"I mean no offense, but most sellswords don't exactly have sterling reputations." Ayden shook his head. He insisted on using the term "sellsword" or "freelance knight" rather than "hedge knight," which carried a derogatory connotation of homelessness. "You are still so young. I believe you have plenty of opportunities..."
"No," Ian interrupted him. He was puzzled why this blacksmith was trying to talk him out of a sale instead of just doing business, but he didn't want to get bogged down in conversation.
"I've made up my mind. I'm going to the Wall to join the Night's Watch. That is the only place I can find true honor. Becoming a Sworn Brother in black is my destiny."
"A destined path..." The old blacksmith seemed to recall something from his past, and moisture gathered in the corners of his eyes. He stopped trying to dissuade Ian. "Good lad. May the Seven bless you."
"The Seven bless us all," Ian responded piously.
Old Ayden lifted Ian's armor again. "This set of armor... I can sell it for 450 Silver Stags."
"As for this sword... it can go for 180 Silver Stags. However..." The old blacksmith picked up Ian's bastard sword, inspecting the wear on the blade. "Actually, I wouldn't recommend selling the sword. The Night's Watch provides equipment, yes, but a man is always better off with a blade he knows. Don't you think?"
Buddy, you are minding my damn business a little too much, Ian thought.
"I think you misunderstand," Ian quickly improvised a new excuse. "I'm not selling my gear just to sponge off the Watch's supplies. It's just that... once I take the black, I can never return to care for my parents in their old age. I want to leave them with as much coin as possible so I can leave with a clear conscience."
"Your parents aren't highborn?"
"Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."
"I meant no offense," the old blacksmith shook his head. "Since this money is for your parents... I won't take a profit on this. I'll give you 550 Silver Stags for the armor, and I can go up to 200 for the sword."
"Thank you, ser. Truly." Ian was genuinely pleased. He hadn't expected a throwaway lie to earn him half a Gold Dragon.
"And..." The old blacksmith paused, hesitating for a moment before making up his mind. "Since you are in desperate need of money, I have a job for you."
Ian was surprised. He didn't know what kind of help a Harrenhal blacksmith would need from a strange hedge knight.
Of course, whatever the task was, he wasn't interested. He had a player to hunt.
But having just squeezed an extra hundred stags out of the man's kindness, a flat refusal felt too harsh. So, he offered a polite reminder: "I'm not a hedge knight anymore. I'm leaving for the Wall."
"Of course, I know, of course," the old blacksmith nodded hurriedly. Ian's refusal only made him believe the "joining the Night's Watch" story even more. "I'm not asking you to fight for me. But since you are going to the Wall to join the Watch, perhaps you could do me a favor. Deliver something for me."
What? You want to hand me something? Ian's eyes lit up instantly.
He was busy rushing to Saltpans to camp his target, so typical fetch quests were annoying.
But "delivering an item" was different. Once the item was in his pocket, it was his.
"Can you give me the details?" Ian asked with sudden interest.
"After you reach the Wall, I hope you can go to the Shadow Tower. Find a ranger named Derville and give him a sword—one bearing a sigil."
So you want to give me a heraldic sword. You really are a saint. Ian nodded vigorously.
"So, you agree?"
"Of course. Since it's on the way, I have no problem with it."
The old blacksmith nodded and disappeared behind a door in the back.
Ding! Optional Mission Updated.
Annie's voice rang in his mind. Ian quickly closed his eyes to check the interface.
> TRIGGERED MISSION: THE LION OF THE SHADOWS
> Description: The old blacksmith has a sword bearing a house sigil. He wishes for you to deliver it to the ranger Derville at the Shadow Tower.
> Mission Reward: Unknown
> Bonus Reward: Unknown
[Accept (Cost: 1 Point)] [Refuse]
Seeing the mission, Ian almost instinctively clicked Accept.
A single starting Point could only buy 300 Silver Stags in the shop. A heraldic sword, however, was worth at least 3 Gold Dragons (over 600 Stags). Trading 1 Point for a high-quality sword right at the start was clearly a steal.
But just as his finger hovered over the button, a bold idea struck him.
What happens if I click Refuse?
According to the organizers, this is a real world. The old blacksmith is a real, living human being. Whether he hands the sword to Ian shouldn't be controlled by the System interface!
If the blacksmith suddenly got angry because Ian clicked "Refuse" in a menu inside his own head, then the blacksmith wouldn't be a human—he'd be an NPC controlled by an AI.
With that thought, Ian moved his focus away from [Accept] and clicked [Refuse].
A moment later, the old blacksmith walked out holding a sword.
"This blade is castle-forged steel. The craftsmanship is flawless," Ayden explained as he handed the sword to Ian. "It belonged to a friend of mine in my youth. But let's not speak of him." The blacksmith shook his head.
He didn't flip out! Ian rejoiced internally. He hadn't exactly glitched the game, but he had saved himself a precious Point.
Ian took the sword. His first impression was its weight. It was the same length as his bastard sword, but slightly heavier.
He drew the blade from its leather scabbard. The steel had a dull, dark sheen. The edge had many tiny nicks, similar to his own sword, but much smaller and less significant. He touched the edge lightly with his thumb and felt a razor-sharp bite.
"Remember, give this sword to the ranger Derville at the Shadow Tower," the blacksmith instructed. "He has blond hair like you, about thirty-five years old..." The blacksmith paused, giving a dry chuckle. "Though, considering he's been on the Wall for over a decade, he might look much older."
"In any case, you must hand it to him personally. If he's out on a ranging when you arrive, take the sword back and wait for another chance. Do not just hand it over to another brother of the Watch."
"May I ask why?" Ian felt a twinge of alertness. "Do you have a message for him that can't be overheard?"
The blacksmith clearly hadn't expected the question. He looked at Ian with mild surprise, then shook his head. "No. No message is needed. When he sees this sword, he will know everything."