Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

From his striking appearance, refined clothing, and to his composed demeanor.

She also took care to describe the wickedly curved saber he had presented at the reception desk.

At her detailed account, the doors creaked open and revealed a haughty-looking middle-aged man.

His thick and unruly eyebrows nearly merged above his piercing brown eyes and gave him an odd mix of comical yet imposing fierceness.

Despite his slightly absurd appearance, Amelia knew better than to underestimate him.

His skill and reputation were well-earned but so was his infamously difficult nature.

"Take me to them."

He issued the order with a wave of his hand and Amelia quickly nodded before turning to lead the way back downstairs.

As they descended, the forger's sharp gaze never wavered, scrutinizing her every move with quiet intrigue.

There was a glint of something unsettling in his expression as his gaze remained fixed on the innocent girl's swaying ass and a hunger lurked beneath his otherwise professional demeanor.

Yet, as thoughts of the customer below crossed his mind once more, his attention shifted.

A spark of genuine interest flickered in his eyes and his mind was now occupied with curiosity about this so-called 'distinguished customer' awaiting him below.

As he descended the winding staircase, his gaze instinctively locked onto the veiled woman and the dark elf, almost as if Ethan were invisible to him.

His sharp eyes twinkled upon catching sight of those mesmerizing scarlet irises peeking from behind the veil.

Seeing those eyes, curiosity, and admiration flickered within his eyes.

His gaze was about to trail downward when a soft yet deliberate cough echoed in his ears like an unexpected clap of thunder and abruptly shattered his focus.

Snapping back to reality, his attention instinctively honed in on the source of the interruption.

It was only then that he truly registered the presence of the young man standing below.

His eyes widened slightly and a glimmer of surprise flickered across his features, not just because of Ethan's striking appearance but because of something far more unsettling.

A strange invisible force seemed to tighten around him like an intangible hold that made his soul sense falter and slip for a moment beyond his control.

It was as if he were being subtly yet unmistakably restrained and was unable to avert his gaze or shift his focus elsewhere.

Master Argos finally arrived before Ethan and his composure was slightly shaken but he swiftly restored it.

"This is…"

Amelia began and intended to introduce the customer to the esteemed artificer.

However, she hesitated mid-sentence and suddenly realized she did not know his name.

"I am Eryndor Sangrial. Pleased to meet you, Amm—"

"It's Master Argos," the artificer interrupted and swiftly recovered his usual authoritative tone.

"I am a three-star magical artificer of the Imperial Blade Hall. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mister Eryndor.

Now, tell me, how may I be of assistance?"

At some point in their exchange, his attitude had shifted entirely—an abrupt and near-perfect one-eighty from his earlier arrogance.

His voice now carried an unmistakable sincerity and his expression brimmed with a pretend eagerness and respect.

Ethan smiled slightly and recognized that his subtle intimidation had worked flawlessly.

With the once-proud artificer now subdued and attentive, he knew he had secured the upper hand in this interaction.

Wasting no time, he calmly stated his purpose.

"I would like you to design a custom sheath for this Dragon Saber."

Saying that Ethan held up the curved blade and presented it for inspection.

Master Argos's eyes widened slightly as he carefully took the weapon into his hands and his fingers glided over its surface with practiced precision.

His expression remained composed but a flicker of something unreadable, perhaps greed or deep admiration flashed in his gaze.

However, due to the downward tilt of his face, Ethan missed that fleeting glint.

"This blade… it's made entirely of bone. The structure appears to be crafted from a single unbroken piece," Argos murmured and his tone was laced with intrigue.

"Indeed," Ethan responded casually.

"It was forged from the tooth of a mature dragon."

He purposefully omitted any mention of the dragon's exact grade and kept that crucial detail to himself.

The artificer hummed in fascination and nodded in quiet acknowledgment.

Turning the blade over in his hands, he seemed lost in thought before finally speaking again.

"As luck would have it, I currently have the hide of a shadow wyvern in my possession.

It would serve as an excellent material for crafting a sheath suited to this saber."

Ethan's eyes brightened with interest and he wasted no time in cutting straight to the point.

"That's perfect. When do we start?"

Caught slightly off guard by Ethan's directness, Master Argos hesitated for a brief moment and an awkward expression crossed his face.

The young man's enthusiasm which was combined with the sheer presence he exuded made him feel strangely pressured and this was an unusual sensation for someone of his esteemed status.

Under normal circumstances, he would have taken his time and asserted his authority as a renowned three-star master artificer.

But something about this interaction unsettled him.

Perhaps it was the surname Ethan had given earlier or perhaps it was the quiet unyielding power that seemed to radiate from him.

Unconsciously, he let out a resigned sigh before nodding in agreement.

Though he couldn't quite pinpoint why, he found himself instinctively yielding to this mysterious young man's request.

"I can begin immediately," Master Argos stated, his tone professional yet firm.

"But understand that my services come at a premium price."

"Alright," Ethan replied, unfazed.

"How much?"

"The total cost, including materials and my craftsmanship will be twenty high-grade elemental crystals.

Also, Mister Eryndor, I do not accept gold coins or low-tier elemental crystals."

Ethan's eyes flickered at the mention of such an exorbitant price but instead of reacting outwardly, he chuckled inwardly.

His lips curled into a smirk as he responded,

"I accept your terms..."

Master Argos's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at Ethan's immediate agreement but his expression froze when Ethan continued.