Chapter 189: Chapter 184: Handover and Opportunity

"Jon, this Crystal Energy Technology of yours is really something."

After the Fierce Warrior arrived at the gates of the Lord’s Mansion, Sutton, who had experienced the entire journey, couldn’t help but stroke his beard and exclaim.

"This level of power output is more stable and potent than the existing Magic Energy Power and Burning Power."

Another, younger Dwarf chimed in.

"Yeah, this is way better than the ore carts we Dwarves use. Riding one of those things down into the mines will make your ears go deaf!"

He was clearly airing an old grievance.

Jon smiled and replied.

"In terms of user experience alone, Crystal Energy certainly has its advantages, but at this stage, its operating costs are also very high."

"Widespread adoption and all that, that’s for the future. Let’s go meet the buyers first."

At the mention of this, the Dwarves all perked up and started shouting.

"We worked hard all night to build this big guy. We’ve got to sell it for a good price!"

"Exactly! We’re not selling if it’s cheap!"

Although the Dwarves seemed boisterous and unconcerned with trifles, their travels across the continent had in fact made them shrewd businessmen. This was, of course, one of the reasons Jon had brought them along.

However, some people were destined to be in more of a hurry than Jon’s group.

Before they could even get out of the vehicle, the master of the Lord’s Mansion, Paris, rushed out from the main hall with several nobles and retainers.

Judging by their somewhat haggard and weary faces, they obviously hadn’t slept all night either.

But upon seeing the behemoth that was the Fierce Warrior, and the smiling Jon, their eyes all lit up in unison.

Compared to the common folk with their limited knowledge, these men had been exposed to far more things.

Just by looking at the Fierce Warrior’s wide cargo bed and the violent-looking, long black tube mounted on its roof, they could pretty much guess its purpose.

But a guess was just a guess. To know for sure, they still had to consult the expert.

Paris hurried forward, grabbed Jon’s hand, and asked urgently.

"Mr. Jon, is this that... transport Mechanical Body you mentioned last night? You finished it this quickly? In just one night!?"

"Of course. Something that affects the big picture like this naturally takes top priority."

Jon, his expression as calm as ever, patted Paris’s hand, signaling for him to relax. He then turned sideways to make an introduction.

"I’ve named it the ’Fierce Warrior.’ I hope that, like a fearless warrior, it can lead us to break through our current predicament."

"Oh, and I haven’t introduced you yet. This is Sutton Silverbeard, a Dwarf Grandmaster blacksmith and an elder of mine. And these gentlemen are also friends from the Silverbeard Clan."

"It’s thanks to their help that I was able to turn the design into a finished product in such a short time."

Dwarf Grandmaster blacksmith. Those three words immediately drew everyone’s fervent gazes to Sutton’s face.

Previously, when Jon was promoting his Giant God Workshop, he had mentioned that a Dwarf Grandmaster had joined him. But who knew if that was true? Perhaps he had just hired a highly paid Dwarf Artisan and was passing him off as a Grandmaster to boost his own reputation.

And now Jon had brought the man himself?

All their doubts vanished without a fight.

Setting aside the fact that his skill could be easily verified—true mastery cannot be faked, nor can a fake ever be made real.

Just the Old Dwarf’s weathered beard, his stained leather apron, and that tranquil, aloof, and proud demeanor—as if he looked down on everything—perfectly matched their image of a "reclusive master."

There was no mistaking it. This had to be a real Dwarf Grandmaster!

This caused a fire to ignite in the hearts of many who had previously been uninterested.

Since Jon had established the Giant God Workshop in Birch Town, it meant he intended to use it as a base to expand his operations. And since Mr. Sutton Silverbeard was Jon’s elder, he would surely be staying here for the long term.

Didn’t this mean that as long as they prepared enough materials and payment, they might actually have the chance to request one or two Divine Weapons forged by the Grandmaster himself!?

Paris was likewise overjoyed.

For Birch Town at present, any help was precious, let alone a Dwarf Grandmaster blacksmith and his four kin?

The boost this force would provide to the logistics and morale of the entire Resistance Alliance was self-evident!

He gripped Jon’s hand tightly, giving him a grateful look, then turned to Sutton and the Dwarves behind him and bowed earnestly.

"Mr. Sutton, and our friends from the Silverbeard Clan, Birch Town thanks you for your hard work."

"I swear in the name of Manola, your efforts will be rewarded commensurately!"

When dealing with Dwarves, one had to be simple and direct, with no empty pleasantries.

At the very least, Sutton was quite satisfied with Paris’s words.

The Old Dwarf crossed his arms and jutted his chin toward the Fierce Warrior.

"Enough with the pleasantries. Try out the Mechanical Body this Jon-lad designed. It won’t disappoint you. Of course—"

He glanced at Jon, then added in a drawn-out voice.

"This thing isn’t cheap. You’d better be prepared for that."

"We will certainly pay a price that satisfies you!"

Paris’s expression was solemn as he turned his gaze back to Jon.

"Then, next, please, Mr. Jon, explain to us how to operate this ’Fierce Warrior’."

"My pleasure."

Jon, on the verge of closing his first real deal, was in high spirits and readily agreed.

...

Just two streets away from the Lord’s Mansion, a young man with short, grayish-white hair clung to the outer wall of a dilapidated house, as inconspicuous as a lizard blending into its surroundings.

He was tightly gripping an exquisite monocular telescope. The cold metal eyepiece was pressed against his eye socket, bringing the bustling scene at the Lord’s Mansion gate into sharp focus.

In the lens, Jon’s confidently smiling face filled the center of the view.

Watching him chat familiarly with Paris and introduce the Old Dwarf beside him, the young man’s slender eyes narrowed dangerously. His jawline tensed, and a whisper was forced from between his clenched teeth:

"Jon...!"

’Every single time. It seems like every move I make is ruined by this damn guy.’

’The failed kidnapping of Reya, the loss of my subordinates during the assassination attempt on Rosalind—his shadow was behind it all.’

He felt a savage, murderous intent churning in his chest, and his sharp, crimson nails unconsciously dug deep into the edge of a crack in the stone windowsill.

’Ruining my plans... You’d better pray you’re never caught alone...’

Then, the view shifted slightly, and Paris’s face, weary but forcing a look of high spirits, appeared in his sights.

’Heh... A foolish noble who can only huddle together for warmth. Does he think some new toys will let him turn the tables?’

’Just you wait. When the main army bears down on you, you’ll all die sooner or later...’

But when the cold view of the telescope swept over Sutton Silverbeard, the young man’s insolent face suddenly tensed.

The Old Dwarf stood there with his arms crossed, seemingly at ease, but his profound composure—forged by the passage of time and as unfathomable as a mountain—sent an instinctual chill through Nabelli.

He almost subconsciously averted his gaze, not daring to keep the center of his lens fixed on that short figure for long, using only his peripheral vision to warily track the Old Dwarf’s movements.

’High Knight Level... Tsk... I need to stay far away...’

Although Nabelli was arrogant, he still had a clear understanding of his own abilities.

He could come and go as he pleased even when facing multiple Knight Level enemies.

But a High Knight was a concept from another world entirely.

Just as he would never entertain any thought of challenging the Lord Governor, he didn’t dare appear within the Perception range of this scruffy Old Dwarf.

Just then, the scene in his lens changed.

Jon, Paris, Sutton, and a few nobles and Dwarves boarded the massive Mechanical Body one after another.

Then, the steel behemoth began to move slowly, driving away from the gate of the Lord’s Mansion, clearly heading out for a field test.

Nabelli’s grayish-white eyebrows shot up, and a rapturous light instantly exploded in his eyes.

’An opportunity!’

He quickly retracted his telescope and turned his gaze toward the Lord’s Mansion, which had just seen off its important figures. A cruel and excited smirk spread across his lips.

’Yed Xavier... your long-overdue head... I’m coming to collect it...’

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