Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 311 Beginner in Forging

Su Mu glanced at Hammondal, pointed to the chair next to him, and gestured for him to sit down.

This kid really does have an ominous constitution. He came to the tavern to watch a fight and got dragged into it, almost ending up in the water dungeon.

Logically speaking, as a blacksmith's apprentice, ordinary people wouldn't dare to mess with him, but he encountered a thief who was investigating. The other party was obviously also somewhat reckless because of face-saving issues. It can only be said that Hammondell was unlucky.

"Have you often encountered problems before? How did you solve them?"

Hammondell was clearly stunned, but he quickly understood what the lord meant: "My lord, I have been unlucky since I was a child and often encounter unfortunate things, but they are never too serious. I usually get through the hardship."

Some time ago, my ironware had a forging problem and was returned by merchants in the market. It was during that incident that I met Master Randall. He said that my forging skills were not the problem, but the materials provided by the supplier were not good, which is why he chose me to work in the blacksmith shop.

I've worked diligently in the blacksmith's shop, and there haven't been any problems for a long time.

Clearly, Hammondal was somewhat worried; the lord seemed to possess the ability to read people's minds. He dared not lie in front of these important figures, yet did not want his troubles to jeopardize his future, so he could only find a suitable excuse.

Su Mu didn't care about any trouble; the more troublesome a person was, the more it showed their special nature.

In the realm of mysticism and magic, usually only special creations produce a repulsive effect. However, when applied to a hero, this "ominous" signifies a decrease in luck, indicating that he possesses some powerful trait. This is what is meant by "the heavens are jealous of talent."

This encounter with misfortune, followed by a stroke of good fortune, reminded him of his Chaos Wisdom Technique.

It's unpredictable and uncertain; it's pure randomness. But when placed over a short period of fixed probability, it exhibits fluctuating changes, resembling an equilibrium.

Su Mu felt that Hammondal was likely to possess this trait, that after a period of misfortune, he would be blessed with new good fortune.

Forbidden forging techniques come at a great cost, and even a blacksmith like Randall dares not use them too often. Failure would result in immense damage, possibly even death.

Randall, as a hero, is not actually that old, but his years of using forbidden forging techniques have depleted his life essence and shortened his lifespan. Even the best priest cannot solve the problem of his life essence.

That's why Randall said he needed to rest and enjoy his later years; otherwise, with Kuraki's intense forging, he probably wouldn't live more than a few years.

Having a sacred blood vial could alleviate Randall's condition to some extent, provided he couldn't continue forging. But doing so would completely negate the purpose of recovery; it would be better to rest for several years. Forcing a blacksmith to watch divine weapons being crafted without being able to forge them himself is worse than killing him.

But Hammondell is different; he is a descendant of dragons and possesses a much stronger physique. If an ominous event can be triggered before forging, the success rate of the forging will be increased, and the chance of failure will be greatly reduced.

Furthermore, with the added influence of Su Mu's Money Luck Technique, the success rate could potentially be increased to a terrifying level.

Of course, forging skills still need to be honed through countless trials to improve. Kuraki has no shortage of money and can easily spend a lot of money to train a blacksmith.

"Are you willing to serve Kuraki and work for me?"

Upon hearing the lord's question, Hammondell seemed to have been hit on the head, and it took him a long time to calm down before he excitedly replied, "Kuraki took in a wanderer like me, and the lord thinks highly of me, so naturally I am willing to swear allegiance to him to the death."

Actually, he is currently serving Kuraki, but the lord's question is clearly a step further, and only a fool would refuse.

Su Mu placed his hand on Hammondal's body, and the curse energy flowed through his limbs and merged into him, giving him new insights.

Hammondell, who had many perplexing questions, seemed to have found some explanation. It was as if he were having a dream, in which he was constantly forging and hammering iron. Behind him, a crimson dragon breathed flames, turning the cast iron red-hot; a scorpion crawled out of the soil, constantly striking the red-hot weapon with its tail, coating it with a thin layer of dust.

Finally, a sharp sword was drawn from the red-hot earth, brimming with the power of flames and venom.

【Hamondale (Forging Novice): Attack 8, Defense 6, Damage 4-6, Health 40, Speed ​​5, Sturdy build.

Loyalty 70, Element: Fire/Earth.

Characteristics: Unburnt, descendants of dragon blood, earth scorpions, fortune and misfortune are intertwined.

Forging Basics: You possess a natural sensitivity to fire and dust, making you more adept at forging fire and earth elemental materials, slightly increasing your success rate. Ultimate Balance: After experiencing a bad event, you can increase the success rate of subsequent forging attempts, as well as the maximum level of forged artifacts (currently, the maximum increase is to level 1 artifacts).

So it turns out he has the bloodline of a Crimson Dragon and a Lion Scorpion. It seems Hammondal is a special race in the dungeons, and should have some connection with the Dark Elves, but the inherited bloodline is very thin. In his generation, a certain degree of ancestral atavism occurred, which is why he has such special talents.

If, given the nature of the curse, Hammondal were to attempt supernatural forging without his knowledge, he would likely encounter danger.

"Unless you encounter an unforeseen event, you are forbidden from forging."

"The rest is up to you to focus on learning forging from Master Randall. Forrest will provide you with ample resources; how far you go depends on your own efforts."

This is the lord's personal promise, so its validity is naturally the highest.

Hammondell was extremely grateful, his heart overflowing with thanks.

After being down on his luck and wandering for so long, he finally has a place that accepts him.

After some deliberation, Su Mu whispered something to Maggie and made arrangements for what would happen next.

Although he did not completely rule Hammondal, he did use the art of aura reading and provided some guidance using dream realm studies.

Hammondell has fully explored his potential, and if he can become a hero in time, he will surely be among the ranks of blacksmiths, making the most of his strengths.

Of course, this is not a done deal. There are no shortcuts to becoming a hero; it still depends on his own efforts.

Su Mu has paved the way for him; the rest is up to him.

I just instructed Maggie to spend money to buy the blueprints and materials for a certain treasure, and to hand them over to Hammondal to forge once he has mastered the craft.

Lucky Clover (Level 1 Treasure): Increases Luck by 1 when worn by a hero.

Evaluation: While traversing a dry meadow, you discover a type of clover.

This treasure isn't hard to find; with Kuraki's current wealth, he could easily buy it on the black market. But blacksmiths are the ones who can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. If Hammondal were to forge it himself, he might be able to create a treasure that suits him, enhancing its unique properties.

Since luck is immeasurable, Hammondell is often unaware of whether he is experiencing a period of bad luck. Crafting a clover can remind him of his lucky status and prevent forging accidents.

This is a treasure that suits him perfectly.

Randall will leave after this forging session; Kuraki is truly in dire need of a blacksmith. This is why Su Mu is willing to invest heavily in training Hammondal—hoping he won't betray his trust.

Maggie and Forrest also raised their glasses to toast Harmondale. Those whom the lord admires are rising stars; so far, his judgment hasn't been wrong.

Overall, Su Mu felt that as the territory expanded, more and more heroes would emerge.

It seems that governance skills and the promotion of the Eighth Prince's Hall should also be included in the plan, otherwise the space will be too crowded.

He had just finished giving Hammondal instructions when one of his personal guards came running to deliver a message.

"Court Minister Gwen Finaxia, accompanied by former Marshal Raven and a large number of officials and ceremonies, has arrived at Cornerstone. They are traveling on royal griffins and are expected to arrive at Kuraki in two days."

At the same time, Gale also came to meet Sumu and told him to prepare for the reward.

It seems the royal family is very sincere; Su Mu is almost certain to become the governor of the plains.

(End of this chapter)