[Conditions detected for host upgrade to Blacksmith: 1. Blacksmith Apprentice lv3 max level; 2. Strength above 6 points, Constitution above 6 points; 3. Forge ten qualifying Blacksmith products. All conditions met, upgrade to Blacksmith yes/no?]
[Note: After upgrading to Blacksmith, the new Blacksmith profession panel will replace the original Blacksmith Apprentice panel.]
Clearly, this question did not require any consideration, Rein chose yes without hesitation!
[Ding! Upgrade successful!]
[Upgrade to Blacksmith successful! Strength +2! Gain core Blacksmith skills: Blacksmith's Strength lv1, One-Handed Hammer Mastery lv1.]
[Blacksmith's Strength lv1 (Active): Due to years of forging, the Blacksmith possesses unusual explosive muscle strength.]
[Hammer Mastery lv1 (Passive): Familiar with hammers both big and small from years of forging, they are used as extensions of his own limbs.]
Hisss! Core skills have emerged?
Rein was both shocked and delighted!
This promotion... truly represents a qualitative leap!
After informing Blacksmith Boris that he would go home for lunch and return in the afternoon, Rein swiftly left the blacksmith shop, went around the corner of the street, and immediately found a secluded corner to carefully examine his attribute panel.
The original Blacksmith Apprentice panel had disappeared, replaced with the Blacksmith panel.
At the same time, two brand-new skill icons at the bottom of the panel flickered slightly, and from their size, the icons for the core skills seemed to be almost twice as large as those for ordinary skills.
Rein first focused his attention on an icon resembling Popeye flexing his biceps, and beneath it there was a line of text.
[Core Skill: Blacksmith's Strength lv1 (Active)]
Blacksmith's Strength lv1 (Active) effects: Upon skill activation, your strength will slightly increase.
（Note: The skill effect will proportionally increase based on the host's own strength, and its duration is proportional to the host's Constitution and spiritual power.）
Upon reading this, Rein quickly fell into deep thought!
The additional two points of strength gained after the upgrade to Blacksmith allowed Rein's strength attribute to surpass his previously highest Spirit Attribute, becoming his strongest attribute.
It's worth noting that 9 points of strength already greatly exceeded that of an average adult male, and it was probably slightly superior even compared to the elite members of Lord Hamilton's Night Watcher's Army.
Feeling the surge of strength throughout his body brought Rein a burst of joy.
Before the upgrade, even if the profession levels of Blacksmith Apprentice or Militia were to increase, each level would only grant one attribute point, but now just by upgrading, Rein had gained two additional points of strength.
The increase was significant!
At the same time, with this active skill—Blacksmith's Strength, which could further enhance strength, Rein was very eager to try it out immediately, but there was nothing suitable around, and making too much noise would draw unnecessary attention.
After a brief thought, Rein decided to head home, neglecting to even stop for groceries, remembering that there were some scattered large rocks along the way home that he could try his hand at.
Swiftly, while walking home, Rein, looking around, quickly spotted a nearly half-human-high piece of stone not far off the roadside.
So, after again making sure no one was around, Rein, eager to attempt, approached the stone.
With 9 points of strength, Rein, who originally would not have been able to move the heavy rock, now lifted it, although he turned red and found it strenuous. However, he now managed to stably hold it, lifting it a few feet off the ground.
However, to advance further and lift the two to three hundred pound rock over his head, 9 points of strength still fell a bit short.
Thus, Rein focused his attention on Blacksmith's Strength.
As the skill was activated, suddenly, a warm surge pumped from his heart, accelerating Rein's blood flow, causing his veins to bulge and the muscles in his arms and shoulders to protrude.
Rein then forcibly lifted the heavy rock above his head and threw it four to five meters away.
After throwing the rock, a delightful sensation instantly surged through his heart!
This was the confidence and exhilaration that great strength brings to a man!
Then, Rein glanced once more at his attribute panel, only to see Strength: 9 (+1.8), and the +1.8 in brackets was clearly the effect of Blacksmith's Strength, though the duration was not displayed.
Rein stood quietly in place, feeling the changes in his body.
About half a minute later, Rein felt the warmth inside him gradually dissipate. It seemed that the Blacksmith's Strength, an active Skill, could only last for about half a minute at present.
But this had already made Rein more than overjoyed. Without a doubt, Blacksmith's Strength was a Skill that could serve as a trump card.
Glancing at the sun hanging slightly to the west, Rein muttered to himself, "Oh no! I almost missed lunchtime!"
So, without giving another glance at the other core Skill—Hammer Mastery—Rein quickly ran home.
As soon as he entered the house, his mother greeted him.
"Why are you so late, did you go to the blacksmith's shop again?" Seeing Rein come back drenched in sweat, his mother asked with a heartache.
Rein nodded and took the towel his mother offered, wiping the sweat beads off his forehead.
Just as Rein was gathering his words, planning to discuss with his parents that he had agreed to join the Night Watcher's Army at Lord Hamilton's behest, his usually reticent father suddenly spoke, "Rein, come here for a minute."
Rein was slightly surprised but followed his father into the room.
He saw his father take an object wrapped in grey linen cloth from the old bedside table. As he slowly unwrapped it, two slightly worn Imperial Gold Coins and more than ten silver coins came into view.
Old Rein hesitated for a moment, then picked up the only two Imperial Gold Coins and handed them to Rein.
"Rein, lately whenever you're free, you run off to that Miser Boris' blacksmith shop. But it's useless unless you can pay the apprentice fee. You can't possibly move that heartless man with sincerity."
"Father, I..." Rein started to say something but was interrupted by a wave of Old Rein's hand.
"Listen to me first, your mother and I have discussed this. These two gold coins should be enough for you to learn one or two forging skills from Boris, which might give you some advantage in the manor blacksmith apprenticeship assessment."
"The little money left, we are keeping at home for you and Bo He to buy some white bread, meat, and eggs. We can't give you more. You are both still growing, and your nutrition needs to keep up."
Looking at his father's face, tanned by the sun, Rein was speechlessly moved!
Firmly pushing back the gold coins his father had handed him, Rein raised his head and said,
"Father, you and mother need not worry about my future anymore."
"I provided crucial leads on child disappearances to the newly appointed sheriff, Lord Hamilton. Lord Hamilton has promised that after my pageboy training ends, I can join the Night Watcher's Army."
Having said this, amidst Old Rein's astonished gaze, Rein also pulled out two brand-new Imperial Gold Coins from his own pocket and handed them over.
"Father, these two gold coins are a reward from Lord Hamilton; keep this money, and we can eat better at home every day."
Clearly, Rein wasn't reluctant to give all the gold coins to his family, but giving more would have been inexplicable with just the explanation of providing a lead.
"Rein, is this true?!"
His mother, who had been listening at the door, could no longer contain her surprise and burst through the door, hurrying inside.
"Of course, look, if you and father really don't believe me, you can go to the town hall and ask Lord Hamilton directly," Rein shrugged, a smile on his face.
"May the goddess of fortune bless us!" His mother cried tears of joy, praying continuously while hurriedly wiping away her tears.
At lunchtime, Old Rein unusually splurged on several bottles of rye beer and seemed determined to have a few drinks with Rein, leaving Anna and Bo He exchanging puzzled looks.
Anna sensed something, but felt too embarrassed to ask Rein directly.
"Rein, from now on, you're a man! *hic* About you and Anna… *hic* it's up to you, son—I support you! *hic*"
Seeing his father, who had drunk too much, Rein felt a wave of embarrassment and quickly exchanged glances with Anna, who then swiftly diverted her eyes.
The next second, like a frightened rabbit, Anna immediately lowered her head, a blush spreading across her fair cheeks.