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

equipment, they’re at least level

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

I am only level 3. While my stats are superior compared to those of my level, they’re all still around level

would only lose if I got into a

let’s act prudently and

as I organized my thoughts, I smiled as brightly as possible and explained, “I’m not here to spy on

NPCs! I felt no shame. The hand of the man holding my

“Customer? At this smithy?”

“Yes.”

A customer of this

the man’s hand on my shoulder strengthened

‘Ouch, it hurts.’

mouth, but I remained patient. Instead of scolding him, I tried my best to maintain my

gangsters eyed me

number of weapons stores,

the only smithy. I don’t want to buy a weapon, but instead find a blacksmith for production-related work. Therefore, it was inevitable that I came here. Hehe, I had no idea this smithy was

the New Actor Award at the end of year ceremonies. My appearance and tone were subservient. I continued to

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

want to hit 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

thank you for believing in me.

to 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 to be gained from dragging this dirty work out too long. It is better to avoid such things.

the old man blinked his bloodshot eyes. It was to stop the tears

me that contract. I’ll sign it as you

“Eh? R-Really?”

Good thinking

long time, but you have finally made

It was like a festival. The one who seemed to be

you have to do is sign. Then you

“……”

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

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

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 something

Don’t mention my son

so loud? Do you want to be scolded like

called ‘Johnson’ threatened to hit the old man.

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

spoke, “Look, the contract should

few months for the old man

‘Neil’ continued, “I agree… Fuck, we couldn’t even properly handle an old

and said, “That’s

you receive the money for selling this smithy, half of it will be used to

dog bastards!” The old man,

you need a large amount of money? You should help