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.’

the second largest business company in the Eternal Kingdom. They wouldn’t give jobs to losers.

they’re at least level

How many people have they hurt and frightened in order to level up? I couldn’t

of them… In contrast, I am only level 3. While my stats are superior compared to those of my level, they’re all

worse, I was unarmed. I would only lose if

let’s act prudently and

organized my thoughts, I smiled as brightly as possible and explained, “I’m not here to spy on you. I am just a customer passing

I felt no shame. The hand of

“Customer? At this smithy?”

“Yes.”

A customer of this

the man’s hand on my

‘Ouch, it hurts.’

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, I might get hit! There was an old saying that

gangsters eyed me with

Company has a large number of weapons stores, so why would you come to a smithy

for production-related work. Therefore, it was inevitable that I came here.

debut as a lead actor right away and would be the perfect candidate for the New Actor Award at the end of

as well? Umm, indeed. You’re so weak that you can’t be a spy… Okay, get out of here. Don’t

he want to hit me? Did I look poor and weak? These scum thought they could make fun of me just because of how I

you for believing in me. I’ll be

keep the smile until the last minute as I quickly headed out of the smithy. Then the old blacksmith’s angry voice was heard behind me, “Yes… there’s nothing

the old man blinked his bloodshot eyes.

I’ll

“Eh? R-Really?”

Good thinking

time, but you have finally made a

man’s words. It was like a festival. The one who seemed to be the

do is sign. Then

“……”

moment, tears fell from the old man’s eyes. “Ahh! This is

sad and depressed old man was unbearable.

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 something that had no value. Didn’t your debts just

son with that

Do you want to be

gangster called ‘Johnson’ threatened to hit the old man. I was angry

speak rudely to the old

that moment, a gangster called ‘Um’ spoke, “Look,

excited foal, “No, I’m mad. Didn’t we have to wait a few months for

an old man. We received less

smiled coldly and said, “That’s right,

of it will be used to pay off your debt, while the other

old man, Khan, angrily replied to

need