Chapter 156

▪️HITTING A WALL

Carlos Blaze, the resident blacksmith of Florence, has been living a very comfortable life lately.

Ever since the 'Task System' was implemented, he hasn't had to worry about not having any apprentices to assist him with his blacksmithing duties.

Of course, the prerequisite of being his apprentice is that they can keep their own mouth shut and not easily reveal any of his trade secrets, particularly those relating to treasure locations or relic rumors.

Otherwise, those chosen ones will definitely run faster than frenzied rabbits after hearing about it...

Based on his observation, these young chosen ones seem to have an unparalleled fascination in finding legendary treasures and lost relics. They also often dream about striking it rich every day and just as long as you engage in conversation with them, they will eventually without a doubt ask about these matters...

However, although most leave after failing to learn about some hidden treasures, some people still show some interest in blacksmithing.

Almost every day, there would be a new chosen one that would visit Carlos's forge, requesting that he teach them the intricacies of blacksmithing.

Most chosen ones are very hardworking and enthusiastic, and many of them would even refuse to accept any sort of monetary compensation! As long as he agrees to teach them some forging skills, they are willing to help Carlos with anything, whether it's work related or personal matters...

To his surprise, there's even a female chosen one who took the initiative to take care of his daily meals in order to become his apprentice and learn under him. Everyday, she would come up with various new methods of making his meals and has since then indulged his appetite.

This makes him extremely satisfied, and Carlos increasingly felt that the matriarch has a truly great foresight for summoning these chosen ones!

In any case, where did these brave warriors originated from? They are truly good elven younglings who have a penchant for learning things and are very enthusiastic in just about anything that might interest them.

...Although sometimes they can be a bit strange as well.

Of course, not all chosen ones have gained the approval of him. Furthermore they also have some shortcomings that Carlos dislikes, and sometimes they could even make him furious and exasperated.

But what dissatisfied him the most was that they are too aggressive and rather can give up far too easily.

And...sometimes they can be a bit scary as well especially when they can shift their emotions from glee to ruthlessness with a snap of a finger.

In any case, every chosen ones who visits with the intent to learn his craft will immediately request to learn how to make equipment. However, blacksmithing is a technical and strenuous profession. Going straight to equipment manufacturing without a solid foundation and rudimentary knowledge, is akin to building castles out of thin air.

Oh dear goddess up above, how can one instantly become a master at forging equipment without even spending several years learning about it?

Carlos often scolded these younglings for such a naive mindset but alas, upon learning that it would take several years to thoroughly master equipment production, almost all of the chosen ones who heard this fact chose to simply give up and would instead request to be taught how to conveniently repair equipments instead.

Indeed, repairing equipment is much more easier to learn, but as a veteran blacksmith, Carlos hoped that everyone would start from the basics as they steadily progress and hone their skills which will eventually turn them into fine outstanding elven blacksmiths!

Sadly, even with Carlos's earnest advice, most of these chosen ones are still persistent on taking the easier way.

After learning that repairing equipment was relatively easier to learn, the vast majority of them would disregard learning anything else and only focus on how to conveniently repair equipments.

This made Carlos somewhat annoyed.

He couldn't understand why these younglings were so insistent in repairing equipment, when developing their forging skills could provide them with so much more in the long run.

With consistent patience and ten years of learning, one could even create powerful magic equipments on their own.

Was it simply because repairing equipment was much easier to learn? But what prospects are there in just repairing damaged gears?

Of course, in the end, Carlos couldn't resist the constant pleading of these young chosen ones, so he eventually relented.

Fortunately, there were still two or three young fellows who heeded his advice and were willing to focus on properly building their foundation and learning the basics of blacksmithing.

When Carlos began to teach his craft, he was pleasantly surprised to find that these chosen ones actually had great blacksmithing talent, and they also quickly mastered many things on such a short time!

Especially in building up their forging foundation, many skills require long and arduous repetition to form muscle memory. However these chosen ones were able to master the skills rather easily after just a few attempts which boggles his mind.

Actually this was the result of the players' physical talent being genetically modified. Although one's IQ couldn't be easily changed, Evé maximized the latent potential of all the avatars the players are using, thus they could learn physical skills at a much faster rate compared to the natives.

However, despite their god-given talents, Carlos felt disappointed and heartbroken because every time a chosen one would successfully learn the ability to repair equipment, almost none of them would return the very next day.

Basically, they simply learned one skill and left.

The more decent ones would say thank you before leaving, whilst the worse ones will just left happily without even thanking him afterwards.

This made Carlos feel like they were simply treating him like a tool only for teaching blacksmithing skills, ready to be used and easily be discarded as well.

This made the old elf feel a little bit wronged deep inside...

How come they never came back?

At the very least...their relationship could be considered to be mentor and disciples.

Is he really that annoying?

At the very least...can't they say goodbye to him before leaving?

He really didn't like those chosen ones who would treat him like a convenient emotionless tool.

Of course, not all chosen ones are like that.

Those who are willing to keep in touch with him were usually very respectful towards him.

He might be old, but his senses are still very keen, and many respect him from the bottom of their hearts.

Especially that female chosen one named Meng Zhihan, who are studying his craft earnestly and treating him properly as her mentor.

So for these few earnest chosen ones under him, he willingly opened his heart and shared everything he knew while treating them like his own disciples.

Oh well, everyone has their own goals.

Those guys who simply disappeared without even saying goodbye can just leave...

Anyway, if they don't like him then he won't like them either!

If they treat him like a tool, then he'll treat them just as one too!

Carlos shook his head.

With this attitude, he pushed open the door of his home. But as soon as he stepped outside, Carlos was completely stunned as he stood frozen in place.

What's going on?

Why does a group of chosen ones suddenly gathered in front of his home?

He recognized almost everyone since most of them were those people who had once asked him to teach them in the past.

However, many of these people had simply learned how to repair equipment and then left without saying a word, which left a bad impression on him.

What happened?

Why did they all suddenly come back?

Carlos was puzzled.

When these chosen ones saw Carlos finally come out of his house, their eyes lit up one by one as they all surrounded him with each of their faces filled with pleasing smiles as they greeted Carlos and presented him with various gifts such as fruits.

"Ahaha, good morning, Teacher Carlos!"

"Grandpa Carlos, I've come to see you! Here's a gift for you!"

"Grandpa Carlos, thank you for teaching me repair skills before. I left in a hurry the last time, so I didn't have a chance to say goodbye but I came to visit you today!"

"Grandpa Carlos, you're looking good lately!"

Carlos: "....."

Looking at their enthusiastic smiling faces, he was left feeling dazed as he tried to think of a reason why they suddenly acting like these.

"... Hmph, why are guys here again, didn't you already learned what you wanted?" Carlos stroked his beard and asked with a slight annoyance in his tone.

However, his expression inadvertently eased a little.

Seeing the elder's softened expression, all the players that gathered at the front of his house felt relieved.

They stopped crowding the elven elder as they cleared a way for him whilst still trying to please him.

"You can't say that teacher. We're very grateful for the skills you've taught us!"

"Yes, Indeed! I'm really thankful to you grandpa Carlos!"

"Even though you've just mentored us for a day, We still considered you as a father! Of course, We have to come and visit you often!"

"It's true! Grandpa Carlos, please don't be mad at us!"

Hearing their honeyed words, A knot in his old heart softened up a little bit.

Carlos then looked at these younglings with complex emotions for a minute before sighing and waving his hand dismissively.

"Forget it, just let it be. I understand...you're all busy with your own things, I'm not mad anymore."

"You young ones should go do your own thing. I've received your kindness, but I still have work to do."

After speaking, he then greeted his two disciples who was also patiently waiting for him outside, and continued his stroll towards his forge alongside them.

However, the surrounding players did not leave. They appeared to be stunned for a moment before continuing to please him.

"Grandpa Carlos, do you need help?"

"Grandpa Carlos, let me carry things for you!"

"Grandpa Carlos, you really aren't mad at us?"

Carlos: "....."

What has gotten to these chosen ones?

Didn't he already said that he forgave them?

Why...are they still insistent on engaging him with such obvious superficial pleasantries?

Suddenly, Carlos had a realization and rolled his eyes before muttering, "You guys...didn't just take on another task, did you?"

The players were initially taken aback, but then they all smiled broadly and said, "A-Ahem...not at all! We just came back to sincerely visit you."

"Yes! We really want your approval!"

"Absolutely! We also want to be friends with you!"

Carlos just let out a cold dry laugh at their response and pushed his way out of the crowd, leaving behind the group of players staring at his in surprise.

"What happened...did we fail?"

"I thought Carlos loved this fruit, so I picked a lot of it for him..."

"After apologizing, his favorability did increase a bit, but it dropped back down in the end..."

"That's so unfortunate! If only I hadn't left in such a hurry before..."

"Who knew leaving without saying goodbye after completing a task would lower the NPC's favorability?"

The players lamented their situation.

Meng Zhihan, who had been studying under Carlos, stopped in her tracks upon hearing the players' complaints behind her.

She then glanced at the bearded elder who was walking away, hesitated for a moment before walking back in front of the players, and whispered, "You guys...definitely won't be able to raise his favorability this way."

The players were taken aback and asked, "Why not?"

"I watched Xiao Mu's video and he said that targeting the NPC's preferences should increase their favorability towards you, right?"

"Yeah! I remember Carlos likes this kind of fruit the most."

After listening to their words, Meng Zhihan just shook her head and said, "Yeah, you watched the video, but you guys clearly ignored the most important thing."

"What's that?"

The gathered players showed confusion as Meng Zhihan crossed her arms around her chest and stated,

"Immersion and...sincerity."

She then also added, "You should carefully watch Xiao Mu's video once more and study the real reason why he can increase the NPC's favorability!"

After speaking, she simply shrugged her shoulders before turning back around and catching up with the elven elder, leaving behind a group of players staring blankly at each other.

Similar things were happening everywhere in Florence.

There are players who have done the same and were successful in raising the favorability of the NPCs. However, even if they did managed to increased it, the favorability they'd gained was only just a tiny little bit.

After all, when it comes to emotions, except for special circumstances, cultivating them isn't really all that easy for it requires time and genuine effort to grow.

Most players found that their shallow attempts were entirely useless.

They found that the NPC's favorability was not as easy to improve as they once initially thought...

And at this moment, they have truly realized how compelling Li Mu was, whose comprehensive reputation rating could reach a frightening 100 points!

High above the skies, Evé nodded in satisfaction as she observed the players hit a proverbial wall.

"It's time for them face a little bit of difficulty,"

"Only when these players have truly realize the importance of equal and sincere communication with the elves can they curtail some of their bad habits and effectively strengthen their cooperation with the natives..." She muttered before adding, "If this problem is solved, then my plans for agricultural and territorial expansion in the future should proceed be much easier."

It would eventually turn into a huge disaster if she let their bad behavior fester any longer and it's now the perfect time to curb their bad habits and guide them towards her vision of coexisting with the NPCs.

These players have the tendencies to resist authority so she just couldn't simply order them to act more nicely hence she can only guide them by issuing rewards and punishments.

However...

After a while, things will surely be different.

Evé firmly believes that once these players fully accept and adapt to these new favorability and reputation system, their relationship with the NPCs and their attitude towards the game will undergo an unprecedented change!