Forged Weapon

A ship sailed toward the Athvan Town as Tomomi waited patiently on the Sanguine Rose, half asleep. Her vision was blurry but cleared the moment she cleaned her eyes.

It was an agency ship, bigger than most ships at the dock, and it stopped on the opposite side of Sanguine Rose. The ship's flag was white and had a drawn black flower.

"Yules, we've arrived." One of the agents brought out a black case and placed it on top of the table. Yules opened, the sun reflecting in his glasses. "Good, it's in perfect shape." He shut the suitcase after and then fixed his claymore on his back. "This should be more than enough."

He walked down the ship's platform onto the docks, followed by the rest, with a pink-haired woman standing right next to him, holding a notebook.

Tomomi observed them from afar and tried to understand where they were headed. "He reminds me of the man from Oxfell Arton." She walked up the forecastle deck and noticed them enter the city hall. "What are they up to?"

Ralphie had been looking up at the cardboard that had posters of several well-known pirates. "These are just a bunch of pirates and nothing else. There seems to be no category for craftspeople. Niklas must've changed it."

Codey waited for him and tried to read a public book, but it had no importance or significance. "Doesn't look like books and papers will help us find your friend. We'll have to ask around or rely on luck if we want to find him." Ralphie pinned the poster back on the cardboard and sighed. "Guess so..."

Yumiko stood inside a weaponry store, surrounded by all sorts of weapons; swords, katanas, axes, spears, polearms, bows, daggers, knives, and much more. Most of the weaponry was expensive, and the least pricey were daggers that were about $1,500 each to a maximum of $8,350.

"Hey. Do you have any swords that are under $10,000?" she asked, looking at the counter. "Take a look. There's the swords category so if something soothes your eye, please, buy it." Yumiko became unimpressed and stepped to the hangers, but the minimum amount a sword cost was $21,999, and the most expensive of the better quality were above $70,000.

"Why am I even trying?" she sighed and gave up. "You really don't have any good sorts under $10,000?" the man at the counter crossed his arms and shared her an intimidating stare. "If none of the swords you saw on that wall was under $10,000, then no, I don't."

Yumiko backed away from the counter and waved to the storekeeper. She walked outside and began thinking. "Maybe the price will be lower if I ask one of the craftspeople to craft it. Then again, they would probably be of worse quality than those in the shop."

She complained and then crossed her arms behind her neck as she walked through the street. "Come on, there's got to be someplace where I could get swords at a lower price? Or maybe I should wait until we find Harry and ask him if he can help."

Yules walked through the city hall's hallway and inside the main room, which was up at the highest point. Once the door slid open, he stepped through and entered a massive room in which there was an entire collection of furniture. An old-looking man, with a long white beard, sat behind the table and held a pen, next to him was a female secretary.

"Papers please, Nicole." Nicole reached for the next tower of papers and put them on the table for the man to continue. He raised his chin the moment Yules stepped in front of the table and put the suitcase into the pink-haired woman's hands.

"Ah, Yules, how fortunate that we meet again. I see you came with the order I asked." Yules crossed his arms and smiled. "Sure did, Leandre. I see you've gotten quite cozy inside your new place. Not too shabby, might I add."

Leandre leaned back on the chair and listened carefully. "I wouldn't deny it. So, are the swords ready?" Yules waved behind him. "Nika, would you provide us with the suitcase?" Nika placed the suitcase on the table as Leandre waited still.

"Bring us some tea, Nicole." Leandre waited for Yules to open up the suitcase and reveal a set of two swords inside, placed on a pillow. They were proper katanas, both colored black. "Of course. The blades are brand new, brought to you from Brimware Refuge, the best in the world."

Leandre put his hands together as the tea was finally brought to the table. He took a sip and then grabbed a scanner. He scanned the swords to prove himself that the material of the sword was proper. "Guess you didn't disappoint me, Yules. I'll reward you with the payment in a couple of hours. I think $500,000 shall suffice?"

Yules nodded as he smiled and stretched his arms and leaned them on the back of the chair. "I'll be expecting the payment momentarily. Say, has anything new happened lately?" Yules piqued Leandre's curiosity.

"Hm? What are you thinking about?" Yules leaned his left arm on the table and placed his weight onto it. "I'm talking about Louisa Dillinger. I've heard you've deployed an outrider to find her." He claimed.

"You must mean, Peter Kisling. Unfortunately no, that little thief who stole the artifact has been roaming the whole island and still hasn't been found. I'm afraid it'll take a while longer before we'll find her."

Yules took a sip of the tea and calmly closed his eyes. "I see. That girl sure is a special breed. You'd think she'd be found in these three months, yet it looks like there has been no progress. Well, guess it's time for me to head out. I'll warn you, if I don't receive the payment, you'll be dealt with me, personally."

Yules stood up on his feet and walked toward the exit with Nika, listening to Leandre's words. "Understandable, but no worries. Your payment should arrive in two hours. You needn't be afraid, I never break a deal."

Yules never turned around and waved. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. See you, Leandre, definitely. I have an additional business I must deal with here at Athvan Town." After Yules concluded the door finally shut, leaving Nicole and Leandre alone.

Yumiko searched for someone who could help her with the sword problem, and came in contact with the same craftsman, Tim and Ayuka encountered.

"Um, excuse me, sir. Sorry to bother you at work, but I'd only like to ask what type of weapons you're crafting." The craftsman spilled the hot liquid into a sword-shaped pattern and then hammered it.

"What? You're interested?" he asked, "I make all sorts of weapons. You just have to tell me what you require and it shall be done."

"Um," Yumiko looked at the paper on the side and noticed several designs of swords, "how much would it cost to forge a pair of swords? Doesn't need to be of the best quality."

"Depends on your preference, but if we look at the basic quality, it should cost you about $30,000. If you require better quality and a very gullible pair it shall cost you $450,000 minimum. Personal preferences are counted into the basic price, and could cost you $700,000."

Yumiko's eyes nearly bulged out from her face. "Man, why do they have to be so expensive?" she questioned. "Do I look like I make high-quality weapons for free? Sorry, lass, but I tend not to waste my precious time on making weapons for no reason. Now, if you have an order give me, I shall craft the swords in two days. If you don't have one, please leave and let me work."

"W-Wait, one more thing! Would it be possible if I ordered the weapons and then pay the price a few days later?" The man finished hammering and instantly cooled down the blade in the water. "Look. Stop wasting my time and get going. If you believe I'd risk crafting you swords and you wouldn't have money at that point, you're crazy. I'm not going to craft the weapon unless I'm certain you'll pay. Now go."

Yumiko sighed and backed away. "Bummer..." she left the workshop and continued to try to find solutions to receive her swords. "Worth a shot..."

To be continued...