Chương 12: The Awakening Head Office

Arthur scoured the marketplace, filtering through every Blacksmith with a Beginner Professional Status until he finally found a suitable skeleton worker. The contract payment was entirely manageable. Unlike the exorbitant Grand Masters, this worker demanded common items he could easily purchase rather than obscure, exotic materials.

[Worker Status] Name: Bathory Designation: Blacksmith Specialist: Double-Edged Sword Professional Status: Beginner Monthly Maintenance Cost (MMC): 2, 500 Credits Contract Payment: 4 Alpha Standard Fangs (any), 5 kg of Lean Silver Ore It was just two simple demands for the contract payment. Although the MMC of 2, 500 credits was noticeably higher than Coburn's, Arthur knew that if he could get a steady stream of crafted weapons flowing, the profit would easily cover the monthly burn rate.

With his selection made, Arthur closed the status window and stepped out of the empty alleyway. All he needed to do now was buy the materials and formalize the contract. But as he started walking, the reality of running a blacksmithing business hit him. Bathory would need proper equipment: a heavy anvil, a quality hammer, and a furnace. Furthermore, he couldn't exactly set up a forge in his cramped family home; he would have to rent a dedicated workspace.

Arthur felt a heavy twinge of anxiety as he mentally calculated the mounting capital costs that were about to eat into his funds. However, business would have to wait. His absolute first priority was to register his class at the Awakening Head Office. The United Government mandated that every newly awakened individual must register within twenty-four hours. Failing to do so would incur a crippling financial penalty, something Arthur wanted to avoid at all costs.

Hailing a taxi, Arthur directed the driver toward Sector A, the very center of Faith City. This was where every major power in the city resided, a haven for those who awakened high-tier classes. Unlike the polluted, industrial wasteland of Outer Sector B, Sector A was pristine, impeccably maintained, and heavily taxed. Only the ultra-rich could afford to live there; a family like Arthur's couldn't even afford a single day's worth of Sector A taxes.

Yet, as he looked out the window, Arthur swore to himself that he would eventually move his family to Sector A, or at least right on its borders. It was the only way to secure a better future for his siblings and reverse his father's rapidly declining health. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. As the taxi cruised forward, the environment visibly shifted.

The tattered buildings and crumbling roads of Outer Sector B gave way to the cleaner, more structured streets of Inner Sector B, a slightly underdeveloped area dominated by second-rate families and mid-level powers. Finally, they crossed into the heart of Faith City. The Awakening Head Office was a magnificent sight. It was a towering, forty-five-story skyscraper constructed entirely from pristine, white marble harvested directly from Dungeons.

It was nearly noon by the time Arthur paid the fare and walked through the grand main gates. He was instantly greeted by a massive, bustling hall filled with people queuing at various counters. After searching the directory, Arthur found the new awakening registration section. An elderly woman sat behind the counter, meticulously reading through a stack of documents. Arthur offered a polite clearing of his throat. Sensing his presence, the old lady looked up.

"Ma'am, I am here to register my awakening," Arthur stated respectfully. The old lady waved a hand, summoning a translucent digital screen. She navigated through a few tabs until a search bar appeared.

"Name and Citizen ID?" she asked in a practiced, monotone voice. Arthur provided his details. The lady typed them in, pausing as the system processed his registration.

"Your inspection is registered. An officer has been appointed to evaluate your class awakening," she said, dismissing her screen and returning to her paperwork.

"Please wait in the seating area until the officer arrives." Arthur nodded and took a seat nearby. As he waited, he let his mind wander to the privileges that came with official registration. The biggest perk was access to the Quest Boards. By taking on various commissions, he could easily earn a handful of credits. With Coburn being an expert in literally every job, Arthur realized his family would never go hungry again.

Even if his grand business plans failed, he could just spam utility quests to live a comfortable, normal life. But Arthur refused to settle for normal. His siblings' futures depended on the business he was about to build. [Purchase Blacksmith Company] He smiled to himself, testing the name out in his mind. Accessing the Quest Boards would just be a secondary backup; his main goal was to launch his company, scale it up, and pull in massive profits.

His daydreaming was abruptly cut short by the crisp clack of boots approaching. He looked up to see a young woman in sharp, professional attire standing before him. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, of average height, with a round, attractive face and a perfectly tailored uniform that accentuated her curves. Arthur immediately stood up out of respect. She briefly glanced at a tablet in her hands.

"Arthur Purchase? New awakening?" she asked briskly.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please follow me." She turned on her heel and led him down a pristine hallway, guiding him into an inspection room. The heavy door hissed shut behind them, and the room's bright lights instantly hummed to life. Arthur looked around in awe; the space was filled with a mix of highly advanced technological equipment and strange, glowing Dungeon artifacts.

"Arthur Purchase, please move to the demonstration section and exhibit your class ability for the official recording," the woman instructed, gesturing toward a wide, empty space in the center of the room. Arthur stepped into the designated area. He hesitated for a moment. He didn't have any flashy elemental attacks or physical enhancements to show off; his only ability was summoning. Should I summon Coburn? he thought. It's the only logical choice.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur closed his eyes and reached out with his intent, willing the Nether-Realm to open. This time, the connection felt incredibly smooth, devoid of the exhausting struggle he had experienced the night before. In the very next second, the air shifted. A glowing, mystical circular diagram etched with strange, otherworldly symbols flared to life on the floor. From the center of the magic circle, a skeletal figure rose into the brightly lit room, its bony hands firmly gripping two pickaxes.