"What?! Only 50,000 Valis?!"
In the reception hall of the Twilight Manor, even Loki, a deity, could not help but reveal a look of astonishment after hearing Thrud's price quote for the Shihakusho.
It wasn't just her; the three leaders of the Loki Familia sitting to the side—Finn, Riveria, and Gareth—were not faring much better.
As frontline members of Orario's top fighting faction...
During expeditions, they naturally had no use for the Shihakusho, whose defensive power was only comparable to low-rank Second-Class Armament.
But this did not mean that the other members of the Loki Familia, especially those Lv.1 and Lv.2 adventurers, had no need for it.
In fact, two days ago, after Thrud delivered five Shihakusho to the Twilight Manor, the Loki Familia had dispatched ordinary members to team up and head into the Dungeon.
Through repeated actual combat, they quickly reached the conclusion that the Shihakusho could completely nullify attacks from Lv.2 monsters and partially mitigate damage from Lv.3 and higher-level monsters.
This might sound like it wasn't much.
But one had to realize that when the Sword Princess Ais ran into the Labyrinth to grind monsters and farm gold, she would at most go down to the 30th Floor alone or in a team.
Without considering Enhanced Species monsters, the Shihakusho could absolutely serve as the main defensive gear during non-expedition periods!
During expeditions, since it was cloth armor, it didn't take up much space and a set could be kept as a spare.
If this was the case for First-Class Adventurers, there was even less need to mention the rest of the Low-Class, or even Third-Class and Second-Class Adventurers.
The Spirit girl with long golden hair paid no mind to the reaction of the red-haired goddess shouting opposite her. Upon hearing this, she simply revealed a faint smile and offered an explanation.
"Because we adopted an assembly line operation mode, and simultaneously reduced the frequency of using monster materials as much as possible, the cost price of a single Shihakusho has already been compressed to the limit by the Hestia Familia and Hephaestus Familia."
To the side, Riveria, who had been listening quietly, subconsciously opened her mouth: "Assembly line?"
The humans of the DanMachi world, due to the participation of deities and supernatural powers, had not even developed the slightest embryonic form of the industrial age.
Naturally, it was impossible for them to know the exclusive nouns related to it.
Loki, however, raised an eyebrow at this moment and helped provide an explanation: "The so-called assembly line refers to multiple craftsmen, where each person only participates in one or two steps when making equipment or items."
"There are two benefits to doing this. The first is the rapid increase in proficiency for the corresponding steps. The second is that the quality of the final product will be maintained within a relatively stable range, and the rate of defective goods will drop significantly."
"Of course, everything has its pros and cons. The people joining the assembly line, compared to normal blacksmiths, tailors, or item makers, are actually more similar to the workers in the Magic Stone processing plants opened by the Guild."
"Even if they work at their post for decades, once they are asked to make equipment or items alone, they will immediately revert to their original form."
Hearing her patron deity's words, Riveria couldn't help but frown.
She felt that Levi was erasing the possibilities of adventurers.
However, because this was, after all, an internal affair of the Hestia Familia and Hephaestus Familia, even if there were uncomfortable aspects in her heart, the green-haired High Elf of royal descent would not voice them.
Finn and Gareth, the two rougher types, couldn't be bothered to consider that much. Of course, it was also possible that they hung it high because it was none of their business.
After quietly discussing a few sentences with Loki, he immediately made a final decision: "The garment factory will be completed by the end of this month, right? At that time, please provide three hundred Shihakusho to the Loki Familia first."
The factory hadn't even officially opened for business, yet orders were already coming in.
Even Thrud couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.
"No problem."
"Additionally..." Finn paused while speaking, "The core production technology of the Shihakusho should have been provided by Lord Levi, right?"
Seeing the girl sitting opposite nod in admission, he did not hesitate: "If possible, I wish to order a batch of Indestructible cloth armor whose defensive power rivals First-Class Armament, or is even stronger."
The 'Braver' had quite a lot of confidence in the 'Hero King's' abilities.
Not to speak of distant matters, but just the two team expeditions last month—after clearing out the Evils, the Loki Familia hired the Hestia Familia once again, and simultaneously purchased the team guide services for the 37th Floor and 49th Floor—which allowed the Loki Familia to earn a full pot.
Although Finn didn't say it with his mouth, his heart had actually vaguely perceived the arrival of a change unprecedented in a thousand years.
For his ambition of reviving the Pallum race, and also so that the Loki Familia would not fall behind in the Orario of the new era, he would naturally choose to continue following up and maintaining a good relationship with the Hestia Familia, or rather, with Levi.
On the other side, hearing this, Thrud glanced at Finn. After thinking for a moment, she spoke slowly: "High-rank Shihakusho with Indestructible attributes will be very expensive."
Finn knew his own financial situation and didn't rush to make guarantees, only making a gesture for her to please speak.
"According to the main body's estimation, for a Shihakusho that comes with Indestructible attributes, or rather, self-repair attributes, it goes without saying that materials from monsters past the 50th Floor are needed. It also requires the drops of 'Pitch-black monsters', or 'God's Assassins'."
The three leaders of the Loki Familia had, after all, walked all the way from the era when the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia were still around.
Naturally, they knew what a 'God's Assassin' was.
Even if one successfully killed it, under normal circumstances, the corresponding drops would only be used internally by the Familia, and would not be made into equipment for sale.
Finn had even opened his mouth, prepared to express that Thrud should forget his previous unreasonable request.
But unexpectedly, in the next second.
"Although the frequency is not high, I can stably obtain drops from Pitch-black monsters here."
Loki: "Hah?!"
Finn, Riveria, Gareth: "!!!"
Thrud did not care about the reaction of the four people opposite her. She just raised her right hand on her own and made a gesture of the number seven:
"Calculating based on the lowest level Pitch-black monster materials, plus the average price of monster drops after the 50th Floor, and the processing fee for the main body personally taking action, for one high-rank Shihakusho, hmm, for the sake of the relationship between the Loki Familia and Hestia Familia being quite good, I'll give this price."
For First-Class Armament, the minimum selling price started at 100 million.
For something like the magic staff Riveria used, the production cost directly exceeded one billion.
To be able to buy a cloth armor defense tool with Indestructible or even self-repair attributes for 700 million Valis—in Finn's view, this was already considered very cheap.
It was just a pity...
"Ahaha~" The blond 'Braver' revealed an awkward smile on his face, "I take back my previous words. The Loki Familia will buy just one high-rank Shihakusho to use for now."
"That works." Thrud nodded her head indifferently. After two seconds of silence, she added another sentence, "Consider it an extra benefit gifted by the main body. The high-rank Shihakusho will have a 'Self-Adaptation' attribute added. To put it another way, it can be worn by any humanoid individual."
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