Death... and me
chapter-57

Suddenly, a powerful Spiritual Energy pressure came down. The moment the men in black felt it, they all kneeled on the ground. They simply couldn't resist it at all.

"What is happening?"

An old man who was playing with the others then stood up and walked in their direction. Every step he made, the pressure increased. Finally, the men in black couldn't even stay on their knees anymore and laid down flat on the ground. One could also hear the crack of their bones.

"Who... are... you?!"

By now, the men in black already understood that this was all a trap. This Workshop had long since been waiting for them. That old man cultivation was obviously much higher than themselves too. But why would such an expert appear in this place? If this Workshop had such a background, why would it wait until this moment to show it?

Juri then stepped forward and bowed to that expert.

"Senior Falael, thank you for your help. As you can see, even the blacksmith clans of the city want our Formula, so I can guarantee that our partnership with your Zafa Bank will be profitable for both of us."

Zafa bank!

When the men in black heard this name, they immediately shivered. The Zafa Bank is a titan in their empire. It is so big that even the cultivator sects won't mess with them easily. They really didn't expect that the Zafa Bank would step forward to make a partnership with such a small workshop like this one.

"Hahaha! Don't worry, when I saw the results of your Steel Metal, I knew that it would become a great business in the future. Our Zafa Bank has made partnerships with new inventors all over the empire and even other countries. All we care about is one thing. Can it make a profit or not? Your Steel is definitely capable of such a thing."

Falael then looked at Juri and made a question.

"Have you applied to the bureau of development already?"

Juri nodded.

"Yes. Thanks to the Zafa Bank support, they accepted our request. The Steel Metal is now the sole property of our Varen Workshop. If any other Blacksmith Workshop in the empire decides to make it, they will need to ask our permission first."

Falael nodded, satisfied.

The men in black grimaced. From the very start, they had no fate with the Steel Metal.

"Now then, what should I do with these ants? Oh well, I will leave it to the city guards. If I kill them here, it will be annoying to clean the floor later."

The City guards were quickly called over, and the men in black were taken away. It was also for the interest of the Varen Tribe to not have them killed. After all, it would only generate more hatred against their senders. The blacksmith clans will need to lose a layer of skin before taking them out, though.

Back inside the Varen Workshop, Falael sat on the beside the table again.

"Tomorrow, the Arrays Master will arrive. He will set up a Spiritual Sense Concealing Array around your Workshop, so you don't need to be afraid of being robbed of your Formula anymore. Anyway, even if they stole it, with your request being accepted by the Development Bureau, they wouldn't be able to sell. So it would be useless anyway. Unless, of course, they move out of the empire, but that is not your or our problems."

Juri nodded and sat down, as well.

"Anyway, who was the next one? Quickly make your move."

Everyone in the Varen Workshop kept playing and drinking happily until the dawn of the next day.

However, things were not so calm for the Blacksmith Clans. The clan leaders had joined hands to get the Steel Metal Formula, but all their subordinates had been captured. The City Guards already came to their door, and now they must offer an explanation.

It wasn't after an entire day of questions and a considerable amount of spirit stones that they left the City Guards building behind. Following each of the clan leaders, were six Foundation Establishment experts. Those were the ones who participated in the last night operations.

"Damn it! That Juri was obviously playing dumb! No wonder he didn't sell the Steel Metal Formula. With the Zafa Back as their backer, there was really no need for him to be afraid."

Roggen Watil just sighed.

"If the Zafa Bank is involved, then there is no doubt that the Bureau of Development already accepted their ownership of the Steel Metal as well. Even if we acquire the Formula, we won't be able to sell it. It's a waste of time. I don't know about you, but I'm stepping out. This time, the Zafa Bank let us off the hook, but they can totally squash my clan if they wish to. Farewell, friends."

The other two clan leaders looked at each other and shook their heads. In the end, neither of them could afford to offend the Zafa Clan either. They quickly went on their own directions, putting an end to their desires.

The next morning, the Arrays Master that Falael mentioned arrived. He was under the Zafa Bank's orders, so he didn't waste time and made sure to do a perfect job. In just a single day, a Spiritual Sense Cocealing Formation was raised around the Workshop.

That being said, Erkil and the others immediately gathered more materials and started to forge again. This time, they also forged other weapons to increase the variety. Swords, Sabers, Shields, you name it. They also began to accept orders for specific types.

The contract with the Zafa Bank was also completed. 30% of all profits generated by Steelworks would be for the Zafa Bank, while the Varen Workshop would get 70%. The Zafa Bank would offer the protection at the first stages of development and help to promote the Steelworks in other cities of the empire. But ultimately, the ownership of the Steel Metal was Varen's.