Hiring Bert was less problematic than expected. However, Bert felt like he owed Percy a lot for paying his loan.

“Are you sure about that?” Bert asked with the contract in his trembling hands.

Percy was willing to pay his lease, which totaled 50 silver coins a month, in addition to the material cost as a base fee. In addition, Percy would pay Bert a portion of the profit earned through the forged goods he provided.

The portion was small, almost insignificant in most established blacksmith’s eyes, but Percy would pay an engraver – aka his Ego – to transform Bert’s products into Artifacts.

Bert didn’t say anything when Percy calculated how much money Bert could earn without carrying any risk. After all, everything else had already been paid for since Percy promised to pay three silver coins a month if his profit share didn’t exceed that number. Percy doubted it would come to that, quite the contrary, but his words reassured Bert.

“Of course,” Percy responded with a smile.

“You think I’ll be earning more than ten silver coins a month like that? How can you be so certain of that? My products are not that great…” Bert murmured, but Percy slapped on his back. He tried reaching Bert’s shoulders, but they were too high.

“Everything you’ve forged is good. It’s perfect!” Percy’s words reached Bert like a fierce hammer strike, “I need those products. I need you!”

He cleared his throat, a little embarrassed about what he’d just said but added the next words nonetheless, “If everything works according to plan, I will provide you with better materials and tools. This smithy is rather shabby, and I would prefer to move you to another location where you can work with the tools I’ll provide. There will be Artifacts among the tools. That being said, focus on work like you did before I arrived, and I will take care of the rest. I’ll make sure we are going to be rich and known in the capital if that’s what you want.”

Percy didn’t care about fame, but it would certainly help his shop. If he had to move out of his comfort zone to earn a fortune, so be it.

“Rich, you say…” Bert murmured before shaking his head, “But before that. Let me repay you. I don’t need much to survive. Three silver coins a month are already more than enough. Keep the rest until I’ve repaid you!”

Why is that guy so adamant about this? He is a nice guy. So be it.

Percy shrugged but nodded after a few seconds, “If that’s what you want.”

Bert smiled and rushed to the door. He turned the ‘Open’ sign and closed the shop before turning to the shelves and piles of goods he’d forged in the last few weeks. Weeks in which almost no one came to purchase anything.

“Without any goods to sell, I don’t need to stay open, right?” He kept smiling, “Do you have a carriage or something to bring the goods to your shop?”

Percy raised his hand, revealing the two spatial rings. Bert’s smile widened, and he gestured to Percy to take everything.

That was exactly what he did. He approached the piles and shelves of goods with a bright smile, which widened into a vibrant smile as the Ego recognized everything as his property. Finally, he got a better look at the armaments and accessories.

[Iron Ring – Marvelous Quality - 101 Prosperity]

[Iron Ring – Perfect Quality – 151 Prosperity]

[Iron Dagger – Perfect Quality – 293 Prosperity]

[Iron Sword – Marvelous Quality – 319 Prosperity]

Iron Earring – Excellent Quality – 99 Prosperity]

…

…

The Perfect Iron Daggers are worth almost six times more than the Iron Dagger I had in Raewood. That’s crazy! Even though those things are only made of iron, they’re so valuable already. How many items are there? There are almost 50 items, with the lowest quality being one earring with Excellent Quality. That’s insane!

Percy was having a hard time controlling his emotions. He licked his lips and fetched another gold coin from his pouch.

“Buy enough material to keep forging. I don’t know how fast everything will be sold out, but I think you can start buying more expensive materials. It would be best if you learn how to forge similar items with Silvron, Tiagro, or Yvelton Ingots. There is no need to look at me like that. You can keep going with Iron Ingots, but I think you want to improve as a Blacksmith, don’t you? Improving means to emerge from your comfort zone to learn new things.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

That being said, take that money, forge some items with Iron, and get started with higher-quality materials. If you fail, so be it. Don’t be afraid of failures, and try to learn from them. Take every failure as a lecture to improve. I don’t mind even if your products made from more expensive materials turn out below average at first. All I hope for is that you keep going.”

Tears twinkled in Bert’s eyes as he listened to Percy’s words. That made him uncomfortable, but he patted Bert again before telling him where his shop was located. If he needed anything, whether it was money or some advice, he could come to him and ask.

“Thank you.”

That was all Bert could say before the dam broke and tears started flowing down his cheeks.

Percy left the smithy after patting Bert a few more times.

Transforming everything into decent Artifacts shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred Prosperity. There shouldn’t be an issue with adding [Sharpness] to the Iron Daggers like it had been with the average quality dagger now that I have multiple marvelous and perfect quality daggers. The enchantment won’t be perfect, but as long as I sell it cheaply enough, there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Young lad. Are you in need of love? I can sell you love in a bottle!” A crackling voice rang out to his right, but Percy didn’t think too much about it. There were many stalls in the outer streets of the capital, and most of them were known for taking advantage of others. To put it simply, they were frauds. Many, at least.

“Kiddo, don’t like you cannot hear me!” The same voice called out. This time, Percy looked left and right, but there was nobody.

He realized the woman was talking to him and could have ignored her, but curiosity got the better of him.

Percy turned around, sighing, “Please don’t bo–...”

He stopped mid-sentence when his eyes fell on an elderly woman. The woman had piercing emerald eyes and a crooked nose and looked oddly bright and spry for someone her age.

A Gifted. A powerful one at that. What is someone like her doing in this place…selling potions?

Percy’s eyes landed on the potions. There were many, some even with unique signs like [Love Potion].

However, Percy was more interested in the other potions.

“Why are you selling potions this cheap? What’s the problem with these potions?” Percy was certain there had to be a problem with the potions, given how cheap she sold them. Every potion cost at most a third of the original price. Most Mortal potions were even cheaper.

“You’re pretty straightforward, lad. I like that!” The elderly woman smiled, “The potions are cheap because they’re made from cheap materials. It’s as simple as that. They work, but the potions are not as potent. That doesn’t mean they’re bad. The only problem is that some potions induce food poisoning and other illnesses. That’s troublesome if sold to an active Adventurer, don’t you think so?”

Percy's eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He retrieved a silver coin from his spatial storage, flicked it to the elderly woman, and picked three different potions.

[Healing Potion – Poisoned/Average Quality – 105 Prosperity]

[Stamina Potion – Illness-inducing/Average Quality – 85 Prosperity]

[Mana Potion – Average Quality – 94 Prosperity]

They’re cheaper than my Ego suggested. Even if I buy all of them, I would make a profit by allowing my Ego to consume them. That would be a great advantage. Especially with the Illness-inducing and Poisoned potions. I can Ego-enhance the remaining potions and sell them for ten times the price I’ve paid. But is that all I can do?

He didn’t believe the potions could be salvaged and used [Consume] on his Ego while inspecting the Health and Stamina Potion.

Healing Potion – Poisoned

Average Quality

Potency: Ordinary ⭐⭐

[Food Poisoning], [Health Boost], [Healing Surge]

–

Stamina Potion – Illness-inducing

Average Quality

Potency: Ordinary ⭐

[Purple Blood], [Mild Stamina Boost], [Rapid Stamina Recovery]

The result wasn’t actually disappointing since he could immediately tell what was wrong with either of the potions. They had special properties, which was rather problematic. Food Poisoning was rather simple. It might not affect a Gifted at his Tier, but Percy couldn’t sell something like that in his shop. As for [Purple Blood], it was dangerous if too much of it entered his bloodstream. Even powerful Gifted would have issues resisting [Purple Blood] if too much of it accumulated in their bloodstream. It was dangerous and should never enter someone’s bloodstream.

That was problematic, but his Ego provided solutions to problems Percy didn’t even know he had.

Several silverish-golden threads connected to both [Purple Blood] and [Food Poisoning], probably to strengthen their effects. However, there was also a crimson red thread.

Can I remove these properties with my Ego? Will that consume my Prosperity, or will it add Prosperity?

Percy was unsure, but he was willing to test it out. He licked his lips and looked the elderly woman straight into her eyes.

“How many potions do you have? I want to buy everything!”