Shirou got ready to meet Ariel as Muramasa.
As for how to let Ariel meet him.
The plan wasn't hard, in fact it was very simple.
He had already made a plan with the old blacksmith. First, they would release new work again as the blacksmith Muramasa.
During this process, the old blacksmith would purposely make a mistake, letting Ariel know that he was the middleman for the blacksmith Muramasa. As long as she went through him, she could find out Muramasa's real identity.
That way, Ariel would definitely keep chasing the clues the old blacksmith gave.
When Shirou showed up as Muramasa, the official meeting between Muramasa and Ariel would be complete.
When Ariel met Muramasa, and found out Muramasa's thoughts and that he wouldn't be used by her, she would probably leave Boreas Castle and go back to the capital.
After preparing like this, Shirou and the old blacksmith's plan quickly started.
The old blacksmith, following the plan, announced to the capital's auction house that Muramasa would be releasing new work soon.
This news quickly caused a stir in the capital, and even the whole world. Countless nobles and strong people were looking forward to seeing what amazing weapons Muramasa would make and show off.
Second Princess Ariel naturally heard about this news too. As soon as she heard that Muramasa was going to release new work, she used all of her influence to try to find out Muramasa's real identity.
However, because the old blacksmith's arrangements were just right, he never showed up in person. Instead, he went through layers of commissions from old friends, making it impossible to find him and Muramasa himself through normal means.
But this time, because of Shirou's plan, the old blacksmith purposely left clues for Ariel to chase.
Simply put, he purposely had the person who contacted him meet at Boreas Castle, and this meeting was seen by Ariel's men.
This would make Ariel sure that the blacksmith Muramasa was really in Boreas Castle.
Once Ariel was sure of this, there was no need to guess what actions she would take.
…
"You said you found the person who contacts the blacksmith Muramasa?"
Ariel's bedroom.
Ariel was almost used to life at Boreas Castle. Every day she talked to Philip and Hilda about the kingdom and the future of the nobles during the day, watched Shirou and Eris practice swords in the afternoon, and looked forward to Shirou's cooking in the evening, and bothered Shirou while he was forging.
Her days were pretty good.
If she didn't still have the title of second princess, Ariel might have planned to stay in Boreas Castle forever.
However, although life was becoming more and more stable and peaceful, Ariel still remembered why she came to Boreas Castle, and knew that her status as the second princess meant that she couldn't live a peaceful and quiet life forever. Sooner or later she would have to return to the capital and get involved in the bloody infighting between the nobles.
So, when Luke and Derrick told her that they had heard the old blacksmith talking to a contact about the blacksmith Muramasa's latest work near the forge, and they went to the capital to confirm that at almost the same time, the capital's auction house had released news that the blacksmith Muramasa would be releasing new work, which confirmed that the blacksmith Muramasa was really in Boreas Castle, Ariel immediately snapped out of her lazy state and became calm and collected again.
"As expected, my guess was right. The blacksmith Muramasa is indeed in Boreas Castle."
Derrick and Luke looked ashamed after hearing Ariel's words.
They had always doubted Ariel's words before, thinking that she was just being willful by staying in Boreas Castle for so long without returning to the capital.
But now, as the clues about the blacksmith Muramasa surfaced, they had to admit that Princess Ariel was right, and that they were too foolish to see the reality.
Although Ariel got important clues, she didn't look happy.
This was because getting clues about the blacksmith Muramasa meant that Ariel would no longer have any reason to forcibly stay with the Boreas family. She would say goodbye to this peaceful and simple daily life, and return to the capital's fierce and invisible battlefield of noble infighting.
Secondly, Ariel was very nervous about meeting the blacksmith Muramasa. Although she was the second princess, her status came only from her noble background, which was not a strength or ability that had been built up, but pure nobility from her class.
This kind of nobility was usually irresistible to ordinary people.
But in front of a legend who had reached the peak of the blacksmithing world, or even possibly surpassed it, it was nothing.
At least Ariel couldn't help but feel extremely nervous when she thought about meeting the blacksmith Muramasa.
"But is this news really accurate?"
Luke still seemed a little worried. "Could it be a trap set by someone who knows we're looking for the blacksmith Muramasa?"
No wonder Luke was so careful.
In the power struggles of the capital, people often used dirty tricks, including assassination, poisoning, spreading discord…
Living in that kind of environment in the capital for a long time, most people become cautious and nervous, and are afraid to believe anyone or anything.
Derrick remained neutral to Luke's reaction.
He felt that the truth of this news was very guaranteed, after all, the capital had already confirmed the news released by the blacksmith Muramasa at the same time, which meant it was definitely not a lie.
But it was still necessary to be careful about some things.
Derrick didn't say a word about it.
"Even if it's a trap, I'm going."
In the end, Ariel made a decision. Her face was like that of a general about to give the order to charge, with an attitude of facing death as if going home. "Rather than the truth of the news, I'm more worried that if I go directly there, it will bother Master Muramasa. After all, he has been hiding his identity and forging weapons, probably because he doesn't want to be disturbed."
"I don't think Your Highness needs to worry about this."
Derrick quickly said, "A character like Master Muramasa must be an unmatched hero. From the weapons he forges, you can feel his ocean-like spirit. It's impossible for him to get angry just because he is suddenly disturbed."
"Is that so…"
Seeing Derrick, a Muramasa fan, say this, Ariel's last bit of unease was dispelled.
She quickly let the two of them leave, and she carefully dressed and prepared herself in the room, determined to meet the top blacksmith of her dreams in the best possible state.
After a while, Ariel finished dressing. Although she wasn't dressed very luxuriously, she was wearing her most expensive everyday clothes. Her golden hair was slightly braided and draped over her shoulders, giving her a capable but noble look.
"Let's go."
After Ariel was ready, the three of them officially went to the blacksmith's workshop in Boreas Castle.
They didn't hesitate and went directly to the old blacksmith, the owner of the blacksmith's workshop.
Ariel and the others had already found out in advance that this old blacksmith was once a famous figure in the capital. The weapons he forged were almost at the level of Holy Sword magic sword.
However, the human race's blacksmithing talent is limited. Compared to the legendary dragon blacksmiths, demon blacksmiths, and even modern dwarf blacksmiths, they have natural differences.
No matter how talented the old blacksmith was, he was doomed to be unable to make up for such huge differences. In addition, his personality was too stubborn and he was not used to the nobles' corrupt atmosphere. After offending important people, he chose to leave the capital and settled down in Boreas Castle.
It can be said that when Ariel and the others found out about the old blacksmith's past, they even suspected that he was the true identity of the blacksmith Muramasa.
After all, the old blacksmith's past was too consistent with the legendary story of a legendary blacksmith who had gone through twists and turns, and finally reborn from the ashes, creating world-famous swords.
However, this world is not a story after all. There are not so many legendary stories that can be passed down, and not everyone can be a legend.
The old blacksmith is ultimately just an ordinary blacksmith. Although he is talented, he is also limited by his race and cannot reach a higher peak.
Muramasa is different. He has been standing at the top from the beginning. He is a symbol of talent and legend.
Ordinary people often spend their lives pursuing the legends' shadows. Perhaps some people finally touch a corner of that talent after giving everything, but more people often fail to reach even a glimmer of their goal after giving their all.
Ariel didn't feel much about this, because she herself didn't represent ordinary people, but one of the geniuses. She was at the peak of talent and power from the beginning, so she couldn't empathize with people who lacked talent and status, people who had nothing.
The old blacksmith had experienced all kinds of storms in his life, and had long been used to ups and downs. Now he had taken in Shirou, a successor who far surpassed his own talent, and could be said to have no regrets.
So, even when facing the princess of the Asura Kingdom, he calmly asked, "You want to meet Muramasa?"
"Can you take us to meet him?"
Ariel asked nervously.
"I can, but there's one condition."
"What condition?"
"Only you, Princess, can go."
"This…"
Not to mention Ariel, Luke and Derrick definitely couldn't accept the old blacksmith's request.
They both cared very much about Ariel's safety and would not allow the princess to disappear alone. They couldn't follow in this situation.
But Ariel's attitude was more firm than expected. She quietly said, "I understand, I can go meet Master Muramasa alone."
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