"What's with all these classes anyway?" soone from the back grumbled.
The elf's patience was wearing thin. The elf begrudgingly explained, "The Class-A Forging Studio is equipped with high-tier magical furnaces, fueled by Everfla, which ensures the most consistent and intense heat.
"The tools are made of enchanted Mithril, allowing for precise crafting and improving the quality of your final product. In a Class-A Forge, you can finish crafting in half the ti, and the success rate for complex enhancents is significantly higher."
The crowd began to murmur among themselves.
Horizon's decision was made. He was going to rent a Class-A Forging Studio, no matter the cost.
The Elf continued, "In contrast, a Class-D Studio is far more . . . basic. It's barely more than a standard forge. Normal fla, average tools made of regular steel, and no magical support to assist in crafting.
There's a greater chance of errors, longer crafting tis, and the quality won't be anywhere near as good. But if that's all you can afford, then by all ans, be my guest."
The distinction was clear: Class-A was for elite craftsn—those who sought perfection, precision, and speed, while Class-D was for the masses—adequate for low-tier equipnt but nowhere near the standard needed for higher-tier creations.
Horizon glanced at the elf, his patience thinning. "Is there nothing in between?" he asked.
The elven staff sighed in annoyance, clearly not interested in explaining to the crowd of curious onlookers. "There is, but I'm not wasting my breath on you lot. By now, you should understand the basics."
Many of the players, unable to afford the steep price of the Class-A studio, sighed in resignation and opted for the Class-C instead. It was far from ideal, but at 2 Bullions per day, it was a more manageable expense than the Class-A. At least the Class-C studios had better equipnt than the bare-bones Class-D ones.
As the line slowly advanced, Horizon overheard murmurs from the other players.
"Isn't that the guy who crossed Veilborne last night?" one voice whispered.
"Yeah, him. A naless guild mber with nothing but low-tier gear."
"And didn't he struggle to pay 20 Bullions to the guards yesterday? He only got through because one of them was bribed. Now he thinks he can afford a forge?"
"He's probably going for the Class-D studio," one of them muttered dismissively. "That's all soone like him could manage."
Horizon ignored the comnts, his gaze focused solely on the elven staff. "I'd like to rent a Class-A forging studio," he said calmly, his voice cutting through the noise.
A hush fell over the crowd. The players who had been mocking him monts ago now stared in shock, their mouths slightly open. But their astonishnt only deepened at Horizon's next words.
"I'll rent it for ten days."
The crowd erupted into murmurs, disbelief thick in their voices. Ten days? That was 100 Bullions! The sa man who couldn't pay for a bribe just last night was now casually throwing down that kind of money?
The elven staff, however, smiled with newfound enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together as if sealing a lucrative deal. "Well, that would normally be 100 Bullions," he said, his tone sly. "But since you seem like a decent young man, I'll give you a discount. How does 70 Bullions for ten days sound?"
The crowd's confusion turned to outrage. "What? Why does he get a discount?" one player blurted out.
"That's not fair!" another added, glaring at the elf.
The elven staff sneered, shutting them down with a single cold glance. "Silence," he snapped. "Or I'll raise the price on all of you."
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The players bit their tongues, suppressing their indignation as they watched Horizon in stunned silence.
Horizon, on the other hand, was unfazed. His CHA was already quite high, and he knew how to make the most of it.
Smiling, he nodded at the elf and handed over the 70 Bullions without hesitation. "Thank you," he said calmly.
The elf handed him a key, along with a detailed map. "Here's the key to Class-A Studio B," he said, grinning. "Follow the map to find its location. Enjoy your stay."
Without bothering to acknowledge the incredulous looks on the faces of the other players, Horizon accepted the key and turned away.
They had written him off as a low-tier player, soone struggling to scrape by. The sa people who thought he couldn't even pay last night were now dumbstruck by his sudden display of wealth.
"How did he get that kind of money?" one player muttered under their breath, still in disbelief.
"Didn't he just barely get by last night? They even took out foods from the beggar hall. Where's this fortune coming from?" another asked, eyes wide.
Horizon paid no attention to their whispers. His mind was already on the forge. He had a lot of work to do, and with ten days in the best studio available, he would make the most of every gil he had spent.
While the other players stewed in confusion, Horizon strode toward the forge with Frigid and Nyx by his side. The chatter of disbelief behind him faded into the background as he focused on the studio ahead.
From the outside, the Class-A forging studio looked like a modest hut, deceptively simple in appearance. However, as they neared, Horizon could feel the pulse of magic surrounding it, a shimring barrier that hinted at the power within.
Even Frigid could walk right in without any issue. The studio's enchantnts adapted seamlessly, expanding to accommodate Frigid's massive fra.
The mont they stepped inside, Horizon's breath caught in his throat. The interior was nothing short of breathtaking.
The main room opened into a wide, expansive space, far larger than the hut's exterior suggested. The walls seed to pulse faintly with magical runes that glowed in shades of blue and silver. It felt like stepping into another dinsion, one crafted solely for the art of creation.
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|| A/N ||
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