novelODS Chapter 30 Enchantment Consultant
Chapter 30 Enchantment Consultant
Buddha remained silent for a few seconds.
He placed the sword on the table and pushed it back to Chen Mo.
He was thinking.
Chen Mo crossed his arms, not in a hurry.
He knew that in Skyrim, the Nords had a deep-seated aversion to magic—not fear, but a cultural contempt.
Magic is for elves, for cowards, and for those who shoot arrows from afar.
A true Nord should solve problems with swords, axes, shields, muscles, and courage.
But enchanted weapons are different.
While Nords reject magic, they do not reject enchanted weapons.
An enchanted sword hurts more when it strikes an enemy, splits shields more easily, and allows you to kill more people on the battlefield—who could refuse that?
Therefore, although enchanters are rare in Skyrim, their products never have to worry about sales.
"What do you mean?" After a pause, Foko decided to ask directly.
Chen Mo glanced at Elisif.
The Queen listened quietly without interrupting.
"Steward Fok, Your Majesty," Chen Mo said, "if the Blue Palace needs enchanted weapons—I can provide them."
Fok didn't make a decision immediately; he looked at the Queen.
Elisifer looked at Chen Mo, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Mr. Chen Mo, are you saying you want to provide enchanting services for Dugu City?"
"Yes."
Elisifer remained silent for a moment.
Her gaze shifted from Chen Mo's face to the enchanted sword on the table.
She rose from her seat, walked to the table, picked up the sword, and held it in her hand.
The red sheen on the sword reflected in her pale blue eyes, like two tiny flames flickering.
Alisifer put the sword back on the table, folded his hands on his knees, and looked at Chen Mo.
The wary, assessing look in those pale blue eyes was slowly fading, replaced by something gentler, with a hint of warmth.
"Mr. Chen Mo," she said, "Blue Palace can hire you."
Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat. "Hire me?"
"Yes. As the enchanting consultant for the Blue Palace." Elisif's voice remained gentle, but every word was clearer and more certain than before.
"The guards of Solitude need enchanted weapons. The guards of Blue Palace need them too. The situation in Skyrim... you know, it's not peaceful. We definitely need a lot of weapons."
She paused. "And—"
She didn't continue.
"The salary is three hundred gold coins per month," Elisif said. "The soul stones and weapons needed for enchanting will be provided by the Blue Palace. The Blue Palace has the right of first refusal to purchase the weapons you enchant. Of course, you can also take on side jobs, and the Blue Palace will not interfere."
Three hundred gold coins per month.
The enchanting materials were provided by Blue Palace, which meant he could practice enchanting for free without worrying about the heartache of losing a soulstone.
At the same time, the Blue Palace will prioritize purchasing the weapons he enchants, which means that they have a stable source of income.
"I accept," Chen Mo said.
A slight smile played on Elisif's lips. It was a smile more genuine than ever before.
"Welcome to the Blue Palace, Mr. Chen Mo."
She stood up and reached out her hand.
Chen Mo was stunned for a moment, then stood up and took her hand.
"Thank you for everything you've done for Solitude," the Queen said softly. "I also hope you enjoy your time at Blue Palace."
Chen Mo released his grip and took a step back.
"I will do my best, Your Majesty."
He understood the Queen's hidden meaning.
Elisifer chuckled softly.
……
It was already dark when we came out of the Blue Palace.
The setting sun painted the rooftops of Dugu City a golden-red hue, and the sea surface of the harbor was covered with a layer of scattered gold.
Chen Mo and Benjamin walked on the stone arch bridge. A cold wind blew up from the deep valley below, making Benjamin's gray robe billow.
"Thirty gold coins a month," Benjamin repeated. "Do you know how much I earn a month teaching at the Bard's Academy?"
"How many?"
"Ten gold coins."
Chen Mo glanced at him. "Have you ever considered switching to enchanting?"
"Me?" Benjamin scoffed. "At my age, what would I do with enchanting? Besides, I'm a mage; magic is enough for me. Enchanting is for you guys—"
He paused, as if searching for the right word, "—something a freak did."
"When exactly did you learn enchanting?" After a pause, Benjamin couldn't help but ask.
"Huh?" Chen Mo scratched his head. "Would you believe me if I said I already knew it?"
"Come on," Benjamin scoffed. "I know you too well. A week ago, you probably didn't even know what enchanting was."
I know.
Chen Mo curled his lip. "I'm the kind of person who plays the Three Gods Cycle in the game."
However, he didn't refute it, since enchanting in the game is just a matter of clicking the mouse, and he really didn't know how to do it in real life.
"This reward is a bit too much." After a pause, Benjamin said in a low voice, looking into Chen Mo's eyes.
"I know." Chen Mo understood what Benjamin meant and knew that Benjamin was reminding him.
"The High King is dead." Chen Mo's voice was even lower. "Ulfric is watching from the other side of the sky. The rumors in Solitude have never stopped—some say Elisif is not qualified to sit in that position, some say she is just Toyg's widow, a decoration, a vase, a puppet pushed out by the Empire to save face."
He stopped, turned around, and looked Benjamin into the eyes. "She needs people, she needs people on her side. So this is a gift, but it's more than just a gift."
Benjamin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled.
It wasn't the usual roguish, old-fashioned laugh, but a gentler laugh tinged with a touch of melancholy.
"You're smarter than I thought," Benjamin said. "You're like someone who's been navigating politics for years."
Chen Mo did not answer.
What could he possibly say?
It is said that he lived and died countless times in the game Skyrim, reloaded countless saves, and thoroughly studied the background stories of every city, every NPC, and every questline.
He said he knew Elisif's fate—in the game's default storyline, no matter which side the Dragonborn sided with, the Empire or the Stormcloaks, she would continue to sit on the throne of the High Queen, but no one ever considered her an important person.
He knew that one day in the future, this woman might be torn to pieces in the vortex of power, because her kindness was the least valuable thing in this world.
"Let's go."
After a pause, Chen Mo quickened his pace. "Let's grab a drink at the tavern while it's still early. I have things to do tomorrow."
"What is it?"
"Enchanting? I need to ask Blue Palace if they have any orders."
Benjamin smiled.
"You little rascal, you've only just become a consultant and you're already worrying about work? You're definitely someone who gets paid."
The two people's laughter echoed in the night sky of Dugu City for a while before being dispersed by the sea breeze.