Chapter 227 - Master Black Flame

“Ahhh!”

Everyone who wore a mocking smile a moment before was so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when they heard Lady Anna speak to s.h.i.+ Feng. Their jaws nearly hit the floor. They swallowed the ridiculing words they had prepared as their faces turned extraordinarily pale.

Cream Cocoa was similarly shocked by this scene. However, she accepted this news relatively quickly.

This is too great! I have another chance! Cream Cocoa’s disappointed expression instantly s.h.i.+fted to excitement as she looked at s.h.i.+ Feng.

Seeing Lady Anna’s humble att.i.tude towards s.h.i.+ Feng, even going as far as to refer to s.h.i.+ Feng as “Your Excellency,” Cream Cocoa was sure that s.h.i.+ Feng was no ordinary character. Since such a great character was willing to give her another chance, the flame of hope within her instantly ignited.

On the other hand, Melancholic Smile’s current mood was the exact opposite of Cream Cocoa’s. At this moment, she looked at s.h.i.+ Feng with a face filled with astonishment. She then s.h.i.+fted her gaze towards the beautiful Anna. Melancholic Smile discovered reverence in Anna’s mesmerizing bright blue eyes as she gazed at s.h.i.+ Feng. Clearly, Anna was not acting. Moreover, when Anna noticed Melancholic Smile’s gaze on her, she glanced at Melancholic Smile, and the reverence in her eyes instantly transformed into rage.

Melancholic Smile immediately panicked.

It’s over… It’s over… Why is my luck so terrible? Previously, I got kicked out of the Guild after offending one of its upper echelons. Now, before I have even set foot in the Starstreak Trading Firm, I have offended one of its great characters… Melancholic Smile’s thoughts were chaotic, and her heart was distraught. She did not know how she should explain herself to Lady Anna to get out of this mess.

s.h.i.+ Feng couldn’t help but smile when he noticed Anna’s furious glare and Melancholic Smile’s fl.u.s.tered expression.

However, when Melancholic Smile noticed s.h.i.+ Feng’s smile, her delicate body couldn’t help but tremble, dread filling her heart.

It seems that I can no longer stay in the Starstreak Trading Firm, Melancholic Smile lamented. If she had known about this beforehand, she would not have attempted to speak out of turn, interrupting s.h.i.+ Feng’s “happy occasion.” In the end, she had dug her own grave.

However, s.h.i.+ Feng’s following words shocked Melancholic Smile.

“Anna, don’t mind me and continue your evaluations,” s.h.i.+ Feng instructed Anna. He then s.h.i.+fted his sights to Cream Cocoa and Melancholic Smile, softly saying, “I will conduct both of your tests. Everyone else, continue as usual.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Anna respectfully replied.

Compared to a few days ago, Anna’s current Loyalty had risen from 50 to 70 points. Although it wasn’t a particularly high number, it was pa.s.sable. At the very least, Anna would not cause him any trouble.

Do I still have a chance? Melancholic Smile never thought s.h.i.+ Feng would give her another chance. After all, she had spoiled s.h.i.+ Feng’s “happy occasion.” Logically speaking, he should have chased her out of Starstreak instead.

Following which, s.h.i.+ Feng led both Cream Cocoa and Melancholic Smile up to the fourth floor of the building.

“Just who is he?”

“Isn’t he too amazing? He had actually made Lady Anna bow before him. If I could achieve a similar feat, I could die without regrets.”

Some of the players watched s.h.i.+ Feng’s departing figure with admiration, inwardly guessing s.h.i.+ Feng’s ident.i.ty.

In the entire White River City, there had yet to be a single player-owned shop. Even Ouroboros, currently most famous Guild, had not accomplished such a thing. Yet, s.h.i.+ Feng had succeeded in doing just that. Moreover, he was in the upper echelon of the Starstreak Trading Firm; his position was far above Anna’s. So, how could this piece of news not be shocking?

Just how powerful of a backer must s.h.i.+ Feng have to cooperate with the Starstreak Trading Firm?

Meanwhile, when some of the male players saw s.h.i.+ Feng leading away both Cream Cocoa and Melancholic Smile, they inwardly cursed and called him an animal. One was not enough for him? He is practically abusing his authority! Inwardly, these male players felt both envy and disdain for s.h.i.+ Feng.

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Inside a forging room on the fourth floor, s.h.i.+ Feng prepared five sets of materials to craft Whetstones for each of the two girls.

Looking at the materials placed on the stone table, Melancholic Smile’s thoughts slightly lagged. She never thought that s.h.i.+ Feng would truly give them a test and not have any unscrupulous thoughts towards them.

“What is it? Have you not learned how to make Whetstones yet?” s.h.i.+ Feng asked curiously when he noticed Melancholic Smile’s dazed expression.

The Forging a.s.sociation sold the recipe for Whetstones. Moreover, it was available for only 30 Copper Coins. Logically speaking, every player who aspired to become a forger should have learned the recipe, not to mention players who had managed to enter White River City.

“Ah, that’s not it! I know how to make them!” Melancholic Smile hurriedly shook her head, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She felt ashamed of herself for completely misunderstanding s.h.i.+ Feng’s intentions.

On the other hand, Cream Cocoa had a much purer mind than Melancholic Smile. She had not overthought things like the Cleric had. However, she was still extremely nervous at the thought of having to make a Whetstone in front of s.h.i.+ Feng. She felt deeply afraid that she would fail the test.

s.h.i.+ Feng had given each of them five sets of materials, and his requirement was for them to achieve at least two successful attempts. However, during her time at the a.s.sa.s.sin’s Alliance, Cream Cocoa could only make one or two Whetstones out of ten sets of materials.

“Before you start, I’ll give you two a demonstration,” s.h.i.+ Feng retrieved a set of materials from his inventory. With a wave of his hand, he started producing the Whetstone.

“You are a forger as well?” Cream Cocoa and Melancholic Smile asked in astonishment.

“Ah, how forgetful of me. I still haven’t introduced myself.” As s.h.i.+ Feng had kept both his name and level hidden, others could not discover who he was. “I am Black Flame, a forger.”

“You are the Chief Forger of Star-Moon Kingdom?!”

“You are Master Black Flame, the one that developed the Glimmer Chestplate?!”

Cream Cocoa and Melancholic Smile immediately grew fl.u.s.tered. They would never have believed that they would meet the legendary Master Black Flame. After all, he was the person responsible for elevating the status of forgers, turning it into the most popular Lifestyle cla.s.s in Star-Moon Kingdom. Simultaneously, he had also given the various large Guilds a reason to support and nurture their forgers. One could say that Master Black Flame had done every forger within Star-Moon Kingdom a favor.

What was even more unbelievable was the fact that Black Flame was actually the ordinary and detached-looking man before them. In their eyes, Black Flame should have either been a handsome young man or a strange old man. However, Black Flame did not match either description.

Although Black Flame looked different from what they had imagined, that did not stop their growing excitement. If this man before them was the famous Black Flame, that would explain why Lady Anna showed so much respect. It also explained how the Starstreak Trading Firm could possess items such as the Advanced Whetstones.

Noticing Cream Cocoa’s and Melancholic Smile’s excited and hungry gazes, cold sweat dripped down s.h.i.+ Feng’s forehead. He coughed dryly and said sternly, “I will only demonstrate this once. If you cannot complete two Whetstones, you can show yourselves out. I won’t accept you into the firm.”

The two girls instantly calmed after being admonished by s.h.i.+ Feng. Afraid that they would miss out on something, they both heightened their concentration as they watched s.h.i.+ Feng’s hands.

However, s.h.i.+ Feng’s actions rendered them speechless.

s.h.i.+ Feng’s production speed was simply too fast. Moreover, his actions were as smooth and natural as flowing water; one would easily find themselves mesmerized. Before they could react, s.h.i.+ Feng had already finished producing a Whetstone.

“Alright, it is your turn now,” s.h.i.+ Feng smiled calmly as he pointed the two towards the materials on the stone table.

He was already an Advanced Forging Apprentice. Even if he did not utilize the Book of Forging, he still had an 80% success rate when producing Whetstones. However, even if he succeeded in making one, he would not receive any additional Proficiency Points. He had only done so to test the two girls’ potential. After all, they were both future Master Forgers. If they could not gain any inspiration after watching him work, it proved that they had only become a Master Forger due to luck.