Chimaera's Conquest: The Legend Of The Devourer
Chapter 181: The Cursed Blacksmith (2)

Chapter 181: The Cursed Blacksmith (2)

"Wait, let me get this straight," Adrian said while Shinon took a sip from his de-ageing potion. "You mean you got cursed, and that’s why you’re ageing super fast?"

Shinon nodded, his eyes pleading as he put the cup down. "Our mutual friend thought you might be able to help me with this situation at hand-"

But Adrian got lost in his thoughts. If it was someone like Shinon, plenty of people should be willing to help him, like one of those guilds that James talked about.

But then Adrian remembered George’s words. Shinon had turned even the biggest, most influential guilds away from his doorstep. Given their status, Shinon might have unintentionally hurt their egos.

’As such, those guilds would either refuse to work with him or have an outrageous demand for doing so,’ Adrian thought. ’Hell, now that I think about it, it could be one of those guilds is behind Shinon’s situation.’

That’s why Shinon would have asked the DRA for help, or James, to be precise, and approached them. But why would James approach him with the offer? After all, they were strangers. Something was off.

"That’s why I need your help-"

"With all due respect," Adrian replied, interrupting Shinon. "I’m not here to cure illnesses, and it’s not because I’m not willing but because I lack the required talent for this situation.

He continued, "I’m a warrior, not a healer who could- I see. You wanted the help from my colleagues, not me."

Shinon smiled wanly. During their interrogation, one of the girls might have let it slip that Seraphina was a Saintess. As such, she had a plethora of recovery magic. Shinon had hoped to get help from someone like her.

"Of course, I don’t expect you or your friends to work for free," Shinon commented. I’ll be willing to pay you handsomely, but I don’t think you need the money."

Adrian looked at Shinon, and the kid was right. Soon, he would have all the money he’d need, and being a businessman at heart, Adrian knew he could always make more money.

However, connections, on the other hand, took a lot of work to come by. If it was someone like Shinon, being on friendly terms was more important than some meagre change.

That said, Adrian wasn’t planning on leaving empty-handed and tossed a condition out there—something that wasn’t over the top but beneficial for all parties involved.

"Fine, I’ll see what I can do," Adrian nodded, scratching his chin. "But in exchange, you’ll have to be my personal blacksmith."

"Mr Adrian, I don’t think-"

"Hear me out first. I’m not asking you to work exclusively for me. I just want first dibs on your services and maybe a little discount, too."

Shinon raised his eyebrow. Ever since he was cursed two months ago, he had reached countless guilds for help, and all of them had one condition: he’d only make weapons for them.

At first, he thought Adrian was suggesting the same. But he had a unique proposal that most benefitted Shinon. For a moment, he thought Adrian had to have some other ploy behind such a strange proposal, but it was clear Adrian just wanted to do business.

"I suppose that’s doable," Shinon replied, offering his hand to seal the deal.

Adrian accepted the handshake and left with Shinon’s chauffeur to fetch Seraphina.

***

A couple of hours later...

"I’ve got two things to tell you," Seraphina said with a shrug, looking at Shinon. "First, I know what kind of curse it is. Second, it won’t be easy to get rid of."

Shinon shook his head and got up. It might not be all good news from Seraphina’s perspective, but it was the best news Shinon had heard in months.

So far, no one knew the cause of his curse and couldn’t remedy it. But now that Seraphina had figured out the first step, it was only a matter of time before they’d be able to solve the issue.

"It’s a fey’s curse, a male fey’s to be precise," Seraphina informed Adrian.

"That... certainly complicates things."

Shinon observed their expressions and knew it had to be something bad for them to react in such a manner. But before he could ask them about it, Adrian had a question of his own.

"Forgive my rudeness, but did you have intimacy with anyone before the curse fell on you? Specifically, someone who frequents dungeons?"

"What does that have anything-"

"The sooner you answer, the sooner I’ll be able to treat you."

Shinon took a deep breath. The news could lead to a lot of trouble if it was leaked. However, he had no choice in the matter as it concerned his life.

"Eudora Black, the guild master of the Misty Sword guild..."

"Hm... a guildmaster," Adrian raised an eyebrow. "I thought you don’t associate with guilds?"

Shinon sighed, knowing there was no turning back now that the secret was out. He told them about his relationship with Eudora, who happened to be his childhood friend and lover.

But back then, he was a nobody. As such, she was forced to marry someone else due to her father’s pressure and his declining health. Eventually, they lost all contact until several months ago when she contacted him.

At first, Shinon thought it was because she wanted to rekindle things. But she was only there for business. It irked Shinon, and he declined to do business with them as he would with any guild.

But Eudora knew her way around his heart, and soon, they began their secret extramarital affair. Eudora didn’t want to do business with him but to reclaim what they had lost. That was until he was cursed, and she never contacted him again.

"She told me her husband had gotten suspicious, and we couldn’t continue..."

"Is her husband also a hunter?" Adrian asked, and Shinon nodded. In fact, he was one of the few A-rankers on the continent.

"Yup, it checks out," Seraphina shrugged, sitting beside Adrian. "The husband might have contracted a fey. Get the creature to track Eudora and curse whoever she was having an affair with."

"So what now?" Shinon asked, afraid they won’t be able to do much.

"Can you arrange a meeting with Eudora? That should be enough to help you out." Adrian commented, and Shinon immediately snatched the phone from his servant’s hands.

"Someone looks excited," Seraphina whispered in Adrian’s ear, watching Shinon frantically dial the number.