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.’

Company was the second largest business company in the Eternal Kingdom. They wouldn’t give jobs to losers. These assholes were

equipment, they’re at

people have they hurt and frightened in order to level up?

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

matters worse, I was unarmed. I would only lose if

act prudently

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

subservient to NPCs! I felt no shame. The

“Customer? At this smithy?”

“Yes.”

customer

of the man’s hand on my

‘Ouch, it hurts.’

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

gangsters eyed me with

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

find a blacksmith for production-related work.

could debut 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 subservient. I continued to smile and

You’re so weak that you can’t

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

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

I paused for a moment, the old man blinked his bloodshot eyes. It was to stop the tears

contract. I’ll sign it

“Eh? R-Really?”

thinking Old

a long time, but you have

festival. The one who seemed to be the leader handed

sign. Then you can take

“……”

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

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

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

mention my son with that

so loud? Do you want to

hit the old man. I was

rudely to the old man, but threatening to beat him

spoke, “Look, the contract should be

excited foal, “No, I’m mad. Didn’t we have to wait a few months for the old man to acceptwhile that old man refused? Think about how much

Fuck, we couldn’t even properly handle an old man. We received less pay on

said, “That’s right, you must

receive the money for selling this smithy, half of it will be used to pay off your

old man, Khan,

feed, so why do you need