The neutrality of the blacksmith was broken more easily than expected.
Yotron’s forge became a subsidiary by forming an alliance with Reketio’s Essence Company.
The role of the European branch was an added bonus.
It was the moment when the neutrality maintained for hundreds of years was shattered.
Such was the power of the name carried by a legendary essence.
“Honestly, I was getting bored with these materials anyway.”
Yotron chuckled as he signed the contract.
Of course, the representative’s reason for signing wasn’t just because of the allure of the essence’s existence.
The biggest reason was…
“Finally, I can freely process Entity by-products!”
Everything went exactly as Amon had anticipated.
If Amon’s memory was correct, there hadn’t been any technical singularity in the realm of blacksmithing for nearly 50 years.
Other technologies had all advanced rapidly under the name of mystical power.
This was because blacksmithing, Entities, and mystical power wielders didn’t mix well.
The purpose of blacksmithing is to create objects.
In contrast, divine power is an innate personal ability, not something that can be stored like electricity or magic.
Because of this, blacksmiths couldn’t create items imbued with divine power.
While Entity by-products could be expected to provide similar effects…
“Entity by-products are too extreme—that’s the problem.”
Yotron grumbled.
As he said, Entity by-products were hit-or-miss for blacksmiths.
They were either cost-effective new materials or materials so challenging to process that they were nearly impossible to handle.
Since Entity by-products defied the laws of science as mere “concepts,” processing them required the involvement of another concept.
In other words, the only ones capable of processing Entities were those with divine power related to the concept or another Entity itself.
And if neither existed?
No matter the means, processing was impossible.
The problem was that divine power wielders had no reason to visit forges, and Entities were monopolized by corporations.
As a result, the Entities that blacksmiths could process were either extremely limited or confined to by-products sold by companies.
But that was all in the past now.
“I’ve wanted to try this for ages if I could get a stable supply of essence!”
Essence, like Entities, was a force that dealt with concepts.
Yotron, knowing this, had considered acquiring essence before.
But it was far from an easy task.
The supply was unreliable, the cost was unfeasible, and even for a master craftsman like Yotron, success wasn’t guaranteed.
It was an uncharted path, and the likelihood of failure was immense.
Naturally, with each failure, the costs would rise exponentially.
Because of this, while the thought had crossed his mind, it never materialized into action.
However, Amon’s proposal resolved all these problems.
“Just to confirm, you’ll provide me with the essence I want on a regular basis, right?”
Amon nodded.
“You can disassemble and reassemble the equipment as much as you like.”
Yotron could use the essence to process Entities or dissect equipment infused with essence.
In short, Yotron could do whatever he pleased.
“At least within Europe, your managerial independence will be fully guaranteed.”
Furthermore, managerial independence was ensured, leaving no room for rejection.
Even Yotron found the conditions so good that he doubted his own ears.
“If I repair items from other companies, I won’t face any disadvantages, correct?”
“Of course. As long as you’re not actively supporting them, it’s fine.”
“Naturally.”
And thus, Yotron became a subsidiary of Reketio.
“Honestly, it feels like a scam even after signing it myself.”
Even after completing all the procedures, Yotron couldn’t believe it and clicked his tongue.
A subsidiary that doesn’t obey the parent company’s orders?
In a world where corporate relationships resembled feudalism, it was an unimaginable arrangement.
While he had signed because the terms were irresistible to a blacksmith, he wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Doesn’t your company lose out in this deal?”
“Why would it? We get a continuous supply of equipment made by your forge for free.”
“Still… Is this even profitable for you?”
“For us, absolutely.”
What Reketio’s essence business needed most was high-grade equipment.
This was because dungeon bosses absorbed high-grade equipment to transform it into legendary essence.
The standard for converting to legendary essence was the market value of the equipment itself—not its acquisition cost.
In this sense, Yotron’s workshop was the perfect business partner.
Using the equipment from Yotron, they could produce essence, some of which would go to the market and some back to his forge.
On top of that, they made money, turning the deal into a profit generator akin to a money duplication cheat.
“Does this really make sense…”
Unaware of the deeper implications, Yotron couldn’t understand.
Amon gently reassured the doubtful Yotron.
“You’ll understand in time, so there’s no need to worry for now.”
As the partnership grew, Yotron would naturally learn the secrets of the dungeons.
Until then, all he needed to do was provide equipment as he always had.
Despite Amon’s reassurance, Yotron remained suspicious.
“Can I really trust this?”
“If words aren’t enough, take this as an advance payment.”
But as Amon presented a golden essence as a signing bonus, Yotron’s doubts melted away like snow.
“Sigh… Hah… Sigh… Hah…”
Sniffing the scentless, golden glow of the essence, Yotron entered a euphoric trance.
Watching Yotron’s reaction, Amon smirked inwardly.
‘Well, if you consider it a scam, it technically is.’
There was nothing wrong with the clauses.
The only secret lay in the true purpose of the contract.
Yotron wasn’t yet aware that the agreement served not just business expansion but also to checkmate rival companies.
Without realizing it, Yotron’s forge had become a strategic base against pharmaceutical competitors.
Still, calling it a scam was unfair—Yotron faced no harm.
He didn’t have to swear loyalty to Cassie.
He didn’t need to gather troops, fund campaigns, sabotage pharmaceutical rivals, or manipulate public opinion in Europe.
All Yotron had to do was remain in neutral territory, hammering away in his forge as he always had, now with the added joy of working with Entities and essence.
Staying neutral was all Amon needed Yotron to do.
‘Just remain a craftsman, as you’ve always been.’
Sometimes, neutrality was the ultimate shield.
Strict neutrality also eliminated the worry of being bought out by other companies, making it the ideal setup.
While Amon and Sonia carried out covert operations across Europe, Yotron’s neutrality would act as a solid defensive wall.
‘Don’t think too harshly of me, Yotron.’
The absolute rule of cyberpunk:
No favor comes without a price.
Every deal must maintain equilibrium.
With an inward apology, Amon shook Yotron’s hand.
***
After concluding the deal, Amon and Sonia toured the forge.
They could have returned to their lodgings, but there wasn’t much to do there.
Since they had come all this way, it felt wasteful to leave immediately.
The two followed Yotron as he guided them through various workshops.
“This workshop focuses on automobiles. About 800 years ago, we primarily made mana-steam cars, but we stopped doing that during my predecessor’s time. They used to be luxury items, but not even luxury orders come in nowadays.”
“Do you still know how to make them?”
“The basic knowledge is there, and I’ve made a few before. But we get orders maybe once every ten years, so it’s not exactly essential.”
“Then what do you mainly make these days?”
“Mostly vehicles powered by a combination of diesel, mana, and electricity—usually specialized vehicles.”
Yotron was undoubtedly a master craftsman and teacher before he was a mere representative.
He understood every process in the workshops, and the owner of each workshop was his apprentice.
Yotron grasped all the processes with just a glance and offered critiques, to which the workshop owners bowed and made corrections.
He resembled a professor inspecting research labs run by assistant professors.
The way he walked with his hands behind his back and a solemn demeanor reinforced that impression.
The tour of the forge continued.
As they moved from the automobile workshop to the firearms workshop, Amon asked a question that had been on his mind.
“What does your workshop primarily focus on, Representative?”
“I handle research and development.”
His workshop was a place where experimental pieces were made using methods not yet established in this world.
Hearing the explanation, Amon understood.
He allowed his apprentices to gain experience with established processes while he pioneered the future.
And when the time came for him to retire, he would pass on his knowledge to another apprentice.
‘It’s like an ordinary research lab.’
It wasn’t much different from a graduate school lab.
‘A blacksmithing graduate school.’
The thought made him chuckle quietly.
Eventually, the three arrived at the firearms workshop.
The head of the workshop was Yotron’s direct apprentice, who had earlier guided Amon and Sonia through Yotron’s workshop.
“We met this morning, right?”
The apprentice greeted them with a friendly smile.
In the mornings, he assisted in Yotron’s workshop, and in the afternoons, he made firearms in this workshop.
At the same time, he taught apprentice blacksmiths, making him seem like an assistant professor.
“I have to get back to work now.”
The apprentice returned to his station.
As usual, Yotron guided them through the firearms workshop.
“This is one of our main breadwinners.”
The firearms they crafted were made for select individuals: the Vatican’s top paladins, secret government agents, corporate security chiefs, and so on.
“Anyone worth their name in Europe gets their weapons from our forge. What do you think? Do you want one too?”
Amon politely declined.
Firearms weren’t his main weapon.
Instead, he turned to Sonia.
She nodded.
“Would it be alright to have one custom-made?”
She already had her own weapon, but there was no reason to refuse a custom-made offer.
Moreover, since she would be operating in Europe for a while, it was practical to have a weapon tailored locally.
Yotron immediately began working on a custom firearm for Sonia.
He measured her specifications and shaped the design to meet her requirements.
As he worked, the workshop manager, his direct apprentice, passed by and commented.
“Wow, Master rarely makes anything even for tens of thousands of euros. What’s the occasion?”
“Get back to work, will you?”
Yotron raised a finger.
The apprentice chuckled and returned to his station.
Yotron’s methods were quite old-fashioned.
He didn’t use apps or holograms but instead sketched everything by hand with pen and parchment.
“In case you’re wondering, I do know how to use modern technology. I just prefer the old ways.”
He claimed that only paper and pen could fully capture his imagination.
The added benefit was greater security against hacking or leaks.
“I’ll add a few special features to the firearm. You can use them as a joker card when needed.”
His pen scratched across the parchment.
Finally, as was his habit, he signed the edge of the drawing and rolled up the parchment.
He tied it with a string and sealed it with a magical stamp.
“It’ll take about a month to make. I have other projects ongoing right now.”
“I’m grateful you’re making it at all.”
“Would you mind if I added a few experimental features? There are some ideas I wanted to implement using the essence and Entity by-products you provided.”
“As long as the stability is ensured, it’s fine.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Stability checks are standard practice.”
Yotron exhaled excitedly, clearly anticipating the new technology.
Amused by his enthusiasm, Amon silently handed him another golden essence.
“…What’s this?”
“A token of personal gratitude and respect for a master craftsman.”
Yotron snatched the essence greedily, without any pretense of refusal.
As he examined it, inspiration seemed to strike, and his eyes rolled back as he entered a euphoric state.
Sonia, disturbed by the sight, stepped away from Yotron, while Amon smirked, finding the scene entertaining.
A sudden curiosity struck him—’what would happen if he handed over two more essences?’
At that moment, the apprentice, who had been teaching at another workstation, leaned over and whispered to Amon.
“That’s enough, sir.”
“Sorry?”
“If he gets more inspiration, he might run naked through the streets.”
“…Ah.”
Not wanting to endure such an event, Amon quietly tucked the remaining essences deeper into his bag.
***
A few minutes later, Yotron returned to reality from his euphoric state.
“Do you have more essence?”
“No, I don’t.”
Not wanting to see Yotron exclaim “Eureka” and sprint away, Amon told a small lie.
Yotron didn’t seem disappointed.
“This has been a truly wonderful day. I should get back to my workshop soon.”
Eager to finish his projects and work with the new materials, Yotron’s demeanor shifted.
Although his image had taken an odd turn, ironically, it only reinforced Amon’s trust in him as a craftsman.
Remembering that he was supposed to be guiding them, Yotron resumed the tour.
“Let’s continue.”
“Thank you.”
Next was the sword workshop.
Calling it the forge’s symbol, Yotron heightened their anticipation as they headed there.
Amon’s excitement grew as they walked.
Suddenly, Yotron stopped.
Amon, puzzled, asked him, “Is something wrong?”
“Something just occurred to me.”
“Inspiration again?”
“No, not exactly…”
Yotron turned to Sonia, tilting his head.
“Are you a nun?”
“I’m currently attending seminary.”
“No, that’s not what I mean… Hmm… Never mind…”
“…?”
Yotron seemed to be on the verge of recalling something but trailed off with a sigh.
“Ah, that’s it!”
“What is it?”
“The Vatican! Those guys used to make firearms like this. It’s been over 20 years since they last placed an order, so I’d almost forgotten. I worked on those a lot as an apprentice. Brings back memories.”
“…I see.”
“Are you affiliated with the Vatican by any chance?”
“No.”
“Do you at least have a mentor from there?”
“…No.”
Sonia’s expression darkened slightly.
Amon noticed the subtle change immediately.
Without a word, he took her hand.
Sonia flinched but then held his hand tightly.
Sensing that he’d said something wrong, Yotron stopped talking.
“My apologies. I’ve been cooped up in the forge too long, and my awareness is lacking.”
“It’s fine.”
“I sincerely apologize.”
“Really, it’s okay.”
Awkwardly, Yotron turned his head away, seemingly to give them some privacy.
He quickly walked ahead toward the sword workshop.
When he was far enough, Amon asked Sonia softly, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, really.”
“Tell me if it’s too much.”
“Amon.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You promised not to say that, remember?”
“Right. I did…”
“And what were you supposed to say instead?”
“Thank you.”
“That’s better. Let’s go.”
Holding her hand firmly, Amon led her toward the sword workshop, silently promising never to let go, no matter what happened.