Free Web NovelChapter 236: [Weekly Bonus Chapter] Thieving Morons (1)
The morning sun bathed the workshop in its warm, inviting light. Workers bustled about, showcasing their creations to each other. Their products reflected their unique skills and creativity.
Most were excited and eager to present their craftsmanship to the Masterbuilder. But there was a particular couple of blacksmiths who seemed especially giddy.
Their hushed conversations and sly grins set them apart from the rest as they practically behaved as if they had won already.
In the far corner of the room stood Shinon and Miro. Even after hearing about Shinon’s plan, Miro didn’t look all that optimistic.
It wasn’t because he didn’t believe Shinon’s plan could work but because he didn’t know if someone was foolish enough to present stolen goods before the Masterbuilder.
"Relax, I know it will work," Shinon replied to Miro’s concerns reassuringly.
There was a reason why Shinon was so confident in finding his creations there. What was it? The tracking rune that he engraved on them. Through the engraving, he knew the stolen goods didn’t leave the factory.
Since the gears were inside the factory, someone clearly wanted to submit his work as their own.
"I hope it does, for your father’s sake," Miro replied before leaving Shinon alone. "I better get going, or the boss will start yelling at me."
Shinon nodded as Miro departed, leaving him to scan the crowd and immediately find his creations. A giddy couple from before was carrying it. However, when they noticed Shinon looking at them, they hid the gear from his sight.
Meanwhile, the Masterbuilder walked to the centre of the bustling workshop. His stern exterior couldn’t hide his keen eye for exceptional work laid before him.
Masterbuilder’s commanding presence silenced the room, and all eyes turned to him as he stepped forward. He cleared his throat, and the blacksmiths waited patiently for his announcement.
"Today is the day to showcase your talents, my fellow craftsmen and craftswomen," he announced, his voice carrying a weight of authority. "You’ve worked tirelessly for days to create your finest gear, and today, we will evaluate those creations. But before that, I have an announcement."
Murmurs of curiosity and a few raised eyebrows spread through the crowd as they awaited the Masterbuilder’s announcement.
Soon, the man in charge continued, "There has been a change in plans. Rather than sending all of your works to the Mayor, I will personally inspect and test each piece.
Only the top five creations based on my opinions will be submitted for the Mayor’s consideration."
Some were taken aback by this sudden change in the plan, but many welcomed the opportunity to impress Masterbuilder with their work. After all, he was known for his impeccable taste and high standards, and receiving his endorsement was an honour.
But the couple from before did not look pleased with the sudden development.
With that, Masterbuilder and Miro, his trusted assistant, began their evaluation. They walked from one blacksmith’s anvil to the next, carefully inspecting the gear and equipment.
As they approached Shinon’s work area, there was a notable absence of any creations on his anvil. An empty workspace was different from what he had expected from the talented blacksmith.
Masterbuilder’s brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth to question Shinon, but Miro quickly intervened.
"Masterbuilder," Miro whispered, "Shinon’s creations were stolen from him last night. I assure you he created some intriguing pieces, but as you can see..."
"Stolen? Who is that bastard? I will expel them-"
Masterbuilder’s expression darkened with anger. It was the last thing he had expected from the workers in his charge.
"Please calm yourself," Miro intervened. "Shinon already has a plan in place to expose the thieves, but for that, he would need you to continue the work."
Following Miro’s advice, Masterbuilder noted how things were getting out of hand and took a deep breath to calm himself. Causing a ruckus there would force the thieves to hide their tracks, and Masterbuilder didn’t want that.
"Let’s see what the next contestant has to offer."
Miro, keen on maintaining composure, urged Masterbuilder to continue the evaluation to avoid disrupting Shinon’s plan to catch the culprit red-handed. With a reluctant nod, Masterbuilder continued the assessment.
As they progressed through the workshop, Masterbuilder approached a couple who had been chattering excitedly earlier. On their anvil rested a set of three devices, each covered in mysterious and intricate designs.
"Interesting creation," Masterbuilder commented before asking the couple more about what they had made, "What do you have here? Explain it to me as if I’m a newbie and don’t know anything."
The couple, looking somewhat startled by the question, exchanged uneasy glances.
They had acquired these devices from Jara, the mysterious gear merchant, and had no idea how they functioned. In fact, they weren’t even sure of their true purpose. fгeewebnovёl.com
Besides, Masterbuilder hadn’t asked anyone any questions about their creation, so they weren’t expecting to be asked something either.
The man among the couple, Ron, stepped forward, trying to sound confident.
"These devices are special smoke bombs, designed for quick getaways and cover during combat," he claimed.
Unknown to them, Shinon had designed their encasing with deceptive craftsmanship, masking the true purpose of the gear and fooling anyone who sees it for the first time. That’s why Ron explained that it was a smoke bomb, which couldn’t be any further from the truth.
"I think, Masterbuilder, there might be a misunderstanding here."
However, before Masterbuilder could cross-question Ron, Shinon stepped forward with a knowing smile.
"What do you mean?" Knowing the truth, Masterbuilder played along.
"That thing is no smoke bomb, as this gentleman mentioned-"
Instead of backing down and apologising, Ron shot Shinon a fiery look, refusing to back down. "How would you know what I’ve created?"
"Allow me to show you!"
Shinon took the device with a ball-shaped encasing. He activated a concealed rune with a quick twist and a tap of his finger. Suddenly, the hidden electric net sprang to life, crackling with energy and enveloped Mark and his partner, shocking them into submission.
"How do I know what it is?" Shinon declared with a satisfied grin. "Because I’m the one who made this thing,"
Ron’s face turned beet red, and his companion stammered in disbelief. It was a stark revelation, and they had been caught in their deception.
The workshop buzzed with murmurs as onlookers shared surprised and amused glances at the pair who had attempted to claim Shinon’s work as their own.
