Chapter 295

It didn’t take long for me to purchase a large building with a huge garden. The properties in the capital weren’t exactly cheap, but I wasn’t exactly hurting for money either.RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

Especially since a magical weapon could easily be used as money. Four magical great swords, six longswords, and two bows allowed me to purchase the building with little fanfare. The owner tried to bargain, but a threat about going to another building was enough to stop his attempts to bargain further.

I also used an agent to purchase the surrounding buildings ... but for the moment, kept that particular detail a secret. Subterfuge and teleportation were a very useful combination for that purpose.

The sellers didn’t argue much. Especially since I was significantly overpaying for the old, poorly maintained buildings ... but considering my first action was to demolish it completely before I set up a temporary workshop in the open, it was hardly a problem.

Then, I started forging myself a house, made entirely of bronze and steel, right out in the open.

At first, it looked like a needless expense, especially as I was visibly using parts from Class Ten beasts to strengthen the metal further, but there were three benefits to it.

First, it was the best I could create. As I forged out there in the open, a huge crowd gathered in the streets, piling around to watch me work. Not everyone could meet with someone with Grandmaster Blacksmithing skill.

Of course, technically, I didn’t have that skill anymore. Luckily, for that, the guild helped, which formed my second benefit.

From the window of the nearest building, three people with Grandmaster Blacksmithing skill watched me. I had no doubt that they were sent by the higher-ups to assess the threat of the sudden appearance of another Grandmaster, and what was the best way of communication.

And, to do that, they needed to assess my true range of mastery. Not only in terms of skills, but also the key stats, particularly, Strength, Precision, and Endurance.

However, they were unaware that their presence was helping me greatly.

No matter how strong my stats were, without my Skills, I was at a disadvantage. Luckily, their presence helped me resolve that particular problem.

A string of pure mana, mixed with darkness mana to keep it hidden, connecting to their soul space directly, subtly stimulating their Skill. It was a variant of the trick the Crown Princess pulled, but rather than letting the system create an artificial soul-space on a clone for me to control, I tapped the information flow of an existing one.

It was a difficult trick, especially with a Grandmaster-level skill. Rather than my soul space creating a cushion for me to absorb it slowly and steadily, the information flooded my mind mercilessly, leaving me with a nasty headache even with my Intelligence helping me greatly to filter through the knowledge ... but the benefits were incredible.

I could sense my forging capabilities improving with each second. It wasn’t as good as directly having the skill ... but then, unlike having the skill, it couldn’t simply disappear.

Altogether, it was much more preferable.

The third benefit was simpler. I didn’t use my own mana to forge, but using incredible amounts of monster parts still created a temporary cloud of mana that created some interference despite the constant devouring of the System, which allowed me to create a deep tunnel toward the bottom, and several secret basements, which would ultimately be very useful.

More and more people gathered around the place as my metal house started to rise, and at the edge, a line grew ... potential customers, much to the distaste of the guild members.

It was fun, but unfortunately, I had a lot of things to do, so I stopped after two days, only after building two floors, with the potential to build more.

Then, I grabbed a huge metal plate, and started carving letters on it before I hung at the walls.

And the crowd exploded in shocked whispers.

With that, I started moving my workshop inside, a trivial task with my immense strength, ignoring the two other growing lines, one for forging apprentices, and one for mages that would work as enchanters. They had been gossiping and fighting, but I didn’t care too much about it.

As long as I had some helpers to look convincing, it was enough.

After all, it was just a cover for the real thing.

Of course, while I was busy with that, people were already trying to purchase the surrounding buildings, most I had already purchased. I didn’t sell any of them, but some, I deliberately let them rent, letting spies fill the places.

Others, I had put on various disguises as I covered them with wards, acting as I belonged to some other group that was spying on me as well... By that way, I would be able to act much freer while blaming some mysterious third party.

At the same time, I quickly interviewed the apprentices, kicking only the most obvious spies out while letting in the rest.

Just like that, everything was ready...

—

{Strength: 45 Charisma: 45

Precision: 45 Perception: 45

Agility: 45 Manipulation: 45

Speed: 45 Intelligence: 49

Endurance: 60 Wisdom: 45}

{Purified Divine Spark: 33280}

{Pseudo-HP: 15000 Mana: 20000}

{ADDITIONAL SPARKS

Light - Chosen 7.4

Nature - Chosen 10}

{MINIONS

GODDESSES

Elven Goddess

Goddess of Knowledge}