Forged Destiny [Book 1: Ch. 6]

"I'd like to buy three scythes please," Ruby chirped happily, not even noticing our plight.

Jeb raised a brow but didn't argue, "That'll be 450," he said, making Ruby blanch and me wince.

"A-Ah," Ruby looked humiliated. "J-just one Scythe then, 150, right?"

[...]

"The Blacksmith sighed, no doubt knowing exactly what was coming.

"They're good scythes," I started, knowing it was the truth and that the man would surely raise that point if I didn't first. "Lightweight but sturdy, perfect for work in the fields."

"I do good work." Jeb crossed his arms, apparently knowing he wasn't going to win a battle of Charisma with a Knight and thus deciding to say as little as possible. That was a lucky break since I wasn't a Knight either, and my Charisma was probably less than his! The problem for Jeb was that stats didn't decide everything.

More Strength meant you hit harder, but that didn't mean you could lightly tap a hammer against a wall and knock it down. It enhanced what you did, and when everyone was swinging with their full might, then sure, stats would decide it. But I knew how to haggle. Oh, did I know how to haggle.

"You do, sir, you do. We're just facing a bit of a problem at the minute because my friend here isn't a Farmer, she's a Hero. Her specifications are different and she's going to be using these to cut down things a little more vicious than stalks."

"She could commission something," the man offered, "But that would take a few weeks."

"Time she doesn't have," I sighed. "Ruby here needs to fight against Grimm and other Heroes, which means she needs weapons now. We definitely might commission something with you later, but for now she needs at least two scythes. How about a hundred each, two for two hundred?"

"I can't drop prices on the promise of future work…"

"But it's not just future work is it?" I smiled. "Let's be honest here, we've been to the guy down the road. His gear was worthless and you're the better Blacksmith. It's clear from the fact you actually have a store as opposed to a rickety barn."

"He isn't committed," Jeb nodded. "Hasty work at best, likes to cut corners."

"But you don't and it shows. Labour Caste can't afford to be paying for sub-standard equipment. They need their tools to last, and you provide that. What I'm saying is, when the others at Beacon see the kind of quality you make, how even a farming tool can be a weapon – that a Hero would rather buy a scythe from you, than a sword from the other store? Well you can rest assured people might want to see what else you can do. It could mean new customers for you, especially for commissioned work."

"I don't know…"

"But I do," I had him and I knew it, or at the very least he was interested. Mom had warned me time and time again of pushing too hard, especially in the closing stages of a deal. You couldn't make someone take something, you had to convince them it was their own idea – that they wanted it themselves. "I mean you're the Blacksmith, so you know more than I do of course. But if the gear you sell really is better, then the quality would show, right? As far as I see it, the only reason he has the up on you is because no one knows you can make weapons."

"He made my weapons too," Yang interrupted, showing her gauntlets to the man. "They're okay, but not great. If these scythes are any good, then I might have you make some for me too when I do a few more Quests."

"Yeah?" The man looked down on the gauntlets in barely hidden contempt.

"And that's just the two of us," I said, not mentioning that I wouldn't ever need my own doing. "Think of what your regulars are going to think. Jeb's work, not only good enough for them – but good enough for Heroes!?"

"Scythe's so good even a Hero picks them," Yang grinned, catching on to my plan.

"Yeah…" Jeb was smiling now, a distant look in his eye. "And you say you'll tell people where you got these from?"

"I swear it on my honour," I pledged. It sounded something like a Knight would say, and certainly Jeb seemed to think so.

"Okay… two for two hundred, but that's as far as I'm willing to go. If custom does pick up, I might be willing to give you a discount on a commission."

—Forged Destiny [Book 1: Ch. 6]