West Hess City.
Master Colby's weapon shop.
Linley had heard that Hess City's finest weaponsmith was here, and wanted to see whether he could forge a weapon from Black Jade Stone.
Master Colby sized Linley up. He was so young—surely he hadn't come to learn weaponsmithing too.
"Young man, are you here to have a weapon made, or to learn how to forge one?"
Linley was taken aback. "Why do you ask, Master? Naturally, I'm here to have a weapon made."
"Have a weapon made? My prices are high. One thousand gold coins at the very least for a weapon."
"That's fine," Linley said at once. "But I can provide the material myself."
"You have your own material?" Colby asked curiously. "What is it?"
"Black Jade Stone."
"What? Black Jade Stone!"
Colby, who had been sitting in a chair, sprang to his feet as if electrified. He stared at Linley in shock. "That's a legendary weaponsmithing material! Do you really have some?"
Once Linley took it out, Colby's eyes seemed glued to it.
A moment later, he let out a long breath. "It's excellent material, but unfortunately, I don't have the ability to smelt it."
"Without special methods, it's impossible to melt a legendary material like this. The Light Temple, the Dark Church, and other ancient powers might have records of how to do it."
"I see." Linley's heart sank a little.
"You could try asking someone at this address. He was my apprentice, but he's already surpassed his master."
"Thank you, Master Colby."
Linley looked at the slip of paper. "This address is right near my estate? What a coincidence."
On his way back, he suddenly heard someone call out to him from behind. The voice sounded familiar. He turned around and saw the three brothers from 1987.
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