Count Bigbeard took two swigs of red wine in a row, his face full of frustration.
"Those lunatics from the Baris Empire have magic cannons that are just too damn tough. Three Gold Knights died on the front lines because their equipment was blasted apart by magic cannon fire. The ordinary corps' refined-steel greatswords curl their edges the moment they strike that armor."
"The batch of enchanted shortswords Baron Su Li forged cuts through that kind of armor like slicing tofu. The quartermasters at the front are frantically buying them up at triple the price. If even his apprentice's craftsmanship is this extraordinary, then his eccentric master must surely be some reclusive master."
"Last time, that fat pig of a baron from the north of the city went looking for trouble with Su Li." Count Bigbeard slapped his thigh.
"I'd already gathered every heavy knight guard in my household, ready to put on a show of stepping in for justice on Broom Avenue and, while I was at it, strike up a connection with Su Li."
"I had my family's private army ready too," the tall, skinny marquis chimed in. "But that little brat Elena was too ruthless. She directly mobilized the city defense force and confiscated that fat pig baron's entire household. What a golden opportunity, wasted for nothing!"
"Now that Su Li is Old Ford's son-in-law, we'll have to watch Old Ford's expression if we want to buy high-purity enchanted weapons in the future."
These old aristocrats chatted with great fervor, their voices brimming with pained regret.
They did not care in the slightest that Su Li had risen from the mud.
As long as Su Li could forge top-grade enchanted weapons, he was a humanoid money tree and a strategic resource depot.
Before tangible profits, these old