Overgeared

Chapter 23

“Hey, Old Man! You still haven’t decided? Will you hand this building over to us? Then won’t you be able to buy alcohol every day until you die?”

The men who entered the smithy were rough looking and their physique was good. They reminded me of the employees from Mother’s Heart is Happy. They took a heavy-handed attitude as they handed a sheet of paper to the elderly blacksmith.

‘What’s this?’

It was a contract to sell this building and the land to the Mero Company. I instinctively realized it.

‘If I analyze this based on my recent successes and troubles, it’s likely that I’ll get involved in a stupid quest as I stand here.’

That absolutely couldn’t be allowed to happen. The urgent thing right now was to earn money by making items.

‘There’s no time to waste on unwanted quests.’

I admired my brain’s quick thinking and moved to avoid this situation. But how many things ever went according to my will? I only managed to move a few steps before I was caught by the gangsters.

“Hey, where did this newbie come from? You trying to sneak into our business like a rat?”

They started to question me in an intimidating manner.

“Did you come to steal the contents of our contract? You, are you a spy? Did the Skaner Company send you?”

Why did I get caught up in the contents of that piece of paper? This was really some useless curiosity.

‘I should’ve just stayed in the rear and avoided looking at them.’

I shrugged as if to say ‘Spy, me? What are you talking about? It isn’t like that, so don’t worry about me. I just want to go my own way.’

But they continued to act tough.

Gulp.

‘Damn.’

My saliva dried up and sweat beaded up on my forehead. I remembered my low-level days in Satisfy.

Was it due to the fearful memories of being a bread shuttle, or being threatened by teenage gangster NPCs in the back alleys? Or maybe it was because they resembled the employees from Mother’s Heart is Happy Financial Services.

I reflexively shrank back from the group; I couldn’t cope with this.

‘I should behave.’

Violent NPCs didn’t fear the law. It was entirely possible to be severely injured or killed if I even so much as touched these guys. Of course, I could report the NPCs to the guards, but their fists were closer than the law was. It might be possible if I was stronger or quick enough to flee from this building. However, that wasn’t the case so it was better to avoid irritating them.

‘Judging by their appearance and atmosphere, they aren’t back alley bullies. They don’t just smoke cigarettes and use bread shuttles.’

Eternal Kingdom. They wouldn’t give jobs to losers. These assholes were

on their equipment, they’re at least

frightened in order to level up? I couldn’t imagine all the sins that these

compared to those of my level, they’re all still

was unarmed. I would only

act prudently and discard my

brightly as possible and explained, “I’m not here to spy on you. I am just a customer passing by. So you don’t have to be so

The

“Customer? At this smithy?”

“Yes.”

customer of

hand

‘Ouch, it hurts.’

pain. Curse words almost popped out of my mouth, but I remained patient. Instead of scolding him, I tried my best to maintain my smile. Why? Otherwise,

gangsters eyed me

street operated by the Mero Company has a large number of weapons stores,

a blacksmith for production-related work. Therefore, it was inevitable that I

as a lead actor right away and would be the perfect candidate for the New Actor Award at the end of year ceremonies. My appearance and tone were

but you’re a blacksmith as well? Umm, indeed. You’re so weak that

fun of me just because of how I looked? The fury in

thank you for believing in me. I’ll be going

voice was heard

blinked his

I’ll sign it

“Eh? R-Really?”

Good thinking Old

you have finally made

The one who seemed to be

do is sign. Then

“……”

contract with trembling hands. At that moment, tears fell from the old man’s eyes. “Ahh! This is the end of my seven generation family business!

old man was unbearable. But the gangsters mocked him instead of

so you turned to the bottles? You don’t have a successor, so once you die, your family

my son with that

so loud? Do you

hit the old man. I was

did he speak rudely to the old man, but threatening to beat

a gangster called ‘Um’ spoke, “Look, the contract should be completed

mad. Didn’t we have to wait a few months for the

we couldn’t even properly handle an old man. We

leader, ‘Veil’ smiled coldly and said, “That’s right, you must compensate

this smithy, half of it will be used to pay off your debt, while the other half will be handed to us.

The old man, Khan, angrily

wife or son to feed, so why do you need a large amount of money? You should help the poor, young people like