Chapter 232: Chapter 216: The Middleman

Gray Rock Castle.

Grim strode through the stone gate and down the corridor, entering the fortress.

He had just led a team to eliminate a group of bandits who had roamed to the edge of the Thousandstone Hills, and his body was still stained with dark red blood.

As the Silver Moon Race’s trade network matured and expanded, the Eldron Plain gradually became one of the commercial hubs of the eastern continent.

Merchant caravans traveled to and fro in an endless stream. All sorts of goods were gathered, distributed, and transshipped here, flowing toward the Green Highlands, the Thundering River Basin, and even the more distant Frost Ridge Plateau.

The Silver Moon Race’s dazzling array of high-quality goods attracted merchant guilds of all sizes, who came drawn by their reputation.

Some even traveled thousands of miles from the Freedom Alliance in the western part of the continent, just to secure a batch of scarce metal ingots or potions.

The prosperity of trade brought wealth, but it also brought covetous eyes.

Many bandits and wandering Mercenary Corps flooded into the Eldron Plain like hyenas scenting carrion, targeting the merchant caravans and transport teams that dotted the plain.

At first, a few reckless fools who didn’t know any better targeted the Silver Moon Race’s own caravans and transport teams. But after the Silver Moon Race ruthlessly annihilated more than a dozen Mercenary Corps and bandit groups, the remaining forces were scared into hiding and didn’t dare show their faces for a long time.

When the storm passed and they became active again, they no longer dared to touch the Silver Moon Race’s caravans and transport teams. Instead, they turned their attention to the factions that collaborated with the Silver Moon Race.

Gray Rock Castle was one of them.

Over the years, Gray Rock Castle’s supply convoys had faced their fair share of attacks.

Today, Grim had led a team to hunt down a group of bandits who had plundered Gray Rock Castle’s supplies. They intercepted them just in time at the border of the Eldron Plain and managed to recover the goods.

Otherwise, the loss would have been a painful blow to Gray Rock Castle for a long time.

Rounding a bend, Grim stopped a young Dwarf.

"Lord Grim." The young Dwarf quickly stopped and bowed to him.

"Where are the elders?" Grim asked casually. "I have something to report."

The young Dwarf said, "An honored guest has arrived. The elders are receiving them in the council hall."

"An honored guest?" Grim was surprised. "Could it be that Lord Anton is here?"

Only the arrival of the Fallen Dragon Sword Saint would cause all the elders to come out and receive him at the same time.

The young Dwarf shook his head and said mysteriously, "It’s not Lord Anton. It’s an honored guest from the Heart of the Mountains—Ignatius Fire-Forged."

Grim’s eyes widened instantly.

Ignatius Fire-Forged!

To the Dwarves, this name was legendary.

One of the Five-Star Pillars of the Fallen Dragon Association, the nephew of the current Dwarf King, Sorlin Fire-Forged, and the youngest ’Guardian of Ten Thousand Furnaces’ in the Dwarf kingdom.

He was a true Dwarf hero, an idol to all the young Dwarves.

After the shock wore off, a deeper question surfaced in Grim’s mind.

’What is a great lord from the Heart of the Mountains doing here at Gray Rock Castle?’

...

The Council Hall.

The long stone table was lined with people on both sides.

All of Gray Rock Castle’s upper echelon were present; even the few elders who rarely made public appearances were in attendance.

The usually grumpy Dwarf elders now wore warm smiles, carefully making small talk with Ignatius Fire-Forged, who sat opposite them.

Ignatius’s fiery red hair and beard were woven into dozens of tight, short braids, their ends adorned with polished copper rings and small rubies that refracted a fragmented glow under the lamplight.

Beneath his thick beard was a weather-beaten face. His gray eyes held the stubbornness and toughness unique to Dwarves, yet they also possessed a calm and reserved air not often seen in his kin.

"Gray Rock Castle is much more prosperous than before," Ignatius said with a smile. "I just saw many merchant caravans coming and going at the castle gate. It seems your fortress’s goods are very popular."

"You flatter us, Lord Ignatius," Titus said humbly. "The fact that Gray Rock Castle is where it is today is all thanks to our cooperation with the Silver Moon Race."

The surrounding Dwarf elders all nodded in agreement.

Every Dwarf elder agreed with this sentiment from the bottom of their hearts.

Initially, when the Silver Moon Race introduced those high-quality metal ingots, it was indeed a huge blow to Gray Rock Castle.

If they had handled it poorly, Gray Rock Castle’s income would have been severely damaged.

But after Thorvin and the others brought the news back to Gray Rock Castle, the elders held an all-night meeting. In the end, they decisively chose to abandon the metal trade that had been their focus, and instead began selling their metal ores directly to the Silver Moon Race.

At the same time, they started purchasing large quantities of high-quality metal ingots from the Silver Moon Race to forge various types of equipment.

Facts proved their decision was the right one.

Gray Rock Castle’s equipment was already renowned for its fine craftsmanship. Combined with the leap in quality from the high-grade raw materials, their sales didn’t shrink; on the contrary, they became even more explosive than before.

Their income increased instead of decreasing.

Thanks to this, Gray Rock Castle was now more prosperous than ever.

Hearing the name "Silver Moon Race" from Titus, a strange glint flashed in Ignatius’s eyes. He nodded slightly. "The Silver Moon Race’s trade has indeed spurred the development of many factions. Their commercial territory is also growing larger and larger. Even in the Kazadum Mountains, one can often see caravans selling goods from the Silver Moon Race."

"To have developed a small Elf Clan to its current state, Anton is truly an impressive figure. I’ve wanted to meet him for a long time."

Hearing this, Titus finally seized the opportunity to ask the question on his mind. "Lord Ignatius, your visit to the Eldron Plain this time... could it be to meet Clan Leader Anton?"

Ignatius nodded frankly. "That’s right."

Titus asked tentatively, "My lord, are you hoping to procure equipment from the Silver Moon Race?"

"That’s right." Ignatius didn’t hide it, sighing as he spoke. "The war on the front lines has dragged on for too long. The consumption of supplies is immense, and the allied forces are now sourcing materials from everywhere."

"Alicia came to the Silver Moon Race a few months ago and obtained a large number of healing potions from Anton. The effect was much better than we anticipated."

"I’ve heard the quality of the Silver Moon Race’s equipment is also outstanding, so I’ve come this time to discuss the procurement of equipment with them."

"However, I’m not an Elf, after all, and I have no personal relationship with Anton. It would be presumptuous to show up unannounced, so I was hoping Gray Rock Castle could act as an intermediary and help make an introduction."

’No personal relationship?’

’Isn’t Anton also a member of the Fallen Dragon Association?’

’Could it be that Anton has already left the Fallen Dragon Association?’

Titus couldn’t help but wonder.

Thinking about it, it was true that neither Anton nor the Fallen Dragon Association rarely mentioned each other in public.

As a result, many outsiders only knew Anton as the Clan Leader of the Silver Moon Race and the Fallen Dragon Sword Saint, but were unclear about his specific relationship with the Fallen Dragon Association.

’Perhaps Anton really has cut ties with the Fallen Dragon Association.’

’Otherwise, with Anton’s current power and fame, even if he wasn’t one of the Association’s Star Pillars, he would at least be a chief Torchbearer at headquarters.’

Numerous thoughts raced through Titus’s mind, but he showed nothing on his face, instead agreeing without hesitation.

"Rest assured, my lord. I will contact the Silver Moon Race right away."

...

"Ignatius wants to see me?"

Hearing Eleanor relay Gray Rock Castle’s request, a flash of surprise crossed Anton’s eyes.

But after a moment’s thought, he quickly understood.

’They’re most likely here to procure supplies for the allied forces again.’

Eleanor had clearly reached the same conclusion. "The allied forces have been procuring supplies from all over the continent for the past few years. It’s not just us; many commercially prosperous factions have cooperated with them. Equipment is one of the most heavily consumed resources in war, so it’s normal for them to have their sights on our Rune Equipment."

The cost of Rune Equipment is much lower than Magic Equipment, yet its performance is in no way inferior. At the same price point, it has almost no rivals.

For the allied forces looking to procure equipment in large quantities, it is undoubtedly one of the best choices.

Anton smiled and said, "We’re in business. When a customer comes knocking, we can’t just turn them away."

"Contact Gray Rock Castle. Tell them His Excellency Ignatius is welcome to be our guest."

’Coincidentally, there’s something I want from the Heart of the Mountains as well. I might be able to get my hands on it during this transaction.’

"Alright."

Eleanor nodded and was about to turn and leave, but Anton stopped her.

"What’s the status of the investigation into the signs of numerous subterranean creatures appearing north of Nine Nether City?"

Eleanor stopped and turned back. "Romance gathered most of the Dark Banner Team’s soldiers to investigate some time ago. There’s no further news yet."

Anton nodded and asked no more questions.

With Romance’s current strength, plus the elites of the Dark Banner Team, they were more than capable of handling ordinary situations.

If a situation arose that even they couldn’t handle, Romance could use a Sound Transmission Talisman to request aid from Taichu City immediately.

After Eleanor left, Anton returned to the Artifact Refining chamber.

He had been refining the third Dao Enlightenment Stele during this time.

This time, he had chosen the Law of the Water Element.

Among the Five Elements Divine Techniques, the first he mastered was the Beiming True Water, so his understanding of the Law of the Water Element was the deepest.

The Water Element Dao Enlightenment Stele he was refining would likely have the best enlightenment effect among the three steles.

It was worth mentioning that, not long ago, he had finally mastered the last two Divine Techniques.

The Daluo Celestial Sleeve and the Six Ding Divine Fire.

Thus, he had now mastered all six Divine Techniques he had chosen when he advanced to the Golden Core stage.

The next steps were to continuously refine the six Divine Techniques and further comprehend the Laws.

There was also the continued refinement of the Pill Poison and the cultivation of the Sword Dao.

And, of course, Artifact Refining for Profound Artifacts.

Anton looked toward the Silver Moon Forest.

After discovering that the Eternal Tree was developing spiritual awareness, he had buried the Earth Element core he had acquired beneath it. He then ’communicated’ with the Eternal Tree, using its Life Force to continuously wash away and cleanse the deathly aura from the core.

He estimated that the Earth Element core could be purified in two to three years at most.

By then, he should have accumulated enough experience in Artifact Refining to use the Earth Element core as the main material to craft his first true Profound Artifact.

’Actually, the most practical use for an Earth Element core should be to comprehend the Law of the Earth Element.’

’However, the Clan already has an Earth Element Dao Enlightenment Stele, so the Earth Element core is no longer needed for that purpose.’

’Refining it into a Profound Artifact would make better use of it.’

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