Reincarnated as the Baron's son: My Infinite Card Upgrade System-Chapter 72: Old man

[AlN: I’m sorry this is a repetition of the last Chapter, I had to do this to keep on the win win. I’ve been in the hospital since yesterday, my time out is in 5 hours. I will update this Chapter after my medication.]

"Come on, old man, I’ve been begging for you for over an hour now, why won’t you help me?"

Alaric pleaded, while following Johnny around the workshop.

"I’m wondering the same thing. Why is the Baron’s son so interested in my work? Last I checked, he is a better blacksmith." Johnny placed the metal on the table, his eyes calmly searching the room for another item.

"Oh come on, if I had the time, I would, but I don’t..."

Johnny sighed, now looking directly at Alaric, "Let’s say for a second, I was interested in your offer, to make a...."

"It’s complicated."

"Sure whatever. To make whatever it is you want right now, what’s in it for me?" Johnny had his arms folded.

’Oh he wants something...’ Alaric entered a deep thought.

Knowing blacksmiths, most of them value their skills more than the business itself. Kinda how knights value their loyalty rather than the accomplishments.

Snapping his fingers, Alaric blurted out the idea that had just popped into his head.

"What if I tell you I can increase your rank...?" He said.

Johnny was speechless.

He felt the need to confirm what he had just heard.

"Increase my rank?"

"You heard me."

Hina, who had been standing at the side of the shop, eves dropping on their conversation suddenly recalled something Ava told her about a while back.

Alaric had something to do with both of their ranks increasing from nowhere.

’Wait, Lord Alaric really does have the ability to do that? No way.’ Hina could barely believe what she was hearing.

Johnny, laughing as a means to find himself again after questioning Alaric’s words, now spoke...

"So I am to believe, the son of the Baron, has the ability to increase the ranks of others, just like that?"

"You don’t believe me?"

[He doesn’t believe you.]

"An ability such as that is unheard of, being able to increase the ranks of others is like saying you have the authority of a god."

"Then how do you think Hina was able to attain diamond rank without any influence?" Alaric initiated, "how do you think Ava carried the diamond rank title as well? Two people have diamond rank around me, shouldn’t that be too good to be a coincidence."

It hit him right where he stood. Johnny realized it, Alaric might be right.

"Oh good lord..." He stumbled backwards before sitting down, "You do have that ability."

"Wait! You were the one that boosted me to diamond rank?!!!" Hina yelled from behind.

But Alaric was too focused on Johnny to attend to anyone else, so he simply raised his hand, dismissing whatever Hina was about to say right after.

"Unbelievable, a human capable of such power. Does Lord Rashin know?" Asked Johnny.

"Well no, in fact, I want you to keep this a secret. The more people find out the more problems I’ll be attracting. I do not want to gather any more attention than I already have." Alaric responded with a serious expression.

To Johnny, it was all starting to make sense. How Alaric was able to be a good blacksmith, and how Hina suddenly got a high rank as a healer.

"This is quite unexpected. Pfft! Hahahah!" He laughed, "Oh I’ve lived long enough and to think there are still things that can surprise me."

"Are you impressed?" Alaric gave a smirk.

"I am, alright, no use denying that." Johnny stretched his hand forward for a shake, "Fine, I agree, if you boost my rank I shall help you with whatever you need."

"Excellent! I knew you’d make the right choice." Alaric smiled as he shakes Johnny’s hand.

And then, the system notification arrived.

[In case you’re about to ask, the Blacksmith card Johnny Heartwood is available and up for purchase.]

’Look at you getting smarter. Bring it forth.’

[Request confirmed.]

[Johnny Heartwood.]

[Rank: Gold rank Blacksmith.

Level: 2/10... {500,000cp to fully upgrade}.]

[Description: This card belongs to a talented blacksmith.]

{50,000cp}

---

Alaric first stared at the card, a drop of sweat dripping at the side of his head before he looked at Johnny, who was simply frowning out his curiosity.

’50,000 Cp for a card that doesn’t give me abilities?... Is it just me or are you intentionally increasing the prices of things lately?’ Alaric whispered in his mind.

[The carrier has no idea about what you might be referring to.]

’Of course you don’t.’ Alaric sighed, just the sight of the 500,000 Cp he was going to spend made him puke.

If he had things his way, he would make Johnny work for him for life due to the cps he was about to spend.

With a sigh, he clicked the buttons and bought the card. Proceeding to upgrade it at the same time.

[Current Cp: 2.6million.]

Alaric dropped to his knees. His eyes widened at the shock of losing so much cps.

[Notice... Johnny Heartwood has evolved into a diamond rank Blacksmith]

Right before her very eyes, Hina watched Johnny undergo a massive transformation.

His hair that was once falling had turned deep black, longer and healthier. His skin took a cleaner time, and his eyes looked even brighter.

In other words, the old man was no longer old. Instead, he looked to be a man in his 40s. Handsome and muscular.

"M-m-m-ma..." Hina’s finger trumbled as she pointed at Johnny.

Johnny clicked his tongue, "I thought I told you not to call me master...eh?"

He was shocked.

Not knowing why his voice suddenly sounded younger and the pain in his back was no longer there, Johnny decided to take a quick look at the iron plate beside him.

That was when he noticed it.

"H-h-h-h-inaaa!" He pointed at his reflection, "What happened to my face?!!!"

"I don’t know!!! What happened to your old wrinkles?!!!"

"I don’t know?!!!"

With no option left, they both turned their gaze to Alaric, who was slowly standing up from the ground.

"Relax you two, geez, you both are acting like you’ve never seen evolution before." He stood up, now looking at Hina, "Don’t know why you’re surprised, didn’t your boobs grow two folds after your evolution to diamond?"

"it did not!" Hina exclaimed.

"Wait...so you’re telling me... I’m..a diamond rank as of this moment?" Johnny uttered while studying his hands.

"That is correct. Though I can understand why you may doubt that, not every class has an iconic attribute for ranks. Some are simply revealed from their works." Alaric smiled, "Only when you craft will you know you have truly evolved."

Johnny’s eyes bubbled with joy, he closed his eyes, squeezing his mouth to hold back his joyful screams.

It was all he ever wanted. To become the best blacksmith the world had ever seen. He thought that dream was dead, but now, looking his prime with an even greater skill gap, he knew he could trend on that path again, and dominate it, more than he did before.

"You have no idea how grateful I am to you." Said Johnny, his head slightly bowed, "You have my deepest loyalty and gratitude."

"I better, it wasn’t easy losing all those cps." Alaric sat back down on the chair and grabbed a drink.

"If you truly want to show your gratitude, why don’t you start by helping me with what I need?"

"Oh..what do you need? If it’s to make something, you best believe Imma do it, I’m just hitching to slam my hammer on something."

"I love the excitement. Hina!" Alaric shouted as if trying to swallow the entire shop.

"Right away."

Hina did not waste a single time.

She reached for her bag to yank out multiple white sheet papers with drawings on them.

One by one she began to drop them on the counter for Johnny to see.

Johnny, curious to know what he would be crafting began to pick up the papers.

But one thing happened when he did.

The more he read, the more his excitement began to wear off. For a second, Johnny almost squeezed the paper.

"What are these?" He asked with a cold tone.

"The items lord Alaric needs for his transformer." Hina replied.

"Half of the things here are stuff I have never seen before in my life."

"I am well aware of that. But remember, you are a diamond rank now, you should be able to handle it.’ Hina smiled.

"When do you need it?"

"About a few days from now."

"You wanna rush me?" Johnny grinned.

"You can say that."

"Oh I’m so in!" Johnny laughed, "What better way to taste my skills than this."

Alaric couldn’t help but laugh while seated on the chair, sipping his whine.

"I have one problem though. I doubt only me can handle this, it’s kinda normal for blacksmiths to work together, don’t you think?"

"I’ve thought about that, so don’t worry, you’ll get fresh people waiting for you before tomorrow morning." Said Alaric.

"For real? I was hoping I’ll go in search of that, but you already have it covered?"

"Before tomorrow morning."

-Sip!