Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 107: Journey to Silverdale

"You’re certain this blacksmith is worth a four-day journey?" Huangyan asked as she supervised the loading of their travel bags onto the carriage.

Grim nodded, reviewing Lady Mei’s detailed notes on Mistress Bella Cleanrott one final time before tucking the documents into his inner pocket. "Her specialty in wind and water mana infusion.

Chen Xing approached, carrying a sealed leather case. "The latest shipping manifests from the southern ports. The merchant guild has been surprisingly prompt in providing the information you requested."

"Fear is an effective motivator," Grim replied, accepting the case. "Any word from the terraformers?"

"They’ve begun preliminary work," Chen Xing confirmed. "The main house’s outer buildings are already being dismantled. Master Temri believes they’ll reach the foundations within five days."

"Document everything they find," Grim instructed. "Particularly anything unusual beneath the original structure."

The carriage was ready now, with Kali and Vera mounted on horses nearby. Johnny would remain at the estate to assist with security during Grim’s absence. Huangyan took her position on a black mare leading the party.

"Four days should give the guild council time to formalize their agreement," Chen Xing noted. "Shall I forward it to you in the eastern provinces?"

"No, I’ll be back in 8 days. It’ll be fine."

With the final instructions given, the small party departed the Ambrose estate.

The first day’s travel took them through well-maintained imperial highways, past farmlands and small villages that supplied the capital with food and goods. Travelers were common here, and their small party attracted little attention.

As evening approached, they stopped at a roadside inn frequented by merchants and official couriers. The innkeeper recognized the signs of nobility despite their understated appearance and offered his best rooms without being told.

Grim used the evening to review the shipping manifests Chen Xing had provided.

"The Luminaris family maintains interests in luxury goods from the southern islands," he noted to Huangyan as she joined him for a late meal in his room. "Primarily through third parties."

"A common practice among noble houses," she observed, studying the manifests. "Though their volume seems considerable."

"Indeed." Grim highlighted several entries. "These shipments alone represent nearly seventy thousand imperial crowns in value annually. A significant source of income."

"And now subject to your thirty percent special assessment," Huangyan noted with a hint of satisfaction. "Julius will not take such a direct attack on his finances lightly."

"I’m counting on it," Grim replied. "The more agitated he becomes, the more likely he is to make mistakes."

They retired early, knowing the coming days would bring increasingly difficult travel as they left the well-maintained central provinces behind.

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The landscape changed noticeably on the second day. The neat farmlands gave way to rolling hills covered in dense forests. The eastern provinces were less populated but richer in natural resources—timber, minerals, and game that supplied the Empire’s material needs.

As they traveled, Grim took the opportunity to discuss his theories about realms with the voice, careful to keep his voice low.

"You mentioned realms might be accessed during specific conditions," he said as their carriage navigated a particularly rutted section of road. "What signs should I look for?"

[Realms often manifest during unusual events,] the voice replied. [When the moon aligns with the sun, catastrophic weather, or having certain items will allow passage.]

"And what might they contain?"

[It depends on the conditions needed to enter.]

Huangyan glanced at Grim, catching fragments of his seemingly one-sided conversation.

The third day brought them into the mining regions of the eastern provinces. The road wound through mountain passes, with occasional glimpses of quarries and mine entrances in the distance. Settlements here were built around resource extraction—small towns that serviced the mining operations that had made the eastern provinces famous for their rare metals and gemstones.

They spent the night in a town called Ironfall, notable for the waterfall at its center that powered numerous forges and smithies. The distinctive ring of hammers on metal created a constant background rhythm, even well into the evening.

"We should reach Silverdale by midday tomorrow," Huangyan informed him as they took a simple meal at the town’s only inn.

Grim nodded. "What do the locals say about her?"

"That her prices match her talent—exorbitant but justified. She rarely accepts commissions from anyone below the rank of count, and even then only if the project interests her." Huangyan paused. "They also say she has little patience for those who waste her time."

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The final day of travel brought them through increasingly mountainous terrain. Silverdale itself was nestled in a valley cut by the Silvermelt River, which derived its name from the unusual mineral content that gave its waters a faint metallic sheen.

The town was a center for specialized metalwork, home to dozens of forges and workshops that transformed the raw materials from nearby mines into finished goods of exceptional quality.

Mistress Bella Cleanrott’s forge stood apart from the others, situated where a tributary stream joined the main river. The building was larger than most, with multiple chimneys that released steady plumes of smoke. An elaborate system of wooden channels directed water from both the river and stream into the forge at various points.

As their party approached, the distinctive sound of hammering metal could be heard, along with occasional hisses of steam. A young apprentice was arranging finished pieces on racks outside—small daggers and arrowheads that gleamed with an unusual blue-white luster.

"Master Ambrose," the apprentice greeted, recognizing quality clothing if not Grim’s specific identity. "Do you have an appointment with Mistress Cleanrott?"

"Lady Mei sent word of our arrival," Grim replied.

"Ah." The apprentice looked uncertain. "Mistress is working on a commission for Count Dralven at present. She doesn’t typically receive visitors during active forging."

"We’ve traveled four days from the capital," Grim said. "Please inform her that Lord Ambrose wishes to discuss a potential commission."

The apprentice hurried inside, leaving them waiting in the yard. Huangyan used the opportunity to examine one of the finished daggers more closely.

"Exceptional quality," she murmured.

Before Grim could respond, the forge door swung open with unnecessary force. A woman in her early forties emerged, wiping soot-stained hands on a leather apron. Her dark hair was bound tightly back, revealing a face marked by both a deep burn scar along one cheek and an expression of clear irritation.

"Who’s interrupting my work?" she demanded, scanning the group with narrowed eyes. Her gaze settled on Grim, dismissing him almost immediately as she turned to Huangyan. "Are you Lady Mei’s contact? I told her I’m booked solid for the next three months."

"I am Lord Grim Van Ambrose," Grim stated calmly. "I believe Lady Mei sent word regarding a potential commission requiring your expertise in water and wind mana infusion."

Bella Cleanrott’s expression shifted from irritation to open skepticism as she looked him up and down. Despite his quality clothing, Grim’s youth clearly struck her as incongruous with his claimed identity.

"Lord Ambrose?" she repeated, making little attempt to hide her disbelief. "House Ambrose has been defunct for decades. And you’re barely old enough to shave."

Huangyan took a half-step forward, her hand dropping casually to her sword hilt, but Grim motioned her to stop.

"I understand your confusion," he said evenly. "News travels slowly to the eastern provinces. House Ambrose has been restored to full standing. I’m here to discuss a specialized commission that requires your particular skills."

Bella snorted, turning back toward her forge. "Look, boy, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m in the middle of a commission for Count Dralven that must be completed by week’s end. I don’t have time for pranks or pretenders."

"This is no prank," Grim replied, his voice cooling slightly. "I require some things crafted with your expertise." Lady Mei indicated you’re one of few smiths in the Empire with this capability."

Bella paused at the door, turning back with a look of amusement now. "Even if you were who you claim to be, such work doesn’t come cheap. The materials alone cost thousands of crowns, not to mention my time and expertise."

"Cost is not a concern," Grim stated.

This brought a short laugh from the blacksmith. "Of course it isn’t. Because you’re ’Lord Ambrose.’" She made exaggerated quotation marks with her fingers. "Listen, boy, I don’t care what noble’s son you really are. I’m working. Come back with your father if you’re serious, and bring an appointment."

With that, she disappeared back into her forge, letting the heavy door slam behind her.

For a moment, silence fell over the yard, broken only by the distant rush of the river and the continued hammering from within the forge. The apprentice looked mortified, backing away as if expecting an explosion of noble outrage.

"My lord," Huangyan said quietly, "such disrespect—"

"Is to be expected," Grim finished the sentence for her. "When one’s reputation is still being established."

"Wait here," he instructed Huangyan and the guards, before approaching the apprentice. "Your name?"

"Tomas, my lord," the young man replied nervously.

"Tomas, I need you to deliver something to your mistress." Grim removed an object from his inner pocket—the imperial seal marking his position as Imperial Defender of the Southern Shores. "Ensure she sees this. Tell her Lord Ambrose will wait exactly five more minutes before departing to seek services elsewhere."

The apprentice accepted the seal with wide eyes, recognizing its significance immediately. He rushed into the forge without another word.

They waited in silence as the minutes passed. The hammering within the forge had stopped abruptly after Tomas’s entry.

Four minutes later, the door opened again. Bella Cleanrott emerged, her expression markedly different—a complex mixture of disbelief and embarrassment. In her hand, she held Grim’s imperial seal.

"Lord Ambrose," she said, all trace of mockery gone from her voice. "It seems I owe you an apology for my... misunderstanding."

Grim accepted the returned seal with a slight nod. "Indeed. Though I now question whether your services would be suitable for House Ambrose’s needs. Perhaps Master Korin Silverscale would be a more appropriate choice, despite the inconvenience of returning to the capital."

Bella’s jaw tightened slightly at the mention of her competitor. "Silverscale is talented with fire elements, certainly, but his work with water mana is elementary at best."

"Nevertheless," Grim continued, turning as if to leave, "professionalism and respect are also considerations when selecting a craftsman for long-term commissions."