By the time Blake Morrison and Paige Summers emerged from the workshop, more than two hours had passed.

Seeing Zephyr Mercer waiting outside—along with Zachary Mercer, who claimed he’d just finished some business and was stopping by—Paige Summers tactfully cut Blake Morrison off mid-discussion. "Brother Abe, I really should get going. Let’s save this topic for next time."

Upon hearing her call him that, Zephyr Mercer’s jaw dropped. ’He could feel the profound malice radiating from one of his own relatives!’

’Paige Summers is his fiancée!’

’And she’s calling his uncle "Brother"!’

’And his uncle actually looked thrilled about it!’

’Is... is there no justice in this world?!’

In contrast to his son’s inner turmoil, Zachary Mercer’s reaction was far calmer. He, too, had noticed the generational mix-up, but he could also see that his son’s affection for Paige Summers was completely one-sided. That being the case, a few obstacles might be a good thing. If his feelings were genuine, he would strive to overcome them. If it was just a passing fancy, it would be best to let it go sooner rather than later.

The Mercer Family had no need for a marriage alliance. He only wanted his children to be happy.

’As for this youngest son of his... he still has a lot to learn.’

Paige Summers had anticipated their reactions, so she remained perfectly calm.

Blake Morrison, however, was overly enthusiastic. As a tech geek who had survived the apocalypse, he felt it was incredibly rare to meet a kindred spirit, especially one who could provide so much inspiration. He immediately offered to let Paige Summers stay the night at the Mercer estate.

Of course, she refused almost instantly.

After leaving her contact information, Paige Summers briskly headed home.

Blake Morrison watched as she and Zephyr Mercer drove away. Then, his expression grew serious, and he went to Zachary Mercer’s study.

Zachary Mercer looked at him and asked, "What do you think of this young woman?"

Blake Morrison smiled. This time, the open cheerfulness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of cunning. "Honestly, as an Artifact Maker, she’s exceptional. Aside from a slight lack of knowledge about materials, I can’t find much else to fault. In fact, there’s quite a lot I could learn from her. However..." His tone shifted. "As a wife or daughter-in-law for the Mercer Family, I’m afraid she’s not a good fit. Her personality is too strong, too individualistic for a family like ours. Not only would she have trouble getting along with Finn in the future, but I doubt she could ever develop a strong sense of belonging to the Mercer Family."

Zachary Mercer fell silent for a moment before giving a slight nod of agreement.

"Then have Finn take a step back from this for now. From here on, you can be the one to get to know her."

"I understand." Blake Morrison paused, then added, "I’ll keep an eye on her. If she proves to be trustworthy, the Mercer Family could consider collaborating with her. After all, her level of skill in Artifact Making is among the best not just in Central City, but likely in all of Astoria."

"Hmm. I’ll leave this matter to you, then."

"Don’t worry."

While they were setting the tone for how to approach Paige Summers, Paige herself, the subject of their discussion, was having similar thoughts.

She gazed out the car window at the passing streets, her mind racing. The materials she had on hand were far too limited. If she could collaborate with the Mercer Family, it would be a fantastic opportunity.

In truth, she didn’t mind others learning the theoretical side of things from her, and from Blake Morrison’s attitude, he didn’t seem to care either. It would be mutually beneficial.

They both knew in their hearts that theory was only a small part of Artifact Making. The ability to craft a truly legendary weapon ultimately came down to the Artifact Maker’s hands and eyes.

So, an exchange of knowledge was an excellent option.

With this unspoken agreement between them, she and Blake Morrison quickly grew close.

Sometimes they would meet up to discuss blueprints, other times they would head straight to The Mercer Workshop for some hands-on practice. In any case, when it came to Artifact Making, the two shared a mindset of seeking common ground while respecting their differences, leaving them with endless topics for discussion.

However, these frequent meetings were making Marcus Monroe increasingly unsettled.

One day, Paige Summers got a call from Blake Morrison inviting her to the Mercer estate to see a sword he’d just finished. She accepted, but as she was about to head to her room to change, Marcus Monroe suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Can I go with you?"

He phrased it as a question, but his tone was firm, conveying a clear ’I’m not letting go until you say yes’ ultimatum.

’It was the first time she’d seen him act this way, and she was both surprised and amused. He was a grown man, yet he reminded her of a pouting child who wouldn’t let go until he got some candy... But seeing him like this, even his perpetually serious face seemed to come alive.’

She had to suppress a laugh, clearing her throat to cover her amusement.

Shooting Marcus Monroe a sidelong glance, she used her free hand to call Blake Morrison.