Birth Of The Crafts-God

After a week of the people getting accustomed to the news from the cabinet, the focus was all back on the Seven Sparks Forge store. Altimo advised Lucas to strike while the iron was still hot and release some of the previous products of the store. He also hinted for Lucas to announce some new products as well. .

As a result, on the eighth day after the last cabinet meeting, the Seven Sparks Forge store announced the return of the SS vestige line. Naturally, this announcement was facilitated by the Dawn-Spring Arrow Company, since Lucas didn't have a large platform to do so.

The announcements didn't stop there however.

At a grand unveiling of a new building, Lucas, Melissa, Vergil and Altimo stood in front of the building.

Altimo walked up to the podium, cleared his voice and began to read out his speech.

"For the Dawn-Spring Arrow Company and the Seven Sparks Forge, today is a wonderful day. For the people, today would also be a memorable day. But this is even more so for the vestige-smith industry.

"No more to fraudulent items. No more to weak products. No more to low value for money.

"Standing on this place, representing the Dawn-Spring Arrow Company, I am proud to announce that our dedicated and strong partnership with the Seven Sparks Forge has finally bore fruit. Starting from today, we are proud to commission a new dealership that would provide for the people of Baylands city-state and satisfy their needs. Now, everyone can have access to premium and era-defining vestiges at an affordable price.

"Please help me celebrate today —the launch of the Seven Stars Spring dealership."

A round of applause broke out from the crowd gathered in front of the building.

Altimo nodded at them with a smile before stepping down from the podium. Together with Lucas, the duo walked in front of the building with a pair of scissors and cut down the ribbon that blocked the entrance.

Another round of applause sounded during which a holographic image appeared in mid air above the building.

Seven Stars Spring Dealership, was officially open for business.

Just like in the past, the Dawn-Spring Arrow Company and the Seven Sparks Forge store teamed up to form a joint-venture known as Seven Stars Springs dealership. This was quite similar to what had happened in the past where the Novanio Tech cooperated with Lucas to form the Legacy Crafts dealership. But unlike the dealership, which was wholly owned by Novanio Tech, the Seven Stars Springs dealership was co-owned by the two sides, with Lucas holding an eighty percent controlling stake in the business.

According to Altimo, this intermediate company was necessary to better define the lines of cooperation and to protect the respective stakes of both sides. Apparently, despite being the family head, Russell's decision to support Lucas wasn't entirely supported by the other members of the damily. Doing this would help convince them. Also, the new SSS dealership could help with branding and legal issues.

To be exact, back when Lucas worked with Novanio Tech's Legacy Crafts dealership, his products went by the nickname, SS vestiges. This was gotten from the initials of his store, Seven Sparks Forge, with 'Forge' obviously excluded. Although he could still utilise the title, Altimo suggested a need to change it to avoid possible legal problems in the future. However, the name was already popular and could help with marketing, so the change couldn't be too big. Hence, the name Seven Stars Spring dealership, or SSS dealership, over Seven Dawn dealership, which was less of a mouthful.

The SSS vestiges could be used to substitute the SS vestiges, and being quite similar to the latter, it could grow from the existing history of it. It also made the former seem like an upgrade of the latter.

The Seven Stars Spring dealership existed for various reasons, but the major one was to help with corporate matters. Because Lucas didn't plan on expanding the system's shop yet, and the other Mertens family members were insecure about a direct investment without any benefits, the dealership was born.

According to the agreement, Lucas' Seven Sparks Forge would function as a sort of R&D company that supplied patents and finished products to the Seven Stars Spring dealership. The Dawn-Spring Arrow Company would provide trading routes, staff and other necessary resources to form the structure of the company.

It looked as if the Dawn-Spring Arrow Company was investing more into the dealership in contrast to the division of control. However, everyone knew the value of the SS vestiges. Ignoring that, just Lucas' new identity as someone linked to a Tier 1 Grandmaster made him an attractive partnership figure.

"To celebrate this momentous day, we will be organising a raffle draw. The lucky winner would go home with a high quality Grade 3 vestige. Kindly follow our page on various platforms or keep up with our website for more announcements on this." Altimo smiled.

The crowd was immediately rattled, and many of them had looks of greed in their faces. Many of them held their breaths in anticipation for Altimo's explanation on how to participate in the raffle draw.

Seeing as he had their attention, Altimo smiled. A staff worked up to him with a sealed case which Altimo received from him.

Opening the case, Altimo took out the item inside of it. It was a cold-weapon-type vestige —a unique sword with a slightly strange appearance. The jagged black blade of the sword had a groove in the middle (a fuller) that was dyed red. Unlike typical sword vestiges made by most vestige-smiths, the sword didn't favour aesthetics or beauty; instead, it looked like what a barbarian would use.

Despite its unique appearance, the sword gave off a murderous aura that attracted the attention of the professionals in the crowd. The freelancers could tell that this was the perfect killing machine while the vestige-smiths couldn't help but be in awe of its craftsmanship.

This wasn't just a Grade 3 vestige but a high quality one —one that neared Grade 4.

"Veromos, the demon-slayer. This marvelous piece of craft can be yours after the raffle draw. We at Seven Stars Spring dealership are giving this to the people as a testament to the quality of our products. Be rest assured, there will be more products like this on sale."

The crowd immediately went wild and excited. News about the Grade 3 vestige on display was released and many people immediately logged in to the new dealership's website and got a raffle ticket.

In Belfargos territory, a Grade 3 vestige could be found anywhere, but the same wasn't so for Baylands city-state, especially one of such quality as Veromos. This was ironic despite the fact that the city-state bordered a Cursed Graveyard, so theoretically, there was no lack of resources for vestige-smithing. However, this wasn't entirely true.

Desolate beast domains only implied that there would be no lack of desolate beast resources, but not mines. Although a research study claimed that the possibility of a rare metal mine existing in a desolate beast domain was higher than elsewhere, there was no solid fact to back it. Also, the domain neighbouring Baylands city-state was a Cursed Graveyard and not an ordinary domain; complete exploration was impossible.

Resources was one reason for Baylands city-state being behind Belfargos territory, but skill level was another. And this was yet again affected by the lack of resources.

Belfargos territory, despite lacking a Cursed Graveyard, had an abundance of Class A domains which were safer to explore relative to a Cursed Graveyard. They also had space ports that connected to the neighbouring planet Jota.

Because Jota was undeveloped and unoccupied by an 'intelligent' and industrious civilisation, the resources there were untapped. Even denizens from Planet Doma, another planet in the Kellan solar system, frequented Jota for exploration or resource hunting.

Due to these space ports, Belfargos territory was able to gain access to rare resources that didn't even exist in Eretre. Naturally, together with the abundance of Class A domains, this attracted the attention of high level vestige-smiths, which led to Belfargos territory becoming the centre of vestige-smiths. So, Grade 3 vestiges weren't worth much there.

However, in not just Baylands city-state but the majority of the other city-states, Grade 3 vestiges were very valuable. For a vestige on the same level of craftsmanship and performance like Veromos, it was extremely valuable.

With such a vestige up for grabs, the news spread faster than the rumour about Noah's injury. After all, compared to the city lord who was high up above, the people were more concerned about things that directly affected them.

On the Seven Stars Spring Dealership's website, there was a visible announcement pinned on the homepage.

[ Raffle draw ticket sales begins on Thursday 19th, 00:00.

Ticket Price: 50 federal pences.

Prizes include:

Silver bell fruits, Maleficent Green ores, Latress teeth accessories, etc

Grand prize: Premium Exotic Grade 3 vestige, Demon-Slayer, Veromos. ]

As soon as the announcement was released, the entire city erupted with excitement.