This Dwarf Forging Master might not look like he’s trained in swordsmanship, but when he swings that giant hammer, it’s terrifying enough.
Life force coiled around the hammer, and with just a few swings, he had Amar and his gang crying for their mothers.
Some of them were in such pain they even spat blood, clearly seriously injured.
“This… this isn’t over!”
Amar howled, clutching his deformed arm.
“Someone! Someone! The Foreman is selling fakes and even killing people!”
His high-pitched scream made Velis suspect he’d practiced beforehand.
At the same time, the other thugs lying on the ground also started shouting loudly.
Very soon, a dark mass of people gathered outside.
Among them were thugs, civilians, and people from other workshops.
They crowded over to watch the commotion, and only then did Dimuoluo realize he’d been tricked.
“Everyone, judge for yourselves! This is what I bought from this dwarf a few days ago, with his signature on it!”
“But when I took it back and used it to chop bones twice, it cracked. I came to argue with him about this inferior product, but he bit back and even attacked me!”
“Judge for yourselves!”
Amar and his gang cried even harder, milking their misery for all it was worth.
The crowd grew larger, all pointing and whispering about Dimuoluo.
“Damn it! What are you looking at! My stuff is never low quality! This brat must have broken it on purpose!”
Dimuoluo swung his giant hammer, glaring fiercely at the crowd.
“I, Dimuoluo, swear I would never forge an inferior product! All of you, get out of my sight!”
But someone in the crowd immediately jeered, siding with and sympathizing with the thugs.
The scene quickly became chaotic.
Velis left the place with the three girls, not bothering to watch the rest.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t we… stop this?” Anne asked.
Velis looked at her strangely.
“Why stop it? These thugs are helping me!”
Velis smiled mysteriously.
“Anne, remember to issue an order as Lord in the morning…”
“Dismiss Dimuoluo from the position of Foreman. In light of his past forging contributions to the Castle Lord’s Mansion, spare him the death penalty this time.”
“But for selling inferior goods, tarnishing the honor of the Foreman’s position, assault, and disrespect towards the Imperial Princess…”
“Take into account both merits and faults, expel him from Ushi City, and do not allow him to take a single item with him.”
At this, Anne answered in confusion.
“Your Highness, can you see the future?”
“No, but I can pretty much guess how things will develop.”
Velis replied.
Ofilia, still upset, asked, “Master, you’re just letting him off like that!?”
“What? Do you want to vent your anger too?” Velis asked.
“No… no…”
Ofilia turned her head away.
At this moment, Velis smiled coldly.
“Don’t worry, Master will get back at him for you. Do you think I’d let him off easily?”
“I want him to suffer humiliation and hardship, then come crawling back to beg me for work… Satisfied now?”
“Sat… hmph!”
Ofilia almost blurted out, then grunted.
“This isn’t what I wanted… Master, don’t make it sound like you’re doing it for me!”
“I am doing it for you.”
Velis replied firmly, making Ofilia’s heart tremble.
Beside them, Anne gritted her teeth and suddenly smacked Ofilia’s butt hard.
Mm, bouncy and soft.
“What are you doing!?”
The blonde girl jumped up.
Anne said calmly, “Oh, I saw a mosquito on your butt and killed it for you. No need to thank me.”
“You didn’t have to hit so hard though!”
***
The turmoil at Dimuoluo’s workshop continued into the evening.
With more and more onlookers joining in, and Dimuoluo’s bad temper having already offended many people, this time, Amar’s accusation gave many a chance to kick him while he was down.
Velis sat in the guest room of another workshop, watching the scene outside through the window with interest.
Dimuoluo attacked more than ten times, injuring many.
He thought this would scare people off, but the more he hit, the more people joined in.
Amid curses and accusations, Dimuoluo started shouting back.
But even though he was from Zu’an… pfft, even though he was a furious dwarf, facing countless verbal assaults, he still lost in the end.
People threw mud, rotten vegetable leaves, and even dung into the workshop.
Even when Fei’er tried to intervene with his people, it was useless.
The conflict turned into an all-out brawl, with both sides hurt and cursing.
Under Velis’s orders, the Patrol Officers didn’t come near all day.
Things escalated out of control, and Dimuoluo realized something was wrong.
But now that he was in the thick of it, there was no way he’d back down.
Being wrongly accused of making poor-quality goods was bad enough.
But being ganged up on and bullied was the last straw that filled him with rage and grievance.
When he injured someone and blood was spilled, both sides drew real weapons and started fighting.
At that moment, the City Defense Army arrived.
Everyone was arrested.
***
Dimuoluo was so angry he spat blood.
From then on, his workshop was finished.
According to the City Defense Army, he now faced a massive fine of 200 gold dragons.
“I won’t accept this! I won’t! I want to see the Lord! I’m the Foreman, who dares touch me!?”
Even as he was being dragged away by the City Defense Army, Dimuoluo roared.
Only his apprentice, Fei’er, let out a helpless sigh.
With things settled, Velis stood up and asked the waiting workshop owner beside her, “Can you make what the Imperial Princess requires?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
The middle-aged workshop owner, Barcelob, nodded and bowed.
“When does Your Highness need it?”
“As soon as possible. Lower the production of other weapons and equipment in the workshop to the minimum.”
“Work with the other eight workshops to finish it quickly.”
“Yes, yes, yes! With Your Highness’s order, we’ll start at once!”
***
The next day, word of the incident at the smelting workshop spread.
But what Velis hadn’t expected was that Dimuoluo, who had fumed all night in prison, used a few nails he’d kept on him to pick the cell lock.
He then injured over a dozen thugs.
At the same time, he hurled insults at the City Defense Army who tried to stop him.
He even cursed Velis.
In the end, Velis ordered him to be beaten with bamboo whips.
Dimuoluo fought back fiercely, injuring several City Defense Army soldiers.
It took Hill Yu leading a team to suppress him.
Because of his misdeeds, Velis used the workshop’s funds to compensate the civilians and even the thugs.
This nearly made Dimuoluo’s throat explode from rage.
Not only that, Velis revoked his position and confiscated all his property—including the workshop and everything in it.
By afternoon, Dimuoluo, covered in wounds, was thrown outside the city gate by the City Defense Army.
“By order of the Lord, Dimuoluo is violent by nature, disrespects the law, insults others, injures many, and has insulted the Imperial Princess of the Empire—a crime punishable by death!”
“However, in light of your past contributions to Ushi City, the Imperial Princess spares your life but expels you from Ushi City and confiscates all your property!”
“Dimuoluo, are you not going to thank her for her mercy!?”
Facing the cold-eyed City Defense Army, Dimuoluo’s expression twisted.
Finally, tears dripped from his eyes, and he fell to his knees, crying out:
“Dimuoluo thanks you for your mercy!”
Behind him, Fei’er also wore an expression of utter despair.
One day.
Just one day!
Everything had changed!
“Let’s go.”
Dimuoluo stood up in defeat, shook his head with a bitter smile, and walked away.
He had arrived with nothing.
He thought he had finally taken root in Ushi City.
But now…
He left with nothing once more, except for his foolish apprentice by his side.
Watching the two lonely figures fade into the distance, Hill Yu spoke.
“Imperial sister, that was a Dwarf Forging Master. Wasn’t this a bit much?”
“Elder sister!”
Velis sighed.
“Do you think being kinder would make him want to keep working for me?”
“I want subordinates who obey, not arrogant iron-mouthed men who curse at everyone.”
“This time, consider it a lesson for him. If he can change, he might still be a useful and respectable Forging Master.”
If not, let him find another path.
Velis wouldn’t coddle him.
She turned to Ofilia.
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Ugh, but I don’t want to do this…”
“Hm?”
Velis’s gaze turned dangerous.
“Yes, Master! Ofilia guarantees to complete the mission!”
“If you dare run away…”
Velis said coldly.
“You know what will happen, right? Even if you flee to the Divine Ruins, I’ll drag you back.”
At these words, Ofilia nodded, blushing.
This time, what she felt wasn’t pain, but a warmth she’d never experienced before.
“Master… if I really end up there, could you really find me?”
Ofilia asked impulsively.
“Guess.”
Velis smiled.
“Go.”
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