Chapter 74: Chapter 65: The Dwarves
"In just a few years..."
Morton gives a bitter smile.
This time when Morton came, the elder council gave him a do-or-die order. Either bring back the machine, or bring back the person who made the machine. Right now, Golden Hammer won’t budge, and Long Yi, as a Dragon Knight, wouldn’t possibly have the time. Could it be that they really need to agree to Golden Hammer’s conditions and let him join the elder council?
In fact, given Golden Hammer’s qualifications and strength, there would be no problem with him joining the elder council. Moreover, Golden Hammer has just advanced to the Platinum Rank, making his admission all the more feasible.
But Golden Hammer’s temper is unbearable to many, the elder council is ruled by the decisions of dwarves. Dwarves might be hot-headed, but among them, there have always been wise individuals. Golden Hammer’s temper stands out even among short-tempered dwarves, so who in the elder council hasn’t been scolded by him?
Allow him to be an elder? Wouldn’t the elder council be turned upside down?
So, comparing the two, which is more crucial, overturning the elder council or bringing these machines back to the Furnace Fortress?
Without a second thought, of course, bringing the machines back to the Furnace Fortress is more important!
Morton nods. In fact, the elder council has already made a decision. If Golden Hammer really wants to join the elder council, then let him join. Considering Golden Hammer’s personality, he will soon not be able to bear the numerous rules and regulations there. Allowing this in exchange for establishing high-end machinery in the dwarf clan, seems like a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
Moreover, the elder council especially reminded him that, one way or another, he must establish a good relationship with Long Yi, the inventor of the machinery. After all, machines are just inanimate objects. Given enough time, the dwarves should be able to study and replicate it. However, Long Yi possesses a complete set of mechanical knowledge, which is the real priceless treasure.
With this thought in mind, Morton takes out a black iron badge from his pocket. It has an anvil and hammer symbol engraved on it, and the shape of the badge matches that of a castle.
"This is the Honourary Elder Iron Badge of the Furnace Fortress. Before I came, the elder council unanimously agreed to grant me the authority to present you with the Furnace Fortress Honourary Elder Iron Badge!"
Long Yi reaches out to take it. The badge is very heavy, with a weight that contradicts its external appearance. On the back of the badge is the written language of the dwarves, which Long Yi cannot understand at all.
What is the purpose of this thing?
Long Yi is baffled.
Although becoming an honorary elder seems cool, it doesn’t pay in solid gold coins. Considering that the dwarf clan is not a sly lot, they definitely wouldn’t toss over a useless thing as a way to deceive people, but what use could this badge have?
This time it’s Golden Hammer’s turn to lose his composure as he rushes over, his eyes wide open.
"Good lad, you’ve hit the jackpot this time!"
It turns out that this iron badge is specifically given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the dwarf clan but are not dwarves themselves. In history, fewer than seven of these badges have been given out. At one point, the emperor of the White Dragon Empire, due to opening all the mines in his territory for exploration and development to the dwarves, received this iron badge. The Emperor obtained maps of all the mines in his territory along with a 5% discount on all supply orders for dwarven weapons and equipment.
This 5% discount might not seem much, but consider the massive amount of equipment needed to arm a national army? These savings can economize a considerable amount of gold coins for the nation! Similar arrangements were later mimicked by other nations, but the dwarves stopped giving out this badge.
After all, mines will eventually run out, while equipment can be reused. From a long-term perspective, it seems that the dwarves may not have struck a good deal.
Of course, this is from a national perspective. As for personal perks, Long Yi is in for some notable benefits.
Long Yi can have any equipment made for free in any blacksmith shop owned by a Furnace Fortress dwarf, with the labour costs completely covered by the fortress.
Long Yi can select materials from the Furnace Fortress warehouse at a low price to make equipment, while also enjoying full service from a Master.
Long Yi has the right to protection by the dwarf clan. If Long Yi is pursued by anyone who is not from the Dragon Clan or from another plane, Long Yi will enjoy perpetual asylum.
Long Yi also can...
Also...
Can...
...
All in all, with this Honor Elder Iron Plate, aside from the rights of an Elder, the benefits were plentiful.
"This... isn’t it too valuable? I feel a bit embarrassed," said Long Yi with a scratch of his head, his face feeling a bit hot. After all, the mechanical equipment he contributed was nothing precious. From his previous world’s standards, it couldn’t even buy a square meter of real estate in the city. Yet here he was, receiving such generous compensation, Long Yi felt unjustifiably greedy.
I’m clearly no swindler! Other crossworlders trade an old glass bottle for dozens of acres of real estate, commercial shops, and even the Emperor’s rewards. Why am I too conscientious?
"This is not valuable at all," said Morton. "Compared to the future benefits that these machines bring to the our Dwarf Clan, this little iron plate is nothing. Moreover, we also hope that you, Brother Long Yi, could come to the Furnace Fortress in the future and explain your knowledge to us systematically. Of course, the Furnace Fortress won’t let you come for nothing."
With that, Morton handed over a pocket filled with a jingling sound. Seeing the resplendent glow of various gemstones meticulously cut and crafted by artisans, not a raw gemstone in sight, Long Yi was left momentarily blinded. He could feel the energy contained within these stones; they weren’t ordinary gemstones, but Magic Gemstones. In this world, magical weapons were either enchanted or inlaid with these gemstones.
Compared to enchanting weapons, inlaying gemstones had a great advantage. When facing different enemies, different attribute gemstones could be inlaid on commonly used weapons to easily gain attribute advantage; whereas the enchantment on the weapon couldn’t be easily changed. One would have to return to their enchantment shop and spend a fortune to have it re-enchanted.
Thus, the price of Magic Gemstones is even higher than enchanted weapons.
Of course, not all weapons can be inlaid. Dwarves had better mastery over gemstone inlay techniques compared to Elves, which was one of the points they took pride in their competition with the Elves.
Natural Magic Gemstones are extremely hard to obtain. Some people try to enchant ordinary gemstones in order to produce Magic Gemstones. Despite a certain success rate, the effects of enchanted gemstones aren’t great. Moreover, after a period of time, the enchantment effects would disappear, which leads to the continuous rise in prices of Magic Gemstones.
"I can’t accept this; it’s too scary," Long Yi said, passing back the heavy pocket.
Even the stout-nerved Long Yi was taken aback by this lavish array. Though he had long envied those crossworlders who could effortlessly gain a pile of gold and gemstones, when it actually happened to him, he found his heart wasn’t ruthless enough. He felt that what he did wasn’t worth so much.
He just wanted a few million gold coins to squander.
From his perspective, these things were worth hundreds of millions, it was too scary.
Morton, seeing Long Yi’s expressions, nodded inwardly. This young man Long Yi was not the greedy sort, he had inherited his blacksmith father’s personality traits. This world, after all, produced 70% of Magic Gemstones in Dwarves’ hands. The Dwarves had always implemented strict export controls on Magic Gemstones to constantly elevate their value. In reality, Dwarves’ warehouses were filled with Magic Gemstones.
This pouch of Magic Gemstones was not considered much in the Furnace Fortress. They genuinely intended to thank Long Yi. In fact, if they weren’t afraid of startling Long Yi into thinking the Dwarves were a bunch of lunatics, the reward would have been more generous. An Honor Elder’s Iron Plate and a pouch of Magic Gemstones were the final agreement, grand enough without being scary.
If Long Yi was not a greedy person, he would appreciate the Dwarves and share his knowledge with them.
If Long Yi was a greedy person, his greed would make him share his knowledge with the Dwarves. The only difference was whether the Dwarves were willingly parting with their gold coins.
Dwarves were creatures of such nature. If it was their choice, they wouldn’t mind spending everything in their vault overnight. If they were unwilling, even if you took away just a single iron nail, they would still fight you to death.
Seeing that Long Yi was still unwilling to accept, Morton didn’t take back the pouch and simply said with a smile, "Just keep it. I heard you’re quite a figure at the Dragon Knight Academy too. How can you, as a big shot, not have any good equipment? You can use these gemstones to enhance your equipment attributes. If it’s not enough, you can take the Honor Elder’s Iron Plate and ask any Dwarf blacksmith shop for more. Of course, you’ll definitely have to pay some cost."
"No, no, no. I prefer to be plain. I’m not a dragon; I don’t like gemstones that much."
Long Yi was still insisting on returning the pouch.
Morton frowned.
"What, are you looking down on Dwarves?"
Long Yi paused and then gave a bitter smile. This sentence indeed worked everywhere. Apart from the Elves, who would dare to look down on Dwarves in this world?
"No, no. I’ll take it, I’ll take it."
"That’s more like it."
Morton nodded satisfactorily and did not say anything further.
