The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1130: Explore The Workshop

”Let us start with the sculpting areas.” The Guild Master insisted.

Karl nodded. ”Smiths, you’re free to explore. I will upgrade the forge fires if you decide to move in. Just let me know if you don’t like the layout, and I can alter the setup easily enough.”

Karl led the remaining pair over to the first of the workshops.

”What do you think?”

The Sculptor Guild Leader looked around the inside of the shop, taking in the tables, the adjustable height chairs, the pegboards to hang commonly used tools up instead of putting them in toolboxes, and the small coffee station in the corner of the room.

There was a single box of biscuits and a coffee carafe waiting, and the old Dwarf smiled.

”You’re so confident that you’ve already put the coffee on?”

”That’s actually full of Dwarven Ale from Bara.” Karl clarified.

The old Dwarf laughed. ”Oh, you might be their new favourite employer if you provide ale and oat biscuits in the break room.”

Karl smiled. ”I can always buy more. Good ale isn’t cheap, but it’s far from the most expensive item in the room once they start working.”

The Guild Leader nodded, but didn’t say anything as he inspected the rest of the room, then moved down the row of identical workshops.

The tables could all be moved as needed, and the chairs were adjustable height, so either Dwarves or taller Demons could work at the same tables comfortably, or the Dwarves could work standing up.

”Well, I can’t complain about the working conditions. The raw materials conveyors are a nice touch, and the temperature is just right. Let’s go look at the housing, but if it’s as good as it looks from the outside, I don’t think that it will be an issue signing a work contract between the Sculptors’ Guild and the Darklight Host.

We have plenty of workers looking for full-time employment, and while it will take time to get them all moved to a new city, we can finalize the agreement tonight.”

Karl led him to the closest of the housing blocks. ”There are private houses for Masters and families, but these are the basic units we set aside for Apprentices and junior Journeymen.”

The unit wasn’t large, only forty square metres, but the bedroom was soundproofed, courtesy of Opal, and there was a proper kitchen, complete with an ale keg rack.

”Not bad. I don’t know how many of the Apprentices can actually cook, though. They normally stay with their masters during training.”

Karl smiled. ”That’s what the Tavern is for. The Guild does three meals a day for everyone who lives here, but I thought it might be inconvenient to have them all go to the main house for meals, when the dining room is on the second floor.

That’s where the other apprentice rooms are, but they’re much brighter, made for Demons.

They can stay there if they prefer. But we will have kitchen staff for the Tavern, so there will always be food available as part of their compensation package.”

”I like it. Let’s formalize details.”

While Karl and the Dwarves were busy in the Tavern inside the workshop, Dora, their half dragon Shaman, plus Larry and Darryl, the Orcish Druids, had come to inspect the new work space.

This was much more spacious than the last workshop had been, and they might even consider moving all their work to the second building, and not just the part that made a mess.

”Who are the Orcs?” The Sculptor’s Guild Leader asked.

”Our Druids, and a Shaman. They are all skilled in Earth and Nature creation magic, so they make the majority of the Royal and Commander Ranked crafting materials for bulk items.

It’s easy to make a flawless branch to carve, but much harder to make it into something worth selling. They’re all close to advancement, so we will have a lot more Royal plus some Monarch Ranked materials soon.” Karl clarified.

The smiths from the suburbs already knew them all, as the trio often went to pick up the orders they had completed. The easy familiarity calmed the old Dwarf, who hadn’t been sure if Orcs and Dwarves would get along well, given the Orcish reputation for savagery.

”Does your Guild do other crafts as well?” The Sculptor asked.

”Alchemy. But they have a separate workshop, as their art is one of silence and focus. Putting their potions in the forge didn’t seem like a great idea.”

The Dwarves both laughed at the idea. It would be a terrible idea, even just for the fumes.

Karl placed the standard work contracts on the table, and the Dwarves both went into professional mode, inspecting every clause.

But Karl used the standard template from the System Interface because he wasn’t interested in any sort of fancy legalese trap. He told the system what he offered, the terms he wanted, and it made the contract for him.

Two pints of Ale later, the contracts were signed, and the tavern was beginning to fill with Dwarven Smiths from the suburbs.

”Master Ashbringer already signed off on our work agreements. Thank you for the Opportunity, Guild Leader.” A smith from the next table informed Karl as the barmaid brought him over their lunch of the day, beef and potato stew with bread and carrot cake cupcakes.

”Why cupcakes?” One of the Dwarves asked.

”Half the crafters have a sweet tooth, and we may have let Lotus write suggestions on the menu.”

That made the local Dwarves laugh, and Petros explained to the Guild Leader.

”He’s talking about a Green Dragon Cleric. She’s practically a walking sweet tooth, and every bakery in town knows her name.” He whispered.

Karl nodded. ”We’re looking to get a few more, but they will be working on a farm that the Guild controls.”

The Sculptor waved his hand. ”As long as it doesn’t affect the contract with the Sculptor’s Guild, I don’t mind what other endeavours you’re into. If it makes food like this, I doubt that any of the workers will either.”

Karl laughed. ”The Druids and Clerics made most of this. But we hunted the meat in Gabil a while ago and stored it. The advantage of System Storage.”

The old Dwarf sighed in satisfaction as he ate. ”I will make sure that you get a proper master sculptor to certify your other workers. Then I will talk to the Blacksmith’s Guild.

None of the Smiths here is part of the Guild, or certified by the Dwarven Masters, but there is no requirement that they live in a Dwarven City to get certified, only that they study under a Dwarven Master and get Certified.”

Karl raised his drink in a toast. ”Tell the Smith that I can teach him the Dwarven Runecrafting Techniques to him if he agrees. I managed to obtain an introductory Tome from the last resurgence, and it will elevate his smithy skills to a whole new level.”

He placed the tome on the table to show the old man that he was serious, and Slate gave the book an envious look.

”It’s true, I’ve seen him use Dwarven Runes in his work. If you know a Master willing to come certify Journeymen, he won’t lose out.” The Shaman agreed.