NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65 Progress.
One month later.
"Yes, these weapons are of better quality." Benimaru said, looking at a simple yet sharp sword made of Affinity Metal.
This Affinity Metal was dug from an ore vein that was found by Benimaru's generals when they were conquering a demon knight's area. Affinity metal has a high conductive power to amplify any element, so it was sought after by everyone to make equipment.
Benimaru, who was wearing simple clothing, which was a white shirt and brown leather pants, nodded in satisfaction at seeing the sword in his hand. Not just this one but the rest of the ones in rows of boxes below him.
"Graa." A meatscraper before Benimaru rubbed its hands and also nodded in satisfaction. It was very happy to be praised by Benimaru. However, it wasn't the only one present here. There were many others like it behind them who were also very happy.
Other than their race being common, there was also another thing common in them, and that was their ragtag clothes and the burned marks on their hands and faces.
"Continue making them. We will take these to sell in just a few hours." Benimaru's words quickly made the meatscrapers faces darken, but the next words changed them back to normal. "Also, I will reward you all with Body Enhancer Pills before I leave."
"Ohhh!" The meatscrapers instantly went on their knees and bowed to Benimaru. Then they left with bright faces, ready to make more weapons for their lord.
Benimaru watched the meatscraper with a smile on his face as they left enthusiastically. 'Such a simple trick, but very effective. Just talk nice and give them decent enough rewards for your large share, and you will have happy employers who will do anything for you.'
Tossing these thoughts away, Benimaru looked beside him, at the boxes full of various weapons, ranging from swords, axes, bows, arrows, and pickaxes. They were made with the same metal. 'These will give me so much access. Well, I am very fortunate to have noticed that technique in all those piles of garbage.'
The piles of garbage were the shop in the system, and the technique was something that Benimaru was about to skip. As everyone could guess, it was a blacksmithing technique. It wasn't like Benimaru had not seen any blacksmithing techniques in the shop, but all of those were trash.
However, this one was different, as this technique could purify any material and had a wide range of ways to make various weapons. He found an Affinity Metal vein a few days before he found this in the shop. Also, the main reason for buying this was because he had to find a way to get a foothold in Arash's fief and what was better than putting up a shop and doing business there.
But blacksmithing wasn't the only way to go into business. Benimaru first tried alchemy, as that was a very ludacris business, and if he could tap into its market, he would be set. However, there was a catch. Unlike blacksmiths, where one can learn the basics just by having a good build. You couldn't do that in alchemy, as it required mental energy and high wisdom, which demons lacked the most. Only, Ravenna was able to master the basics of alchemy and was able to make some useful potions, like the Body Enhancer Pill Benimaru just talked about.
For lack of manpower, it wasn't something Benimaru could mass produce, so he stuck to blacksmithing, in which he had many workers.
'Let's gather everyone together.' Saying that in his heart, Benimaru walked out of a wooden shack. This was specially made for blacksmithing which was forty meters long and thirty meters wide.
Just as Benimaru exited the smithy, his eyes met with Ragnar training with various demons under him.
Among these demons were meatscrapers and swinefiends. They were wearing simple leather armor and holding weapons, respectively. The meatscrapers had swords, while the swinefiends had axes, clubs, and hammers. He captured these guys this whole month, trying to expand his force. These pieces of equipment were recently made, so they had yet to taste blood.
Benimaru's eyes eventually rested on Ragnar, whom he put these forces under to train. A status interface appeared before his eyes to clearly show his progress.
[ General: Ragnar
Race: Martial Demon
Vitality Realm: 1st Stage Fleshcrafting
Combat Strength: 4th Stage Fleshcrafting
Ability: Blessings of Martial Demon God
Vitality Technique: Great Tiger and Bear Art
Skills: Counter, Blurry Dash ]
Ragnar had made significant progress in his cultivation and was able to reach the 1st Stage Fleshcrafting Realm. This helped him to hide his demonic traits and let him blend in with humans easily.
After he was done with his checkup, Benimaru called Ragnar. "Ragnar, prepare yourself. It is time."
Ragnar halted his training, and so did others. Ragnar first bowed at Benimaru, followed by others. "Yes, my lord."
Benimaru walked away with a smile on his face, but he was sighing in his mind about something. 'Wish the demon knights we fought were all like him at least, but unfortunate, they all chose violence.'
Benimaru was genuinely disappointed, thinking of all the potential workers he and others had to kill. He did win land and resources but lost some valuable soldiers that he felt might have been a great addition to his forces.
'Well, it already happened; nothing will happen now with brooding about it.' Benimaru got rid of these thoughts and headed toward another wooden shack.
This one was north of the main base, which was where Benimaru, his generals, and his forces lived. The smithy was to the east of the main base, so it was just a few walks away for him to reach it.
Unlike the smithy, where the smell of oil, fire, smoke, and metallic scent could be found, here it was the opposite. There was the smell of herbs and blood, while some pungent smells of rot could be found.
This was the alchemy chamber where Ravenna made various potions and pills.