"This is..."
Gron raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and showed a bit of surprise on his face.
Seeing his reaction, Gauss knew he had asked the right person.
Actually, when he took out this unknown stone now, he thought Gron was well-informed and might have encountered it, even if it wasn't metal.
"This is a Life Magic Stone. I'm not clear on the exact quality, as I'm just a blacksmith, not a gemstone expert. As for the price, it might sell for 2 or more Gold Coins?"
"2 Gold Coins!!"
Gauss hadn't spoken yet, but Marlin displayed a 'did I hear that right' expression.
2 Gold Coins, which equals 200 Silver Coins, 20,000 Copper Coins.
For a common person, this is undoubtedly a fortune. The money bag he has now contains only 5 Silver Coins and 12 Copper Coins.
This means Gauss's previous dream of buying a house of his own in Gray Rock Town could be instantly realized, with plenty of money left over.
If converted to wages, a normal bottom laborer, if hired, might earn about 10 Copper Coins for a full day of work.
Even if this person is a bachelor, setting aside living expenses, saving 5 Copper Coins is already extremely difficult, without considering other expenses such as clothing and medical care.
Assuming he can continually get hired, working full-time for a month, he could only save about 150 Copper Coins.
2 Gold Coins would require working without rest under such ideal conditions for a full 11 years.
Of course, this is purely theoretical calculation.
In reality, a bottom laborer could never save up 1 Gold Coin in a lifetime.
And when weighed against the value of adventurer equipment.
A set of Leather Armor costs around 15 Silver Coins, sufficient to buy 13 sets.
A set of Light Scale Armor costs 60 Silver Coins, capable of buying 3 sets.
As for Heavy Armor like full plated armor, well, it's not affordable for now. A set of full plated armor needs a whole 15 Gold Coins, equivalent to about 15 houses in town.
Don't find this price exaggerated, as in fact, full plated armor is the real heirloom treasure and hard currency in this world.
Real estate might depreciate in wartime, but high-quality armor will not, and might even appreciate.
Understanding the value of 2 Gold Coins.
Marlin couldn't help but exclaim in front of Gron, and then looked at Gauss with envy.
Gauss was greatly shocked in his heart but still pretended to be calm on his face.
He had long guessed that this stone was a treasure, but didn't expect it to be so valuable.
Seeing the envy and jealousy in Marlin's eyes, he honestly felt a bit of secret satisfaction.
In past memories, although Marlin's attitude towards him was not bad, unlike other apprentices who liked to chit-chat with him randomly, he could detect a condescending pity in Marlin's attitude.
Although not obvious in behavior, it would occasionally and unintentionally reveal a high posture, as if city people inquiring about country life, just to contrast their superior life.
But Marlin isn't really a bad person.
Now, the roles seem to have reversed.
Gauss pursed his lips.
It seems, in this Otherworld, there's also a saying about fearing the brother living poorly and fearing the brother driving a luxury car.
"If you want to sell it, you can go to Widow's Alley, where there's a stone house with a Thorny Hut sign. The shop owner inside buys these Magic Items, or if you know other knowledgeable customers, you can directly deal with them."
Gron shrugged.
2 Gold Coins are a huge amount for ordinary people, but in his eyes, they're nothing notable.
The earlier surprise wasn't about the Life Magic Stone itself but the astonishment that Gauss, a newcomer bottom adventurer, could pull out such a "good thing."
In fact, when Gauss presented those second-hand weapons as spoils, it already took him by surprise.
"Alright, thank you, manager." Gauss felt grateful.
He currently has no contacts, and the manager Gron is the most knowledgeable person he knows.
"Manager, may I ask some other questions?" Gauss hesitated for a moment and still asked a bit bashfully.
Repeatedly asking makes him feel less like selling things and more like seeking information.
"Go ahead." Gron didn't mind.
"Do you know about the Professionals? I want to know how I can become a Mage Professional."
Upon hearing Gauss's inquiry, Gron's gaze added a hint of exploration.
Being able to ask such a question already indicates many things.
A normal person wouldn't specifically ask about the Mage profession unless it's already confirmed they possess the Mage talent.
How do you confirm it? Naturally, by awakening magic power and mastering spells.
Thinking of this, he understood somewhat.
No wonder Gauss could bring so many spoils. If he's already set on the path towards being a Professional, obtaining such windfalls still seems a bit exaggerated, but it's not beyond understanding.
"Follow me." Gron glanced at Marlin, who was eager to eavesdrop, and after saying something to Gauss, he turned towards the inner courtyard.
"That's so biased, manager."
Gauss gave a look at Marlin, who muttered complaints, his face full of displeasure, and stealthily smiled.
Inside the courtyard, several apprentices were forging busily at the furnaces.
The crisp sound of hammers striking anvils, when listened to for a while, would make one's ears sting.
Gron opened a small room.
Though Gauss had worked at the blacksmith's for a short period, it was his first time entering Gron's private resting area.
Upon entering the room, Gauss instinctively looked around.
Soon his gaze was drawn to a set of full plated armor beside the bed.
This was a complexly structured yet powerfully beautiful heavy armor, composed of dozens of components, intricately connected through hinges, belts, and rivets.
The silver-white surface of the armor, a pointed helmet extending into ornate cheek guards, a chest plate central peak resembling an inverted ship's hull, with its central ridge shaped like a shark's dorsal fin, reminiscent of frozen waves, reflected a cold metallic sheen.
Layer upon layer resembling dragon scales on the shoulder guards, hand back guards, steel gauntlets, and cold rugged combat boots.
Too beautiful...
This armor, though without gold plating or silver inlays, nor ornate carvings, exuded an aura of simplistic yet functional brutal beauty.
If ordinary full plated armor was worth at least 15 houses, this armor hidden in the manager's room might be worth 50!
This was Gauss's instinctive valuation, and the longer he observed, the more he was certain this armor was absolutely valuable.
Compared to the "cheap goods" outside, the material of this armor seemed entirely different.
Manager, you must be a master, right?
Gauss looked at Gron with an indescribable gaze.
"Uh, don't look at me like that, I'm just an ordinary blacksmith now." Gron was a bit uneasy being stared at with such fiery eyes.
"However, it's well known that as a qualified blacksmith, knowing a bit about the Professional is quite justified, isn't it?"
Gauss nodded repeatedly.
Manager, now you've said it, what else can I say?