Westminster Bank

Chapter 177: Chapter 123: An Artistic Flair Is for Fooling the Girls

As a token of their apology to Baron, Lewis and Michael each gave Piero a sound beating in front of all the Alchemy Masters.

At Baron’s urging, they gave Piero two sound beatings.

Afterwards, a meeting was held where both hosts and guests were thoroughly pleased.

During this meeting, Master Michael reiterated his plan to publish in the newspapers under Baron’s name. The purpose was to announce the basic concepts of "Chemistry" to Alchemists throughout Prole and thus promote the development of Alchemy.

City Lord Lewis, returning the favor, stated that at his direction, the various newspapers of Fude City, along with the official Gillian newspaper, would all report on Baron’s glorious deeds. This would also serve to vent some of Baron’s frustration at King Feinan.

Baron said, "Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? King Feinan is the king of Feinan, after all."

Lewis hesitated for a moment, then said, "You have a point. Using his title so brazenly might antagonize the Feinan People. When the time comes, we’ll just use King Feinan’s real name instead."

Baron opened his mouth but said nothing. ’I have to increase my strength as quickly as possible, no matter what,’ he thought, ’to be ready for the moment my cover is blown and Feinan comes hunting for me.’

"So this is the Alchemy Weapon you had that Alchemy Master forge, L? A combination of a firearm and a long saber. What a strange pairing."

In the Blood Church, Maguire curiously sized up the "strange-shaped weapon" Baron had placed on the table.

The body of the gun was an intertwining of silver and dark gold. Affixed above the barrel was a blade as clear as a water mirror. The candlelight of the church reflected off the steel, revealing a murderous aura that seemed to cut at the face.

"A Spear Sword? That’s a good name, actually."

The Blood Loss Knight, Morey, stood with his arms crossed. For the first time, his perpetually jittery gaze showed a hint of astonishment.

"Forged from Snow Pattern Steel, shaped with Dwarf Fire Steel... The material filling the Alchemy Runes looks a bit like Yun Jin, and the engraving technique for these runes is superb. If you ask me, a single Spear Sword like this must have cost at least twenty Gold Coins."

Zod the drunkard was an expert; he had figured out the materials just by touching it.

Maguire exclaimed, "Twenty Gold Coins? Isn’t that two thousand Silver Coins? So two Spear Swords would be four thousand Silver Coins?

Based on the deal you made with that Master last time, L, is the ’Periodic Table of Elements’ really worth that much money?"

"Not to mention he’s paying you 500 Silver Coins on top of that..."

Because Gold Coins were rarely seen in daily life, the common folk of Prole were accustomed to converting their value into Silver Coins.

Baron just smiled. "Knowledge is money." ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Knowledge is money... Four thousand five hundred Silver Coins..."

For the first time, Maguire understood the importance of an education. At that moment, a profound yet subtle sense of loss washed over him.

’If I’d known, I wouldn’t have become a Demon Hunter. I would’ve become a highwayman, robbing some students and Alchemists to sell to other Alchemists.’

’Wouldn’t that be a faster way to make money than doing mercenary jobs all day?’

"This single Spear Sword must weigh at least a dozen pounds. Firearms are a recent invention, and not many people like to use them."

Zod hefted it in his hands. "L, this is a rarer revolver-type firearm. But by my estimation, even a standard cavalry firearm isn’t as heavy as this Spear Sword of yours."

"Wouldn’t that make it difficult to raise and aim?"

Baron just smiled, tapped a spot on the weapon’s body, and the long saber shot out with a cold flash of arcing light.

Baron said, "If I can’t shoot straight, I’ll just draw the blade."

"Advance to attack, retreat to shoot. A great design!" Maguire’s eyes lit up. "I want to get one too."

"But first, you’ll have to come up with four thousand Silver Coins, or something equivalent to L’s ’Periodic Table of Elements’ to trade with an Alchemist."

Zod mercilessly extinguished Maguire’s flame of hope.

Maguire sighed and cast a few more longing glances at the Spear Sword. Then, as if remembering something, he said to Baron:

"Oh, right. Someone from the Guard Post came by earlier. The results of the investigation into Feilan’s death are out. It was an accident caused by practicing a Secret Technique. It has nothing to do with us."

Baron nodded. It seemed this was Miss Triss’s way of returning the favor.

"The Vice Gang Leader of the Iron Thorn Gang—Feilan’s brother, Tate—has disappeared. They suspect Tate might try to get revenge on us secretly, so they told us to be careful."

At this, Maguire had an expression like he was trying hard not to laugh. ’Who would have thought that the famous Bronze Beast Demon Hunter, Tate Rodney, would be killed by a few people without even getting to use his most basic Beastification technique?’

"Also, L, I did that thing you asked me to do just now. Just like you said, explosives have already been planted there... Should we report it to the City Government or the Guard Post?"

"It’s fine."

Baron grabbed the Spear Sword, retracted the blade, and aimed at the open skylight high up in the church, making a gesture as if pulling the trigger.

"Let the bullets fly for a while."

Hearing this, Morey seemed lost in thought.

"Everyone, get ready tonight. The City Lord’s Mansion banquet. We’ll act according to the plan."

"What’s the plan?" Maguire asked.

Baron smiled. "The plan is to first go out and get you all a set of decent evening wear."

......

Evening. At the City Lord’s Mansion, guests arrived in an endless stream, and the lights were as bright as day.

The City Lord’s Mansion was vast, divided into a front and rear courtyard. One was for socializing, the other for dancing.

The accompaniment was provided by the giant phonograph Lewis had brought out at the hotel the other day. The music was beautiful, but it was mixed with the faint crackle of static. Baron could faintly hear a sob, as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

’I wonder if it’s the Phonograph Monster crying.’

The guests were all figures from Fude City’s high society. The moment they saw Baron step into the City Lord’s Mansion, they swarmed him, congratulating and complimenting him one after another, while also inquiring about his romantic status.

After receiving Baron’s negative reply, they immediately began to push their own daughters on him as if they were marketing a product.