Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 683 - 632: Flame Assembly

"I’ve got it! Master!" A furious shout suddenly erupted from behind, and Lyle turned around. Under the slowly closing doors of the Bronze Hall, he saw the Baron of the Garden clutching his fists tight, a spark of inspiration—or something—dancing in the fiery eyes of the Elemental Lord, his emotions intense, the suppressed flames on his body surging like waves, with waves of heat pulsing towards him.

The Baron of the Garden had finally managed to control himself, rather than exploding as he had seemed on the verge of doing. At the most critical moment, he appeared no different from an oversized grenade with its pin pulled.

Lyle was delighted that both his mental philosophy and his personal safety were being respected. The Baron’s state was clearly that of a newbie who’d been suddenly enlightened with twenty years of marketing wisdom. Lyle was familiar with this condition; it was the same excitement he felt every time his Magic Lock leveled up and he gained new abilities.

The Baron of the Garden, eager to test his hand, was like a dieter who had suddenly lost fifty or sixty pounds frantically searching for the detested bathroom scale. His longing spilled out from that fiery visage along with the flames.

As a qualified mentor and an Andrean, Lyle decided to give his full support.

"Go for it, Baron of the Garden! Use the skills you’ve learned and pull off something big!"

"Pull...pull off something big?" The Elemental Lord, feeling a bit rash, discovered that this operations master was even more impulsive than he was, more eager for action than a frenzied Flame Elemental. Although it felt somewhat inappropriate, his thin layer of rationality had long since been consumed by high-level flames. Spurred on by encouragement, the Baron of the Garden howled ardently—armed with Lyle’s full blessing, ready to put his plans into action.

"I want to pull off something big!!!"

Next, Lyle slipped away. Just like a kid scampering out of the blast radius after lighting a firework, he didn’t want to get scared. An Andrean lich has a couple of tricks up his sleeve, and Lyle had mastered them all, integrating them with impeccable skill.

One was inciting trouble, and the other was shirking responsibility. The Baron of the Garden had received his boost, like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode at a touch. Lyle decided to find a safe, peaceful place and quietly await the bloom of events.

A few days later.

The Forging Masters, now recognizing that the Fire Elemental was boss, lined up at the great furnace in their fire-resistant gear, each carrying their creations.

The Baron of the Garden leaned on a newly forged crystal base of flames, looking down at the Dwarven Forgemasters who had once held themselves so high. He spread his arms wide, his thick fiery arms now sporting two elemental bracelets. On the left was Fleisheimer’s Guard, representing the most distinguished Dwarven Forging Master; on the right was Imelt’s Advice, representing Mackenbert’s most popular idol, the Red Dragon.

The Baron of the Garden smirked wickedly.

"Present your offerings to the Elemental Lord, Masters," called out the Baron of the Garden once more, "And pay up!!"

The fitting session proceeded as normal.

"Are you serious? You actually ’tailor-made’ a pair of swift boots for me?! Which of your eyes saw me with feet?!"

"Lord Baron, as an elemental being, isn’t growing feet quite easy for you?"

The Fire Elemental, not pleased, narrowed his eyes.

"Next, I don’t wear shoes," said the Flame Elemental as he tossed back the Magic Ore that the forgemaster had brought. Your offering has been declined.

The Dwarf was frantic, his mind flashing back to the vivid future Lyle had described days earlier. No promotion, no recognition for his workshop, just another forgotten speck in the dustbin of time. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Please reconsider, Lord Baron, my shoes have a high enhancement effect against fire damage!"

"I said, I don’t wear shoes."

"Then let me make a slight alteration, how about I turn them into a necklace? The adaptability of these shoes is great; they can still be effective when hung around the neck!"

The Fire Elemental, extremely displeased, felt his head might actually split in two with irritation.

"You wear the shoes around your neck! Have you ever considered your customers? The customer is your bread and butter! In that case, I am your fire daddy! Security! Beat him up! After you’re done, send him to the Life Warlord! If I see him bringing any single-mouthed tubular items in here again, hit him directly! Next!!!"

Following this episode, the Forging Masters queued behind him finally understood the demand and supply relationship Lyle had explained. It was they who were seeking the elements... and looking at each other and then back at the Elemental Lord, the Dwarves realized that only about one-fifth to one-sixth of all their combined equipment might actually be wearable by the Baron of the Garden due to his size. Worse still, Elemental Equipment couldn’t be layered—if one piece for a particular body part was accepted, the next would be rejected.

Their own peers, now, were enemies poised to divide their workshops in the future! The Dwarves looked at their companions with greater solemnity; the once-united council group was now divided.

"Baron, check out my equipment; I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!!!"

"Dad of Fire! Choose my breastplate; it even has a built-in bellows and scent bonuses!!!"

The councilors turned into eloquent cuties, relaxing the Baron of the Garden’s expression considerably.

"No good!"

"Too small!"

"Too big."

"Uncomfortable to wear."

"Ugly pattern."

"The bonuses are too weak."

"You’re really ugly."

The Forging Master was in agony, never expecting that the Dwarves’ return to youth from the power of the Red Dragon would first confront them with the fierce competition of a brutal job-seeking scene akin to that faced by young people of the 21st century. Perhaps this, too, was a type of youth.

Some rejoiced, others despaired.

While everyone was being tormented by the Baron of the Garden’s pickiness, the Elemental Lord adorned with three thick gold chains around his neck, twenty rings on his fingers, and seven or eight enchanted bracelets on his arms effortlessly opened the massive door to the Elemental Plane.

He stood there, his equipment shining in the firelight like an angel bringing wealth and prosperity.

The voice he emitted was like celestial music to the Dwarves.

"Hey hey, is Baron Bubble around? It’s me, the Garden. Are you still hanging around in that decrepit volcano? Brother, I’ve got a set of top-notch Elemental Equipment for you. Come by my Great Furnace."

Another call.

"Baron Sponge, it’s been a while since we hung out. Come over to my place; I’ve got fun stuff. Ah ah, everyone else is here, you’re the only one missing."

Another call.

"Antenna, there’s a fight brewing, come."

Three ferocious Flame Portals were propped open by sturdy flaming hands, the fire of the Great Furnace surged, and under the scorching heat, countless newborn Flame Elementals emerged from the magma.

The Dwarves covered their eyes, peering through their fingers at the brilliant firelight too dazzling to behold directly, tears streaming down their faces, tears of joy and fulfillment.

High-rank Elemental Lords, the towering Flame Giants, stood side by side at the center of the Great Furnace.

"Let the world feel the heat of us, Lords of Flames!"

"Flames unite as one."

The world’s four high-rank Lords of Flames had descended upon the Great Furnace.

The Baron of the Garden laughed heartily.

"Brothers, I’m thinking of hitting up a big score."