At the same time, the Molten Iron City, underground Hammer Castle

The sound of a "clanging" hammer striking on a red-hot iron felt could be heard even in the private study of the Hammer Archduke. It's a night that belongs to the Hammer Castle, and every night like this, ore from all over the Hammer Realm is sent into the castle, which is also home to the largest forge. Grand Duke Hammer leaned back in the bearskin-covered armchair, and he liked the sound.

On the oak table in front of the dwarf is a mirror that is propped up. Unlike most of the shoddy mirrors used in this era, the mirror surface of this mirror is made of unknown gemstones. Around the mirror, the gilt copper frame is mixed with a large number of precious stone particles that embellish it, casting a vivid image one by one. As for why the dwarven duke stared at the mirror, it was not because he wanted to tidy up his appearance, but because the mirror of the gem showed the same cursed raven that summoned the demon to fight the steel dummy.

"He looks like he's struggling?" said the voice from the shadows in the corner of the study.

"Not necessarily, I think this kid is probably preserving his strength. He didn't know I could see him, but if he did it himself, I wouldn't be able to find a clue from the dummy's remains tomorrow. The Grand Duke of Hammer poured himself a glass of fire lily wine, and drank it in one gulp.

"These wizards. "The people in the shadows apparently agree with the Grand Duke, and from their own experience, these spellcasters do like to hide their true strength in order to give the enemy a false impression. Those who think they know enough about their opponents often suffer a lot from a spell that they are caught off guard.

"Haha, remember what happened when you attacked the hairless mage?" Hearing his companion's complaints, the dwarf seemed to remember some interesting memories as he patted the armrest and said.

"Damn it, shut up! we said we wouldn't talk about it!" said the shadow in a frustrated manner.

The Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders and stopped teasing his companion. Because he knew very well that if he continued, the benevolent brother in the shadow was very likely to directly pull out a knife and cut people. Years of adventure experience have given both of them an incomparable understanding of each other's temperaments, which makes their jokes always stop at the right place.

"Speaking of which, I didn't expect you to actually come over this time. The dwarf leaned back into his chair and said as if casually.

"You described this incident as the end of the world in your letter, and it would be too much to give you face as a duke if I didn't come again. This man deliberately bit the word "duke" very heavily when he spoke, obviously sarcastic.

"Say what, if you were willing to stay, the Hammerlord should have been ruled by the two of us. As a result, you were fine, the day before you promised to be good, and the next day the person was gone. The Grand Duke said, with a bit of unhappiness in his tone, perhaps indignant at the farewell of his companion back then.

"Hmph, stay here and become a nobleman like you? I don't want to die with crying children and servants who don't care about you at all. I'd rather die alone in the wilderness than your life now. ”

The dwarf didn't know how to answer, and he scratched his head. At this moment, the man in the shadows continued.

"Besides, it's enough for you here. I don't want to fight you one day for power and gold. ”

Wealth and lust can change people's feelings, and even the strongest friendships and love or family ties can decay over time in the face of sufficiently large interests. There may be people who can resist such temptations for a long time, but the man in the shadows never gambles, and if accepting this risk is sacrificing his few friends in the world, then he would rather refuse it from the beginning.

Of course, the Grand Duke of Hammer understood what his friend was saying, but there were some things that were not good to say if they were broken, so he said.

If I remember correctly, the record between the two of us is still 2-0! Are you afraid that I won't be in the mood to cut you down with an axe one day?"

"Oh, dwarf, I don't mind going out into a fight with you now. But I'm afraid you can't hold your axe with a beer belly. The man in the darkness sneered. The words of his friend made the dwarven lord can't help but look at his stomach, indeed, years of aristocratic life have made his body shape a little out of shape, although the Grand Duke of Hammer will maintain basic training every day, but this kind of body is far from the way he looked when he was on the adventure.

Unlike him, the dwarf racked his brains to find a phrase of the same magnitude as this one to fight back, but unlike him, his friend had been on the front lines of adventure for many years, and his skills were not diminished at all, and he might even be better than he was back then. At this time, the battle in the mirror was at its most intense, and the steel dummies thwarted the demon's attacks one after another, and successfully killed the two small demons.

"Damn, the puppets you made are getting more and more perverted, and they can grind demons into minced meat so easily! Those guys' flesh is as hard as wood!" The picture in the mirror made the man in the shadows sigh, although he could definitely kill these three demons faster and better than the steel dummies, but that was different! You know, these steel dummies are just a mass-produced variety made from this underground assembly line, and it is not even the most proud work of the Hammer Grand Duke.

"Of course, after so many years as a Grand Duke, I have enough time and energy to make these little toys. How about it, when this kid is gone, would you like to come down and help me test the strength of my proudest work?" Speaking of his own invention, the dwarf immediately became proud. His years in human society have given him the ability to refine his crafting talent to a point where many Dwarven Forge Masters are not enough. After all, the resources available to a duke are completely different from those of a forger.

"Interesting, if I dismantle your toy, you won't be allowed to cry. Hearing the provocation of the Grand Duke of the Hammer, the people in the shadows were not afraid at all, and even had a bit of a posture of eagerness.

As they spoke, the battle in the mirror was over. Under the spell of the cursed crow, the summoned demon disintegrated into a highly corrosive slime that covered every joint of the dummy, rendering the steel golem useless.

"Hey, this kid is really black, and he will blow up the summoned demon at the slightest disadvantage. Seeing his puppet destroyed, the Hammer Grand Duke didn't care at all, and instead began to judge the tactics of the Cursed Raven.

"I think this kid did a good job, and he had to pay him for keeping that demon alive, so it's better to squeeze out its use value. Anyway, this level of garbage, just go back and find it. The other man seemed to hold a different point of view than the dwarf, and judging by his words, he seemed to have some appreciation for the practice of the crow.

"That's why you're not liked, you know?" said the Hammer Duke, turning from his chair to face his friend. In the shadows he was looking at, a pair of eyes that shimmered red like flames had a playful smile.