Han Ling’s first order of business was to purchase a large amount of steel and buckets of water. He brought them back to his house that Narukami gave him, and placed them on the ground, bringing out Amphitrite’s Tear.

[Transmutation]

[Transfiguration]

A rainbow glow coated both the steel and water, shimmering so fast it was slightly blinding. After a few seconds, the rainbows disappeared and Han Ling picked up a piece of the steel, the metal now donned a greyish, smooth surface that seemed to eat up light.

[Kuebiko’s Eyes]

Enchanted Titanium (Rare)

Type: Crafting Item

Material Buff: When an equipment is crafted from Enchanted Titanium, a random buff will be placed on the equipment.

Remarks: The Enchanted Titanium is much tougher than normal Titanium and is known for their assimilation into elemental weapons.

Han Ling then picked up a droplet of the rainbow water, feeling the water condense into a small crystal the size of a raindrop.

Hydro Essence (Rare)

Type: Miscellaneous

Usage: Able to assimilate Hydro Elements on equipment.

Remarks: The Hydro Essence is a rare consumable item that implements the Hydro element on weapons, able to allow players of a different element to use the power of Hydro.

Han Ling was ecstatic, “With Enchanted Titanium and Hydro Essence, those orcs wouldn’t stand a chance on the sea! No wonder Barbarossa rose so quickly. I’ll have to find a blacksmith able to handle Enchanted Titanium…”

He decided to keep the tear a secret for now, until Jiron becomes a Dynasty at least. I’ll also need to learn Smithing… I can probably use Clockwork Eyes to learn as I watch the blacksmith, so that’ll be an easy task. So, what should I do now?

Han Ling tapped his chin, then he snapped hi finger.

He pulled out the Pearl Trident and General Gavan’s Sword, “Can I fuse these?” he waited for a fuse button to appear, but it never did, causing Han Ling’s expression to fall. “Well, I guess I can find a blacksmith for now.”

The teen just opened the door when he found a certain someone waiting for him at the door. Black hair, pale smooth skin and a face that screams adorable. “You left me there!” Aiko pouted, her eyes glaring at the Blank mask on Han Ling’s face.

“W-Why are you here?” Han Ling blinked under his mask, clearly confused as why Aiko would still be around, “Weren’t you going to find a close friend of yours?” Aiko grumbled something, and Han Ling blinked, clearly confused. Aiko sighed, “My father was lying, he just wanted me to accompany you back to Jiron, the only person I know in Jiron is probably Lightning Empress Nagisa, but she’s not here now.”

She glared at Han Ling, “So, I looked for you, who would have thought you would be so well hidden to the point no one even knows you exist!” Han Ling nervously chuckled, “I just blink around.” “Then why are you stepping out now?”

“No real reason, just felt like it.” Han Ling shrugged, “Anyway, I have to find a good blacksmith for some weapons, if you want to follow you can.” Han Ling patted Aiko’s head and slipped past her, making his way towards the smell of smoke. Aiko placed both hands on the spot Han Ling patted, her face beet red. “Don’t simply pat someone!”

And she chased after Han Ling with fists flailing.

>>>

Stormval was home to some of the best blacksmiths in Itone, so it wasn’t difficult for Han Ling to find a Master Blacksmith with his Kuebiko’s Eyes. He stepped into a tidy, warm smith, surprised to find the place quite clean. “I’m here for a commission!”

After a few seconds, a grumpy looking man burst out the inner door his long hair was ruffled, dirty and completely unkempt, His face was half covered in soot, twisting his expression into something more than annoyance. “You need a commission? You got the materials?”

Han Ling nodded, pulling a few pieces of Enchanted Titanium from his bag. Aiko stood behind him, her arms folded as if she was still mad at him for leaving without her. The blacksmith’s eyes widened, “Enchanted Titanium? Boy, where did you get these?”

“I obtained them from dungeons.” The blacksmith frowned slightly and opened his mouth to reply, but Han Ling was faster, “I wish to craft a few swords using these bars of Enchanted Titanium, how long would it take?” the blacksmith shrugged, “Give me a few hours, I’ll get it ready by then, is there anything else you need?”

Han Ling then glanced at Aiko, “Aiko, what weapon do you use?” Aiko tilted her head to the side, “A katana, why?” Han Ling then placed a blue crystal on the table next to the Enchanted Titanium. “Please create a katana of highest quality possible, also add a few drops of this once the blade is complete. Additionally, some armour for her.”

The blacksmith recognized the blue crystal teardrop but said nothing, just nodding. Aiko turned to Han Ling with a look of disbelief, “Why would you do that? Enchanted Titanium is valuable you know! I don’t need another weapon!” Han Ling just sighed, “I’ll feel better if you’re safer.” That one sentence effectively silenced Aiko, her mouth half agape as her eyes quivered, her brain running at super speed to process that phrase.

Its quite inevitable for her face to redden during the process…

Han Ling then realized what he said, immediately glad that his face was covered, “Ah! I mean its important for a princess to have a strong weapon, no?” Aiko breathed out a sigh, “Yeah of course that makes sense…” Han Ling breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that she didn’t get the wrong idea.

“One more thing,” Han Ling then placed the Pearl Trident on the table, “Could you smelt this and craft a sword with it?” The blacksmith picked the trident, eyes widening as he saw the grade, “This is a glorious gold trident!” Aiko gasped, “A glorious gold?!” Currently, the highest ranked weapon known in Itone was the Pope’s Papal Ferula, a Glorious Gold weapon. Han Ling wanted to do what with a weapon of the same calibre?

“A-Are you sure about this, Han Ling?” Han Ling noticed the pained expression on Aiko’s face and sighed, “I have no use for a trident, and it would be more useful to me as a sword.” He turned to the blacksmith, “How long would you take?”

“Hmmm, as its my first time with a Glorious Gold weapon, it will take me at least a few days to smelt something. Is there anything else you would like to add to the sword?” Han Ling pondered for a second before placing a few more blue crystals on the table, “Use these on the new sword, start with the sabre, I’ll be collecting them after a few days.”

Han Ling dropped a bag of sovereigns on the table next to the materials and left swiftly, Aiko snapped out of her shock and followed, quietly tailing the masked teen.

“You could have sold that weapon for an enormous sum! Why would you just smelt it to create a sword? There’s a chance the weapon will be destroyed being repair!”

Han Ling sighed, summoning Obsidian Hollow and tossing it over to Aiko. The princess caught the black sword with a confused expression, but her face contorted in deep shock as she read the stats on the weapon.

“E-E-E-E—” Han Ling placed his palm on her mouth, bringing his finger to the lip of his mask, “Calm down.”

Aiko took deep breaths, finally calming down, but her eyes were quivering as she read the stats of the blade, its cold metal shimmering under the sun, as if they were eating the light around. “H-How did you even get something like this?” Han Ling just shrugged, “I got lucky.” Aiko nearly choked and she glared at the masked teen with a weak smile.

“L-Lucky?”

Han Ling nodded, yanking the weapon back before it disappeared into purple particles.

He sighed before turning to Aiko, “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Aiko shrugged, a mischievous smile on her face, “Nope! Why? Is this pretty girl distracting you?” She grinned teasingly and Han Ling just snorted, “I can just fly away if I want to, but since you insist on following me, then you’ll be coming with me to find the Fearcrow.”

Aiko pouted, “Why do I have to follow you?” Han Ling shrugged, “You seem like good bait.” And he immediately dashed off.

The petite girl’s expression was one of disbelief, but that easily contorted into fury. “You bastard! Is that all you think of me!”

>>>

“M-M-My lord! The black-winged human has returned!” With a burst of bats, a trembling young man wearing a suit kneeled on the cold ground.

It was a dark hall, the only source of light was the moon, beaming its translucent rays onto the ground, trickling up a couple of steps. A high heeled shoe stepped into the moonlight.

“The man who killed my son has returned?” A cold, vast female voice sounded around the hall, the words reverberating all around. “Inform Drazen and Delia, I want his head in front of me. Use any methods.”

“Both dukes?! Isn’t that too much?”

A frosty wind blew past the man’s face, his face contorted into an expression whiter sheet of paper with fear written all over it. A red line appeared on his cheek, blood slowly flowing down. “You question my decision?” the voice sounded, cold, fury compressed in a writhing mass of power.

“I-I s-s-shall obey!”

The man exploded into a flock of bats and disappeared into the night.