"I look forward to it," Surya nodded as well.

After a brief lunch break, at three in the afternoon, Laine and the other three walked on the streets of Bodlukes, well-rested.

The weather was getting colder, and the three girls all changed into winter coats. Among them, Amelia, who couldn't stand the cold, and the stern Sylvia were dressed in women's winter coats, tight trousers, and boots. Only Surya persisted in wearing a skirt. Today, the female knight wore a white fox fur coat and a gray rabbit fur knit sweater. A fan-colored hip-hugging short skirt and gray thick stockings adorned her warm and fair, long, and beautiful pair of legs. Gray high heels with gold chains dangled from her laces as she gently hooked her arm around Laine's. The noble and beautiful female knight and the handsome, steady Holy Grail Knight seemed like a match made in heaven, chatting and laughing along the way.

"Duke, they've gone out. Do we need to send someone to follow them?" On the high tower of the main castle, Duke Boldro Bodrick and Ismail watched Laine and the others leave the castle and spoke in low voices.

"Oh, no need, forget it," Bodrick sighed. "Damn, Francois keeps a very close eye on this young man!"

The Duke of Boldro invited Laine for a banquet with his own schemes in mind.

Without a doubt, the Duke, knowing the inside story, understood that Laine was the most dazzling rising star in Brittania in recent years. He was not only a Holy Grail Knight but also a Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, with exceptional leadership and undeniable personal martial valor.

The Duke of Boldro's Clan had eligible young women, and the Duke initially had ideas about Laine himself. If his baroness were someone from his family, it would greatly strengthen his ties with the Boldro Duchy and even achieve a pull with this Divine Chosen Champion.

But now that Laine came with Francois's daughter, Surya, who even became his partner, Bodrick knew some of his ideas could no longer succeed. The status of Marchioness Surya was too high, and he couldn't find a matchable eligible woman here; forcibly matchmaking would be tantamount to declaring war on the powerful Francois. With Boldro already beset on three sides, it wouldn't be wise to seek trouble with the backing Winford.

It seems he needs to find other ways to leverage Laine's force.

"In Boldro, you have everything you need: Dwarven rune weapons? Come, I'll take you there; High Elf spices? Buy one, get one free; Winford wine? All available here! As long as you have enough Gold Crowns!"

——Brittania's Great Merchant Sivin-Panta

The resident population of Bodlukes is about over twenty thousand, counting visiting merchants, travelers, and wandering mercenaries, reaching about thirty-five thousand. Warehouses, water mills, slaughterhouses, sawmills, and shoe factories are built in pieces along the Xinong River in the suburbs. Within the city, various mints, banks, and pawnshops have been established in large numbers. However, under the Duke's strict laws, only three churches are allowed to build temples in the city: The Ocean Church, the Lake Fairy Church, and the Merciful Goddess Shalya's Temple.

Following the address left by Angerong, Laine found the rather conspicuous dwarf blacksmith shop.

"Ding! Ding!" The heavy sound of iron forging echoed inside the blacksmith shop, the bellows raised, and the music played. Under the strong rhythm, the flames in the furnace leaped with the bellows' beat, rising with the gust's play.

A dwarf, about 1.4 meters tall, was wielding his rune iron hammer, pounding on the iron ingot's sharp sword. An iron sword showed a reddish hue all over, quickly taking shape under the dwarf's mighty blows. The rune on the hammer glowed, emitting a strange melody.

An apprentice nearby was helping the dwarf blacksmith turn over the longsword.

Someone noticed Laine and his group's arrival, but no one paid them any attention. Laine also indicated to the three girls not to move around. They stood a little distance away in the open-air blacksmith shop, waiting for a bit.

"Alright, Master Feinson!" Another dwarf apprentice said loudly. The dwarf using the big hammer nodded. He quickly removed the runes and began enchanting the sharp sword.

Two runes, glowing with different lights, were engraved on the longsword's blade. Then the dwarf immediately quenched and tempered the sword. With the hammer's rise and fall, a series of clink-clank sounds rang out, and a stream of sweat rained down. Then an exquisite enchanted silver longsword was held in the dwarf blacksmith's hand, the runes on the sword emanating a beautiful glow. The dwarf craftsman nodded with satisfaction before turning his gaze to Laine.

This dwarf had a thick, long beard. His beard reached the ground and was then tied in reverse and braided, almost covering his entire body. Besides, even in deep autumn, he didn't wear much clothing, exposing a pair of sturdy arms. Lifting his head to observe Laine and the approaching three girls, the dwarf finally spoke in a gruff voice in Dwarf Language: "This is not a place for dates, young Holy Grail Knight."

"Are you Mr. Delong-Feinson? I am Laine, Laine Macado," Laine answered directly using Dwarf Language.

"You speak Kazadni Language? Alright then, I'm Delong. Since you speak Kazadni Language, I'll give you a ninety percent discount, no bargaining," the dwarf craftsman said gruffly. "Prices are all hung on the wall. I hope your Lady didn't teach you to deceive and cheat."

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