Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Master Silver Hammer!
Outside the Seagull Tavern, Ryan found himself alone on the shadow-strewn street, the dim glow of streetlights casting a spectral haze. As he walked, his eyes flickered with a trace of unease, reflecting his swirling thoughts.

“Interesting guy, that tavern owner, but whose banner does he really fly?” Ryan mused, the memory of his encounter with Caius, the enigmatic proprietor of the Seagull Tavern, weighing heavily on his mind. The air around Caius had bristled with an unspoken menace, a palpable threat that Ryan, seasoned by countless skirmishes in the treacherous travel area, had instinctively sensed.

His survival had been hard-won, honed through relentless battles against monstrous beings where every encounter could be his last. This acute awareness had become his second nature; even when no overt signs of danger presented themselves, Ryan’s guard remained steadfastly up. After all, appearances could be deceiving, and spiritual power was not always a reliable indicator of true strength.

He knew this firsthand, for he himself possessed methods to cloak his own spiritual essence. “If I can conceal my power,” he thought, “then surely, there are others, potentially more formidable, who can do the same.”

Shaking his head ruefully, Ryan acknowledged the growing complexity of his mission. “The currents in the Whirlpool Islands grow ever more turbulent,” he muttered to himself as he trekked towards his next destination, a large stone house nestled halfway up the mountain, its location marked on a map given to him by Caius.

Approaching the stone house, a wave of heat washed over him, and a fierce red glow seeped through the door’s cracks. Above the entrance, a wooden sign creaked slightly in the breeze: Silver Hammer Blacksmith Shop.

The shop, according to “Master Bronze Hammer”, belonged to his elder brother, “Master Silver Hammer,” a renowned artisan in the archipelago. Ryan, bearing a special certificate from Bronze Hammer, was entitled to collect a hand-forged crossbow that was yet to be delivered. However, his arrival at the Whirlpool Islands had been hastened by unforeseen circumstances, and his primary purpose now was not to retrieve weaponry but to commission protective gear.

Lately, his encounters with the fearsome male fire dragon leader had underscored the critical importance of robust defense. His battles had been perilously close calls; a single strike from the dragon could grievously wound him, and a second would be lethal. In such dire straits, Ryan was acutely aware that his human resilience, though fortified, was no match for the scale-armored hide of a dragon.

As he pushed open the door, a blast of heat enveloped him, and his gaze landed on a young woman at the reception desk, her smile practiced yet welcoming.

“Welcome, guest, what can I do for you?”

Ryan paused, taken aback. The woman bore an uncanny resemblance to the Millie he had met before, the daughter of “Master Bronze Hammer,” though her attire was markedly different. The coincidence left him momentarily speechless, his mind racing to align this unexpected familiarity with his urgent need for enhanced protection.

“Millie, is she related to you?” Ryan inquired, the question slipping out almost instinctively as he registered the familiar features of the girl before him.

With a soft chuckle and a graceful motion gathering her hair, secured with a cerulean ribbon, the girl responded, “It appears you’ve met my sister. I’m Bunny. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Greetings, Miss Bunny,” Ryan acknowledged, now understanding the familial connection. “I’m here to seek an audience with Master Silver Hammer. I have a particular commission in mind.”

“What sort of commission might that be? Are you thinking along the lines of weaponry, protective gear, or perhaps something more unique like crafted adornments, necklaces or rings?” Bingyun queried, her tone laced with professional curiosity.

“Protective gear,” Ryan clarified. “I’ve come into possession of some rare monster materials that I believe could be fashioned into a suit of armor tailored specifically for my needs.”

“Rare monster materials, you say?” Bunny eyes sparkled with interest. “Could you show them to me? We’re quite swamped with orders at the moment; normally, you’d be looking at a wait of at least a month. However, if the materials are as unique as you suggest, perhaps my father could prioritize your request.”

“They are indeed unique, quite novel, I assure you. I’d wager that Master Silver Hammer hasn’t encountered anything quite like them before,” Ryan said, his smile broadening.

“Never seen them, you say?” A voice grumbled from behind the storeroom’s curtain. Moments later, a towering figure emerged. Clad in a thin shirt that did little to conceal his impressive musculature, the man’s bronze skin gleamed under the workshop’s light. A silver pattern adorned his forehead, marking him distinctly from Master Bronze Hammer.

As Master Silver Hammer joined them, Ryan couldn’t help but marvel silently at the striking familial resemblance.

“Boy, show me these materials that have you so confident,” the smith demanded, his arms folded across his chest, a challenge evident in his stance.

With a confident flick of his wrist, Ryan activated his space ring, and in a burst of light, the body of the Fire Umbrella Bird materialized on the floor. The cost in spiritual points was significant, but Ryan deemed it a worthy investment.

Master Silver Hammer raised an eyebrow, stepping closer to inspect the fiery plumage of the creature. After a thorough examination, he let out a low whistle, “Indeed, this is a creature I’ve never laid eyes on before. Quite fascinating. Tell me, what exactly are you looking for in your protective gear?”

Ryan responded without missing a beat, “I need armor that won’t hinder my mobility too much, yet provides strong defense, especially against fire-based attacks.”

“The demands are steep,” Master Silver Hammer, now known as Oruto, mused while stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Given this creature’s inherent fire properties, the armor crafted from it will naturally resist fiery assaults.”

“Return in two days, and your gear will be ready. As for your payment, we’ll settle it with any leftover materials from the crafting process,” Oruto proposed, extending a metallic voucher to Ryan.

“Thank you, I’ll be back then,” Ryan said, accepting the voucher engraved with the number “3241” and departing with a satisfied grin.

As Ryan exited, Oruto couldn’t resist the urge to immediately start working on the new project, dragging the Fire Umbrella Bird’s body towards the forge.

Watching her father’s back as he moved, Bunny raised an eyebrow, half amused, half exasperated. “Planning to pull an all-nighter again, are we?”

“Just this last time,” Master Silver Hammer chuckled, his smile tinged with a familiar awkwardness that spoke of many such ‘last times.’

Bunny watched her father’s eyes light up with the thrill of a new project, and she couldn’t help but sigh. The phrase “just this last time” had become a recurring promise in their household, and she had lost count of how many times she had heard it. Each project seemed to kindle in him a passion that was hard to curb.

After bidding farewell to the lively atmosphere of the Silver Hammer Blacksmith Shop, Ryan made his way back to the Black Rose, his mind replaying the events of the day. Upon arrival, he headed straight to the captain’s quarters, where he found Freni poring over a map of the Whirlpool Islands. The room was dimly lit, the map illuminated by a single lamp that cast shadows across Freni’s thoughtful face.

He relayed everything he had learned, watching as Freni’s fingers traced paths across the charted waters and uncharted territories marked with notes and symbols. Her white chin rested delicately on her hand as she absorbed the information.

“Three major pirate factions, and numerous lesser pirate groups throughout Mingjin Forest…” she mused, dismissing them with a wave of her hand. “We’ll deal with them later. After resupplying at dawn, we start the monster hunting operation. Here, here, and here,” she pointed decisively at three specific areas on the map.

Ryan’s gaze followed her directions: two were maritime locations near North Island 1 and East Island 4, while the third was the western perimeter of Mingjin Forest. “I understand,” he responded gravely.

Freni, whose prowess was on the verge of transcending into the second tier, needed specific ingredients from these monsters to craft a potion that could elevate her strength. The success of their upcoming venture, particularly the hunt for the elusive moon wolf, hinged on her advancement. For Ryan, the stakes were different; his compatibility with his current level and profession meant that even with the second-tier potion, advancement was not imminent.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Ryan,” Freni said, her voice soft with a touch of apology. Due to her striking appearance and sensitive identity, she had to remain largely out of sight, leaving many of the more overt tasks to Ryan.

Tonight, she resolved silently, she needed to garner more spiritual points to obtain a [First-order Spiritual Enhancement Crystal] to augment Ryan’s combat capabilities.

“This is what I should do,” Ryan replied with a smile, his tone light yet sincere. “I’ll go back and get ready.”

“Get some rest,” Freni advised gently, turning her attention back to the map.

The Black Rose had docked at the Whirlpool Islands around sunset, and with the evening spent gathering intelligence, it was now past eleven. Soon, it would be a new day.

As the clock struck midnight, Ryan lay on his wooden bunk in his cabin, eyes closing with deliberate calmness. “Travel, start!” he whispered into the darkness.

In the small compartment of the captain’s quarters, Freni, equally eager, stepped into the [Viewing Area], ready to begin her own nocturnal adventures.