493 Foolish Disciple
After hearing about Benson's situation from one of the elders of the Blacksmith's Association, Vicente got the information about his master's probable location.
After thanking the old 3rd-stage blacksmith who spoke to him, Vicente set off in the direction of his master.
Saltstar City could be considered a large city, so he had to make a few stops along the way to ask for directions. After 20 minutes of walking, he reached a poor residential area of the city, where there was a hill with many small houses built on it.
Knowing where to go, Vicente scouted the area and soon found Benson in a house at the top of the hill.
Arriving there, he clapped his hands at the mansion's front door and called for his master. "Master, it's me, Vicente. Open the door. I want to talk to you."
He didn't have to repeat himself. Having released his aura as he spoke, Vicente easily drew the old blacksmith into the house. He had to wait only a minute before the door opened for him.
"Vicente!" Benson appeared shirtless, sweaty, and very dirty.
This old man was working on some material, so there was no way he could look any different.
Behind Benson appeared a man who looked older than Vicente but didn't look like someone from the same generation as Benson.
This guy had blond hair and green eyes, was 1.9 meters tall, and quite strong.
Looking at the person behind his master, Vicente recognized the source of Benson's problems. 'This is the disciple...'
Meanwhile, the man behind Benson understood who Vicente was, having already heard from his master about the newest student the blacksmith had agreed to teach.
'A High-level Mage? It looks like the old man wasn't exaggerating! He's only a child but already as strong as us!' Ronan thought as he looked at the young man who stood a few inches taller than him.
"Vicente, come in. Let's talk in here." Benson quickly led his precious student into the house and closed the door and its many locks.
Vicente saw the inside of the house, a place that had its walls, a roof, a single bathroom, and two hammocks hanging from the ceiling. In addition, everything there was related to the forge, including a large hole in the ground from which it looked as if the two were mining something from the hill.
"What's going on? Why did you leave Millfall and stay away for so long?" Vicente got straight to the point but without talking about what he already knew.
Benson sighed as he looked down and shook his head in disappointment. He pointed to the young blond and said. "Vicente, this is Ronan Carlson. He's one of my students, the penultimate student I accepted before you."
Ronan folded his arms over his chest and laughed. "Since I'm the oldest student, you can call me Brother Carlson or Senior Ronan."
Vicente ignored the blond man's comment, paying attention only to Benson.
Benson continued. "Ronan needed my help to get out of the trouble he had accidentally gotten himself into, so I came to help him. Unfortunately, despite my experience and the good fortune of my recent progress, I still haven't been able to help him.
We have until the end of the month to produce a set of weapons for The Ruby Devils, and if we fail, Ronan will be dead... Unfortunately, we don't have the necessary materials, which is why we're in this house."
"The Ruby Devils? Hasn't this faction been in decline since the fall of Warmaster?" Vicente asked.
Ronan replied. "They are weaker, for sure. But what they have is still enough to kill us many times over. Not only that, but when Snow Claw escaped from the provincial prison, The Ruby Devils hired Miss Death to take care of him.
She didn't arrive in time to prevent the deaths of the Warmaster and some of the leaders of that faction, but she's nearby right now."
Benson finished Ronan's speech. "If we can't keep our promise, all it will take is for Miss Death to hear Ronan's name for him to die. This woman has the power of death and can kill without even approaching her victim!"
Vicente saw Ronan's concern at this part about Miss Death and easily understood that the situation for these two was truly drastic.
He also remembered Thirty-Three, not expecting to find Miss Death there.
'This is going to be complicated...' He sighed as he closed his eyes.
Benson wasn't going to ask Vicente for help since his student had no obligation to help Ronan.
Even though they had the same master and were considered forge brothers, their relationship was very different from that of disciple and master. Disciple and master were almost like father and son and had a bond that would naturally make one want to help the other.
With rare exceptions, the master and disciple would usually try to save the other from a problem if they had the chance.
That was the case with Vicente and Benson, but the white-
haired old man wouldn't ask Vice to get involved in this problem. In fact, he would prefer that this black-haired young man go away after seeing that he was "fine.
That would be best for Vicente!
But then Vicente said. "What do you need? Maybe I can help you. As much as you two are also High-level Mages, I have some characteristics that you don't have."
Benson had recently ascended to the high level, so he was at the same level as these two.
Benson didn't say anything at first, but Ronan didn't hesitate to speak up, not knowing if Vicente would help him but willing to receive any kind of help. "I promised The Ruby Devils a set of weapons and armor of the 3rd grade and with 100% efficiency. If I can't deliver them by the end of the week, I'm dead."
Vicente narrowed his eyes when he heard that. "Why? Isn't it just weapons and armor? Why would The Ruby Devils kill a blacksmith for not being able to make a delivery? Wouldn't it be better for them to do business with someone more skilled?"
Ronan was silent as he smiled bitterly, but Benson replied. "It's because that fool tricked Warmaster! He promised to make those artifacts when he knew he couldn't make items of that quality!
Not only that, but he received The Ruby Devils' coins in advance and spent them on things he shouldn't have, which had nothing to do with forging those items.
Now, The Ruby Devils are in a difficult situation, with few artifacts and many enemies. They can't redo the deal with another blacksmith because they don't have enough coins or time. Moreover, no blacksmith in the province can produce what that fool promised!"
As much as he wanted to help Ronan, Benson knew of his foolish student's many mistakes!
He wanted to save Ronan, but that didn't mean he approved of the man's methods!
