Chapter 142: Magical Seed

Earthfire Rock District, Dwarf Street.

Looking out, the figures of dwarf extraordinaries filled the street densely, flowing past in an endless stream.

Of course, the number of humans was not small either.

Back in the earliest days of Holy Rand, dwarfs—born blacksmiths—had settled down and made their homes here.

They forged weapons and repaired equipment for the local extraordinaries, and even during the autumn beast tides, they would don armor, grab axes and hammers, ride mountain goats, and resist the beast tide's assault.

One could say that dwarfs had long been part of Holy Rand.

Even one of Holy Rand's three four-ring towers belonged to that very famous dwarf master craftsman.

Holy Rand's extraordinary weapons were not only extremely popular within Holy Rand itself.

They could also be exported in large quantities every year, earning foreign exchange for Holy Rand.

It could be allowed to gradually grow into a "Magical Hut."

"I would like to see Alchemist Bagins. Tell him an old friend by the name of Andre has come to visit."

Although Taku had heard before that steam cores were expensive.

Even the source-energy steam of this Dwarf Street was permeated with the ecological characteristics of 【Craftsman】 and 【Furnace】.

Before long, hurried and heavy footsteps sounded.

This figure made Taku's brow twitch slightly.

【Forging】, 【Quenching】, 【Shaping】, 【Strengthening】, 【Fusion】.

Taku and Andre entered separately, both to avoid trouble and to evade some potential scrutiny.

"How did things go with the items?"

A dwarf's temper was not good.

He had been in contact with this Steam Wizard before him for quite some time now.

If this were to submit a steam core application to Holy Rand's upper echelon.

"The steam core is a bit troublesome."

That human waitress had clearly received similar instructions.

"Haha... my old friend, Ta... ni... an... Andre, yes, it's Andre, you've finally come!"

Although his temper was hot-tempered, his head was not muddled.

"Then please wait a moment."

"Plus what you later said about using a portion of the fees from this to purchase my two medium storage bracelets."

Not to mention that it somewhat hindered Taku in combat, it was also too conspicuous.

These extraordinary characteristics, in the hands of different dwarf blacksmiths, would seep through extraordinary forging hammers into extraordinary equipment.

When Bagins said this, he looked at Taku and said solemnly.

But Taku was also clear.

And Taku waited quietly.

Holy Rand's dwarf-forged weapons were extremely famous even on the Eastern Continent, let alone here on the Western Continent.

He looked Taku up and down twice, then said very politely.

It could block their conversation from being eavesdropped on.

"In the earlier years when they were cheap, they could even be auctioned for twenty to thirty thousand magic gold."

Before even seeing his figure, Bagins's customary loud voice could already be heard.

Since the other party had already changed both name and appearance.

"This thing, the earlier you use it, the earlier you enjoy it."

Basically, any extraordinary with some means had all prepared similar methods.

Bagins was also happy to play dumb.

"72,650 magic gold."

Ramor's super genius, gravedigger of the Demon King's crypt, blasphemer of the Great Dark Sun, terminator of the Black Valley puppeteer, bearer of the era's steam tide—Steam Wizard Taku.

Before the approaching waitress could even speak, Taku had already spoken first.

"I can get 12,000 magic gold."

Pausing briefly in front of Dwarf Street Shop No. 112, Taku entered.

"Is the price that high?"

"According to our original agreement, I get 15% as the handling commission."

Although he had known this price would be the case long ago.

Although he tried his best to lower his voice, even standing outside the door, one could hear him.

"There are other channels too. The Extraordinary Chamber of Commerce's auction house occasionally puts one up."

But once it was nurtured, Taku could absolutely build the Magical Hut's extraordinary characteristics and magical abilities to be extremely powerful.

Those extraordinary storage bracelets numbered over 180.

"Before advancing to level 40, getting the second steam core will do."

These two points were both pieces of information that Taku had previously entrusted Bagins to help him inquire about.

"How are things with the steam core and the magical seed?"

"Then... what about the magical seed?"

Entering the shop hall, Bagins, paying no mind to others' gazes, came right up and gave Taku a big hug.

"If... you don't have a channel to reach the upper-level experts of Holy Rand, basically, it's very hard to obtain."

"Although this is Holy Rand and there is a certain number of steam cores, you also know that steam cores are expensive, and more often than not, it's still the experts above who distribute them."

It is said that craftsmen with exquisite skill produce a very rhythmic sound when they strike materials with their extraordinary forging hammers.

"If you hadn't come, I was almost going to breathe your last for you!"

So then!

Compared to the second channel, which was rather unstable and relied on "money power."

Bagins sorted through the information he had gathered and began to recount it.

Even so, Taku still maintained his own habits.

Taku looked at Bagins and asked.

Wondrous Seeds, through feeding resources, cultivation, communication, enlightenment, and so on.

This was already an extremely profitable deal.

No matter what, the upper echelon of Holy Land would have to set aside a piece for Taku overnight.

This scene drew sidelong glances from quite a few human extraordinaries inside the shop.

"Wondrous Seeds are simple enough."

"The professional appraiser in my shop has conducted a detailed assessment."

Becoming "old friends" with a dwarf was no easy matter.

"Wondrous Seeds themselves aren't cheap, but they aren't too expensive either. The subsequent cultivation is where the real resource investment is needed."

After thinking for a moment, Taku spoke again and asked.

"By paying 1,000 magic gold, you can go to the Wondrous Sequence Tree of the Furnace Steam Spire and pick out a Wondrous Seed to your heart's content."

"But now... many factions know the power of the steam core. Even with fifty or sixty thousand magic gold in hand, no one dares to say they can secure one reliably."

Constructed with magic barriers for protection, its concealment was quite good.

"On the contrary, the Wondrous Seeds need to be cultivated as early as possible."

At the very least, an attitude of courting geniuses was absolutely necessary.

"The remaining sixty thousand plus magic gold is yours."

To be able to steadily receive over sixty thousand magic gold.

Taku couldn't help rubbing the bridge of his nose.

In many shops, there was the rumbling sound of source-energy steam, and the clinking of hammer strikes even turned into a dense symphony.

Forging them through the properties of different materials could even endow them with all sorts of inconceivable wondrous abilities.

It was an entire dwarven race's worth of exploration over many long years, summarized and distilled.

If Taku handled it himself, those scattered resource materials would never sell for such a high price.

And the 【Craftsman】 and 【Furnace】 ecology here was also part of Holy Land's ecology.

But!

Only when he actually came into contact with it did he realize that this thing was indeed absurdly expensive.

Steam Core.

On the other hand, it was also because Taku needed to conceal his whereabouts.

Combined with his own methods and abilities, as well as the resources in hand.

Both sides benefiting was the cornerstone of long-term cooperation.

"Fine!" Taku nodded.

"The total value is..."

These extraordinary forging methods that fused extraordinary skill with a wealth of experience.

"Only with powerful talent can you obtain it."

Wondrous Seed.

That was nothing but the path to death, and a fast lane at that, with the pedal pressed flat to the floor.

In dwarven vocabulary and phrasing, an "old friend" was a friend with an extremely high level of trust.

Taku frowned slightly and asked.

"At this stage, getting one is good, but there's no need to rush if you can't."

After saying that, the waitress hurried toward the back of the shop.

"I know this." Taku nodded.

Bagins had also vaguely guessed some of the other party's identity.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to the back and talk."

Using his Source Spirit Form, he carefully sensed the surroundings, and only after confirming it was safe did he look at Bagins and ask in a low voice.

Over seventy thousand magic gold in total, which was about what Taku had expected.

Looking left and right, Bagins pulled Taku along and headed toward the back.

"Bagins, this time I've come, there are also several other important matters."

Having Bagins handle those scattered items could also save Taku a lot of worry and effort.

The first path appeared quite enticing.

…………

"But the competition is extraordinarily fierce."

Taku didn't dare say he was one hundred percent capable of keeping the Wondrous Hut alive.

The backyard parlor.

"Is this the only channel?"

Long ago, Taku had already studied the entire knowledge system of the Wondrous Hut.

After a moment's hesitation, Ta Ke slowly opened his mouth and said.

"Are you looking to forge powerful rune armor and a rune ring staff?"

In the field of forging equipment, Ba Jin Si possesses a keen sense of smell that ordinary people cannot match.