Chapter 220: Hammer of Thunder and Lightning

Upon hearing Mrs. Xia Lanwei's reminder, the two finally ceased their exchange.

Lei En said apologetically, "Sorry, I had hoped to ask the lady to introduce me to a few more friends, but it seems we'll have to wait for next time."

When the trade fair began, Mrs. Xia Lanwei, as the organizer, was busy before and after and could not find time.

"No problem, as long as the Lord is free, I am always ready to serve."

Mrs. Xia Lanwei, very perceptive, smiled, "It's actually my first time seeing someone discuss mechanical technology in depth with Vice President Akaland; the Lord truly is low‑key."

"Haha, I'm actually surprised as well," Akaland nodded, sighing, "If I didn't know that Lei En is a student of Master Anxi, I would have thought you were a mechanic; some of your insights into mechanical technology are very unique and have benefited me a lot."

"Akaland, stop flattering me; I'm only a half‑baked layman."

Lei En wore a humble expression; in his previous life he studied mechanical engineering, but the mechanical technology on Diqiu and Ai Lun E Si's mechanical system differ greatly. Especially in applications that combine machinery with Wizardry, many wondrous effects can be achieved, which is essentially a blind spot in his knowledge.

He only dared to speak about basic matters; delving deeper would expose his gaps.

"If you're a layman, then I can't call myself a mechanic either," Akaland replied, unconvinced, shaking his head regretfully, "What a pity you didn't take the path of a mechanic."

"Actually, I have considered becoming a mechanic."

Lei En saw Akaland's eyes light up and continued, "At that time the Vice President of the Longshande Mechanical Guild strongly recommended it to me, but I still preferred being a Wizard."

"Which Vice President has such good eye?"

"Kai Nieji*Luo Kefei, Akaland, do you know him?" Lei En asked.

"So it's Kai Nieji. I just met him recently," Akaland laughed, "He's now a prominent figure in the guild, has entered Count Dong Ting Bo Ju's Silver Star Record Company, holds a sizable share, is vigorously promoting Phonographs nationwide, plans to cooperate with me, and to build a Phonograph factory in Mo Du, shipping abroad by sea."

At this point, Akaland looked at Lei En, "You're from Longshande, so you must know the Phonograph, and have heard of the Countess Dong Ting Bo Ju, who is said to possess a city‑toppling beauty?"

Lei En, upon hearing Viola's name, smiled faintly, "No one knows Viola better than I do."

The remark clearly carried deep meaning.

Akaland, Mrs. Xia Lanwei, and Ai Mi Li Si were all somewhat surprised.

Lei En gave no further explanation, simply saying, "I invented the Phonograph, and I also hold a stake in the Silver Star Company."

"No wonder!" Akaland exclaimed, "The Phonograph is truly a genius invention."

Mrs. Xia Lanwei also exclaimed, "I just bought a Phonograph; every night I listen to the wonderful music several times, it's mesmerizing. It will surely be a huge hit, and the way it sells records is brilliant—like a gold mine. So it turns out it's the Lord's product."

Ai Mi Li Si pursed her lips and remained silent.

She didn't care about the Phonograph at all; she only wanted to know who the Countess Dong Ting Bo Ju was.

Just as she was about to ask, Lei En stood up, "Mrs. Xia Lanwei, let's begin the trade fair."

"Alright."

Xia Lanwei took out her pocket watch, checked the time—it was just right—and led the way out.

In the trade hall, the number of guests had increased since half an hour earlier; nearly a hundred men and women, all impeccably dressed in formal wear, most of whom were the extraordinary.

Lei En gave a casual sweep and spotted three or four legends!

Some guests, even if not extraordinary, were either extremely rich or noble, possessing great wealth or aristocratic birth.

Lei En also saw a few familiar faces—Wizards from Weizelan's Fu Kong Cheng.

However, what caught his attention most at that moment was a war hammer.

A large stone had been moved into the hall at some point, placed in the center, with the war hammer propped askew on it, surrounded by a ring of railings.

The war hammer was identical to the Thunder God's Hammer.

Lei En saw it with his own eyes; even knowing it was a fake, he was still amazed.

It was unbelievably similar!

The entire hammer was cast as one piece, gleaming with a black metallic sheen; on both sides of the head were busts of the dwarf forging god Moradin, whose eyes burst with golden runes like lightning, enveloping the whole head, resembling an exquisite and powerful artwork that moved the soul.

Not only Lei En, most of the guests were also extremely curious, crowding outside the railings, eager to admire the legendary weapon.

Next to the hammer stood a sturdy dwarf with black hair and beard; his beard was braided into a long plait hanging at his chest, bound with a bronze ring, and the wrinkles on his forehead showed he was not young—at least two hundred years old.

Lei En glanced at the dwarf with his Soul Eye.

"Legendary dwarf warrior."

The dwarf warrior wore heavy armor, like an iron can, its surface etched everywhere with dwarf runes, evidently of great value.

On his back he also carried a massive rune war hammer, its head shaped like an iron drill.

Lei En knew that a rune war hammer served both as a weapon and a forging tool.

As expected, the dwarf was a rune blacksmith, and the "fake" Thunder God's Hammer on display was his work.

"Good afternoon, distinguished guests!"

Xia Lanwei stepped into the enclosure, stood beside the fake Thunder God's Hammer, and announced loudly, "I'm delighted that everyone could spare time to attend today's trade fair; I know you're all curious about the background of this war hammer…"

All the guests listened attentively; Xia Lanwei's voice was the only one heard in the hall.

She scanned the crowd, feeling a touch of pride.

This time, leveraging the fame of the Thunder God's Hammer as a gimmick worked quite well, attracting twice as many guests as before.

When Xia Lanwei saw Lei En also listening intently, a slight smile lifted the corner of her mouth, and she continued, "First, I must state that this is not the real Thunder God's Hammer."

A knowing chuckle rippled through the crowd.

If it were the genuine Thunder God's Hammer, it would have already spread throughout the Empire; this trade fair could never have been organized, and Mrs. Xia Lanwei lacks that capability.

"It isn't the true Thunder God's Hammer, but it won't disappoint you."

Xia Lanwei's voice rose a few notes, "It is the masterpiece of Gru Nusi* Bronze Ring Master, who comes from Rongyanbao. Master Gru Nusi is a Rune Lord who has devoted his life to studying the Thunder God's Hammer, having forged over a dozen replica Thunder God's Hammers, each a superb war hammer."

"A Rune Lord!" a guest whispered in awe, casting a reverent glance at the dwarf.

Lei En was also quite surprised to hear that.

A dwarf's smith is called a rune blacksmith, proficient in rune techniques, forging all kinds of powerful armor and weapons; after decades, even centuries, of experience, a rune blacksmith may be promoted to rune master.

Rune masters are exceedingly rare; Zuo Ertan is a rune master skilled at making guns, respected within the Firebeard Clan.

The art of a Rune Lord is a tier above.

In these days, with much of rune technology lost, there are fewer than ten Rune Lords left, fewer even than the Empire's Holy Soul Wizards, and they hold a very high status among the dwarf clans, not inferior to the Dwarf King.

The Rune Lord before us hails from the Copper Ring Clan and has ruled Rongyanbao for several thousand years.

He seems to have been recruited by Xia Lanwei, and I don't know what methods she used, but she managed to make a Rune Lord serve her.

Xia Lanwei wore a slight smile of satisfaction and said, "The war hammer you see is the one that Master Ge Lunus has poured the most effort into so far, using the finest materials, displaying his highest skill, and of course it is the most powerful war hammer."

Master Ge Lunus named it the "Thunder Hammer"!

The quality of the Thunder Hammer already surpasses that of a top‑grade weapon, but it is after all a replica, lacking a genuine legend and fame, so it cannot yet be considered an epic weapon.

Now, please have Master Ge Lunus demonstrate the specifics of the Thunder Hammer for everyone.

After speaking, Xia Lanwei stepped back to the side.

The Rune Lord Ge Lunus remained expressionless until he reached out and grasped the Thunder Hammer, at which point a hint of affection and reluctance appeared on his face.

The dwarf exerted a little force and lifted the war hammer.

"The main material of the Thunder Hammer is a refined gold alloy called 'Ao‑Jing Iron', weighing exactly one thousand pounds," Ge Lunus said lightly, the thousand‑pound hammer feeling easy in his hand, "I have enchanted the Thunder Hammer with four rune effects."

"The first is a four‑ring Chain Lightning, which can be triggered three times a day."

"The second is a three‑ring Thunder Summoning, usable four times daily."

"You should be familiar with these two spells, but the Thunder Hammer's most powerful rune enchantment is 'Thunderous Heavy Strike'; it simulates the 'Heavy Strike' Element, equivalent to a fifth‑level Heavy Strike, capable of unleashing three times the force and each strike carries lightning."

"The higher one's strength while wielding the Thunder Hammer, the stronger the lightning generated by Thunderous Heavy Strike, with a maximum limit reaching the power of a six‑ring spell."

Upon hearing this, the guests were filled with astonishment.

A fifth‑level Heavy Strike with lightning, and one's own strength further enhances it; this is extremely appealing to strength‑based melee classes such as Berserkers, Iron Guard, Tyrants, and Steel Knights.

"The final rune enchantment, I call it the 'Electric Suction Ring'."

Ge Lunus produced a dark‑gold bracelet about two fingers wide, engraved with a circle of runes, slipped it onto his wrist, and it clicked shut.

Then, he threw the Thunder Hammer outward.

Whoosh!

The hammer emitted a sharp, tearing sound as it flew to the far end of the hall, about to smash into the wall.

Bang— a thunderous crack.

The bracelet on Ge Lunus sparked a dazzling lightning, instantly linking to the hammer's haft end like a chain, halting it mid‑air before it flew back.

Ge Lunus caught the hammer, placed it back onto the stone, and set the dark‑gold bracelet down as well.

"This is the function of the Electric Suction Ring: it can be triggered up to five times a day, with a maximum range of one hundred fifty steps," he said, then the Rune Lord stepped aside and closed his mouth.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The crowd spontaneously applauded, marveling at Master Ge Lunus's superb skill.

The Rune Lord's forging level is almost flawless, limited only by material constraints; otherwise he might have been able to craft a true Thunder God's Hammer.

Lei En also praised it highly.

This Thunder Hammer strives to imitate the Thunder God's Hammer, having grasped about a third of its essence, and its power is comparable to an epic weapon!

Even as a replica, its value is astonishingly high.

"It is an honor; the Thunder Hammer currently belongs to me," Xia Lanwei announced loudly, "I am happy to entrust the Thunder Hammer to a master who can unleash its power, but it is the star of tonight's auction, so it will be saved for the finale."

"In an hour, I will accept bids for the Thunder Hammer; anyone with intentions should consider carefully."

Xia Lanwei smiled brightly and said, "Before that, please take a look here first…"

As soon as she finished speaking, a beautiful female attendant carried an exquisite tray out, lifted a silk cloth, revealing an enchanted necklace on the tray.

Lei En glanced at it and then looked away.

This is the normal procedure of the auction; the organizers use the chance to showcase and auction some items, both to earn money and to set the atmosphere.

Viola does the same.

However, Lady Xia Lanwei's auctioned items were of higher quality, and the superiors of Mo Du were wealthier; within a few minutes she successfully sold several items, including many top‑grade gear.

Lei En also set his sights on an Invisibility Ring and placed a bid.

Since the last time he used Ao‑Xi‑Li‑Ya's Invisibility Scroll, he has found the Invisibility Technique extremely useful, with a wide range and often remarkable effects.

The ring was crafted by a senior alchemist, enchanted with a four‑ring Invisibility, which can be activated three times daily.

It is a premium enchanted item, with a starting price of two thousand Gold Shields.

Initially many were interested, but when they saw Lei En's bid, everyone gave up, letting Lei En snag a great bargain; its true value is around four thousand Gold Shields.

Lady Xia Lanwei felt somewhat downcast.

Lei En was also helpless; he hadn't intended to take advantage, nor did he need the two thousand Gold Shields, so he said, "Thank you all for your courtesy; please do not affect the normal trade, this will not happen again."

After that, he placed no further bids, even on items he was interested in.

The auction ran for twenty minutes, then moved into the free‑trade phase.

The guests began to wander the venue, each taking out the items they intended to trade, placing them on the counters, and showing them to everyone.

If anyone is interested, they may go to the side rooms of the hall for private discussion.

Lei En also produced the Hurricane Staff.

This immediately attracted the attention of many guests, especially several wind‑Element users present; they had received advance notice from Lady Xia Lanwei that today was the day of the Hurricane Staff, and they had been watching Lei En, rushing over at once.

"Sir, I am willing to offer thirty thousand Gold Shields to purchase this staff."

A senior Wizard shouted it out without delay.

Thanks to Yu Lao Guai, Xue Ying Yin Lang, Lin Lin, Rym, Ba Yue Wo Bu Shi Dian Dian, Xun Ni Yi Chou, Ben Pao Zhui Wo Niu, Zhong Shan Zhi Long, Qian Cao Yue Xia, Di An Tian Hun, Jiu Yang Yan Liang, Gu Ming Yi, and many other friends for their support; sorry I couldn't list everyone, thank you!

These past two days I've been chopping wood at home, my arms are so sore I can't even lift them—tragic…

(End of Chapter)