Chapter 90: Chapter90-The Sanders Family

"Old Mac! What if the Shadows of the Past don't appear? Wouldn't this trip be in vain?"

"How could it be? Even if the Shadows of the Past don't show up, I wouldn't let you make this trip for nothing! One of my purposes today is to show you the Shadows of the Past. The second is to mine ore so I can craft weapons for you myself!

As adventurers, weapons are your most loyal partners. I think you understand this completely, so rest assured. The fact that you are willing to trust me makes me very satisfied!"

As Old Mac said this, a smile spread across his face.

He was already eagerly anticipating the expressions on John and the others' faces if the Shadows of the Past really appeared.

As for the weapons, Old Mac had already planned this out before they set off.

"Alright! This is it! The ore we need to mine is in this tunnel."

Old Mac slapped the lift to a stop and gazed at the pitch-black tunnel ahead, turning on his headlamp.

"Watch your step. If you fall, it's an abyss of no return."

Old Mac grinned, thinking himself humorous, and led the way, striking the ground with his pickaxe to check for stability.

In a casual glance, John was stunned. The pickaxe in Old Mac's hand was actually of [Epic] quality!

Not only that, but the headlamp, the multifunctional jacket—almost all of his equipment was [Epic] quality, even more luxurious than what the players had!

"Mac, did you make all the gear you're wearing yourself?"

"Not the clothes. My daughter sewed them. How do you like it? She's quite skilled, isn't she?"

When he mentioned his daughter, Old Mac's eyes filled with warmth. He was clearly a loving father.

In contrast, John and the others' reactions were rather exaggerated.

A craftsman capable of mass-producing [Epic] quality weapons and a tailor who could make [Epic] armor—what kind of family was this?

Even if the God of Forging favored them, it seemed a bit too obvious!

"Speaking of my daughter, if there's a chance, I'd love to introduce you to her. Unfortunately, she's no longer here."

"Passed away?"

"What? No, of course not!"

Old Mac steadied his headlamp and smiled wryly. "It's my poor choice of words. I meant she's left Talcavano. Recently, I received a letter from her. She's doing well in Everglow, and I'm very relieved.

And Old Mac, a master craftsman with a daughter even more skilled in her craft, was certainly an invaluable ally.

As they talked, the group delved deeper into the mine.

The walls deep within the tunnel glimmered faintly with the hidden ore, making it possible to see the path ahead even without the headlamps.

Old Mac stopped, extending his rough hand to gently caress the tunnel wall as if it were a beloved partner.

"This is it. The metal I need is right here! John, could you help me set up the supports to prevent a collapse while I extract enough metal to craft weapons for you?"

"That's no problem."

John nodded slightly and took the metal supports from Old Mac.

The heavy weight surprised John.

Despite having allocated some points to strength, he still found it a bit challenging to handle the supports, whereas Old Mac could lift them with one hand and still have strength to spare.

"That strength might even rival Qing's," John thought.

John smacked his lips and, following Old Mac's instructions, worked with Exiled Immortal and the others to secure the mine tunnel with supports.

Afterward, they had some free time.

Mining ore was not something John and his group were professionals at, and even though they wanted to try, Old Mac firmly refused.

His explanation was that if they disrupted the stable structure of the tunnel, they could be buried alive.

Some ores could be mined, but others were crucial for supporting the tunnel, and they couldn't tell the difference.

To avoid the risk, it was better to leave it alone.

Remembering that in their previous lives, many players had caused collapses by mining on their own to save money on hiring professionals, John and the others quickly abandoned the idea.

"But, John, are we really going to invite another NPC to join us? Won't that affect our experience and rewards?" Exiled Immortal asked.

"By about 20%, but in exchange, we get Elaria's formidable strength and a craftsman who can consistently produce [Epic] quality weapons. I think it's worth it. Besides, Old Mac will leave the team once we reach Everglow. If we build a good relationship with him, his daughter might even make us [Legendary] quality armor! So I think it's necessary."

Hearing this, Exiled Immortal nodded thoughtfully.

"Also, I don't think Old Mac's joining us is a bad thing. Think about it, he's very skilled at forging, and you, Exiled Immortal, often run out of weapons. With him around, making dozens of [Epic] quality swords would be a breeze," Helena said, looking at Exiled Immortal.

"Letting Old Mac join is a good choice."

"Hmm... I think Uncle Mac is very kind and will be a reliable companion!" Lily chimed in, agreeing.