Chapter 588: Chapter 588 - First Collaborative Project
Chapter 588: Chapter 588 - First Collaborative Project
Broken and Freya were waiting eagerly at the House of Slumdon when Tora and Toya finally appeared. Tora's face was instantly bright with cheerful energy, while Toya's expression was calm and composed.
"Welcome! How was the trip over? Come on, follow me," Broken greeted them warmly.
They moved to the living room, settling into the soft sofa as Tora began to share his thoughts.
"I've been to this place quite a few times, and I can definitely tell things have changed around here."
"Oh, really?" Broken replied.
"Yeah," Tora nodded. "I'm a live streamer, so I make a point of exploring the continent and sharing lots of content for my viewers."
Toya spoke up next. "Congratulations on your achievement with the moonlight fae. I watched the video, and it's..."
"Incredible?" Tora cut in with a grin.
"...definitely not typical for a production class," Toya finished.
"Yeah, he's not exactly 'normal," Freya teased, laughing.
They then moved on to discuss the main reason they'd all gathered.
"Alright, as we talked about before, are you ready to take on this commission, Toya?" Broken asked.
"As long as you have the blueprint, materials, and workshop prepared, I'm ready to dive in right away."
"I've set up two rooms for you both in this house, since we knew it would take a few days to complete. Besides, with the year-end holidays approaching, I imagine you'll be busy, right?" "No, actually, the holidays give me more time to focus on my game," Toya answered.
Freya laughed. "You two really are alike."
"And I'll be here with you too, lil' sis," Tora said with a smile.
"No one needs you here-go and do your own work," Toya replied.
Tora just laughed, flashing a playful grin at her words.
The House of Slumdon, where the blacksmith workshop was based, had recently undergone a renovation. Now, it looked far tidier and more robust, with several new rooms added nearby to serve as specialized workshops depending on the project needs.
Thanks to this setup, Broken and Toya would be working in adjacent rooms, making it easy to coordinate and split their tasks smoothly.
They headed straight to the workshop, as Toya insisted on diving into the project without any delay.
She studied the blueprint in front of her, tracing the intricate design with her eyes.
"So, the blacksmithing part of this necklace isn't as involved as the jewelry work, even though it needs a Master Rank Blacksmith to handle it."
She looked up at Broken. "How did you manage to reach such a high rank, anyway? You really are extraordinary. I doubt there's anyone else in this game who can achieve a level as high as yours."
"Maybe I just got lucky," Broken replied with a casual shrug.
Toya nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, luck has a way of making a difference. Hard work alone isn't always enough."
Broken and Toya began their work with palpable enthusiasm, and as Broken held the forging tool in his hands, a surge of energy flowed through him. He'd been waiting for this, and the feeling was electrifying.
"I could stay here with this tool for the next few weeks and not feel an ounce of boredom," he declared, smiling to himself.
By afternoon, Yara appeared in the workshop, her face tinged with concern. "My lord... you've been at this for hours. I'm worried. Please, take a break and rest a little. I've prepared some food and drink for you."
But, as usual, Broken didn't respond or even seem to register her words, his focus locked entirely on his work.
With a sigh, Yara left, her face clouded with worry as she pondered how she might finally convince him to pause, if only for a moment.
Just then, Ivana approached Yara, noticing the troubled look on her face.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"Hey, Yara, why do you look so down?"
"Ms. Ivana, I think Lord Broken is upset with me. I was late bringing him his meal. I made the best food for him, but I lost track of time, and when I finally brought it, he wouldn't even listen to my explanation. I feel so guilty."
Ivana chuckled softly. "Oh, Yara, listen. Lord Broken gets so absorbed in his work that he hardly hears anyone unless it's about something he considers essential. And to him, eating isn't all that important. So don't worry yourself over it, alright?"
"Really? I just want to do my best here."
Ivana gave her a warm smile. "Of course. Tell you what, let me take the food to him this time, okay?"
Inside the workshop, just as Broken was about to log out of the game, he set down his tools and stepped outside. He found Ivana and Yara standing by the entrance, their conversation coming to a quiet halt as he approached.
"Broken," Ivana greeted, "Yara's prepared lunch for you."
"Oh. Really? I like it," he replied. "Thank you, Yara. I'd like to eat it now."
"Want some company in the garden?" Ivana offered.
He nodded. "That's a good idea." Turning to Yara, he patted her shoulder lightly. "Thanks, Yara."
With that, he started toward the garden, Ivana falling into step beside him.
Watching them walk away, Yara murmured to herself. "Ms. Ivana said Lord Broken wouldn't leave his work unless it was important, but he came right out when she showed up. Now I see just how much she means to him."
Broken sat on an iron bench at the flower garden, Ivana beside him, beneath a sky heavier with clouds than usual-a rare break from the typically hot days. As he spooned Yara's hearty meat soup, his thoughts drifted to the intricate steps required to forge his new necklace.
"So, have you settled on your next expedition, Broken?" Ivana asked.
"Yes," he replied. "I need to find mithril, and the only way to get it is to visit the Forest Elves. Princess Alora has graciously offered me this opportunity, so I'll be going with her."
Ivana smiled. "Are you certain you don't need my assistance on this expedition? You'll be going alone with Her Highness Princess Alora, right?"
"Uhm..." Broken hesitated. "Princess Alora has asked for complete discretion, so it'll just be
the two of us."
He glanced at Ivana, then continued, "But don't worry. There will be plenty more expeditions for us in the future. You have my word."
Ivana chuckled softly. "I thought so. Just be sure to summon Blackthorn if you need any
backup."
Broken looked at her for a moment, absorbing her words, then nodded.
After some time, Broken returned to his crafting, and once he had completed his part, he handed it over to Toya. His expectations were high, this was his first collaborative project, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the final result.
A few days later, the moment of completion finally arrived. Unaware of what the final product would look like, Broken walked into the workshop, only to be pleasantly surprised by the gathering waiting for him.
The room was filled with familiar faces, Elincia, Freya, Tora, and Ivana had all come to witness Toya's finishing touches on the necklace.
Surprisingly, only Toya could complete the final touches on this necklace, leaving a question
lingering in Broken's mind: would his Quality Enhancement skill still have any effect through
this indirect process?
The necklace's outcome was only two, either it would emerge as Unique-grade or, if they were truly fortunate, Legendary-grade.