Chapter 168 An Idea



Hammer muttered to himself in his room. There was only him and the sound of clanking hammers and metal coming from outside.

'They seem to be planning something important.'

Hammer was still concerned about what the expedition parties were doing in that Ruin. He knew that they had gone to a Ruin and brought Clyde along, someone who shouldn't be going there for now.

The Dwarf knew that this was an order from the Senior Council because there was no way Samuel would suddenly invite Clyde blatantly into the Ruin.

Hammer sighed. Then came out of his room to start working on Clyde's sword which was badly damaged. 

His men asked how the sword could be so badly damaged when they knew that the sword was made of good material.

Hammer just answered by saying the same thing Clyde said earlier. That sword is used to kill worms and zombies.

Upon hearing that, his men immediately looked at each other and immediately agreed that they did not wish to inquire further about what the sword had slashed at Ruin.

While starting the process of repairing the blade, Hammer's mind still drifted to Clyde occasionally. He was indeed an anomaly for this Fortress and the Senior Council was already aware of his existence.

Then Clyde would probably continue to be sent on expeditions and be in danger. Then, given how that boy was, Hammer was sure it wouldn't take long for him to trigger something that would threaten this fortress.

Hammer took a deep breath. 'I'd better make better weapons for him and start preparing myself for the worst.'

~~~

Clyde looked at his Character Information while lying on the bed. He is now Level 95 after killing a lot of dry zombies in the Ruin.

He could only see the Name section of his Character Information. But Clyde had already seen how his Character Information was when he was in the Ruin earlier.

Clyde only felt a little disappointed because he still couldn't see his Character Information in this place. But it's alright and it's not a problem anymore because he already knows how to be able to use it.

In just one day he had leveled up so much. All of that is thanks to the [Skill: Exp+ ] that he has. Clyde was grateful he bought the skill and raised his level to level 10.

'For now, that's enough. I've gained ten times the experience I should have. So I'll save my Skill Points for other Skills that will be more useful.'

Clyde smiled contentedly. But there is one thing that bothers him.

It turns out, Character Information can be used not only in The All Territory but also in Ruin. 

That raised a question in his mind about whether this Fortress was the one that blocked his attempts to summon Character Information.

'The core of this strange fortress is the Senior Council. If I can find out about them, I can find out what really happened.'

Clyde sighed. The problem could wait later because he knew he couldn't suddenly find out about it now. Or he will just get into trouble.

He began to close his eyes to close today. Clyde knows that tomorrow he will just do the same thing which is not a problem. Even if that means he has to kill hundreds of zombies or even meet new monsters again.

So Clyde can close his eyes easily knowing that everything will go smoothly for him.

~~~

Clyde retrieved his sword from Hammer's place the next day. The Dwarf did a good job and made his dull and chipped blade look like new.

Clyde praised Hammer's work. Especially when he saw Hammer's eyes that looked deep and sad. The traces of exhaustion visible on the blacksmith's hard face indicated that he had put in extra effort last night to repair his sword.

"If I could take my old sword back, you wouldn't have to work up to this point," said Clyde accompanied by a grin mischievously when he saw the look on Hammer's face that looked like a dying person.

"Your sword?"

"Yes. The sword I got at the Selection Stage."

"You can't bring things from the Selection Stage or the World Masters can track them down here!" Hammer's sleepy eyes were now wide open.

"Samuel said it's sealed in a special room so you don't need to worry." 

Hammer breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. But then he frowned.

"Why didn't the sword just be destroyed?" Hammer asked.

"Samuel said he couldn't do it."

Hammer's eyes widened at what he said. Something indestructible from the Selectin Stage… he had never heard of something indestructible when entering this Fortress.

Exactly how strong was the sword that it was indestructible and had to be sealed? Hammer believed that the sword was certainly far more powerful than anything he had created here.

Hammer's eyes glistened at the thought of him directly touching the sword. What's the shape? What material is used to make it? How strong is that sword?

Clyde frowned at Hammer's strange reaction. The Dwarf's large brown eyes glistened with something only he could see.

"What's wrong with you?" Clyde asked.

Hammer immediately snapped out of his reverie. "O-Oh, n-nothing."

But Clyde could guess what Hammer was thinking. As a blacksmith who was almost obsessed with good weapons or equipment, Hammer must have been thinking about his weapons.

"Hey," said Clyde. "If you want to see the sword, think of a way to retrieve it from where Samuel keeps it. And to do it without the World Masters tracking it down after you take it out."

Hammer stared at Clyde for a few moments without blinking. Clyde could see that he was tempted by the idea.

"I'll go now."

Clyde took his sword and then left the Hammer room. Leaving Hammer who was still contemplating what he had said.

'How am I supposed to get him out of there, huh?' Subconsciously, he was already thinking about how to take out the sword. But a moment later Hammer shook his head hard. 

"No! That's very dangerous! I can get a severe punishment from the Senior Council and Samuel if I do that!"

~~~