Super Equipment
Chap 31's
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“Khan, I heard those rumors. Are you not drunk?"
Whoa! Whoa!
It happened when Rous worked hard improving his blacksmithing skills in the workshop. Khan's friend had arrived, and they started talking.
“Not drunk? What are you saying?"
“If you are aware, why do you hang out with these unimpressive beginners every day? Tsk, tsk. At first glance, he looks like someone who knows nothing about the world.”
Rous was referred to as an 'unimpressive beginner' by this damn bastard who had been talking ever since he entered the workshop.
"Old Man, if you stop drinking because of this man ..."
Rous placed the power in the hand that held the hammer. His killing instincts increased rapidly!
Khan noticed that the hammer in his hand shook and hurriedly told his friend, “Hei, shut up. You're wrong.”
"Wrong?"
“Yes, wrong. The young man may have a trash-like appearance, but you should not judge a person by his outer appearance. That young man is actually a big man.”
Appearance like trash? Did Khan always think that way about Rous? Rous felt betrayed.
The cross! The cross!
He boiled in anger and struck the steel even more forcefully.
Then Rous suddenly saw himself. He had leveled up after killing the gangsters, but he was still level 21. Since his armor and weapons were left behind in the warehouse, he was only wearing beginner clothes. The criteria that NPCs used to assess players were their level, equipment, and reputation. Rous did not have any equipment, and his level and reputation were equally low. So he naturally looked like trash to NPCs.
'What about the reputation I gained when I killed the gangsters?'
As he hesitates, Rous listens to Khan and his friend's conversation.
“You don't believe it? Don't be fooled by his appearance and watch his technique closely. That's not a normal skill for blacksmiths, is it? And it's a secret, but this young man takes care of Veil's gang alone.”
“Gosh! What nonsense are you saying? Yes, I admit that his blacksmithing technique is great now that I have seen it with my own eyes. The young man seemed to be quite good, unlike his appearance. But taking care of Veil's gang alone? Aren't they the meanest criminals in Winston? No way! How could a blacksmith take care of them alone?”
“I saw it directly. Have you seen Veil's gang on the street today? Are they not lost? It was all done by this young man.”
“Huhu... This friend should really cut down on drinking. If this is true, isn't his reputation already spreading?”
Khan clicked his tongue. "Think about that. If rumors spread that this young man defeated Veil, the Mero Company would not leave him alone. So why bother spreading it? There were no rumors because I was the only witness. Therefore, his reputation is still unknown.”
“Well, you're the one who saw it. Is that young man so great? Huhuu, now that I take a closer look, doesn't he seem a bit dignified?”
'So so. There were no rumors that I defeated Veil's group, so the effects of my reputation had not spread, ' Rous realized.
“Khan! Are you here?"
A group of people entered the workshop at that moment. They hold the brochure in their hands.
A middle-aged person showed Khan the leaflet and asked, "Is this true?"
Khan verified the contents of the brochure and nodded. "That's right."
People fidgeting.
What's this about? Rous was interested, so he approached and checked the details of his pamphlet.
'Uhk.'
[The Mero Company will compete with Blacksmith Khan in the item production match. The reason we chose to do this was because we respected Khan as a human and admired his blacksmithing skills. If the Mero Company loses to Khan in this game, our company will help Khan maintain his workshop by paying off his debt. On the other hand, the workshop will be transferred to us if we win, but we will hand over the operating rights to Khan. Relationships with Winston residents are our main goal. The date of the match will be announced in the near future, so please note.] These words were imprinted on the pamphlet that people were carrying.
Rous could sense that the day of the competition was approaching.
'Heh. I'm not even nervous one bit. No matter how skilled the blacksmith hired by the Mero Company, I am the Successor of Pagma!'
As Pagma's Successor, Rous possesses 'Featured Iron-Savvy Skill'. Even if the Mero Company hired a blacksmith, it was highly likely that Rous would produce an item of higher value. Are blacksmith skills so common? Even the most famous NPC blacksmith was most likely only at the advanced level. The opponent he was about to face was likely an advanced blacksmith. As the Successor of Pagma, he could easily defeat advanced blacksmiths.
However, people remain worried.
“It is very easy for Mero Company to take Khan workshop. But not only did they forcibly take out the smithy, and instead request a fair match. They gave Khan a job. According to their claims, they really respect Khan.”
"That's right. Even if they won the match, they would allow Khan to operate the workshop? Then are the rumors that the Mero Company plans to create jobs for the residents true? ”
“Sounds like this is the problem. Maybe the Mero Company isn't as bad as we thought. They are really trying to coexist with us.”
It makes sense when you listen to people talk.
'Mero Company ... They hired gangsters to threaten Khan, so I thought they were bad guys. But they're actually good. Then why are the gangsters so arrogant? Is there an error in the command system?’
Rous's faint hostility towards the Mero Company disappeared.
Most of the people present, as well as Rous, were a little fond of the Mero Company.
However, Khan was different. "That's her. This is why the Mero Company is asking for a Match! That Rabbit, he's no ordinary man!”
An angry Khan took the pamphlet.
Srakk! He tore.
Then he denounced people, “You forgot about all your insults and sufferings just by looking at this piece of paper! The Mero Company was a criminal who knew about Winston's previous development and used that information to monopolize our land. You lose everything, become poor and hungry. What has the Mero Company done for us since then? ”
Many people sympathized with Khan. "That's right. The Mero Company is the enemy! Are we going to make another mistake by being fooled by their tricks? Don't be nice to them! We'll be stabbed in the back and fall to hell.”
The affinity between the residents of Winston and the Mero Company was bad, and their grudge against the company was quite deep.
Amidst the anger, someone raised his hand. "Excuse me."
Everyone's eyes were concentrated on the man.
'A Player,' Rous commented inwardly.
NPCs had green names on top of their heads, but this man's name was white. That means he is a normal player who does not do bad deeds.
Khan asked him, "Young man, you are not a resident of this village."
“My name is Huroi. I am a regular visitor who came to Winston for the first time.”
"So so. Huroi, what question do you have? ”
"Yes. You may feel uncomfortable, but .. can you let me talk? "
"Speak."
NPCs were acting kindly towards someone they met for the first time...?
Unlike Rous, Huroi seems to be a high-level traveler, or a traveler with a high reputation on the continent.
“According to the rumors I heard when I came here to Winston ...Mero company, who knew about Winston's development plan, Winston, approach you and buy land and commercial areas from those who do not know about the development plan. Right after, Winston made a big step in its development, and the Mero Company received a huge profit. Is this true?"
"That's right."
"Are you forced to sell the land to the Mero Company?"
"No."
“Then is the action of the Mero Company against you really immoral? Are you not blinded by money when you sell your land and shops to the Mero Company? Aren't you trying to move your house with the money you're making? But you do not want to leave after it is too late to realize that Winston will be developed and the situation becomes like this. In the end, what you have to blame is not the Mero Company. It is your own ignorance and self-interest.”
"What did you say?"
"You're clearly the Mero Company's dog!"
The atmosphere suddenly changed, but Huroi did not retreat. “Company set up to build wealth! The act of taking advantage of information to form a monopoly is natural to them. Many of you hate them, but there is no need to be enemies. Did they really make a mistake?”
"This bastard speaks to the end!"
"Should we keep his mouth shut?"
Residents do not like the Mero Company being maintained. There were some people who were so angry that they wanted to beat up Huroi. Nevertheless, Huroi was not afraid.
“I am not employed by the Mero Company! The reason I say these words is for you. Every man! Don't try to fight with the Mero Company. Instead, you should live side by side with them. It was a much wiser choice.”
The angry people listening to Huroi's words calmed down. It was proof that Huroi's words persuaded them.
Then Khan spoke, “This young man is meddling in other people's affairs. What is your intention behind giving such advice?”
Khan did not hide his suspicions. He is convinced that Huroi was sent by the Mero Company.
'Isn't it clear? She must have had a good reason to talk like this, ' Rous thought.
He was convinced that Huroi had received a mission from the Mero Company. If people are persuaded, the search will be successful.
'Most people have been persuaded. I really can't let this happen. I have to interfere!’
It was irrelevant to Rous whether or not the Mero Company was an enemy. So why is he disturbed?
The reason...
'The misfortune of others is my happiness! I don't want to see him complete his mission in front of me. I'll make it fail!’
Yeah, that's a simple reason. Rous wants to make Huroi fail the Mission.
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...~TBC~...