Chapter 252: First rate talent Part3

"Aya… No matter how many times you ask, my answer will still remain the same." 

"Come back later and don't waste my time."

A slightly stout middle-aged dwarf twirled his mustache and answered Kosa.

The father and the daughter pair had gotten ready early in the morning to visit a few smithies in the city.

But unfortunately, this was an off season. 

The blacksmithing apprentice tests were typically held at the beginning of every lunar cycle (4 months).

So they would have to wait for another 12 to 14 weeks.

This was not really that big a deal, but Kosa still wanted to try his best and somehow get an apprentice position as soon as possible.

He was worried that once Byron recovers from the loss of his son, he would use underhanded methods to target his daughter and force him to marry her off to one of his other sons.

Before such a thing happens, Kosa wanted to make sure that his daughter was completely untouchable.

If she could clinch an apprentice position in the city, then she would be much safer and have better future prospects.

But unfortunately, it didn't look like this was going to happen. 

This was already their fifth attempt at trying to get into a smithy but they were blocked at the entrance itself.

Kosa had even tried bribing the attendant dwarves but to no avail. 

They only got a strict 'no' as an answer every time.

Kosa sighed but he didn't give up yet. 

He fished out a sword from his leather bag and handed it to the attendant.

"This… My daughter made this. She is very talented."

"Aye… Look here, old man. Stop with these useless tactics."

"I can also go buy a sword from the next street and pawn it off as something I personally made."

"Do you even know what talent means?"

"First take a look at your daughter. She is already so old."

"She wants to become an apprentice starting now? What a joke!" 

"Why are you being unreasonable here?"

"Did I say that we won't offer her a chance to test?" 

"I am only asking you to come back at the appropriate time."

"How can I give your daughter special treatment?" 

The smithy attendant shooed the father and daughter pair away and went back inside laughing.

Kosa could only wordlessly watch the dwarf swagger inside, unable to do anything else.

"Hmmm… It's alright, child. Don't worry. There are still a lot more smithies in the city." 

He turned around and consoled Tang Yue.

Tang Yue only flashed a small smile and nodded. In truth, she was also a little disappointed.

They had come all the way here. 

And taking a look at all these smithies and the powerful aura emanating from within, Tang Yue also wanted to learn more and improve her skills.

Thanks to that bastard Marvin and that lunatic madman who was supposed to be her alchemy master, she didn't get to receive any formal training in alchemy.

So Tang Yue was understandably excited and she looked forward to training formally at least in smithing.

But it looked like she had to wait a while for that now.

Kosa patted Tang Yue and dragged the young girl to a mid-sized eatery for lunch, in order to improve her mood.

He had noticed that lately, his daughter liked to eat a lot.

The duo sat at a table and Kosa ordered a bunch of things for both of them.

"Ah… This is so expensive." Tang Yue clicked her tongue.

"It's fine. Let your father worry about that." Kosa flicked her forehead and changed the subject of conversation.

Tang Yue understood what was going and listened to the dwarf prattling on about the different landmarks in the city with a big smile on her face.

Soon, a beautifully dressed vixen delivered their food platter and playfully winked at them before leaving.

"Aha Ha Ha. This place is so lively." 

Kosa jested and dug into the roasted meat and fragrant rice dish which he had ordered.

Tang Yue, on the other hand, only lightly sipped on a fire chicken stew, not daring to eat any of the low grade or common grade meat and trigger an evolution in the middle of the dwarven royal city.

She couldn't help but silently wonder if she would be able to gain more control of this spontaneous evolution process in the future.

While these two were engrossed in their thoughts and on their meal, a couple of dwarves sitting behind them loudly chatted.

"Hey, did you hear the latest news?"

"A new apprentice arrived at our smithy yesterday. He is the son of an emissary."

"Damn it. That kid is only thirteen years old and he is so talented. I am extremely jealous."

"Heh. Here drink some water and put out the fire. Why are you always comparing yourself to others?"

"That is not a good way to live, I am telling you." The other dwarf chuckled and actually handed him a glass of water.

Tang Yue could clearly hear their conversation. 

And of course, Kosa could hear it too.

The old man knew that it was rude to intrude, but he still got up and walked over to the next table.

"Child, sorry to disturb you. I couldn't help but overhear that you are an apprentice at a smithy." Kosa gently smiled and spoke.

"Could you please do this old man a favor and tell me which smithy you are working at?"

The dwarf was slightly startled but he as well smiled back. 

He didn't mind it that the old man had rudely eavesdropped on their conversation. 

In fact, he even felt flattered to be treated like a big shot.

So he readily answered the question with gusto. "Hai. Hai. No need to apologize for something like this, elder."

"I work at the Star Smithy."

"It is actually the biggest and most reputable smithy in the entire royal city."

"Oh. Thank you, son." Kosa nodded.