The Last Gentleman

Under Chamberson’s guidance, Yi Chen followed him to the mid-level district of the city, a street primarily focused on the sale and forging of weapons: (Metalwork Street).

A large number of blacksmith shops of various designs were set up here, characterized by:

- Massive metal chimneys,

- A stifling heat at least 10°C hotter than other districts,

- The ceaseless sounds of hammering and shouting.

Despite such an environment, many gentlemen frequented this area, searching for suitable materials or weaponry.

For firearms users like Edmund, it was common to visit modernized blacksmiths to customize specialty bullets.

As they strolled along the street, Yi Chen noticed that even Professor Chamberson seemed undecided, glancing around but unable to settle on a particular blacksmith shop.

“Professor, is this your first time here?”

For instance:

- Spellcasting gloves crafted from special leathers, n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

- Accessories like rings and necklaces made from pathogenic crystals with magical properties,

- Or, for something more advanced, magical tomes created with large amounts of skins and enchanted inscriptions.”

“I see. Can I use such items?”

“Of course… Even a basic pair of spellcasting gloves could significantly enhance your control over plants. If you’re not planning to upgrade your clothing with ‘gentleman’s skin,’ you can start by crafting gloves. It’s up to you.”

“Well, let’s settle the weapon first.”

“Alright… This shop looks decent—a two-story building offering both material sales and weapon forging. Let’s go in and try to get everything done in one visit.”

[Vulcan’s Forge]

A glowing, heat-radiating red sign hung at the entrance.

Upon entering, they saw a group of burly young men, clad in black leather aprons, their bronze-toned muscles glistening with sweat as they hammered away at glowing hot iron.

After briefly explaining their purpose to the receptionist, the two were invited upstairs, where they were greeted by an experienced senior blacksmith.

Unlike the apprentices hammering iron downstairs, the old blacksmith preferred to stay in his quiet second-floor room, reading books and tending to flowers.

Upon learning that the request was for a 'new gentleman' to forge a weapon, the old blacksmith seemed slightly disappointed.

“Forging for a new gentleman doesn’t require my expertise. My apprentices could handle such a task. If there’s a significant discrepancy from expectations or a mistake damages the materials, we offer double compensation.”

“Can your apprentices handle this?”

At Chamberson’s signal, Yi Chen handed over a sealed box containing the Tumorous Crystal of the [Moonlit Rat—Jesmin Lee]

The old blacksmith took the box with his calloused hands, squinting as he slowly opened it.

A soft, moonlit glow immediately seeped into his eyes, prompting him to gradually open them fully. In the depths of his pupils, a crescent moon shimmered.

Nestled within the seemingly beautiful crescent moon was a fleshy embryo.

It wasn’t grotesque.

Instead, it imbued the otherwise lifeless moon with a touch of vitality.

“This is a remarkable piece!

Professor Chamberson, you’re giving such a high-quality crystal to a new gentleman? A weapon forged from this material would be extremely difficult for a newcomer to wield.”

“He obtained it himself. This crystal was refined from the relatively intact corpse of a pathogenic entity he personally slew. I’m merely accompanying him for the forging.”

“This… This is a crystal from a severely infected patient, isn’t it? And judging by its form, it must have been a particularly troublesome foe.

No wonder Professor Chamberson took the time to bring a newcomer—it turns out he’s a rare talent. Alright, I, Bengus, will take on this task!

Here’s a forging request form—please fill it out carefully.”

Yi Chen had mostly decided what he wanted on his way there, so he quickly completed the form.

The blacksmith, Bengus, looked at the preference sheet and casually read aloud:

"Hand axe, slightly heavier weight, material not specified, adaptable length… hoping to handle various situations and combat against different types of enemies.

The conditions you’ve provided are quite flexible, but are you sure about using an axe?

With your physique, a sword, longsword, or spear might be a better choice."

"I'm already accustomed to using axes. I’m not comfortable with swords or blades."

"Alright then.

However, if you want to handle various situations, your weapon must combine the traits of both a short hand axe and a long-handled axe. Coincidentally, our shop has a technique that allows compatibility with both characteristics.

Here’s a prototype for you to try out."

The old blacksmith brought over an iron rod about a meter in length and handed it to Yi Chen.

It looked ordinary, but it felt unexpectedly heavy in his hand.

"This length is suitable for close-quarters combat in confined spaces. If you want to engage at a longer range or perform wide-range attacks, you'll need to extend the weapon's length.

You should be able to feel the metallic latch on the rod. Press it down with your thumb, then give it a short, swift pull backward."

"Got it."

Following the blacksmith's instructions, Yi Chen firmly pressed the discreet latch and pulled the rod backward.

Clang! Sparks flew.

Within the short 5 cm motion, the previously 1-meter-long rod instantly extended to 2 meters.

"If you want to revert it to its original state, just repeat the same action.

This prototype only demonstrates length adjustment, but we can incorporate other transformations depending on your requirements."

"How much does it cost to add transformation features?"

Yi Chen couldn’t help but worry about the price, as he still hadn’t repaid the money owed to Edmund.

"If transformations are added, the cost will exceed ten thousand."

Just as Yi Chen was about to decline,

Chamberson firmly placed his business card on the counter.

"Go for the highest standard. As long as the final product meets the specifications, charge it to my account.

This technology is quite impressive and deserves to be paired with this precious crystal material. I also have some materials here—feel free to use them if needed."

"Alright then.

Next, we’ll need to finalize the design details, including the weapon's transformation modes and forms, as well as address feasibility issues.

Once the blueprint is finalized, we’ll select materials and take precise measurements of the user’s physical parameters.

After completing all the preparations, it’ll take over two weeks to manufacture. Once it’s done, we’ll notify you immediately."

"Sounds good. William, you stay here to confirm the weapon’s design details. I’ve got some other matters to attend to."

As Chamberson left, the initial stages of weapon crafting officially began.

When it came time to measure Yi Chen’s body parameters, Bengus was surprised to discover that the seemingly lean young man actually had an oddly powerful and robust physique.

"Your body… this wasn’t built through conventional training, was it?"

Yi Chen smiled and replied, "Let’s just say the process was extremely painful."

"No wonder you could slay severely infected beings, and Professor Chamberson values you so highly.

Since you might be someone capable of helping humanity escape its plight, I’ll do everything I can to forge the best weapon for you.

To ensure the final product fits you perfectly, we may call you over to test it from time to time. So, stay in the city for now and don’t wander off."

"No problem. I’ll be at the academy most of this month anyway. Thank you, Mr. Bengus."