When Old Neil respectfully sent Duke out of his blacksmith's shop, his mind was still a little dazed, and it was difficult to turn the corner.

He really couldn't imagine why, in just a few dozen minutes, he, an ordinary blacksmith who could even be said to be lowly, became the Minister of Prepared Steel under the great nobles, and became a figure like the aristocratic lord that he could only look up to at the beginning.

Although the way to become a full-fledged Minister of Steel is very harsh, and it may even be said that it may be the bad taste of the great nobles or the usual painting of pies, but it still makes him feel a little dreamlike.

Duke promised Old Neil a "special fund" to help him renovate the blacksmith's shop, and this special fund included a few thousand gold coins and even a lot of incalculable energy supply stones.

And the old Neil only needs to be able to make good use of this batch of resources, and increase the production and quality of steel by 10 times on the basis of today.

Then his original mediocre lowly blacksmith could cross countless classes and sit directly in the ranks of auxiliary ministers that only aristocratic lords could serve in the past.

Although this is the first time he has heard of the name of the Minister of Steel, it does not prevent it from being a minister.

And it's not just strange, this strangely behaved lord also said that he wanted to protect the environment of the city center and the air quality in the city.

Preparing to move the blacksmith shop to the lower reaches of the Seine River in the suburbs, it is also said that there is machinery that can operate without human labor, and it will be renamed the northern steel factory!

Anyway, Old Neil felt that the lord's various statements revealed a kind of strangeness, but when he thought of the final reward, his heart was still hot and full of energy.

"Little ones, cheer me up and do a good job!"

He turned and shouted to his men, and for a moment there was a loud echo in the courtyard.

...............

On the other side, Duke took Lenia back to his office in the castle.

Lenia's face was a little displeased, and she was still holding the armor she had given to the dwarves for repair.

It's just that the armor, which still had some jet-black luster, is now dull and lacks its former brilliance.

I don't know if it was Lenia who was next to him and scared the dwarf so terrified that something went wrong, or if old Neil's potion smelled fierce enough.

Anyway, in the end, the dwarf screwed everything up with a hammer, and the armor, which barely had a little magical brilliance, was scrapped directly.

Lenia went on the spot, drawing her sword to give the dwarf a good time.

Luckily, Duke saw that something was wrong and let the dwarf seize the gap and escape, otherwise Duke suspected that he might have been lucky enough to see the dwarven slice feast that had never been seen before.

In the end, Duke's heart moved, remembering the system reward he had received before, and he planned to take the angry and distressed Lenia back to his castle to appease him.

"Don't be angry, Lenia, shall I give you a new one?"

Duke smiled at Lenya, and in her puzzled gaze Duke lifted a delicate silver platter with folded armor from a cabinet with a mage's hand.

Although the current scene is more ** and sacred if Duke is holding the plate with both hands and handing it to Lenya, but the weight of this armor and the plate is really unbearable for him.

"This is what I wanted to give you a long time ago, Lenia. ”

Duke controlled the summoned mage's hand and gently delivered the plate to a somewhat sluggish Lenya.

Her gaze wandered to and fro with the delicate set of bright white armor, and she couldn't take her eyes off it.

This armor is the high-level enchantment set that Duke gave when he completed the system upgrade mission, and it is equipped with everything from helmets, shoulder armor to boots, and uses the highest quality metal and magic materials.

Even in the current dim light, this bright white armor still emitted a somewhat dazzling magical glow, and the faint magical coercion also showed that it was unusual.

In fact, only the Ancestral Sword made by the dwarves can be called a relatively powerful magical equipment, and it has been passed down for more than seven hundred years, and its power has been somewhat reduced over time.

And the iron black armor she always wore was just the lowest-level magic equipment that was a little harder than the mortal iron armor of ordinary soldiers, and there was hardly any major gain.

With Lenia's full strength, even the blow of the level 4 Baron Rhine could not be resisted, and a trace was drawn that was difficult to repair.

"No, no, my lord, I have not established any merits, and I am not qualified to accept the gift of the lord. ”

Lenia finally reluctantly withdrew her gaze from the armor in front of her, and waved her hand in some embarrassment in refusal.

Although it is every knight's lifelong dream to have a good and well-fitting set of armor, Lenia's character makes her dare not accept the lord's gift rashly.

Although the suit of armor in front of her was not only good, but also up to her perfect standard.

Duke smiled unexpectedly when he heard her answer, and then said softly, "Lenia, you should have been rewarded for what you have done for me, and only your family is the only one of the three guardian families who is still holding on, and the lord should reward you for your loyalty alone." ”

Speaking of which, Duke also recalled the fall of the Dukedom of the North, the betrayal of Baron Rhine, Lenia's protection and care for him, and the several experiences she had when she held herself......

Lenia's eyes suddenly faltered, and it was obvious that these words had touched her heart deeply.

Whether it is protecting Duke several times or the persistence of the family all the time, it is the persistence of the belief in her heart.

And being recognized and praised by those who owe allegiance is also the highest honor of a knight.

She took a deep breath, put down the tattered armor she was still holding in her hand, raised her hands to take the plate handed by Duke, and then fell to one knee on the ground, and said in a somewhat choked voice:

"I, Lenia Garder, am willing to offer you my lifelong loyalty!"

As soon as she had finished speaking, she quickly lowered her head, not wanting to show Duke her reddened eyes and the tears that were almost bursting out of her eyes.

Duke didn't expect Lenia's reaction to be so strong, and she couldn't even speak a sentence fluently.

But he also had some empathy, and he felt a little satisfied that a set of effects that he didn't have much use could make Lenia like it so much.

He walked down the steps and helped Lenia, who was still kneeling, to her feet, and the corners of her mouth curled uncontrollably.