If anyone in the Association knew that these two figures had waited an entire day just to see a child, they wouldn't know whether to laugh or be stunned.
Trailing behind them was Rachel.
"President." Nova imdiately stood and greeted him respectfully.
Nigel nodded with a smile. His gaze then settled on Ray.
When Ray heard the word "President," he quickly stood up. Kaelan stepped forward and spoke warmly, "Ray, this is President Nigel of the Blacksmith's Association. He is also one of the most renowned Saint Craftsn on the continent."
Saint Craftsman!
Ray's eyes lit up. Gilbert had spoken of Saint Craftsn before. Only seventh- and eighth-rank blacksmiths could earn such a title.
He hadn't expected to et one so soon.
And not just any Saint Craftsman.
Ray's gaze landed on the badge at Nigel's waist. Eight stars.
An eight-star Saint Craftsman.
"Hello, President." Ray hurried forward and bowed.
"It's you?" A sharp, astonished voice rang out from the side.
Rachel stared at him, eyes wide. To her, this was the boy who had stolen all the spotlight. Not just hers, but that of every blacksmith of their generation.
Ray blinked, equally surprised. Why is this rich girl here?
Nigel glanced at his daughter. "Rach, do you know each other?"
Rachel looked away. "Not really. But we attend the sa academy."
Nigel turned back to Ray with interest. "What grade are you in at West Ocean Academy?"
"I'm a new student this year," Ray answered honestly. "First grade, Class Five."
At the words Class Five, a flicker of disdain crossed Rachel's face. She knew exactly what that class represented.
But Nigel's expression didn't change at all.
"I heard from Kaelan that you passed the second-rank test," Nigel said warmly. "That is an extraordinary achievent. You've set a new record in the Association. We truly believe you have the potential to beco our successor."
Ray's face turned even redder. Praise from soone like this left him completely at a loss.
After thinking for a mont, he asked timidly, "Uncle President… can I receive my badge now and start taking forging tasks?"
Nigel laughed heartily. "Of course."
Kaelan added with a smile, "The President waited the entire day just to personally give you your badge."
Nova returned, carrying a silver tray draped in red cloth. Resting atop it was a badge.
The badge was hexagonal, with a blue background. A raised hamr symbol stood at its center, accompanied by two white stars.
Whether cha engineers, blacksmiths, or technicians, all rank badges followed the sa structure. First- and second-rank badges were blue with white stars. Only from the third rank onward did the design change.
Nigel personally pinned the badge onto Ray's right chest. His smile faded, replaced by solemnity.
"From this mont on, you are officially a mber of the Blacksmith's Association," he said slowly. "As a blacksmith, you must complete every task with sincerity. Use your soul to perceive, and your life to comprehend. A true blacksmith does not rely forge tal. He gives birth to life."
Those words struck Ray deeply.
Combined with his understanding of Thousand Refinents, it felt as though a massive door within him had cracked open.
Ray gently touched the badge. Its cool surface ignited a fierce warmth in his chest.
At last, he was a real blacksmith.
"I want to compete with you!"
Rachel's voice cut sharply through the atmosphere.
She stared at Ray, unconvinced and unwilling to accept him. Only then did Ray notice that she wore the exact sa badge at her waist.
Seeing Rachel staring at him with eyes full of challenge, Ray froze for a brief mont before calmly shaking his head.
"I'm not competing."
He then turned toward Nigel and asked seriously, "Mr. President, where can I go to accept tasks from the Association?"
Nigel shot Rachel a sharp glance, cutting off whatever she was about to say. Then he smiled warmly at Ray.
"Brother Kaelan will take you there. Since you've passed the assessnt, you are now a mber of the Blacksmith's Association. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you may apply for assistance. Our Association may not be the strongest, but it is certainly the most united."
When he said the word united, Nigel deliberately emphasized it while glancing at his daughter. Rachel pouted and lowered her head, clearly dissatisfied.
"Co with ," Kaelan said with a smile.
As Ray and Kaelan left, Rachel could no longer hold herself back. She turned to her father and asked indignantly, "Dad, why did you stop from competing with him?"
Nigel's expression darkened. "You're being far too impetuous. What do you think this place is? This is the Blacksmith's Association. Every word and action you take represents the Association, especially as my daughter. That child just joined us. What if you frightened him away? If you want to compete, wait until you're more familiar with him. When that ti cos, I won't stop you, but keep it private. He is your junior. You should watch over him, not pressure him."
Nigel hadn't had enough ti today to properly observe Ray. From the Heavy Silver Ray had refined, he could already tell that the boy's forging standards exceeded Rachel's. His true intention was simple: he didn't want his daughter to suffer a blow to her confidence. At their age, confidence was everything.
Since Ray was eager to take on tasks, there would be plenty of chances to observe him later. There was no rush.
*
The Task Acceptance Hall was located on the second floor of the Blacksmith's Association. The entire floor was lined with circular counters, each marked with a rank symbol similar to the Association's badges.
A blacksmith could only accept tasks equal to or below their own rank. Higher-ranked tasks were completely locked.
In blacksmithing, all materials were provided by the client. Because of this, the Association placed great importance on quality control. If a product failed inspection, compensation would fall on the blacksmith.
"You really keep surprising , little fellow," Kaelan muttered. Thinking of Gilbert's smug attitude back then made his teeth itch, yet he couldn't deny that Gilbert had raised an exceptional disciple.
"What kind of task do you want to take?" Kaelan asked.
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