The sharpest thing in the world is a Valyrian steel sword.
Staring at the bastard sword in his hand, forged from Valyrian steel and successfully infused with the [Wu's Six Swords] equipment card, Arthur's face was flushed with excitement. The sword was entirely pitch black.
[Wu's Six Swords]: Can devour up to six other swords, mimicking the form and effects of the devoured swords. (Requires special materials to craft).
Recently, apart from the affairs concerning Zaren across the Narrow Sea, Arthur had devoted almost all his energy to forging this sword.
Before this, Arthur had experimented with various metal mixtures, trying to complete the infusion of the [Wu's Six Swords] card, but without exception, they all failed.
It wasn't until he used Valyrian steel that the infusion finally succeeded.
"Give this sword a name." Beside him, Kojja Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead wearily, though his eyes shone brightly.
The Summer Islander had studied the reworking of Valyrian steel in the Free City of Qohor. Without his assistance, Arthur would have struggled even with the first step of melting the steel.
For a blacksmith, participating in the forging of a Valyrian steel sword was the highest honor, bar none.
Looking at the attributes on the sword, Arthur spoke the name he had long decided on: "I want to call it 'Zhanlu.' The Valyrian steel sword, Zhanlu!"
"Zhanlu?" Kojja Mo raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why that name? Does it have a meaning?"
"In my homeland, Zhanlu is the name of a sword of benevolence. It is a weapon that is invincible yet carries no killing intent."
As Arthur spoke, he took out his first forged swords, the [Twin-Vipers], and drew the male sword, which had the character 'De' (Virtue) engraved on the hilt.
[Twin-Vipers]: The male sword can sense the location of the female sword. (Effective only for the host).
Kojja Mo: "You're going to test the sword?"
"Yes, but differently than usual."
Saying this, Arthur touched the two swords together and activated Zhanlu's effect.
Zhanlu, with its indestructible blade of Valyrian steel, suddenly turned into a black fluid and wrapped around the male sword, right before Kojja Mo's incredulous eyes.
Eventually, Zhanlu completely enveloped the male sword, not even sparing the hilt.
Once fully wrapped, Zhanlu's pitch-black blade slowly gained color.
A quarter of an hour later, Zhanlu took on the exact appearance of the [Twin-Vipers] male sword, down to the finest detail.
"This... how is this possible?" Kojja Mo watched the entire process with a bewildered expression.
Having studied Valyrian steel reworking in Qohor, Kojja knew its properties well: hard, sharp, heat-resistant. But turning into fluid? That completely overturned his understanding.
The Summer Islander carefully touched the blade with his index finger and murmured, "Is... is this magic?"
Arthur gripped Zhanlu's hilt, closed his eyes to test the location sensing effect of the [Twin-Vipers], and found it perfectly functional. He explained:
"Zhanlu can devour six swords and mimic their appearance and material."
"Six?" Kojja Mo took Zhanlu from Arthur and examined it closely. "Why six?"
Arthur couldn't tell him about the Three Kingdoms Kill system, so he made up an excuse.
"In Westeros, the Seven Gods have seven faces, and the seventh is the Stranger, representing death. I suppose that's why it can only devour six times."
"Doesn't feel right. The ability this sword displays is more like that of the Faceless Men." Recovering from his shock, the Summer Islander commented noncommittally.
"Ordinary Valyrian steel swords only have sharpness and durability. But the ability your 'Zhanlu' shows... if you told me it was a holy relic of the House of Black and White, dedicated to the Many-Faced God, I'd believe it."
Hearing this, Arthur's eyes lit up. "How much Valyrian steel do we have left?"
"Enough for a dagger. You mean to forge one to sell to the House of Black and White?" Kojja Mo looked at the remaining material in the blast furnace and warned:
"Arthur, I advise you to drop that idea. Don't get involved with the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White."
Kojja Mo's advice was sincere. Humans instinctively avoid mysterious, unknown, and dangerous things.
But Arthur, who had read the books and particularly loved Arya Stark's chapters, knew the House of Black and White was a religious assassin organization.
The Faceless Men worshipped the Many-Faced God, believing death to be a merciful release, and possessed the magical ability to change their appearance.
Arthur coveted the Faceless Men's face-changing ability, but he couldn't just run to the House of Black and White to learn like Arya; he didn't have Jaqen H'ghar's admission token (the iron coin).
Moreover, Faceless Men training was peculiar, requiring one to forget their name and everything else to become "no one" serving the Many-Faced God.
Arthur couldn't accept this dehumanizing training that stripped away the self.
But a shapeshifting Valyrian steel dagger was the perfect entry point, creating an opportunity for him to make contact with the House of Black and White.
Then, he could wait for a chance to copy their magic using the [Snatch] tactic card.
[Snatch]: Steal magic from a magical unit, gaining one use of its magic. (Must touch the body with hands).
In the end, Kojja Mo couldn't dissuade Arthur. He spent several days assisting him in forging the remaining Valyrian steel into a dagger. They also forged six high-quality knives and stilettos of various shapes for the dagger to devour and merge with.
The morning after Arthur completed the Valyrian steel dagger, he was with 'Ledger' Pate, reviewing the massive expenses incurred by supporting the war in the Three Sisters and allocating follow-up supplies.
Vickon knocked and entered.
"My Lord, we received a letter from Zaren Borrell this morning." He took a letter from his tunic and placed it on Arthur's desk.
The wax seal bore the Spider Crab sigil of House Borrell. Calculating the time, the war should have reached its conclusion by now.
Suppressing his anxiety, Arthur broke the seal and read.
"Good! Good! Zaren and the others did well!"
Arthur stood up involuntarily, pacing the room, unable to hide the excitement on his face.
"The pirates really took advantage of Sweetsister's vulnerability to raid the island. Sweetsister lit the beacon, Victar stalled them, and the White Harbor fleet arrived as promised to crush them."
"Zaren mounted all the pirate heads on spears and planted them outside Pebble's castle, throwing the garrison into chaos. He took the castle in one push."
"Hearing that Pebble had fallen and the pirates were destroyed, the Countess of the Paps surrendered directly, sending her heir to Sweetsister to be Earl Godric's cupbearer."
"If it's true, that's wonderful." Pate slumped back in his chair, relieved.
Pate handled the supply and funding for the Three Sisters. Watching Gold Dragons flow out like water had kept his heart in his throat this whole time.
About half a minute later, Arthur finished digesting the letter. He sat back down and ordered Vickon:
"Vickon, take this letter to Sabel Kaffi. Tell him we have fulfilled his contract and to give me the remaining 20,000 Gold Dragons' worth of goods."
"Yes, my Lord." Vickon acknowledged and left the room.
Arthur then turned to Pate.
"Write back to Zaren. Send my regards to the Guardian of the Bite, Earl Godric. Additionally, I want the head of the Lord of Pebble, and the bones of the Braavosi captain who died there... um, if they can still be found."
"Also, write a letter to Lady Wynafryd of White Harbor... actually, never mind. I'll write that one myself."
Truth be told, the soldiers on Pebble and Sweetsister just had to fight and risk their lives. Arthur, sitting in the rear, had far more to worry about.