The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 145. Weapon commission

Chapter 145: 145. Weapon commission

Rin stretched her arms and repressed a yawn as she walked through the crowded Academy hallways, her bronze brooch glinting in the morning light.

After the terrifying hunting cage incident, the academy was closed for three weeks and reopened today.

Her pink eyes scanned the throng of students hurrying to class while she held a leather-bound book to her chest. In search of the person she hadn’t seen since the banquet, she slowed her pace, a glimmer of hope flickering with every familiar face.

She glanced at another figure, not the one she was searching for but one that was close enough to make her smile.

"Lucian!"

Lucian turned at her voice as he made his way to a lecture hall, his gold brooch gleaming. A warm smile on his face as he said in a kind but slightly playful tone, "Morning, Senior Rin.".

Rin stopped before him, a shy but genuine smile on her face as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Lucian, good morning. When did you return?"

"Two days ago," Lucian said, his smile widening as he saw the hope in her eyes. "Big Brother will arrive tomorrow, possibly even tonight. So, don’t worry."

Rin’s cheeks turned soft pink, her hand waving as she laughed, nervous but warm. "Oh, thanks! I just... didn’t get to say a proper goodbye at the banquet, you know, with everything."

Before Lucian could tease her more, a sudden stir ran through the hallway, a wave of urgent whispers stopping the crowd. "Call the staff!" a student hissed, their voice sharp with alarm.

brow furrowed, her pink eyes darting to the noise, Lucian’s grin fading as he followed her gaze. The crowd of students parted, scrambling to catch a glimpse, their murmurs becoming strained.

Rin and Lucian pushed through the crowd to the center of the commotion.

Rin’s eyes widened and her breath caught at the sight. Mori, a bronze-class student and former Garrik follower, was pinned against the wall with his feet hanging helplessly by Berend Laros, a tall gold-class student from Elara’s group.

Mori’s face flushed, and he gasped as Berend’s firm hold on his collar tightened.

Elara’s group was standing behind Berend. The elegant beauty Leonhardt once trailed, Elara, was standing close by, accompanied by her tomboy best friend Astrid, who kept a cool distance from the altercation.

Rin rushed forward, her book dropping to the floor with a soft thud as she grabbed Berend’s arm, her voice urgent and fierce. "Hey, stop it! Leave him!

Berend’s lip curled in scorn as his icy gaze shifted to her. Mori choked out a feeble cough as he tightened his grip and said, "This bastard deserves it."

Elara spoke in a firm but gentle tone. "Enough, Berend."

Berend’s jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening, but he let go, shoving Mori aside. The bronze-class student fell to the floor, clutching his throat as he gasped for air.

Berend glared at him one last time. "Let’s go," he snapped, turning to lead Elara’s group away.

With a soft, worried voice, Rin knelt next to Mori and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Mori, are you okay?"

Mori coughed. "I’m all right." Shame flickered in his eyes as he quickly avoided his gaze from hers.

Rin’s tone sharpened as her concern gave way to frustration. "Why in the world would you pick a fight with a gold-class student on Leopening day? Do you think Leonhardt would be proud of this?" Her pink eyes, split between rage and concern.

Mori leaned against the wall, his face contorted and his voice filled with rage. "They treated Leonhardt disrespectfully first! Making fun of his new title as heir, he spewed lies about the monster incident. referred to him as a coward who feigned everything and a fraud. I couldn’t let that slide—I stood up for him, but they swung first."

Rin’s face froze, the warmth vanishing from her pink eyes. Her heart was racing with a strange, cold rage as the noise from the hallway faded to a dull hum in her ears.

She spoke in a low, cold voice that chilled the students around her, even startling Lucian, who watched her warily. Her tone was so sharp that Mori flinched as she asked, "What exactly did they say?"

He hesitated, swallowing hard, then muttered, "They said... Leonhardt staged the S-rank monster kill to boost his name. That he’s too weak to be Duke, just a puppet for his father’s schemes."

Rin stood carefully as she stood, her pink eyes focusing on Elara’s group’s retreating figures as they vanished around the bend in the hallway. Her lips curled into a cunning, dangerous smirk. "Who said that?"

Students surrounding her exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Lucian took a step forward, his voice low with concern. "Senior Rin?"

Rin’s grin remained as she continued to stare into the far hallway. "Lucian, what’s that guy’s name?" she asked in a light-hearted tone that belied a deeper meaning.

"Nimbus, eh?" Torgrim, the weathered dwarven blacksmith, squinted at Nimbus.

"Ain’t seen a cat like this one before." His rough hand hovered eagerly, wanting to pet the cat.

With a smooth, almost playful leap, Nimbus leaped from the counter into Liana’s arms. She chuckled softly and held him close while burying her fingers in his fur. Nimbus purred as his purple eyes narrowed into joyful slits.

Leo raised his gaze from the katana. "Torgrim, Nimbus only goes for women."

The dwarf crossed his broad arms and grumbled. "Damn playboy cat."

The blade of the katana flashed bright silver in the lamplight as Leo withdrew it from its sheath. His crimson eyes narrowed as he felt its weight settle perfectly in his grasp, and he turned slowly and carefully to test its balance.

"Lighter by a few grams," he said, his voice pleased, a quiet nod to Torgrim’s skill. "Feels sharper, too."

Torgrim’s weary face broke into a toothy smile as his chest grew proud. "Yes, the alloy was modified, and the edge was sharpened. Mana efficiency has increased. Just, boy, don’t scrap it again."

Leo nodded. "Thanks, but no promises." He sent the katana into his item space with a burst of mana. He relaxed and leaned against the counter to observe Torgrim’s response.

With curiosity in his eyes, the dwarf raised his bushy brows and leaned forward. "Young guy, do you need anything else forged?"

"What would you say if I asked you to create a weapon that has never been seen in this world?"

Torgrim’s eyes narrowed, his thick fingers tapping the counter, interest battling caution. "What’re you schemin’, lad?"

Leo’s hand moved smoothly, a soft glow of mana summoning the stack of blueprints Erin had given him at the banquet. The parchment, held together with a thin metal pin, landed on the counter with a soft thud.

He pushed them toward Torgrim, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "I’ll let you forge this, but on one condition that it can never be made again."

Torgrim lifted the blueprints with care, his breath caught as he turned the first page, his steely eyes widening at the detailed designs—lines, unlike any weapon in this mana-driven world.

His hands shook slightly, the parchment rustling as he muttered, his voice a hoarse whisper. "By the gods... I see why you’d want it once and never again. This thing’s a reaper’s tool. It shouldn’t exist."

Leo leaned forward, his crimson eyes locking onto Torgrim’s. "Can you do it?"

Torgrim swallowed hard while continuing to stare at the blueprints. Slowly, he nodded. "I am able to forge it. However, months will pass—delicate work and materials I’ll need to find."

"I require it before the hunting competition."

Doubt creased Torgrim’s weathered face as his bushy brows shot upward. Half-joking, half-wary, he asked, "Are you planning to hunt deer with this?"

With the weight of his mission, Leo shook his head and lowered his voice to a low murmur. "Not animals. Something much worse."