Bargaining, Part 1

"Haa...can you wait here for a second, I'll consult the chief right away to see if it's something we could make?" said the Lady again.

She immediately turned around and began walking faster towards their chief's room.

Aside from all the workings, I used my mana reinforced eyes and ears to hear and see what they were saying, as the room was in the corner aside the working place.

The sturdy middle-aged man inside the room quickly took the design handed over by the lady. His face was already filled with astonishment after taking a look.

"Who asked this?" he inquired, as the lady turned and pointed her fingers at me.

He came out of the room and rushed over to me with the lady after seeing me.

"Oh, you brought this design? I'm not sure why you'd want these things made. Could you please explain your plan to me?"

"You don't need to know what they're used for; I just need to know if you can make them. They must be made of high-quality refined iron, preferably forged from iron core "I quickly responded.

The man smirked.

"Kiddo! My name is Bulat, and I'm the owner of this shop. Kid, do you know what you are asking for? Do you know how much iron core costs? Adding to the manufacturing cost, which is not insignificant, you should request the adults in your family to come and speak with us!"

This was something I was expecting. These iron cores are not ordinary iron. They are iron, which is combined with mana to fully forge. So I understand why he would say that.

"Of course I know the price of iron core; I won't keep it from you because, like you, I'm a craftsman. Only I'm not strong enough, and I can't make this many things by myself, so I've come to you for help. Iron core is priced by weight, and one kilogram of iron core costs ten gold coins. With the size of your facility, I believe you should be able to refine iron core!" I put on a poker face.

Bulat nodded and said, "You've got the price right?  However, because iron core is made entirely of mana and mana alone, its toughness is far greater than that of common refined iron, making forging it much more difficult. The cost of processing it is equal to the price of the iron core itself when used to create any goods. In other words, to forge anything with one kilogram of iron core, we must charge ten gold coins in processing fees. And because the objects on your schematic are so complex, we must charge an additional 50%."

Hearing the smith speak of forging something unexpectedly weighing the price in gold coins would undoubtedly shock to an ordinary person.

But I knew that the price this boss Bulat spoke of was already unusually fair.

It could now work in my favor.

"Your price is fine, boss. Is it possible to get a discount if the quantity I require is relatively large?"

Although I would not haggle excessively, I would strive for a necessary discount.

Bulat sighed and murmured, "Certainly. Even if you order iron core to forge these items, the material cost cannot be reduced, and I cannot lose money. However, I can take 10% off the labor cost for you. I can go down to eight tenths if your order of iron core exceeds ten kilograms. I can also go down to eight tenths."

That's an excellent point.

Hearing him I nodded straightforward, saying, "Then it's decided. You will make ten using the designs I provided. I've already calculated it thoroughly. Each should require approximately two kilograms of iron core. It weighs twenty kilograms in total. Haha!" with a grin.

So, in this world, one pistol should require ten kilograms of iron cores, and I intend to make two, totaling twenty kilograms.

Bulat was taken aback.

"How many do you want?" This is a total of twenty kilograms of iron core. It costs 500 gold coins, including labor. Even if I divide the labor cost by eight tenths, the total is four hundred forty gold coins."

Of course, I have that much money from all my s rank kills while adventuring, but I still want to reduce the cost. During my school days, I also have to consider my financial needs.

"Boss, are you also a mage?" I asked him

"Yes, but I gave up and became a blacksmith as I loved to be!" Bulat replied.

Hmm, now I can convince him.

"Is it possible for me to speak with you alone?"

Even if it was the Atlas City's largest blacksmith workshop, more than four hundred gold coins of business was a big deal.

Bulat nodded and said, "Then please follow me," leading me to his room.

I saw an incredible scene as I passed through the separating glass-like windows. The anteroom of this work shop was already quite large, but this back work area was even bigger, stretching as far as the eye could see and painted a deep furnace fire red. At least fifty smiths were working at the same time.

My mana-enhanced eyes were exceptionally sharp, sweeping across these smiths and secretly nodding in his heart. Although the smiths here were not all as strong, their expressions and hands were all extremely calm. All of them were clearly veteran smiths. The existence of this many outstanding smiths was also required to support this large workshop.

I recall reading about blacksmithing in a previous life while on a mission to execute a traitor among the millitary projects. Well, it wasn't entirely related, but I started from scratch to the end of building jets and tanks out of my passion for knowledge. After all, knowledge is a powerful weapon for assassins.

So, I can see how these men work efficiently and honestly, without any reservations about their work.

While we were walking, boss Bulat yanked me into the room.

The room was clearly his office, with a desk and seven or eight chairs, as well as a simple wooden bed. Normally, I guess it is used to rest. From the window the situation in the work area could be clearly seen.

Bulat without speaking immediately walked behind the desk and sat down, at the same time with a gesture inviting me to sit in a chair as well.

***CHAPTER 44***