As soon as the Treasure Prince joined Jack's faction, he was worked to the bone. Tears streamed down his face as he wondered if he should fake his own death.
"How was it?! Did you get enough people? What about the blindfolds?" Jack asked, hopeful.
"I did…."
Even as he inwardly complained, he had still accomplished his tasks efficiently and swiftly. Meanwhile, Jack had been working on a secret project by himself.
"Great, call everyone over. It will be time for us to officially begin our class. Exciting, isn't it!"
Before long, an NPC army stood before him, about 50 of them. This was pretty good, considering the news about the recruitment had only started spreading a day ago.
A few gasped as they recognized him. "I-it's you! You're the guy that got me drunk at the Treasure Pavilion!!!"/"That's the mysterious guy from the Lucky golden Den!"
Even his grass elemental brother was there, acting sneaky under the cover of a cloak and mask. He looked like a carnival jester.
Jack cleared his throat before theatrically gesturing toward the crowd.
"Welcome, everyone! I'm sure you've heard that the Commerce Union is recruiting. This is a lifetime opportunity for you all to learn an amazing trade: blacksmithing!"
A few raised their hands shyly.
"Sir, how long will training take?"
"You'll be out of here before you know it. There won't be the usual tedious two years of mentorship that only serves to provide cheap labor for the blacksmiths."
Jack made the usual training method sound bad, but really he was misrepresenting it.
Blacksmiths in Infinite —> Proud all-inclusive craftsmen
Jack's Method —> Turn them into cogs in the machine, industrialization style. They would learn far less with him, but it wouldn't show at first glance as long as they stuck to one thing.
"Sir, how much will training cost?"
"The upfront cost is null. A percentage of your profit will be taken for a while after graduation, that's all." Jack refrained from giving any detail.
It wouldn't be too late to make them sign a borderline slave contract when everyone was drunk at a mandatory office party.
A few frowned, but many others actually cheered. They were broke, and this gave them a chance to climb the social ladder now.
"Sir, I already know the trade. I can start working right now!" One proclaimed, proud.
"I see. You can simply take the class, and I'll evaluate your mastery from there. It will strengthen your basics and let you practice. No one skips class!" Jack thundered.
The man was left speechless. He was akin to an immigrant getting denied recognition for his previous studies. It sure left a sour taste in his mouth.
But Jack wouldn't compromise on that point. After all, the whole process was only to camouflage the more sinister part of his plan.
"Alright, one last question, and we'll proceed!"
He surveyed the crowd, sorting through the hands. He picked a worried but cheerful-looking girl.
"S-sir, what about those we don't aspire to be blacksmiths? Should we leave?" She questioned, already expecting his answer.
There seemed to be many people in the same situation as her. It wasn't like he could all turn them away, right? Actually, this was an opportunity…
"Girl, do you still want to become a crafter?"
"Absolutely! One day I'll make clothes for Royalty! I want to become a professional tailor." She declared as she clenched her fist, resolve appearing in her pretty brown eyes.
"Hehe, blacksmithing is all I teach. Most would give up on teaching you, BUT I'm different! You should totally join!"
"I should?!" She wasn't the only confused one.
"You seem puzzled, young one. Have you ever heard the phrase all roads lead to the peak? It means that there are many paths one can thread in life." He sighed profoundly.
"S-sir?…"
"Don't you realize? Learning blacksmithing is but a step to becoming the best Tailor ever. Think about it. Both can make clothes: it's just with slightly different materials."
"B-but…"
He came closer, grabbing her hands while gazing deeply into her eyes.
"Mastering your inner fire will do miracles for you down the line, believe me! In fact, I sense that you show promising talent!" He gave her a scammer-level encouraging smile.
"T-that…I have no fire affinity…." She blushed as she uttered in a low voice.
At this moment, some of the applicants straight-up left. This dumbass was obviously talking out of his ass! They'd only be ruined if they learned under him.
Blacksmith = Tailor —> Nope!
No fire Affinity & Great Talent —> So ridiculous!
Still, a few remained to see how things would play out, if only to watch the show. Would that be enough to make him cower?
"And?"
"I-I have no fire Aff—"
"I heard you. So? What's your point?" Jack innocently asked.
Many gasped. Was he that clueless or simply pretending? They were lucky to have dodged a bullet right there!
"It means that I won't be able to—"
"Nope, that's a myth. You can forge with any power. You just need to learn to break ores down. It's challenging, but not impossible, and once you're past this hurdle…."
Many exclaimed in "realization". They were the ones that really wanted to participate. To most, he still sounded like a fool….and yet... Was there genius hidden in his words?
"Alright, everyone, follow me!" Jack happily guided them toward the slums for some reason. Then he proudly displayed what looked like a Yakuza stronghold. "Here we are!!"
"?!?"
The place was large, trashy, sketchy, super old, and there was even a panel of rules on the wall.
— OP Blacksmithing Academy! —
1. This place doesn't exist
2. Always wear the uniform
3. Never give blacksmithing up
4. Never let your colleagues down
5. Consider your handsome teacher a literal god
"Stand in line to join. There will be no turning back from now on!" Jack warned solemnly.
Many gulped as they still signed up. Others hurriedly left since the whole thing looked way too shady! A few wanted to ask more questions, but he dismissed them.
"Sometimes in life, you won't have all the necessary information. In such cases, just go with your gut feeling and hope for the best. That's all there is to it."
In total, 17 out of the initial 50 decided to join his blacksmithing school.
"Welcome, you all! Alright, here are your uniforms!" He handed them all a bundle of clothes.
As they opened them, their faces couldn't help but twitch—blindfolds, ear muffs, and long robes that would easily catch fire. Also, wasn't this all sex stuff?! What BS!
"S-sir…?!"
"What is it?" Jack innocently asked.
"T-that…nothing!" He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw her reaction. The wannabe tailor he had scammed was now tomato color.
They reluctantly put on the bizarre clothes.
He then guided them inside what had once been an abandoned factory. He had swept aside the rat droppings and turned the entire place into a wannabe forge with portable furnaces.
Even then, it still looked and smelled horrible. His new students couldn't help but grimace as they entered. What were they supposed to do now?
"The first step of becoming a godly blacksmith is to get used to the forge. Now, there's a reason you're all blindfolded, and your ears are mostly covered."
"…."
"I want you all to focus on the feeling of forging, forgetting your other senses. I'll teach you all a couple of basic techniques, but that will be all. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Sir!!"
Any sane person would have long run away, but they all stayed. The remaining ones were either very desperate or thinking themselves clever at this stage. This was a test, right?!
They were convinced that he'd soon allow them to take the silly costumes off. After all, they had made sure that the Commerce Union really backed him.
Sadly, Jack had no such intention. He watched the scene approvingly.
Would they awaken some extraordinary power through this? Perhaps, but probably not. But, it would help him make sure that they'd obey even the silliest orders.
They didn't deserve his tutelage if they couldn't accept such simple directives as working blindly in a burning hot forge.
Jack summoned two dozen skeletons, sending them to teach the students on their paths. They would come behind them and gently guide their limbs.
— Clang! Clang! —
Needless to say, many burns happened.
Melting the ores and hammering without their senses was akin to torture. Even that guy who was already a professional blacksmith couldn't do it.
"This is impossible! What the hell are we supposed to sense?!"
"Is that so? Tell me, how do birds fly? How do fishes swim? How do you breathe?" Jack asked inquisitively.
"That's just how things are! That's completely different! There's no way that—"
"It just means you haven't figured out how yet. Perhaps you're not as good as you think you are. Do you wish to quit? You'll still be billed for—"
"I'll be staying!" He didn't want to be the first to fail. His pride wouldn't allow it.
At some point, Jack was satisfied. He had made them do bullshit training long enough. It was time for the real stuff. But just as he opened his mouth to stop them…
"I did it! I can sense the fire! How it longs for more air, how it needs more fuel, how it…." The professional blacksmith suddenly exclaimed.
Wait, what?! Jack stared at the scene, baffled. How?! This didn't make any sense! In theory, it was possible to achieve such a level, but wasn't this a little too fast?
The man was already kneeling on the ground, still blindfolded.
"Teacher, thank you so much! I'm sorry for doubting your boundless wisdom!"
"…Sure…no worries…."
What the actual fuck?! It was time for the next step then...