494 Help
Hearing Benson's words, Ronan defended himself by speaking louder than before. "Don't say that, master. I didn't try to trick The Ruby Devils the way your words make it sound!
I truly believed that if I made such a deal with them, I could use some of their coins to increase my strength a bit and thus gain the ability to produce items with 100% efficiency.
But who was to say that I couldn't do better after consuming several magical resources? I was already able to produce something with 95% efficiency! It made sense that I could close that gap and fulfill the agreement with them!"
"Tsk! Say what you want, Ronan. It doesn't change the fact that you made a deal with dangerous people without the ability to produce what they want." Benson said as he clenched his fists in anger at this foolish disciple of his.
As close as 95% seemed to 100%, the truth was that the difference between these two levels was greater than the difference between 1% and 95%!
That was not something numerical but qualitative. The closer one got to the peak, the more exponentially it had to improve.
But because he had green-level talent, Ronan overestimated his abilities and mistakenly thought he could accomplish what he had planned.
Vicente sighed as he looked at the two dirty, sweaty men. "Alright, I'll help you. What kind of weapons and armor do you need to make?"
"Vicente, you don't have to put yourself through this," Benson said. "I know that if I get involved, I'll end up suffering like this idiot. But I'm his master, and it was my mistake to let him grow up this way. But you have nothing to do with it. Don't get involved with The Ruby Devils because of him."
"Master!" Ronan said, not liking Benson's words.
But Vicente said. "I will not do it for him. I've already lost my family. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you, master. Besides, it's easy for me to help you. I'm already able to produce 3rd-grade items with 100% efficiency."
"Already?" Benson was surprised.
Vicente hadn't been able to produce 3rd-grade items the last time he was with this man!
But in just a few months, he had achieved that ability and reached the top of the 3rd stage!
Vicente smiled. "Yes. My hunt for my third pentagram has been very fruitful, and I've gained a lot from studying in peace in Millfall over the past few months.
I'll show you my results from these months of separation later."
Benson understood that Vicente didn't want to show off his skills in front of Ronan and nodded in agreement, curious to see his youngest student's set of pentagrams.
"All right then. I trust you, Vicente." Benson sighed as he tried to think that Miss Death probably wouldn't be a danger to Vicente, as this young man had always been able to fight above his level.
Ronan finally breathed a sigh of relief. As much as he didn't know Vicente's abilities, it was better to have someone else help him than nothing at all!
"Here are the blueprints for the artifacts I promised The Ruby Devils." He handed Vicente a set of yellowed parchments. "We have almost all the materials to make these items. However, we are lacking the mineral we discovered on this hill."
"Is that why you work here?" Vicente asked as he looked at the blueprints for the promised artifacts.
"Yes," Benson said. "Buying that mineral would cost us the week we have to complete this project, which would be the end of us. So we moved here after we discovered the mineral composition of this hill.
Unfortunately, it will take us another two days to reach where the ore is supposed to be."
"Can't you delay the delivery a little longer?" Vicente asked.
Ronan shook his head in the negative. "No. I've already delayed the shipment three times. But after what happened with Warmaster and the problems that have arisen for The Ruby Devils, the new faction leader told me that either I deliver your artifacts on the last promised date, or that would be the end of me."
Deals like Ronan's with The Ruby Devils were commonplace. Blacksmiths or other types of magical professionals were paid in advance and given a deadline to produce all the items. Sometimes, problems would arise, and the deadline would have to be postponed.
Considering the number of items and the difficulty of making each one, Ronan had managed to delay delivery for months.
But that had been his maximum, and from now on, it would be impossible to repeat the feat.
"Sigh... You took a big risk without having the slightest confidence in what you were doing." Vicente shook his head while Benson looked at Ronan.
"But it's okay, I can help you. These things aren't as complicated as the robotic armor."
Hearing Vicente's last words, Benson remembered his project and put the problem with Ronan aside for a moment. "Did you manage to solve the problems with the robotic armor?"
"Yes. After absorbing my last pentagram and improving my level as well as my knowledge, I was able to solve the last glitches. You were right. The armor problem wasn't something anyone could solve. Only someone with my abilities would be able to make it work as you planned."
Benson was pleased to hear this, for it meant not only that his design was functional but that the problem wasn't his theoretical ability but his magical incompatibility.
"That's good. After we've taken care of that, I'd like to test the most advanced armor you've produced." He said in a relieved tone.
Ronan listened to all of this, not understanding exactly what they were talking about but noticing that Benson was much gentler when talking about matters concerning Vicente.
'The master really likes that boy.' He sighed, remembering how hard Benson had been on him decades ago.
"Anyway, I'll help you mine the metal you need. But you'll have to wait for me outside." Vicente said as he put Ronan's projects away.
Benson understood why and quickly led Ronan out of the house.
"Why?" Ronan asked.
But neither Vicente nor Benson answered the blond boy.
But Benson thought about the reasons.
'Vicente hides his gem with a special device. I can't sense the device, but this is not his Magic Gem... He's probably in serious trouble.' The old blacksmith sighed.
As much as Vicente was smarter than Ronan, Vice got himself into just as much, if not more, trouble than Ronan!
