Chương 10: Chapter 10 The Blacksmith
"Shortly afterward, he set his sights on Saltworks Town, which was just over 180 kilometers away from Harrenhal, where he was now.
"It's less than a three day ride from there (it can be shortened to two days if you don't worry about the horse's condition). In such a short period, even those players who rushed to the meeting point at the beginning might not be able to find each other.
In other words, in the most ideal scenario, he could secure the first kill.
Even if he couldn't, as long as he successfully hunted down a player in the next two months, those four points alone would be sufficient to eliminate the threat of the assassination mechanism for a long time to come.
Waiting was not an option. While other professions might not easily reveal the nature of their starting equipment, traveling merchants would undoubtedly be able to get spoted. They might decide to sell some of their assets, buy more mules and horses, or even dismiss a few servants or hire extra farmers to assist.
In this situation, how could one differentiate between them?
After pondering for a while, Ian found the answer: starting capital. Their starting capital of 100 gold dragons remained unchanged.
Ian had intentionally scrutinized this when creating his character and distinctly recalled that, aside from the final profession, the previous choices had a negligible impact on the starting capital. In other words, even if the Traveling Merchant maximized their starting capital in the options,
The money at their disposal would not exceed 110 gold dragons. In terms of this capital, if he wanted to earn 1,000 gold dragons or even more within two months, he had to invest the funds into special goods such as salt and iron.
When I arrive in Salt Farm Town, I just need to determine the local salt prices. Perhaps the foreman receives kickbacks, and I can also ascertain the percentage of the kickback. In short, based on these two factors, I can calculate the purchasing range of merchant players. Then, we can target suspicious merchants based on their shipping volume,' Ian perfected the entire plan in his mind.
Without further delay, he swiftly gathered all his equipment on the table.
He intended to sell these items along with his horse, then buy a machete and an old draft horse, posing as an ordinary caravan guard on his way to Salt Farm Town.
Caravan guard was one of the starting professions that players could choose, but due to its meager equipment, low attributes, and lack of funds, Ian ranked it as a T3 option.
Moreover, the initial equipment of a caravan guard consisted of a short sword and leather armor, a detail Ian had also noted.
Regardless, with the Traveling Merchant's modest strength, as long as he approached the target without arousing suspicion, capturing them should be straightforward.
The advantage was his!
Thinking this, Ian began estimating the value of his equipment.
A complete set of armor could be sold for about 500 silver stags, and a half hand sword would fetch over 200 silver stags.
As for his horse, currently tethered in the inn's yard, according to the background story, it was a 5 year old tame horse from the river, recently matured and in its prime. It should command a price of 750 silver stags or more.
All totaled, it exceeded 1,300 silver stags.
After completing the appraisal, Ian stowed his complete set of equipment into his bag, opened the door, and left.
Upon descending to the first floor, he inquired with the innkeeper's wife about the location of Harrenhal's blacksmith shop and paid a 10 copper cent accommodation fee. Subsequently, he proceeded to the backyard stable to retrieve his horse before departing the inn.
As he reached the inn's entrance, Ian halted.
Barely half a meter ahead, an exceptionally thick stone wall stood. The moss-covered surface was riddled with deep cracks, showing the ravages of time.
Ian took two steps forward, peering through the fissures at the other side of the wall.
It revealed an abandoned hall, its roof long gone, with piles of debris and trash scattered about. Dusty flags hanging on the wall concealed their coat of arms, echoing tales of distant history.
The dismal atmosphere and foul odor seeping through the gaps sent shivers down Ian's spine. He didn't linger, withdrawing his gaze and briskly proceeding toward the alley's exit.
As they rounded the corner, a sudden north wind gust blew, and an eerie cry filled the air.
Ian recognized it as the sound produced by wind passing through the cracks in the stones atop the Howling Tower, but it still sent shivers down his spine. He quickened his pace from a brisk walk to a trot.
The footsteps of both man and horse resonated through the narrow alley, creating an eerie harmony with the eerie cries in the air.
Passing through several desolate streets strewn with rubble, Ian finally arrived at the square where the blacksmith shop was situated.
What rotten luck! I need to sell this equipment quickly and escape this nightmarish place,' he muttered, tying his horse to a wooden stake outside the shop's door before entering.
The blacksmith shop appeared deserted, housing only one elderly blacksmith and two young apprentices.
The old blacksmith seemed short and robust, with graying brown hair. As Ian entered, the blacksmith had just finished repeatedly hammering an iron sword. He deftly withdrew it and submerged it in a bucket of cold water, quenching it.
The red-hot iron sword sizzled upon contact with the water, emitting wisps of white vapor.
"'Young man, what can I do for you?" The old blacksmith noticed Ian's arrival, turned, and inquired.
Ian surveyed the room, quickly dismissing the possibility of other players presence.
First, he had gathered information about the old blacksmith from the innkeeper's wife. Given the setting of player characters appearing out of nowhere, this old blacksmith, who had spent a lifetime in Dusk Valley Town, was undoubtedly a local.
Then there were the two apprentices, clearly younger than the minimum age for character creation.
Ian breathed a sigh of relief, then opened his bag and placed his sword and a complete set of old chain armor on the table.
"'Sir, I wish to sell these items" Ian declared.
The old blacksmith, Eton, regarded Ian with suspicion. He meticulously examined Ian's equipment, finding no significant flaws. The surface wear was minor, and it could fetch a good price after polishing.
However, Eton was puzzled. "Aren't you a knight? You're quite young; why would you want to sell such equipment?"
Ian was indeed very young, having set his age at the minimum limit of 16 years during character creation.
Age, as Ian had discovered, did not affect the character's stats. Hence, he had decided to lower his age to the minimum allowed.
In the old blacksmith's view, a knight of such a young age had a promising future, making him wonder why Ian wanted to part with his equipment.
Perhaps I got an arrow in the knee? Ian joked to himself but managed a wry smile. He then concocted a story on the spot: "I've grown tired of the life of a Hedge Knight. People say we and Robber Knights are two sides of the same coin. There's no honor in it, and I don't want to continue living this way.'"
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