"This...okay! Although I don't know what you mean by 'frequency,' it sounds quite magical!"
"By the way, Rein, what do you plan to do with the Iron Maiden automaton?"
At this moment, the nearby Night Watchmen had already stepped forward, collecting the fragments that had fallen from the Iron Maiden.
Meanwhile, Lagaray, Anna, and Rein's parents had all come out of the house.
The recent battle had caused considerable damage to Rein's home, and since Anna's house was right next door to Rein's, it too had suffered collateral damage, with the structure of the house sustaining a certain degree of destruction!
Lagaray picked up a metal fragment and said, "Rein, maybe you could use it to forge a warhammer."
"Hmm?" Rein turned his head in confusion to look at Lagaray.
"If I'm not mistaken, this puppet's shell is made of rare hardened essence gold ingots, which have very high durability and strength, stronger than your blood-patterned steel, and more suited to making warhammers."
"So, I'm also very curious, Rein, how did you manage to break through the automaton's sturdy shell?" Lagaray's beautiful eyes were fixed on Rein, filled with curiosity.
Thus, Rein explained the concept of resonance to Lagaray once again.
Confused listeners +1!
However, Rein hadn't expected that after destroying the Iron Maiden automaton, he would have this unexpected windfall!
He had obtained forging materials even better than blood-patterned steel, which was a pleasant surprise indeed.
After thinking it over, Rein said to Hamilton, "Sir, I will keep a part of the Iron Maiden automaton's shell to forge a warhammer, and the remaining framework and extra parts can be exchanged for merit points, how does that sound?"
"A very sensible arrangement! The Empire's Guild of Mysteries will certainly be interested in this automaton."
"Perhaps, Rein, you may receive a substantial merit award this time!" Hamilton said with a smile.
Overnight, Hamilton and the Night Watchmen hadn't really rested well, as the events that had occurred here naturally had to be reported to the County Town at the earliest opportunity, and some of the frightened civilians also needed consoling.
Indeed, this is the advantage of a deputy position!
Let the person in charge handle everything.
Rein told his sister, Bo He, to continue sleeping with their parents, and in addition, he asked Anna and Lagaray to rest in Bo He's room on the second floor of his house.
With everyone together, safety would be heightened, moreover, it made it easier for Rein to protect them.
After returning to his own room, Rein began to review his Profession Panel and the system notifications:
[Congratulations, you have unlocked the exclusive secret technique of the Tokkal Hammer Technique: Earth-splitting Hammer!]
[Your skill, Giant Bear Sword Technique, has improved, experience +137]
[Your skill, Tokkal Hammer Technique, has improved, experience +219]
[You have gone through a battle, Knight (Transcendent) experience +97]
At this time, Rein's Knight (Transcendent) Profession Level had reached lv3 (389/500).
The rapid rise was not only due to the experience reward from this battle but mainly stemmed from the time at Habsburg Manor, when he sparred with the two knights, Lloyd and Perez.
Moreover, the 'cooperation' of the two knights from the Crowley family played a part.
Looking further down the Knight (Transcendent) panel, Rein saw his Tokkal Hammer Technique at lv3 (365/500) and fell into deep thought.
In the recent battle, he had switched weapons, from the Glimmering Greatsword to a bronze warhammer.
Therefore, having used two different combat skills, he saw improvements in both.
A new Hammer Skill technique unlocked?
It seemed that as soon as he had added points to his strength, he had successfully unlocked it.
Immediately, the delighted Rein saw a brand-new icon on the Knight (Transcendent) panel, located just above 'Tokkal Hammer Technique' and almost parallel to 'Rising Dragon Hammer'.
The icon inside showed a muscular man in a different pose.
He was seen holding a two-handed warhammer high above his head and striking down toward the ground with great force, creating a fan-shaped fractured area on the ground. It looked remarkably similar to the signature move of the mountain-digging monster—'Boulder Trample,' truly robust and powerful!
There was a line of small text in the lower right corner of the icon:
Earth-splitting Hammer lv1 (Secret Technique) Effect: Uses a unique method of exerting force to swing the heavy hammer from above to strike the ground, delivering an impact with a shock force.
(Note: Earth-splitting Hammer is a secret technique and cannot be directly improved with Skill Points.)
(Earth-splitting Hammer lv2 requires the following conditions: one, Tokkal Hammer Technique lv6 or above (Hammer Specialty can offset some level requirements); two, Strength of at least 20 points, Constitution of at least 16 points, Agility of at least 14 points.)
Rein then glanced at the 'Rising Dragon Hammer' description and compared the two hammer technique secrets.
He found that 'Earth-splitting Hammer' had a higher requirement for strength, while 'Rising Dragon Hammer' demanded more agility.
Besides, the 'Rising Dragon Hammer' wielded rotational power, whereas 'Earth-splitting Hammer' delivered shock power, seeming more representative of hammer-type weapons!
After considering, Rein decided that first thing tomorrow morning, he would craft the new warhammer together with Lagaray.
As for the production of the mutating growth potion, it would have to be postponed.
While Rein and Hamilton were dealing with the aftermath.
In a room of a luxurious mansion.
The Black Flame Monk who had returned from Flashgold Town was currently reporting to a tall, thin knight who stood over two meters tall.
Up to this moment, the expression of the Black Flame Monk still seemed unnatural, as he was evidently still shaken by the scene of Rein shattering the Iron Maiden construct.
"Hmm? How could it have failed? Could it be that someone else interfered? Was it that peace officer from Flashgold Town, Hamilton?" The tall, thin knight asked in quick succession upon hearing the news of the mission's failure from the Black Flame Monk.
Surprise and confusion were evident in his voice.
"This... Rein is not only skilled in swordsmanship but also in hammer skills!" the Black Flame Monk pondered briefly before explaining.
He was still trying to figure out how to clearly describe what he had witnessed.
However, after much thought, he could not come up with a proper explanation and could only attribute it to Rein's exquisite hammer skills.
Even to him, this explanation didn't seem very convincing.
"Skilled in hammer skills? What does that have to do with anything? Don't tell me that Rein smashed the Iron Maiden construct with a hammer!" The tall, thin knight looked at the Black Flame Monk as if he was looking at a fool.
Ironically, that was exactly what had happened!
But of course, that wasn't something the Black Flame Monk could admit aloud.
"Well... how should I put it? I am not entirely clear on the specifics, but what I saw was indeed Rein shattering the Iron Maiden construct with a hammer," the Black Flame Monk said, spreading his hands.
He remembered the scene, and it indeed looked as effortless as smashing a vase when Rein broke the Iron Maiden construct to pieces.
After listening to the reasons given by the other party, the tall, thin knight's tone suddenly rose, clearly filled with anger, and he said:
"Lamar! Do you think that reason you just gave is credible? How am I supposed to explain this to the High Priest!
"Do you have any idea how many expensive materials are needed to create an Iron Maiden construct? How could it possibly be smashed by a knight, even if it is a Peak Knight!
"Am I supposed to tell the High Priest that actually, that Rein is a Great Knight?
"This..." Faced with the tall, thin knight's retort, the Black Flame Monk named Lamar was suddenly at a loss for words and didn't know how to explain further.