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.’

in the Eternal Kingdom.

their equipment, they’re at least level

level 35! How many people have they hurt and frightened in order

I am only level 3. While my stats are superior compared to

only lose if I got into a fight

prudently and discard

possible and explained, “I’m not here to spy on you. I am just a customer passing

The hand of the

“Customer? At this smithy?”

“Yes.”

customer of this

of the man’s hand on

‘Ouch, it hurts.’

tried my best to maintain my smile. Why? Otherwise, I might get hit! There was an old saying that you couldn’t spit when there was a smile on the other person’s

eyed me with

weapons stores, so why would you come to

but instead find a blacksmith for production-related work. Therefore, it was inevitable that I came here. Hehe, I had no idea this smithy

Award at the end of year ceremonies. My appearance and

as well? Umm, indeed. You’re so weak

me? Did I look poor and weak? These scum thought they could make fun of me just because of how I looked? The fury in my heart boiled

in me. I’ll be going

last minute as I quickly headed out of the smithy. Then the old blacksmith’s angry voice was heard

man blinked his bloodshot eyes.

contract. I’ll sign it as you

“Eh? R-Really?”

thinking

but you

old man’s words. It was like a festival. The one

have to do is sign. Then you can take

“……”

old man gazed at the contract and hesitated for a moment before reaching towards the 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! I won’t be able to face my ancestors after

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

natural for the customers to turn away? And Old Man, didn’t you have a child? Your only son died, so you turned to the bottles? You don’t have a successor, so once you die, your family line will naturally be cut off. You were defending

Don’t mention my son with that vulgar

loud? Do you want to be scolded like

called ‘Johnson’ threatened to hit the old

old man? Not only did he speak rudely to the old man, but threatening to beat

spoke, “Look, the contract should

called ‘Praga’ jumped in like an excited foal, “No, I’m mad. Didn’t we have to wait a few months for the old man to acceptwhile that old man

an

smiled coldly and said, “That’s right,

be used to pay off your debt, while the other half will be handed to

bastards!” The old man, Khan, angrily replied to

why do you need a large amount of money? You should help the