"Hahaha, I'll give you my project first. You should study it and only then come back to me so that we can really start working on it." Benson said as he took a thin, handwritten book from his storage item.
Picking it up, Vicente flipped through it and saw the various points about the robot armor, which had many parts and details he still didn't understand.
"I see... I'll have to continue my study while I try to understand it. Only then can we do something about it and start our tests." He muttered, seeing that he lacked technical knowledge.
"That is the point. In order for us to move forward with this project, you need to become a 2nd-stage blacksmith." Benson commented as he ran his hand through his beard. "You currently have an interesting magic level, on par with some beginner 2nd-stage blacksmiths. But considering the speed of your progress, you lack technical knowledge.
However, you are a rare gem regarding theories, Vicente. If you dedicate yourself, you'll reach 60% efficiency in your production in a matter of days or weeks.
Vicente understood what Benson meant. He was basically telling him to focus his time on the art of forging.
"Unfortunately, I have matters to attend to regarding Cesar's identity, master. I've recently been involved in problems that are difficult to solve. I can't stay in a forge and focus all my time on that. I have to take risks as Cesar to accomplish some goals." He was sincere.
Benson was no fool and didn't need to hear details from Vicente. It was evident that Cesar had many problems to deal with that would prevent such a young man from making better use of his time.
"Anyway, whenever possible, you should study our art, Vice. That might help you solve your problems." He said as he looked into his disciple's eyes and placed a hand on one of the young man's shoulders.
Seeing that his master wouldn't push him but wouldn't advise him to stop completely to solve his problems, Vice realized that he would still have to lead a busy life.
Fortunately, he was used to this life of having no free time and always working to achieve goals.
"I'll do my best."
With that, the two soon said goodbye after Benson gave Vicente his last piece of advice and learned that he would have to go without seeing him for a few days.
Leaving his master's house with a better idea of how to develop his forging skills and make better use of his powers, Vicente went straight to the Blacksmiths' Association building.
There, he made his way to the soon-to-be-closed shops to order materials. After that, he went to the association's library after paying an errand boy to look for Lukas.
It was time for him to bring people into his family with skills beyond fighting. He needed exceptional professionals, something he could now afford with the Irwin family's coins!
The way to get these people was through Lukas, who he wanted by his side to run his family's forge in his absence!
...
Hours later, it was evening in Millfall when Vicente left the association's library.
As he left the library, he soon met a blond, well-dressed young man waiting for him outside the association building.
"I heard that you wanted to see me," Lukas said as he approached Vicente with a smile.
Vicente smiled back and said. "I have important matters to discuss with you, my friend."
"Oh? That's interesting. But first, how was your trip, man? You were gone for several weeks." He squeezed one of Vicente's hands, curious to know what had changed to move this guy in such a way.
Previously, Rory's conversations with his group hadn't developed as much as he would have liked, and Lukas had thought that Vicente needed time to develop a deeper relationship with his group.
But suddenly, Rory had made hard to refuse offers to two of his allies, and now Vicente wanted to meet him to talk business. That was enough to make Lukas curious!
"Let's walk while we talk." Vicente led the way, and soon, the two of them were walking through the center of Millfall.
"Well, I've been out of town lately, doing business but also improving my strength. As you can imagine, I'm an Acolyte now." He said, surprising Lukas, who couldn't sense Vicente's mana anymore.
The two of them were currently at the same level. Since Vicente camouflaged his mana inside his body, Lukas had no idea of the real level of the black-haired young man next to him.
"So you've also absorbed your second pentagram recently? That's good. That means you'll soon become a 2nd-stage blacksmith." Lukas said, having also absorbed his second essence a few days ago.
"With the improvements I've made and the business I've done outside of Millfall, I think I've reached a new level, my friend. It allows me to look at the people around me and see an opportunity for both sides." He looked meaningfully into Lukas' eyes.
Lukas was no fool and quickly understood what Vicente had in mind. "Do you want to raise the level of our relationship? You want a deeper partnership?"
"That's right. I'm willing to support those who are willing to become my family's exclusive professionals. Of course, I'll pay for all the resources you need, a fixed salary, and improvement costs, such as purchasing spells, books and paying for exams in associations or guilds.
In the meantime, all those interested in this arrangement will have to do is join my family and be available to produce and repair whatever we need."
Lukas' eyebrows knitted together and he stopped walking, looking at Vicente strangely. "How are you going to do that? Did you happen to find a chest full of gold coins on your journey?"
To hire just one person and provide everything Vicente promised, one would need between 100 and 200 gold coins per month to take care of an Acolyte at the first 3 levels of the stage. But Vicente seemed to want more than one such person, and moreover, people from different areas, which would, of course, increase his costs even more.
Hiring only five 2nd stage people would be extremely expensive, even for a Baron's family!
Therefore, Lukas couldn't help but wonder how Vicente was going to do such a thing!
