes, but none have lasted more than a few minutes under simulation testing."

Bron studied the design with genuine interest. The concept was sound, but he could immediately identify several flaws in the implementation—stress points where the material junctions would fail under pressure, inefficient energy flow patterns, poor thermal regulation.

"The materials used in these prototypes?" he asked.

"Standard A-rank composites. Graviton-infused titanium outer shell, dimensional stability mesh lining, pressure-adaptive inner matrix." Frost leaned forward slightly. "The problem isn't just material quality—it's integration. None of the high-rank crafters have been able to create a stable fusion between components that maintains integrity under the extreme conditions."

Bron nodded slowly, understanding the challenge. This was a problem of Material Fusion—precisely the kind of skill he excelled at.

"Why approach an E-rank for this?" he asked directly. "There must be dozens of higher-ranked crafters with more resources and experience."

"There are," Frost agreed. "And they've all failed using conventional techniques. What I need is someone who thinks differently. Your background as a miner gives you practical material knowledge most academy-trained crafters lack. And your recent customers speak highly of your unconventional approach to crafting problems."

She deactivated the hologram. "I've commissioned twelve different crafters of varying ranks to attempt prototypes. I'm not expecting miracles from an E-rank, but I value diverse approaches. If nothing else, your attempt might provide insights that higher-ranked crafters can build upon."

It was a reasonable explanation, but Bron sensed there was more to it. Something in Frost's evaluation felt too precise, too focused on him specifically rather than just casting a wide net.

"What's the timeframe?" he asked.

"Two weeks for initial prototypes. Materials will be provided through secure Association channels. Standard commission rates apply, with hazard bonuses if your prototype advances to field testing."

Bron considered his options. The commission represented both risk and opportunity. Working with A-rank materials under Association supervision could expose his true abilities if he wasn't careful. Conversely, success would strengthen his cover as an exceptionally talented E-rank while providing access to valuable resources and knowledge.

"I accept the commission," he decided. "But I'll need complete technical specifications for the environmental conditions these gauntlets need to withstand. Not just the maximums, but the fluctuation patterns."

Frost raised an eyebrow, the first change in her expression since arriving. "That's classified information. Most crafters work with the provided parameters."

"Most crafters have failed," Bron pointed out. "I approach problems from the environment inward, not the design outward. If you want different results, I need different information."

A hint of what might have been approval flickered in Frost's eyes. "I'll have the data packets transferred to your terminal. Classified access, time-limited, non-transferable."

She stood, extending her hand formally. "Welcome to Project Deepdive, Crafter Black. I look forward to seeing your approach."

After she departed, Bron remained seated for several minutes, processing the encounter. There had been subtle cues in Frost's behavior—the way she evaluated his workspace, her specific questions, her willingness to provide classified data—that suggested this wasn't a routine commission despite her explanation.

Either she suspected something about his true abilities, or she had another reason for seeking him out specifically. Neither possibility was comforting.

Regardless, he had committed to the project. When the terminal chimed to indicate the arrival of the classified specifications, Bron moved to his workshop, activating the security protocols that came with his registration.

As he reviewed the data, his eyes widened. The environmental conditions described went beyond extreme—pressure gradients that fluctuated wildly, temperature variations from near absolute zero to volcanic heat, and most concerning, something called "dimensional instability fields" that could alter the fundamental properties of matter.

No wonder the standard prototypes had failed. The gauntlets needed to function in conditions that shouldn't be physically possible.

Bron leaned back, considering the challenge. Conventional crafting approaches, even enhanced by A-rank abilities, couldn't produce materials stable enough to withstand such environments. But his SSS-rank skills might be able to create something unprecedented—particularly Material Fusion and Material Enhancement working in concert.

He would need to be careful, crafting something exceptional but not impossible for his supposed rank. A perfect balance between remarkable and believable.

Bron closed the data files and moved to his secure drawer, removing Sovereign's Grasp. The masterwork gauntlets slid onto his hands with familiar comfort, enhancing his connection to his skills and abilities.

"Material Insight," he murmured, placing his hand on the workbench and concentrating on the conceptual challenge before him.

Information flooded his mind—potential material combinations, structural arrangements, energy flow patterns. With his enhanced perception, he began to envision a solution that no conventional crafter would attempt: not a layered design treating each environmental challenge separately, but an integrated approach where the materials themselves would adapt dynamically to changing conditions.

The shard near his heart pulsed with warmth as ideas crystallized. This commission might be more than it appeared, but it was also an opportunity to push his abilities further, to create something truly extraordinary while still maintaining his cover.

Bron began sketching designs, already planning how to disguise his true methods behind seemingly conventional techniques. Commander Frost wanted different results? He would deliver them—but on his terms, and with his secrets intact.

For the next ten days, Bron worked with singular focus on the commission. The promised materials arrived through secure Association channels—high-quality components that would have been beyond his reach as an independent crafter. He set aside most of his regular work, referring customers to other local smiths while citing the priority commission as explanation.

The technical challenge was genuine and significant. Creating gauntlets that could withstand the described conditions pushed even his SSS-rank abilities to their limits. The dimensional instability fields posed the greatest difficulty—how could he craft something that would remain functional when the very laws of physics might temporarily change?

The solution came from an unexpected source. While examining the Abyssal Frost Crystal sample from his qualification test, Bron's Material Insight revealed a property not documented in the Association database: under specific energy conditions, the crystal could establish what he interpreted as a "local reality anchor"—a stabilization effect that maintained consistent physical laws in its immediate vicinity despite external fluctuations.

Working in privacy during the night hours, Bron used his full range of abilities to craft a prototype unlike anything in the schematics. Instead of the layered approach the Association crafters had attempted, he created a dynamic matrix where each material reinforced the others in a continuous feedback system.

At the core, he placed fragmentary Abyssal Frost Crystals arranged in a specific geometric pattern. Surrounding this, he constructed a lattice of Harmonic Steel that would resonate with the crystals, distributing stabilization effects throughout the structure. The outer layers featured conventional materials arranged in unconventional patterns, designed to channel energy in ways that would appear innovative but not impossible for an E-rank.

To disguise his true methods, Bron carefully documented a plausible crafting process, deliberately including minor errors and corrections that would make his work appear to be the result of talented trial-and-error rather than SSS-rank insight.

On the morning of the eleventh day, he activated the prototype for initial testing. The gauntlets powered up smoothly, internal mechanisms humming as they established the stability field. According to his instruments, they were functioning perfectly—maintaining internal cohesion far beyond what the Association had achieved with conventional approaches.

Of course, he couldn't truly test them without the extreme conditions they were designed for. That would come later, under Association supervision.

Bron was making final adjustments when his door chime sounded. Commander Frost entered without ceremony, her gaze immediately finding the prototype gauntlets on his workbench.

"You're ahead of schedule," she observed, approaching to examine them. "Most crafters are still in the material testing phase."

"I work quickly when inspired," Bron replied, using the same phrase he had once told Mira. "They're ready for preliminary testing."

Frost's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the gauntlets. They appeared outwardly conventional—he had been careful about that—but their internal structure was radically different from the schematics she had provided.

"These don't match the baseline design," she stated.

"The baseline design failed," Bron said simply. "You asked for different results. That required a different approach."

He explained the conceptual framework—the parts he could reasonably justify with his supposed background and abilities. The dynamic energy distribution system, the modified crystal arrangement, the resonance patterns that allowed the materials to support each other under stress.

Frost listened without interruption, her expression revealing nothing. When he finished, she picked up one gauntlet, examining it with expert precision.

"You completed this in eleven days," she said finally. "Working primarily alone, with E-rank crafting abilities."

It wasn't quite a question, but the implication was clear. Bron had prepared for this moment, anticipating skepticism.

"I didn't sleep much," he replied with a small smile. "And I had an advantage the Association crafters lacked—I'm not constrained by traditional crafting doctrine. My techniques are unorthodox because I never had formal training."

Frost set the gauntlet down carefully. "I've reviewed your background more thoroughly since our first meeting. Your mining career is well-documented. Your awakening, less so. Medical records indicate you were injured by an unknown Gate material approximately seven months ago, with a fragment remaining embedded near your heart."

Bron maintained his neutral expression with effort. She had investigated him specifically, not just as part of a general commission process.

"That's correct," he acknowledged. "The doctors deemed it safer to leave it than attempt removal."

"And shortly after, you established a forge and began producing work that quickly attracted attention from local Hunters." Frost's gaze was penetrating. "Remarkable progress for a new awakening, particularly at E-rank."

Bron shrugged. "As I mentioned, years of practical experience with materials before awakening. The crafting abilities enhanced knowledge I already possessed."

It was a reasonable explanation, and technically true, if incomplete. Frost seemed to accept it, or at least decided not to press further.

"The Association will conduct formal testing tomorrow at the Eastern Sector research facility," she informed him. "I expect you to be present to observe and make any necessary adjustments."

"Of course."

Frost placed a secure data chip on the workbench. "Your documentation for transport to the facility. Arrive at 0800 hours." She turned to leave, then paused. "Regardless of the testing outcome, your approach is... noteworthy, Crafter Black. The Association values innovation, particularly from unexpected sources."

After she departed, Bron exhaled slowly. The exchange had been tense, with undercurrents he couldn't fully interpret. Frost clearly had suspicions about him, but whether they related to his true rank or something else remained unclear.

What was certain was that tomorrow would bring a new level of scrutiny. The testing facility would have equipment capable of analyzing his work in detail, potentially revealing the SSS-rank techniques he had employed. He would need to be present, explaining his process in ways that maintained his cover while accounting for the prototype's performance.

Bron activated Sovereign's Grasp and placed his enhanced hands on the commission gauntlets, using Material Insight to verify every aspect of their construction one final time. They were as perfect as he could make them while still appearing to be the work of an exceptionally talented E-rank.

Tomorrow would determine whether his careful balance between remarkable and believable had succeeded—and whether Commander Frost's interest in him was professional curiosity or something more concerning.