The return to Whispering Pines Crossing felt like a different kind of victory. The air of fear that had once choked the outpost was gone, replaced by a bustling, optimistic energy. Lucas overheard players excitedly forming parties to venture into the now-safe Old Quarry, swapping stories of the mysterious "Quarry Ghost" who had single-handedly driven out Guild Scorch. He had become an anonymous folk hero, a protector of the very players his rivals had sought to exploit.
He didn't linger on the newfound fame. He had a mission. With a fully healed Kael at his side, he walked directly to the soot-stained forge of Baelin Ironhand.
The Master Smith looked even more haggard than before, the lines of worry etched deeper into his face. He was hammering a piece of common iron with a tired, joyless rhythm.
Lucas approached the counter, and without a word, placed the [Mature Sunpetal] upon it. The flower's gentle, golden glow cut through the forge's gloom, casting a warm light on Baelin's face.
The hammering stopped. Baelin stared at the flower, his eyes wide with disbelief. He reached out a trembling, calloused hand and gently touched one of the petals, as if afraid it were an illusion. A profound, shuddering sigh of relief escaped his lips, and the burly blacksmith slumped against his anvil, his face buried in his hands as tears of pure, unadulterated gratitude streamed through his fingers.
"My... my daughter..." he choked out. "You've saved her."
After Baelin composed himself and confirmed he could create the [Sunpetal Brew], he turned to Lucas, his eyes filled with a fierce, unwavering loyalty. "My forge is yours. My life's work is yours. Just tell me what you need."
Lucas had anticipated this. "I don't want your service, Baelin," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I want a partnership."
The blacksmith looked up, confused.
"You will become my exclusive smith," Lucas explained. "I will provide you with rare, exotic materials that only I can acquire. In return, you will craft unique equipment for me and, eventually, my organization. Your daughter will receive the best care, and your forge will become the most legendary in all of Arcadia."
It was a bold, ambitious offer. He wasn't just asking for a suit of armor; he was recruiting the first member of his future enterprise. Baelin, seeing not a mere customer but a patron with a vision, agreed without a moment's hesitation.
Their first project was a full set of custom armor for a Tamer and his wolf. Baelin laid out the standard blueprints for Blue-grade leather armor. As he did, Lucas activated his [System Insight].
"The stitching on the joints is a weak point against piercing attacks," Lucas pointed out, tapping the blueprint. "If we use the [Spider Silk Sacs] I've gathered, we can increase its resistance."
Baelin's eyes widened. "That's a master-level technique... How did you...?"
"And the leather," Lucas continued, ignoring the question and placing the [Sunpetal Pollen] on the table. "If you grind this into the tanning oils, it should be able to hold a minor intelligence enchantment." He then held up the [Sunpetal Root]. "This has a natural affinity for beast-type creatures. We can weave it into the collar of Kael's armor to bolster his vitality."
The blacksmith stared at Lucas, his initial gratitude shifting to pure, professional awe. This wasn't a player telling him what to make; this was a fellow artisan revealing secrets of the craft that he had never even considered.
For the next eight hours, the forge roared to life with a newfound purpose. Baelin's masterful hammer rang against steel, but it was guided by Lucas's unprecedented insights. They were not just crafting armor; they were creating a masterpiece of synergistic design.
As the twin moons of Arcadia rose in the sky, the final piece was cooled and polished. It wasn't a flashy suit of armor. It was a set of dark, slate-gray leather, reinforced with tough, chitinous plates. It was practical, silent, and bore no insignia. It was the armor of a ghost.
Lucas equipped the full set. His stats saw a massive, immediate jump. Kael, fitted with a matching collar and chest piece, looked even more formidable. But the true prize was revealed when the final piece clicked into place.
[You have equipped the full 'Wild Shepherd' set.]
[Set Bonus (2/2): Shepherd of the Wilds]
[Effect 1: Your active summon inherits 25% of your total INT stat as a bonus to its primary combat stats (STR/AGI).]
[Effect 2: Grants the passive skill 'Ghost of the Woods', making you and your summon significantly harder to detect while in natural environments.]
It was perfect. The set bonus was a direct conversion of his own core strength into his summon's power, and the stealth bonus solidified the very reputation he had unknowingly built.
He looked at his reflection in a polished shield. He was no longer the desperate, struggling player in worn linen. He was a hunter, an architect of his own progression, clad in armor born from his own intellect. He was ready for the next stage. He was ready for Level 10.