Going to the door clearly marked with 'Do Not Distrub,' Kain did just exactly that.

Knock knock

Nothing… 'Maybe they didn't hear me….'

This time he knocked louder.

KNOCK KNOCK

BANG!

The door was opened up hard enough to blow back all of the hair from his face. A couple inches closer and he may be leaving the store with a black eye.

"CAN. YOU. NOT. READ?!"

"Ahem…" Kain cleared his throat in embarrassment "I wanted to buy another armor…this is a store isn't it?"

'Ahhh… how I miss the customer is always right attitude of consumerism'

The blacksmith clearly tried to cover up his embarrassment.

"Yes… so buy whatever you need from Pheneos." And moved to close the door.

Seeing this Kain immediately stuck his foot—ouch!

"I would… but Pheneos isn't in the store…"

"He isn't? Where the hell is he?!"

"Back there with you…"

He turned around to see Pheneos in a corner of his workshop examining the completed parts of what would be his full body armour

"Pheneos! What are you doing back here?! Pheneos!" He kept calling to no response. His student was in his own world drooling over the gauntlets he had just completed.

"Haaaa…. I will complete your order. I could use a break from back here anyways" He left the room while grumbling about kids these days and their lack of work ethic.

'I guess some things don't change no matter the world you're in' Kain thought.

Kain went to where he left the red and silver sets of armour.

"I need help deciding between these 2. I'm pretty aware of the advantages of the fire-attribute armour, but I would like some more information about why this silver one isn't a higher level. Is there something wrong with it? Some kind of hidden harm it'd cause the wearer?"

Seeing the silver armor, he immediately nodded in understanding.

"Haaa….it really is rare for an object made of Protean materials to be so low quality. However, it can't be helped. If they had been of higher quality it never would have been our city's turn to obtain these materials. They would have been kept in the capital or another major city."

"The source of this armour was a mutant Protean. Despite reaching adulthood it could not condense spiritual power of a grade higher than red, unlike the average Protean that could easily reach yellow-grade before evolving to a higher level. Therefore, this armor is limited to 2-stars."

Kain finally understood. Not all mutations were advantageous. Some could be advantageous and give a spiritual creature an additional attribute or even a completely different attribute atypical for their species. Some may also result in a better constitution or higher intelligence.

Other mutations may not have any practical, resulting in only aesthetic changes like a different eye or fur color.

However, some mutations were harmful. Like the one this Protean seemed to have. Making it unable to progress to the typical level of strength for their species.

"Do you think this mutation will have any bad effects on the likelihood of the armour developing a good skill?"

"Hmm… your concerns are understandable, which is why despite its source material, it has remained unsold for the months that I've had it. Those that can afford an enchanted armor would spend more money on an armor that they know already has great effects. This armour is a gamble. Only those with a lot of faith in the quality of their spiritual beast contract would risk it"

"However, from the information that I've obtain regarding the Protean, despite its inability to condense spiritual power of a higher grade, its basic abilities as a Protean were no different than its peers. Therefore, the armor should function no differently from other similar ones except for having a lower limit to the level of spiritual power it can handle."

At those words, Kain made his choice.

He decided to gamble.