Hall watched Fran's retreating figure. For the first time, he understood how rich people lived.
If they took an interest in something, they threw money at it. Once they lost interest, they simply stopped learning, without a care for all the money they'd already spent.
As someone who had done everything he could just to get by in the City of Apprentices, and had finally found a steady job, he couldn't help but sigh:
"Having money is great!"
If he ever got rich, he'd definitely try to become an Apothecary, the Profession he'd wanted to pursue when he was younger. He'd toss a few dozen silver coins at someone and make them watch his face.
Fran's spending spree wasn't over yet. She asked around and found a large Magic Artisan society.
During her practice just now, she'd realized that engraving runes onto weapons was the right way to train.
[You successfully engraved a rune onto a weapon. Runology proficiency +3] [Your attempt to engrave a rune onto a weapon failed. Runology proficiency +1]
And now, she had a very bold idea. Maybe it could take her Runology straight to mastery... No... It might even take her beyond that, and reveal what the next level was called.
"Hello. What would you like to have made?"
The receptionist stood up and asked her politely.
Magic Artisans used magical methods to craft things with all sorts of structures. For example, if Fran asked them to rifle a barrel, they might actually be able to do it.
But the trade also depended heavily on each Artisan's personal skill, since every item required a great deal of fine-tuning.
Many mages came to these Artisans to commission items with special structures whenever they had some bright idea. For example, those two modified orcs from last time must have had little gadgets made by Magic Artisans.
Fran took out a blueprint she'd just bought from the Second Weapon Smith society. It was a blueprint for a dagger.
"What I want is on this blueprint. It needs to be made of White Mountain Copper."
White Mountain Copper was an alloy made from copper mixed with a little mithril. It had half the mithril's ability to conduct magic, making it a good material for rune equipment and magical creations.
Since copper was common and it required very little mithril, it was inexpensive yet had excellent properties, making it popular among apprentices.
The receptionist was quite familiar with the material. Three out of every ten customers asked for it, so that was nothing unusual. But when he saw what was on the blueprint, he froze.
It was a simple-looking dagger, only slightly wider than usual, with an area left open as though something could be engraved there.
He studied the blueprint, but couldn't make sense of it. He'd seen extremely complicated designs packed with specifications, as well as blueprints with no labels at all, just a shape.
But he'd never seen a blueprint like this one. The design was absurdly simple, and the specifications were all there. Was this really the sort of work they were supposed to do?
The receptionist hesitated before speaking.
"Customer, are you sure you came to the right place? We're not blacksmiths, so what we make might not work the way you expect."
It was obviously a weapon. They could make it, and they could probably do it much faster than the blacksmiths.
But that was the difference between them and blacksmiths. When blacksmiths made weapons, they used all sorts of techniques to make them sturdier and sharper. They could even customize the grip to suit the user and adjust the balance.
The blueprint was clearly for a dagger, though its shape was a little odd, and it was made from the relatively soft White Mountain Copper.
If they made it, and someone actually picked it up to fight, it would probably bend after a couple of hits. Blacksmiths had all sorts of techniques to make even White Mountain Copper sturdy.
"I came here because I want you to make it. The blacksmiths are too slow. Who knows what year it'll be by the time they finish?"
"Also, I want two hundred."
"T-Two hundred?"
At that number, the receptionist's mind went blank. He didn't know what to say.
"I'll go get the president." It took him a long while to finally manage those words.
When the president arrived, he gave the blueprint a quick look. After confirming that the receptionist had read it correctly, he said:
"Um, excuse me, but are you sure you want this made here?"
The president wanted to confirm. This was indeed a large order, and he wanted the business.
"Yes. Finish it within a month, and I can pay two Gold Coins."
At the mention of finishing the order within a month, the president had frowned, thinking the deadline was tight. He'd already been considering how to turn her down.
But when he heard the outrageous sum of two Gold Coins, he immediately abandoned the idea. That worked out to one silver coin per dagger.
You could get a dagger from a blacksmith for about the same price, but blacksmiths had to use all sorts of other materials to make it stable and sturdy. This order had no such special requirements; they just had to make the right shape.
So, after accounting for the material costs, each dagger would cost them only about forty copper coins. Buying materials in bulk might even make them cheaper.
Even after splitting the labor fee among the society members, he'd still make a tidy profit.
"Here's a deposit of sixty silver coins. I'll come collect the goods in a month. Make sure you have something to store them in."
"We'll definitely have them ready. Please come again!"
The president warmly saw Fran off. The receptionist beside him rolled his eyes and asked in annoyance:
"President, why does she want so many daggers? What's she going to do with them?"
"I don't know. If she wanted weapons for an army, she'd be ordering spears. I don't get why she wants daggers. As long as we're getting paid, that's all that matters."
After Fran left, she found another Magic Artisan society. She pushed the door open and said:
"Two hundred of these, made from White Mountain Copper."
At the Pharmacist Association in Cuilan Academy.
A man wearing a richly decorated robe walked in through the door and went to the reception desk.
He rested his hand, which wore four rings, on the counter. Each ring had a different gemstone, and they glittered brilliantly under the bright lights of the association.
He said arrogantly:
"I'm an association inspector. Give me the records of all potion material purchases and sales."
The receptionist asked, somewhat puzzled:
"But weren't you supposed to arrive last week? Why are you only here now... According to the rules, I can't show you those."
The man grew irritated and took a badge from his pocket.
"I was held up by something. That damned Richie... This is my association committee member badge. According to the rules, you're supposed to show me even without my inspector status..."
The receptionist had no choice but to hand him the ledger. The man glanced at it, then pushed it back and said:
"Why haven't this week's records been organized? These are just the individual purchase and sale records. Where's the summary? I'm here to see the summary. Organize this, then give it to me..."
"But that was last week... Fine, I'll organize it now."
The receptionist knew there was no point arguing with the man in front of him, so he began sorting the records at the counter.
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