Back in Ironmarch, Luceran, Commander Borrin, Cassandra's party, and Mayor Daaz visited the Blacksmith's Anvil store. An elegant old man with a monocle greeted them politely and asked, "Your Highness, esteemed customers! How may I help you?" He asked humbly with a wide smile on his face.
Mayor Daaz took the lead and asked politely, "We would like to speak with Master Artan."
"Ah, I see. This way, please." Normally, he would not allow customers to meet the owner of the shop, but since it is the request of the Mayor, not to mention the prince is here, he had no choice but to follow. Besides, customers of their caliber could directly meet the owner.
They arrived at the back of the shop, and the sound of metal hitting could be heard. Clang, clang, clang. Three people are hammering iron and steel. Their bodies are full of sweat because of the heat.
"Master Artan! Mayor Daaz is looking for you." The old man said to the lean but muscular man who is hammering the steel. He stopped what he was doing and immediately greeted the mayor.
"Mayor Daaz, and these are…" Looking confused at the Mayor's party.
"This is prince Luceran and Commander Borrin." He introduced the important figures in the party while leaving Cassandra and her friends.
"Your Highness, forgive my rudeness!" Artan replied, shocked after hearing the mayor's introduction.
"No matter. We are here to conduct business." The prince said. Then he continued, "What blacksmith tier are you, Artan?" He questioned the blacksmith.
"I'm just a 3rd Tier Blacksmith, Your Highness. I can craft equipment for practitioners up to the Mana Engraving and Blood Refinement realms." He said humbly.
"Show me your best creations." Ordered Luceran.
"Of course, Your Highness. This way, please." He led Luceran and his party away from the smithing room. A few turns and they arrived at a spacious room with modest decorations. Its wall lined with weapons and armor for sale. Master Artan then walks to the other side and opens the casket.
"This is one of the best swords that I have crafted so far. It is a magical tier longsword. This can be used even for someone at the mid-stage of Blood Refinement realm." While unsheathing the sword from its scabbard. The sword is made of steel and black iron, making it dark-colored with a pure black handle.
The prince nodded and looked around the store. Looking at the prince response, Master Artan then showed another of his finest crafts. "Your Highness, this one is a greatsword made of black iron and red steel." Showing a 2-meter-long and three-inch-wide sword to Luceran and his party."
Despite his best effort to entertain the prince, Luceran showed a flat response, looking as if his finest creations are so-so to him. "I'll take them all. And also this armor." Pointing at the dark silver armor set on a wooden mannequin.
"I'll take all your finest weapons and six sets of this dark silver armor." Hearing the prince order, despite his uninterested look, Master Artan looked happy because of the large order from the prince. After all, those are highly priced pieces of equipment.
"Of course, Your Highness. Let me put them on caskets." He rushed to the back to take the caskets out.
Luceran turned to Mayor Daaz and asked, "Are there any stores that sells 3rd Tier Magical Artifacts for mages in Ironmarch?" The mayor shook his head.
"Despite the rapid progress of Ironmarch, there are no magical artifacts for sale for mages." The mayor replied.
In Primordia, 3rd Tier Artisan is the lowest tier. Blacksmiths, talisman crafters, and rune crafters can be called artisans. From the lowest to the highest level, they are 3rd Tier, 2nd Tier, 1st Tier, Master, and Grandmaster Artisans. Other than crafting professions, there are also other professions like alchemist and formation master that are equally prestigious.
Luceran was not surprised by Mayor Daaz response. Ironmarch has close to zero influx of mages. Cassandra and her group are a rare scenario. Not to mention that at first, they just wanted to sell their harvest after the hunt. It was just pure coincidence that it led to this development for them to stay at Ironmarch.
"No matter, let's go back to the main hall." He said flatly to his group.
His reason for visiting is to equip his close subordinate with comparable weapons and armor. After all, it would be better to venture into an unknown territory with high-quality equipment. A 3rd Tier Artisan corresponds to the first three stages of power in Primordia, meaning they can only craft equipment for practitioners up to the peak of the Mana Engraving or Blood Refinement realms.
To be fair, an artisan who can craft Blood Refinement-level weapons and armor is incredibly rare for a small city like Ironmarch. After all, people at this level also rarely exist in a small city like Ironmarch. Now, since Luceran failed to find what he needed, he had to seek out a different solution.
'Looks like I have to ask Nelez to run an errand again.' He mused to himself, lamenting this situation. After a while, they arrived at the gate of the main hall. Each of them, respectively, returns to their own activities, while Luceran finds himself in the main office.
After a while, Nelez stepped out of the shadow and bowed to the prince. "Here is what you need to do." Luceran handed him a paper.
He ordered Nelez to travel to the nearest city that could sell almost everything, and that is the Hall of Heroes, where the Grand Marshal of the Kyros Divine Empire, Lex Ragnar, is being stationed. Hall of Heroes is a big city. Artisans at the 1st Tier level are as common as pebbles and stones there.
"Make it fast, Nelez. I promised Ian and Liz a month to prepare. I do not want to break my promise." He ordered Nelez.
"Of course, Your Highness. You can trust this servant." He bowed and left. After a few minutes, people could see a dark grey wyvern taking off from the main hall of Ironmarch along with a middle-aged man on it.
"Bela!" He called his maid who is waiting outside of the room. Bela entered and bowed.
"Call the Mayor, Commander Borrin, and also Cassandra into the office now." He flatly said while tapping his fingers on the wooden table.
"Yes, Your Highness." She bowed and left the room.
In a faraway place, while Nelez is on his way to the Hall of Heroes, a brown-haired youth is on the back of a silver-crowned eagle speeding to Ironmarch city.
"I should arrive at Ironmarch in a week with this speed." Looking excited at the thought of meeting his fellow alumni.