“Allow me to show you around this place. You’ll likely become quite familiar with it soon,” Princess Alora said as she and Broken strolled side by side down the inner corridor of the
palace.
Broken observed several royal guards stationed at various posts, as well as maids diligently cleaning and bowing respectfully whenever the princess passed by.
“Thanks a lot, Princess,” Broken responded quietly. “This is my first time experiencing something like this.”
“What do you think about the Kingdom, Broken?” she asked, continuing their conversation.
He turned to her, slightly puzzled by her question. “Which part are you referring to, Princess?”
“Overall, give me your honest opinion about the Kingdom of Dissidia. Please, no sugarcoating.”
Broken fell silent for a moment, their footsteps echoing softly through the corridor, accompanied by the rhythmic clanking of armor from the two Knight Grand Crosses trailing behind them.
“About the Kingdom…” he murmured thoughtfully. “Let me start with the land… I haven’t explored the whole kingdom yet. I’ve only been in the Dissidia region since coming to Yunatea, so I can’t fully judge it.”
“And?” she prompted, encouraging him to continue.
“And… to be honest, I felt a shiver down my spine standing before the King and his two Imperial Knights. Knowing their immense power, I can’t even fathom the extent of their abilities in battle,” he added.
“Really…” Alora replied. “I have never seen the King fight with his full might either. I hope we won’t have to witness that anytime soon,” she said thoughtfully.
Despite Princess Alora’s graceful appearance in her elegant royal gown and her voice, which sounded sweet and melodious, there was an underlying firmness in her words. She always seemed sure of what she was saying and doing, a fact that became strikingly clear to Broken in their unguarded conversation.
“Our first stop today shall be the blacksmith workshop,” Princess Alora said.
“Yes, Princess,” Broken replied with a nod. He couldn’t help but glance around as they stepped into an open area. The view of lush gardens and serene fish ponds on the right was captivating.
As they continued walking, Alora spoke again. “All of the kingdom’s blacksmiths are gathered in this workshop. They are responsible for crafting all the equipment for our knights and guards. Each one is handpicked from the most talented craftsmen across the land,” she explained. “And…” she paused for a moment.
“It’s truly unfortunate that one of the highly talented blacksmiths recently got involved in actions that caused you harm. However, they’ve been duly punished for their misconduct,” she added.
Broken also felt regret. Losing a blacksmith of such high caliber was a significant blow to the kingdom, which heavily relied on their craftsmanship. He mused whether it was still possible for the imprisoned blacksmith to continue working, despite their current situation.
“Princess,” he began, catching Alora’s attention. “Are the blacksmiths here only native Yunateans, or do they include players as well?”
Alora paused briefly before nodding. “There are a few players working as royal blacksmiths, but the majority of them are of Beginner rank. Most Advanced Rank Blacksmiths prefer to work outside the kingdom walls, where they have more control over their sales and profits. So, it’s the same for you, Broken-you won’t be obligated to accept commissions from us if you feel it’s not worth your time. However, I will certainly strive to retain a valuable talent like yours,” she said, giving him a warm smile.
Broken couldn’t help but smile back at Alora. “I’ll do my best, Princess… I trust the kingdom will treat me fairly.”
They walked down the hall, their footsteps echoing through the grand corridor. Emerging into a flourishing garden, they were greeted by a symphony of colors, where vibrant flowers painted a breathtaking scene.
Alora pointed to a building across the garden. “Over there is the blacksmith workshop,” she said, her voice mingling with the soft murmurs of nearby streams and the cheerful chirping of birds.
Broken squinted at the imposing structure. It was built of solid stone, yet it had an immaculate shine that he had never seen before. The grandiosity of the building left him in
awe.
“It looks like plenty of blacksmiths are operating there,” he remarked, admiring the building’s beauty.
“Yes,” Alora confirmed with a nod. “There are approximately one hundred blacksmiths of Beginner rank and sixteen Advanced ranks.”
Broken nodded, though he knew there was a Master Blacksmith named Fokil living in the small town of Deadbay. He wasn’t sure if all blacksmiths would be interested in working for the kingdom.
They strolled towards the workshop at the end of the garden. As they arrived, tens of blacksmiths awaited their arrival, lining up with respectful bows in honor of Princess Alora’s presence.
Alora smiled at the respectful display and turned to Broken. “We are so glad you decided to join us, Broken. I want to ensure you have everything you need to work comfortably. Would you prefer an open area or a private space for yourself?”
He answered promptly. “Working with others wouldn’t bother me too much, Princess. I like to immerse myself in my work and tend not to be distracted by my surroundings.”
Alora smiled knowingly and nodded. “Good then.”
The two continued through the expansive workshop, taking in the orderly array of forging tools, anvils, and blacksmithing equipment neatly arranged along the walls and on worktables. Everywhere Broken looked, there was a flurry of activity as smiths prepared for their upcoming projects.
The blacksmiths paused their work and bowed respectfully to Princess Alora before swiftly resuming their tasks. It was a common scene, as Princess Alora often visited the workshop to personally oversee the progress.
“Do you think he’s just lucky to be able to craft a Legendary-grade weapon?” one blacksmith said to his companion.
“Are you out of your mind? If making a Legendary-grade weapon was just about luck, there should be countless people capable of doing it! Have you seen even one among the hundreds of blacksmiths here achieve that?” the companion replied, shaking his head.
“What rank do you think he is?”
“He can’t be an Advanced Rank blacksmith.”
“But the highest rank any player has achieved is only Advanced Rank level 9, and that’s held by Lanceshot.”
“It’s possible he doesn’t want to reveal his rank publicly. He could be at least an Expert rank.” “Even Jasper, an Expert Rank blacksmith, has never succeeded in creating a Legendary-grade
item.”
“So, I believe he’s exceptionally talented.”
“I hope he decides to stay and work here for a long time. I’m eager to see what he can produce
with his skills.”
“Yeah, I want to learn more from him too.”
“Imagine if he really crafted two Legendary-grade items in such a short span of time, like the rumors say that’s unbelievable!”
After spending some time around the workshop, it became evident to Broken that the facility exceeded his expectations in both upkeep and organization. The difference between the equipment provided by the palace and what was available outside was stark. Here, everyone worked with a noticeable sense of diligence and discipline.
Soon, Broken was shown to his workstation-a place for him to craft his creations, perhaps for an extended period. He was quite pleased to see that, despite being in the center of the workshop, his spot was set apart from others, offering him a bit of privacy. It seemed intentional, perhaps to allow people to gather around, reminiscent of what had happened in
Clario Town.
Does the kingdom intend to make me a spectacle for the other blacksmiths? he wondered. “Inform the guards about any supplies you need, and they will get them for you right away. I will also assign one of my Knights to watch over you,” Alora said. Broken nodded firmly. “This is more than I imagined I would receive. Thank you, Princess.”
After a while, Alora continued, “The chefs have prepared lunch for us. Do you still want to tour this place further?”
“No, I think I’ve seen enough for today,” he replied. “I can come back tomorrow to take a
closer look.”
With that, they walked out of the workshop. Outside, they were greeted by the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the harmonious chirping of birds in the trees. They moved on to their next agenda, and Broken took the opportunity to assess the Land Management feature he had recently acquired after securing a plot of land in the Dissidia Kingdom. He found a new menu on his system and eagerly opened it to explore its contents.