Matrix Survival: One random treasure chest per day

Chapter 590 Asking the Blacksmith to Help Improve Equipment

"Improving upon previous inventions?"

Icarus, true to his reputation as the blacksmith's most unreliable disciple, never learned his lesson after being taught a few lessons. He instinctively sneered and was about to retort when the blacksmith glared at him, shutting him down.

"Go on," the blacksmith said, adopting an attentive listening posture that made his disciples around him tremble with fear.

The teacher has always been arrogant in the manufacturing industry and has never bothered to do anything so-called improvement. So why did he take this suggestion seriously when a stranger came along?
“Logically speaking, the blacksmith’s skills are absolutely top-notch in the outer city. If word gets out that he’s improving on the inventions of his predecessors, it will only tarnish the reputation of the blacksmith.” Li Zheng first flattered the vanity of the blacksmith’s staff, and then slowly began to express his own thoughts, “But are the inventions of our predecessors really perfect? ​​Are they really without any flaws?”
For example, intermediate culture medium, even if you haven't used it, you've probably heard of it, right?

A few days ago, I used intermediate-grade culture medium combined with a specialty of the Wisteria tribe to create a product with effects between intermediate and advanced-grade culture medium. Not only was the cost lower than advanced-grade culture medium, but the effect was also significantly improved compared to intermediate-grade culture medium. Does this enhanced version of intermediate-grade culture medium have no reason to exist?

"I'd like to ask, if intermediate culture medium costs 1,000 white crystal coins, advanced culture medium costs 5,000 white crystal coins, but enhanced intermediate culture medium only costs 3,000 white crystal coins, with a cost almost equal to that of intermediate culture medium, which would you, as merchants, choose?"

Li Zheng actually misrepresented the concept here, because he did not spend any money on the special products of the Tengluo tribe at the time, so he said here that the cost was almost the same.

It's actually a bit higher.

"They've talked for so long but haven't gotten to the point..." Icarus muttered under his breath. They certainly understood this principle, but making improvements like this would hardly help promote the shop's reputation, and in the end, it might just be doing someone else's favor.

"Don't rush, the main event is yet to come." Li Zheng didn't blame Icarus for talking too much. He cleared his throat and continued, "If you're worried about reputation, then you don't need to worry at all."

Admittedly, the person who initially invented something certainly has the right to be credited, but…

At this point, he smiled mysteriously and said, "Who says we have to improve other people's things? We have so many inventions in our blacksmith shop, can't we continue to improve them? For example, the 'Ling Tong' device that the blacksmith made before, as a short-range communication device, why can't it be improved into a long-range communication device?"
And this too.

He took off the 'overweight' necklace from his neck and showed it off: "This necklace was also made by a blacksmith. I know there is a gravity research institute in the outer city that specializes in developing gravity-related equipment, but has anyone ever stopped others from doing similar research?"

This necklace can only be used by one person at present. Is it possible to improve it into a second-generation product that can be used by multiple people?

Alternatively, it could be made into a range-effect gravity-type equipment, which could not only be used for daily training, but also suddenly spread the gravity field during combat to catch the opponent off guard.

Aren't these all ideas and business opportunities?

Why must we neglect the essential and focus on inventing entirely new things?

Li Zheng went on and on, offering a whole host of suggestions.

At first, his statement was scoffed at by the blacksmith's apprentices, but when he said that the blacksmith shop's products could be further improved, everyone's eyes and demeanor changed.

Icarus glanced at Pasmiao with ill intent, thinking that if he improved the other party's favorite product even better, wouldn't that be slapping him in the face?
Coincidentally, Pasmiao thought the same thing.

Or rather, it wasn't just the two of them; in fact, everyone had similar thoughts.

Especially the mature and prudent eldest brother, the crane-man with a beard, said thoughtfully, "There is some truth to that. Before, out of consideration for our fellow disciples and fear of damaging the relationship between us, I didn't dare to bring up some things even though they had obvious flaws."

Now I finally have a legitimate reason to touch their invention. He thought he had lowered his voice enough, but he didn't notice that everyone else gave him a dangerous look after he muttered that.

"Good!" The blacksmith pondered for a long time, his expression changing several times, before finally exclaiming in praise, "Originally, I hadn't decided on the test questions for today. This gentleman... what's your name again?"

"Teacher, as I just introduced, his name is Li Zheng," Zi Shu said softly, her face turning purple with frustration.

"Oh? Have I introduced you before?" The blacksmith looked puzzled, as if he really didn't remember Zi Shu introducing him earlier. "Then I was being rude."

He nodded apologetically to Li Zheng: "Li Zheng's words have inspired me. Today's test is to randomly choose a product from the shop with a signature and improve upon it. Only those who pass this test can stay in the blacksmith shop; those who fail are all fired!"

Furthermore, I want to emphasize again that what I want is improvement, not upgrade!
have you understood? "

The disciples all replied, "Understood!"

"Then, the test begins now!" the blacksmith ordered immediately, adding, "You have five days to select, plan, and create. Anything not completed within the time limit will be considered unqualified!"

"is teacher!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples scattered like birds and beasts, rushing to various products to select their items, eager to show off their skills.

Watching the eight figures leaping and bounding among the many goods, the blacksmith nodded in satisfaction, only then remembering that Li Zheng was originally a customer of their blacksmith shop: "You didn't come to our shop to catch up with Zi Shu, did you?"

"Well, since we've run into each other, we can certainly chat about what's been going on lately," Li Zheng replied. "But the main thing is, I actually want to ask you, Master Blacksmith, to help me improve something."

"Oh?" The blacksmith's expression changed. No wonder this guy was so excited just now, suggesting that improvement was also a path to development. It turned out that the idea came from his own needs. "What do you want to improve? Show it to me. If it's not too difficult, I'll do it for you myself."

Li Zheng was overjoyed upon hearing this: "I couldn't be happier!"

As he spoke, he materialized the lamp-holder figure that had been integrated into the back of his hand and handed it to the blacksmith: "This is it."

"The Lamp Holder!?" The blacksmith seemed to recognize the item, giving Li Zheng a suspicious look. "How did this come to be with you?"

"To my shame, this thing didn't originally belong to me; I got it from someone else." Li Zheng was too embarrassed to admit that he had stolen it, and that he had also killed the person who originally possessed the lantern.

"wait."

The blacksmith didn't take the lantern. Instead, he turned around and picked up something that looked like a camera from a counter, then pointed it at Li Zheng and pressed the switch.

Immediately, a green light lit up on the top of the thing.

Seeing the green light turn on, the blacksmith was even more astonished: "You possess the power to hold the lamp, yet you were able to resist the temptation and refrain from killing someone?!"

(End of this chapter)