Imperial Crown

(Added for the big boss [Sun Liansheng] who gave the reward)

Riverside workshop, the blacksmith workshop of the gray dwarves.

More than half a year has passed, and this place has been completely transformed by the gray dwarves and has become a layout they like and adapt to.

As soon as you come in, you can see a huge furnace, which occupies almost one-third of the space of 100 square meters.

Its shape is very unique, looking more like a millstone than a furnace. In the center is an inverted pot-shaped blast furnace, and next to it is a high platform made of granite, which is engraved with dwarf-specific patterns. I don’t know if it is because of the high temperature, but the whole furnace shows a fiery red.

The furnace body itself has two outlets, one on the left and one on the right. The flame under the furnace continuously provides heat, allowing the two outlets to continuously flow out viscous molten iron, flowing in the outer ring ditch, and then flowing through two filter holes into the mud mold below.

Every time a mold is filled, someone will immediately replace the new mold, and someone will watch in real time to remove the slag on the filter hole.

This is the "Earth Core Furnace" cast by the Gray Dwarves with a unique craft, which has an efficiency far exceeding the current smelting technology of the human race.

As long as the raw materials are sufficient, at least 5,000 pounds, or about 2,260 kilograms of iron ingots can be produced every day.

Not pig iron, but wrought iron.

Even a town like Iron Furnace Territory, which has accumulated hundreds of years of iron smelting technology, needs at least six times the time to obtain the same amount of wrought iron!

After all, the accumulation of iron smelting technology by the Gray Dwarves is calculated in thousands of years, not to mention that it also carries the blessing of the Lord of the Furnace.

"This is nothing." Bowell puffed up his chest with undisguised pride: "The space here is too small. If we really wait until the factory is built, we must build a giant furnace that is no worse than the 'Heart of the Deep Mountains'!"

The Heart of the Deep Mountains is a close relative and mortal enemy of the Gray Dwarves. It is a wonder created by the Dwarf Kingdom. It is said that it can swallow hundreds of thousands of pounds of molten iron every day. Its temperature is so high that even the seventh-level material, refined gold, can be easily melted.

Raven said, "Then I'll be looking forward to it, but before that, I have something for you to do right now."

"Baron, you said, as long as it's related to forging, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" Sohei was full of confidence.

Raven took out a box from his belt and gently opened it: "Can you handle this thing?"

For a moment, the dwarves' breathing stagnated, and Sohei's messy beard stood up: "Mithril!?"

Mithril, a fifth-level material, means that the weapons and equipment forged from it can withstand fifth-level enchantments and become fifth-level enchanted equipment!

You know, the "Melting Embers" heirloom of the Fox family is only a fourth-level equipment!

Forging a piece of mithril means that you can become a master blacksmith who leaves your name in history!

Sohei swallowed his saliva: "Lord Baron, please give it to me to forge. I will definitely be able to use it to make the strongest weapon!"

"Oh, don't get excited." Raven said: "I took it out, of course, I gave it to you to forge, but I didn't use it to smelt weapons."

As he said, Raven took out a crossbow from his belt.

"I hope you can use mithril ore to strengthen it."

This crossbow has been with Raven for a long time. Before Raven became a magician, it was once his most powerful weapon. At that time, he was able to kill Donald, and this crossbow played a great role.

It's a pity that as Raven's strength rises, this crossbow, even after being enchanted once, has gradually failed to keep up with his needs.

"This..." Sohei was a little embarrassed: "Lord Baron, can I take a closer look at it?"

"Of course." Raven took two steps forward and put the crossbow on the table.

Sohei came up to him at the first time, and Bowell followed him.

The two of them looked around the crossbow, and occasionally called a few gray dwarves to come over to discuss together. It was not until nearly half an hour later that Sohei looked up: "My lord, I have a clue!"

Raven nodded and motioned him to continue.

Sohei continued: "My lord Baron, this crossbow is designed around the characteristics of star iron in terms of overall size, output strength and center of gravity. If you want to strengthen it with mithril, then the overall design must be greatly changed, and the enchantment on it must be removed in advance."

Raven nodded slowly: "Then, what will the effect be after strengthening it with mithril?"

"It will be lighter, and the trigger mechanism will be more sensitive while the crossbow arrow has a greater output." Sohei showed extremely rigorous professionalism: "According to the current design ideas, its power will be greatly enhanced. Even without enchantment, its penetration will not be weaker than the full force of a second-level warrior within 20 meters!"

Raven said decisively: "Then do it."

But Sohei did not agree immediately.

Raven asked, "Anything else?"

"It's just... you don't need so much mithril to modify your crossbow." Sohei glanced at Raven and asked carefully, "Baron, I want to make another piece of equipment for you with the remaining..."

Raven thought for a while and said, "As long as it doesn't delay the modification of the crossbow, you can do whatever you want."

Sohei was obviously relieved, and the light of expectation ignited in his eyes: "Understood, I will definitely hand in a satisfactory answer within ten days at the latest!"

"Don't worry, quality first." Raven instructed.

Due to the tradition of the gray dwarves, outsiders are not allowed to visit during the casting process. Of course, Raven is an exception.

However, Raven did not intend to destroy this tradition. He was not interested in forging, and he did not want to stay in the stuffy casting room. As long as the result was good, he did not care about the process.

After returning to Eagle Castle, Raven opened Deep Blue and immediately started selling his foggy iron.

Among them, the purchase price of the Deep Blue Platform itself, that is, the Mages Guild, was one pound and sixty-two gold coins, while the selling price was one pound and eighty-three point five gold coins. They made enough of the difference.

Raven also looked at the prices of individual sellers. The prices were generally between seventy-five and eighty-one. But looking at the time, the latest one had been on the shelves for more than half a month, and the earlier ones had been on the shelves for half a year. It was obvious that a small amount was sold. Not that great.

After thinking for a moment, Raven hung up the mist heavy iron at a price of 83.4 gold coins per pound, or 184 gold coins per kilogram.

Others sell it for one pound or two pounds, and more for more than a dozen pounds. But Raven sold it directly for 800 pounds!

It is equivalent to the output of thirteen or four days in the mine.

Few ordinary mages would demand so much foggy iron, so Raven's price tag itself was not intended to be sold to retail investors.

I had just made myself a cup of coffee, but before it was ready to drink, someone contacted Raven through Deep Blue.

This man looks to be in his sixties. Unlike many mages who like to grow beards, his chin is extremely smooth, his face is lined with wrinkles, and a wrinkle at the corner of his mouth is particularly eye-catching. There is also a third-level magician hanging on his chest. Tag: "Is it you who hung up eight hundred pounds of foggy heavy iron?"

"Yes." Raven blinked innocently: "Is there any problem?"

"I am the supervisor of the Mages Guild responsible for maintaining Deep Blue. You can call me Monroe!" The magician said in a serious tone: "I have to remind you, Baron Raven, if you provide a false supply quantity, according to "Deep Blue Platform" According to Article 6, Paragraph 9 of the Law, you need to pay triple compensation!”

"Eight hundred pounds of foggy iron, priced at 83.4 gold coins, totaling 66,720 gold coins, you have to compensate 200,160 gold coins!!"

Raven nodded: "I know, what's the problem?"

"It seems that you don't know the seriousness of this." Monroe frowned, his eyes turned red: "This is not only the financial impact, but more importantly..."

At this point, he paused.

Originally, he thought Raven was just messing around. After all, it had been a long time since anyone had sold foggy heavy iron in such large quantities.

But now, he saw that Raven's expression was so calm and confident, and he was even drinking coffee. It didn't look like he was joking at all!

"...Wait a minute, can you really provide that much foggy iron!?"

Raven nodded: "Of course."

Monroe frowned: "Then you should sell it to us. You should know that no one on the market can eat so much foggy iron in one go. You have left almost no profit for the second-hand dealer!"

The price given by the Mages Guild was like cutting leeks, but Raven did not directly confront him, but said: "Okay, it just takes a month."

Monroe asked, "Why?"

Raven smiled softly: "Because I need time to mine."

"What did you say!?" Monroe's face suddenly stiffened: "You discovered a mist mine!?"

Raven's mist ore vein has a monthly production capacity of 800 pounds, while the mine controlled by the Mages Guild itself only produces more than 1,070 pounds per month!

If Raven accidentally obtained a batch of foggy iron, Monro could also use the power of the Mages Guild to suppress it, buy it at a low price, or let Raven sell it in small quantities multiple times, so as not to affect the market price.

The current situation means that Raven has become the strongest competitor of the Mages Guild in terms of selling foggy iron. It can even be said that it can directly affect the price trend of foggy iron!

Raven and the Mage Guild are qualified to fight!

"Baron Raven, please set a price." Monroe thought over and over again: "Our Mage Guild can charge as much as you have Misty Iron!"

Raven shrugged and said, "My price has already been marked."

There was a trace of anger on Monroe's eyebrows: "Baron Raven, I am talking to you sincerely!"

"I'm also very sincere." Lei Wen said lightly: "The Mages Guild sells it for 83.5 gold coins, and I sell it for 83.4. Isn't this reasonable?"

"You...!!" Monroe's brows stood up, and the wrinkles around his mouth started to turn red.

He wanted to cut off communication with Raven immediately, but he couldn't.

The demand for foggy iron is relatively fixed. Previously, the Mages Guild was able to guarantee a monopoly because there were too few bulk goods on the market to pose a threat.

Now, if Raven is allowed to sell foggy iron on the Deep Blue platform, it means completely giving up on this market.

As for the price war - Raven only needs to be responsible for himself, but the Mages Guild depends on profits!

The Mage Guild has a great cause, but the magicians inside are different. The Mage Guild can afford it, but Monro, who is in charge of this area, can't afford it!

Raven saw through this, so he dared to bargain with Monroe like this.

Looking at Raven's calm face, Monroe felt a sense of frustration in his heart. He knew that he couldn't take any advantage in front of Raven, so he could only sigh and negotiate: "Baron Raven, I know you We also want to make a profit, but your price is really unacceptable to the guild. If the confrontation continues, it will be a thankless task for both of us. "

"So, let's take a step back. You take down the goods first and sell them all to our Mage Guild at a lower price. And I can also give you a long-term 9.5% discount purchase right according to my own authority!"

From the beginning, Raven had never thought of selling this batch of misty heavy iron in small quantities. He needed to find a stable sales channel for himself, and the Mage Guild was undoubtedly the best choice.

Since the goal has been achieved, Raven didn't want to offend the Mage Guild too much. After all, 9.5% off may not seem like much, but if you really buy things in large quantities, it will save hundreds or thousands of gold coins!

"Look at what you said, I am also a member of the Mage Guild, and the interests of the Mage Guild are my interests! The previous price was a joke to you!"

Monroe's eyelids twitched, and he cursed Raven in his heart for being shameless.

Why didn't you say you were joking earlier! ?

"So, 75 gold coins per pound." Raven smiled: "But the freight will be paid by the Mage Guild, and I want payment before delivery. I will ship the goods immediately one month after the first payment is received."

Monroe pondered.

Seventy-five gold coins, there is still some profit space, but the output of the Mage Guild will be a little backlog.

But it doesn't matter. The Mage Guild's Misty Iron Ore Vein has been mined for more than 40 years and can be mined for another 30 years. This is already a very rich vein.

Even if Raven is lucky, this vein will only take five or ten years to dig, and it will always be over!

Monroe nodded: "Okay, it's a deal, then I will raise funds now, and then I will send someone to send you the supply contract!"

After that, he immediately cut off the communication, obviously not wanting to talk to Raven more.

Eight days later, a griffin came to Eagle Castle and brought Raven the first batch of payment, a full 60,000 gold coins!

Nine days later, the modified crossbow was finally delivered to Raven by Sohei himself.

"I told you, don't worry." Raven stroked the wooden box with his fingers: "Are you sure it has been modified?"

Sohei nodded heavily with bloodshot eyes: "Baron, it has been completely modified."

"I promise, as long as you take a look at it, you will fall in love with this beauty completely!"

"Oh?" Raven raised his eyebrows slightly, pressed his fingers on the box cover, and applied a little force.

Silver light quietly bloomed.

...