Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!-Chapter 569: The Blacksmith Association

The blacksmith’s association of the Primordial Expanse didn’t have any extravagant name like the ’Divine Blacksmith Guild’ or anything like that, instead it just held the simple name of Blacksmith’s Association.

Alex stepped out of the alleyway, adjusting his cloak as he surveyed the bustling streets of the city. The scent of smoldering coal and metal filled the air, mingling with the chatter of merchants and the distant ringing of hammers against metal.

’I chose this area because there seemed to be quite a number of smithy’s in the area, but none of them seem prominent or imposing enough to be this place’s blacksmith association.’ He thought to himself as he scanned the surroundings with his spatial perception.

If there was anywhere to begin his search for the blacksmith association though, it was here.

He moved with purpose through the streets, with Brontes striding silently beside him in his smaller, travel friendly form.

The beast’s eyes flickered as it scanned the surroundings, taking note of everyone who even sent a second glance their way.

After what had happened with Caius and his unexpected transformation into some devil-like form, even Brontes had taken a much more cautious and alert approach to their travels, especially when they were in a place as crowded with people as this city.

Despite the city’s lively atmosphere, Alex knew better than to let his guard down anymore. Caius had already taught him a valuable lesson of not revealing too much of his abilities, or valuables for that matter.

His first stop was a marketplace. He wasn’t that intent on dealing with a blacksmith just yet, as he knew they all had quite eccentric personalities and would most likely not comply with his questions unless he gave them some incentive to do so, just like what had happened when he first met Rothwind.

But even then Rothwind was a special case, Alex had absolutely no intention of revealing too much of his identity or prowess to any of the people in this city, blacksmith or not, like he did with Rothwind.

Keeping this in mind, he approached an elderly vendor selling some ingots and ores, clearly keeping up with the markets of this area, taking advantage of the fact that the blacksmiths would need somewhere to procure their resources.

"Excuse me," Alex began speaking, keeping his tone polite but distant.

"I’m looking for the Blacksmith Association, you don’t happen to know where that is, do you?"

Alex debated on revealing a tad bit more information, such as asking if the man knew anything about Mikhail, but after taking a second look at his appearance, he decided against it.

The man was clearly an unawakened, so he most likely wouldn’t have come into contact with information of such high caliber. Besides, revealing too much of his real intentions to someone so weak and random as this man could very easily backfire on Alex.

Sure, the old man could be kind and innocent, not knowing the value of the information Alex was asking for, but that didn’t mean the contents of his conversation with Alex couldn’t be pried out of him forcibly.

As an unawakened, any random Awakened who was interested in Alex could force the information out of the old man if they had the ability to do so. Even a meagre F tier could do such a thing. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

While Alex considered all this in his mind, the merchant hummed thoughtfully before jerking his head toward the heart of the city.

"You’ll find them past the main forge district. Can’t miss it – the biggest building aside from the city hall. But don’t expect a warm welcome. Blacksmiths don’t just hand out their knowledge freely."

Alex nodded in genuine gratitude, noting that the old man did not try to extort him for some meagre profits in exchange for this information.

Though, Alex knew that the old man likely refrained from doing this in fear of Alex’s power, as even a layman like him could tell that Alex was an awakened, and clearly not an ordinary one at that.

Brontes, a beast, hanging by his side with practical puppy eyes whenever looking at Alex, was enough evidence of this fact.

Offending an awakened was the easiest and most frequent method of killing oneself to the unawakened inhabitants of this city, as well as the rest of the Primordial Expanse.

Sending a nod towards the old man, and throwing a few gold coins his way, Alex turned on his heel, heading in the direction indicated.

From the old man’s description, it was clear that the association would be hard to miss once he came within range of it, so he decided against strolling around the streets, wasting time.

Instead, he concealed his aura to the fullest, willing for Brontes to do the same, before sneaking back into the alleyway he’d entered from, and taking to the skies immediately after.

’Man, having the ability to fly sure is convenient.’

Alex almost couldn’t imagine how he managed to survive without it before becoming a B tier.

Eventually, after a few minutes of a casual pace in flight, Alex found himself floating between two gargantuan structures that directly opposed each other, with at least a 20 kilometre gap in between the two of them.

’That one on the left is a little taller than the one on the right, so that must be the city hall.’ Alex mulled to himself, focusing his attention on the building on the right as he did so.

It was an imposing structure of blackened stone and reinforced steel, with massive doors adorning the bottom most layer. Eerie engravings of flames and scenes depicting forgery flickered across the walls, with even the heat given off by the building being able to be felt nearly 10 kilometres away from Alex’s position.

Standing nearby the building itself was probably enough to make ordinary, unawakened men sweat and fall into heat stroke after just a few minutes.

It was clearly a place anyone who wasn’t an awakened would avoid.

Alex approached after landing on the ground.

"You. State your business."

Immediately, he was stopped from taking any further steps upon raching the entrance.