"Beneath a generous reward, there must be a brave soul!"
This was a principle Allen had always steadfastly believed in.
In his view, there were only two reasons that could drive a person to risk everything they had to achieve a goal: one was for a noble ideal, and the other was for a rich return.
Now, he had laid both before the man. As long as this master swordsmith from the Land of Iron had the ability to do it, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
"This is a truly unbelievable masterpiece! Are you certain you want to use it to forge a blade?" The blacksmith uncle's voice was full of regret and reluctance.
In his eyes, this hammer was a craftsman's lifelong blood and sweat, a supreme work of art that should be carefully preserved for future generations.
But Allen nodded without a moment's hesitation. "That's right. A hammer is not a weapon I excel with, so it's currently useless to me. Remember, my requirement is to forge it into a blade while ensuring its attributes do not change significantly. Do not simply dissolve it and recast it."
What was the most important thing about weapons and equipment produced from dungeons?
The answer, of course, was their bonus attributes and various "Chance on Hit" effects!
Without those, their value would be greatly diminished.
The blacksmith didn't understand the specifics of game mechanics, but he grasped the importance of the strange symbols and patterns on the hammer. He guaranteed solemnly, "Rest assured! Unless I am absolutely certain, I will not easily damage anything on this hammer."
"In that case, I'll leave the forging of this artifact in your hands."
With that, Allen gave a meaningful look to Karin behind him.
Understanding the signal, Karin immediately took all the materials and the blacksmith, heading straight for the specialized forging facility in Otogakure used for creating ninja tools.
Watching the two depart, Konan finally snapped back to reality and asked in an uncertain tone, "Where did you get that hammer? As far as I know, there are no legends in the shinobi world regarding a 'hammer of flames.' A treasure that precious would never have remained unknown if it had appeared before."
"No, you're mistaken. Weapons usually become famous not because of what they are, but because of who uses them. Without a suitable powerhouse to wield them, even the finest weapon is nothing more than a dead object," Allen replied nonchalantly.
"So... in your view, the person is more important than the weapon?" A look of surprise appeared on Konan's face.
Allen responded with a smile. "Exactly. The same weapon exhibits different levels of power in different hands. From the moment a weapon is forged, its value is fixed in a state that will never change. Its value only shifts again the moment someone picks it up. Also, to thank you for bringing me the swordsmith I needed, I can grant you one wish."
"A wish?" Konan blinked in confusion.
Though this wasn't the first time they had met, she still felt she couldn't quite keep up with his train of thought.
"Yes. I am a man who believes in repaying kindness. I offer appropriate feedback in my own way to anyone who helps me. Whatever you desire, just say it. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse," Allen explained proactively.
"I'm sorry, but I can't think of any wish I want realized right now," Konan politely declined this "pie in the sky."
Cautious by nature, she did not trust this young man hailed as the most dangerous individual in the shinobi world, just as she had never truly trusted Obito when he called himself Madara.
Of course, this attitude of doubting everything wasn't inherent; it was a habit forced upon her after experiencing that great betrayal. In the shinobi world, especially for those not from the Five Great Nations, if you didn't develop such a habit, you would end up dying mysteriously before long.
"No matter. You can think it over slowly. My promise remains valid forever," Allen gave his word without a second thought.
"Thank you. If I think of something, I will tell you. Here, Nagato asked me to deliver this to you personally."
With that, Konan handed over a scroll containing classified intelligence.
Allen took it and scanned it, his face immediately showing a look of immense shock. "Have Kisame pretend to betray the Akatsuki and then go undercover by Kabuto's side? Is there a need for that?"
"There is. I've seen Kabuto. He radiates that cold, sinister aura unique to Orochimaru; he isn't the type who will willingly let himself be manipulated. Furthermore, he prefers to trust Black Zetsu over us. To ensure everything goes perfectly, we need someone watching him twenty-four hours a day. Originally, Obito was the best fit for this, but he currently has to keep an eye on Black Zetsu. That leaves only Kisame to handle it," Konan stated Nagato's intentions directly.
While most core members of the Akatsuki had shifted from mutual suspicion toward working together against Black Zetsu, Kabuto's inclusion had changed the dynamic slightly.
Particularly because this man commanded the army of the Reanimated created through Orochimaru's research; his strength and potential could not be underestimated. At the very least, if the First and Second Hokage lying in those coffins were to go all out, even Nagato might not be able to handle them personally.
"Fine, then we'll do as he says. I have no objections." Allen shrugged indifferently.
Compared to these intrigues, he cared more about when the Three-Tails would respawn.
Through recent research and testing, Vaelastrasz had found the key to extracting "mediums" from the Tailed Beasts and had already begun plundering them silently. Because the process was slow, the Tailed Beasts hadn't noticed yet. Once about 90% was extracted, Shukaku the One-Tail could be sealed directly into the Gedo Statue to prepare for the revival of the Ten-Tails' God Tree.
Konan, clearly unaware of what Allen was thinking, continued on her own: "In addition, Nagato wanted me to ask you: what kind of attitude should the Akatsuki hold toward the regimes established by the Resistance?"
Allen hesitated for a few seconds before answering: "Ignore them. Do not sign any alliances, and do not interfere in their internal affairs or their conflicts with one another."
"The period when the old order is overthrown and a new order is about to be established is actually a process of selecting the future ruling class. In this process, countless unqualified people or factions will be eliminated. Only a tiny minority of groups that win the support and mandate of the civilians will achieve ultimate victory."
"Though it sounds a bit cruel, it leads to a better future. If we intervene artificially, many unqualified people and organizations will be preserved, saddling the new era with a heavy historical burden."
"I see. I will relay your words to Nagato exactly as they were said. If there is nothing else, I shall return now. I hope the next time we meet, the world looks a little more like the one you described."
After saying this, Konan dissolved into a flurry of paper, vanishing without a trace and leaving only a faint scent of flowers in the air.
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