Super Equipment
Chap 23's

...~•~...

“Hey, Old Man! You still haven't decided? Will you hand over this building to us? Can't you buy alcohol every day until you die doing it? ”

The people who entered the workshop looked rough, and their physique was good. They reminded Rous of the employees from Mother's Heart Is Happy. They took a heavy hand stance as they handed a piece of paper to the old blacksmith.

'What is this?'

It was a contract to sell this building and its land to the Mero Company.

Rous instinctively realized it. 'If I were to analyze this based on my recent successes and problems, it is likely that I would be involved in a foolish Mission as I stand here.'

It really can't be allowed to happen. The urgent thing right now is to earn money by creating items.

'No time to waste on unwanted missions.' Rous admired his brain's quick thinking and moved to avoid this situation. However, how many things have ever gone according to his will?

Rous only managed to move a few steps before he was captured by the gangsters.

"Hey, where did this beginner come from? You're trying to sneak into our business like a rat?" They began to question Rous in an intimidating manner.

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

Why was Rous trapped in the contents of that paper? It's really a useless curiosity.

"I should have stayed behind and avoided seeing them."

Rous shrugged as if saying 'I, spy? What are you talking about? Not like that, so don't worry about me. I just want to take my own path.’

But they continue to act hard.

Ughkc.

'Shoppers.'

Rous's saliva dried up and sweat poured down his forehead. He remembered his low level days at Satisfy.

Was it because of the frightening memories of being a bread shuttle, or being threatened by a teenage gangster NPC in a back alley…? Or maybe because they are similar to employees of Mother's Heart Is Happy Financial Services... Anyway, Rous reflexively retreated from the group; he could not cope with this.

"I have to behave."

A ruthless NPC was not afraid of the law. It was very possible for him to be seriously injured or killed if he even touched these people. Of course, he could report NPCs to guards, but the fists of these people were closer than law enforcement. It was possible that Rous was stronger or fast enough to escape from this building. Nonetheless, that was not the case, so it was better not to upset them.

'Judging from their appearance and atmosphere, they were not rear alley bullies. They don't just smoke and use bread shuttles.’

The Mero Company was the second largest business enterprise in the Eternal Kingdom. They won't give jobs to these losers, these bastards are all gangsters.

'Based on their equipment, they are at least level 35.'

Gangsters above level 35...! How many people have they hurt and feared to level up? Rouw could not imagine all the sins these people had committed.

'There are five of them ... Instead, I am only level 3. While my stats are superior compared to my level, they are all still around level 20. Besides, I'm alone.'

Worse, Rous is unarmed. He would only lose if he fought with them.

'Yes, let's act carefully and throw away my pride.'

As soon as he set his mind, Rous smiled as brightly as possible and explained, “I'm not here to spy on you. I'm just a passing customer. So you don't have to be too careful. Hehe.”

He did not feel ashamed of acting submissive to NPCs!

The hand of the man who grabbed Rous's shoulder loosened slightly. "Customer? In this workshop?”

"Yes." Yeah."

“Hah? The customer of this workshop ..." The grip of the man's hand on Rous's shoulder strengthened again.

'Oh, sick.' Rous frowned due to the pain.

Curse words almost came out of his mouth, but he remained patient. Instead of scolding the man, Rous tried his best to maintain his smile. Wh why? This was because he might have been hit the other way around! There is an old saying that you cannot spit when there is a smile on someone else's face.

The gangsters looked at Rous suspiciously.

“The road operated by Mero Company has many weapon shops, so why did you come to a workshop like this? Isn't this weird?”

“There may be many gun shops, but this is the only workshop. I didn't want to buy weapons; instead, I found a blacksmith for production-related jobs. Therefore, it is inevitable that I come here. Hehe, I don't know this workshop is problematic because I'm new in Winston. ”

Rous could debut as a lead actor soon, and he would be the perfect candidate for the New Actor Award at the year-end ceremony. His appearance and tone were very obedient.

As Rous continued to smile, the suspicious gangster finally let go.

“I somehow want to hit you, but you're also a blacksmith? Hmm, indeed. You're so weak that you can't be a spy... Okay, get out of here. Don't think of coming here again.”

Did the gangster want to hit Rous? Does Rous look poor and weak? These bastards thought they could make fun of Rous just because of his appearance? The anger in Rous's heart boiled. But he has to be patient.

“Hehe, thank you for believing in me. I'll go now.” Rous was able to keep his smile until the last minute as he quickly walked out of the workshop.

Then the old blacksmith's angry voice sounded behind Rous, "Yes. Better avoid things like that. I'm too tired now.”

As Rous paused for a moment, the old man blinked his red eyes. It was to hold back her tears from falling.

The old man said, “Give me that contract. I'll sign it as you please. ”

"Ohh! Good thinking Old Man!”

“It took a long time, but you finally made a wise decision.”

The gangsters cheered at the old man's words. It was like a festival.

The one who seemed to be the leader handed the contract to the old man. “All you have to do is sign. Then you can calm down.”

"......" The old man stared at the contract and hesitated for a moment before grabbing the contract with trembling hands. At that moment, tears fell from the old man's eyes. “Ah! This is the end of my seven-generation family business! I won't be able to face my ancestors after I die!”

The sight of the sad and depressed old man was unbearable.

But the gangsters ridiculed him instead of comforting him: “You suddenly stopped being a blacksmith, so isn't it natural for customers to turn away? And Old Man, don't you have children? Your only child died, so you turned to Alcohol? You don't have a successor, so once you die, your family line will naturally break. You are defending something that has no value. Didn't your debt just rise? Pathetic, really pathetic.”

"Kau! Jangan menyebut anakku dengan mulut Kotor itu!”

“Why are you so noisy? Do you want to be beaten like last time? ” Gangster named 'Johnson' threatens to hit the old man.

Rous became angry when he saw Johnson do this. 'Isn't the blacksmith an old man? Not only did he speak rudely to the old man, but he also threatened to beat him up ...'

At that moment, a gangster named 'Um' spoke up, "Listen, the contract should be completed today."

Then the so-called 'Praga' jumped like an excited foal, "No, I'm crazy. Shouldn't we wait a few months until the old man accepts? Think how much we suffer because of him!”

The gangster named 'Neil' continued, "I agree ... Shit, we can't even handle the old man properly. We receive less pay on scheduled dates because of this.”

Then the silent leader, Veil, smiled coldly and said, “That's right, you should compensate us for the losses we received.”

Veil slapped the old man on the cheek and said, “Hei Old Man, once you receive the money to sell this workshop, half of it will be used to pay off your debt, while the other half will be handed over to us. Isn't it obvious to compensate us for the loss you caused?”

"You bastard dog!" The old man, Khan, replied angrily to Veil.

“Hey, you don't have a wife or children to feed, so why do you need that kind of money? You have to help poor young people like me.”

"......"

In Rous's heart was boiling with anger.

'I don't really respect parents, but ...'

When he used public transport such as buses or subways, he never handed over his seat to the parents. He paid the same amount of money, so he was also entitled to enjoy a seat! No matter how heavy their gazes were, he never gave up.

'But...'

Unlike this gangster, he did not insult or demean the old man. Rous is really angry.

'Young puppies treat old people like this... Horrible.'

So then? Should Rous help the old man, despite his low level? NO~ NO~ He has no sense of justice. Why should he help others? He could not think of any benefits. During her childhood, she felt disgusted with superheroes rather than admiring them like everyone else.

'Why are they hurt trying to save others? Are they crazy?’

He could not understand the heroes who sacrificed themselves to defeat the villains. Her younger self was horrified when she saw their unconditional sacrifice. So when the neighborhood kids play as heroes, he has acted as villains. Once he becomes a villain, he enjoys the pleasure he gets from pranking his friends who play heroines. He has the common sense to pretend to be dead at the end of the game, meaning the other kids don't feel a grudge.

'When I think about it, I've been like this since childhood. Yes, from the beginning, I close my eyes every time I see injustice.’

So Rous turned away from the old man who was humiliated and would lose the business that had been in his family for seven generations. Sure, some regrets remain.

'The situation became like this, so it was impossible to create an item in this workshop. If I wanted to move villages, wouldn't I have to pay for that deceptive expensive train again? Do I really have to move villages once again? No, there's no need. I will only hunt and raise my level until the new owner of this workshop starts working.’

Wait for...

'Do I not need equipment to hunt? This fucking thing! I keep my sword and armor in the warehouse. 50 of my silver!’

Rous's stress level is no joke. His stomach ached at the thought of all the money flying away.

'Why is my life so tragic? Uhh... I started to have stomach pains. I have to leave here as soon as possible.’

Surprisingly, his legs did not move.

'The old man ... Is this really okay?'

'Ah! Really is! Fuck!’

Maybe it was because Rous had witnessed the dirty work. No matter how much he dreamed about a life far from good, he still had a basic human foundation. It was too burdening his conscience to ignore the old man surrounded by gangsters.

'No, why risk yourself for someone else? Am I stupid?’

Rous was fully aware that he had to turn a blind eye to this. So why is he hesitating?

'When did I become so nosy? This behavior is not like me. I always turn a blind eye to injustice.’

Then at the time he ventured to leave the workshop...

[Your anger level reaches its peak after witnessing gangsters commit crimes against blacksmiths.]

[Quest 'Blacksmith's Rage' has been created.]

...~TBC~...