"Heh!" Old Henry squeezed a short, strange laugh from his throat. His sharp gray eyes unceremoniously looked Raine up and down, as if evaluating a piece of untanned rawhide.
"Boy, look at those scrawny arms and legs of yours!" He waved the Cow Bone Hammer around, looking exactly like an old Goblin bearing its fangs and brandishing its claws. "If that Razor Beast goes berserk, it’ll smash your frail body and your armor into pieces! You wouldn’t even be able to find the bone scraps!"
His grayish-white beard curled up in excitement as he gestured wildly, the Cow Bone Hammer letting out a WHOOSH in the air. "Back in the day, Iron Butterfly Tie was a burly man who could arm-wrestle a Bear Goblin in heat! Even he failed while leading four fully equipped experts!"
Every wrinkle on his weathered face screamed the word "impossible." Finally, he struck the counter heavily with the bone hammer and concluded, "Here at Old Henry’s place, the leatherworking craft is negotiable, and the price can be discussed, but I absolutely will not accept stolen goods of dubious origins!"
Just as his spit flew in all directions and Raine prepared to speak, the old wooden door of the leather shop opened with a CREAK. A tall figure walked in with powerful strides.
The newcomer was a burly middle-aged man with a scar on his face, wearing a half-worn Chain Armor Shirt under a heavily frayed leather coat. The moment he entered, his bright, piercing eyes landed on Raine, and he immediately broke into a surprised yet enthusiastic smile.
"Hey! Boy, we meet again!" The burly man’s voice was hearty and booming, vibrating so loudly that dust seemed to fall from the ceiling. He took a few steps forward and gave Raine’s shoulder a forceful slap without another word, a strike so heavy that Raine felt as if he had been swatted by a bear. Raine was no stranger to this man; it was none other than Empty Sword Scabbard Jason, whom he had met at the bathhouse.
"I just came from the Adventurer’s Guild, and I heard it being talked about everywhere!" Jason grinned, his tone full of approval and admiration. "Not bad, boy! To think you managed to kill a Razor Beast with the combined efforts of Blind Shot and those reckless rookies! They’re still showing off those Bone Spikes right now!
"I knew Refined Gold would never remain buried in the dust. Now, those guys who were wagging their tongues behind your back and those idiots who doubted you can finally shut their damn traps!"
Evidently missing Old Henry’s earlier doubts, he excitedly rambled on, "This is just like how I used to be! So what if I was chased all over the forest by a litter of Kobold brats wielding Mining Pickaxes? When I went back half a year later, didn’t I wipe out their entire lair and clear them out completely? Hahaha!
"Although I never found that lost sword, at least I earned my pride back, didn’t I?"
Jason’s words, especially the part about "shutting their damn traps," caused the veins on Old Henry’s forehead to throb. However, unable to find an excuse to lash out, he simply let out a soft, cold snort through his nose and aggressively poked several holes into the surface of a roasted potato with a wooden stick.
"Mr. Jason, I’m glad to see you too." Raine rubbed his numb shoulder and smiled faintly. "However, I didn’t kill it alone. It was also thanks to Armless Kaelin’s efforts."
"I heard! That’s the red-haired Tough Chick, right?" Jason winked teasingly at Raine. "She’s a formidable character. Several veteran squads invited her to join, but she rejected them all. You’ve got some skills, kid, to actually manage to team up with her."
"Just a fluke," Raine replied with customary politeness before shifting the topic. "Are you here to have some Leather Armor made too, Mr. Jason?"
"No, I’m here on official business this time." Jason withdrew his smile and pointed to his chest. Raine noticed that the Adventurer’s Badge worn on his chest shimmered with a high-quality, dark luster, proving he was a seasoned Black Iron Level Adventurer. In addition, a silver shield-shaped crest was pinned next to it, engraved with a fortress beside a forest—the emblem of Mottled Town.
"I’ve temporarily taken on the job of Sheriff in the town," Jason explained, his tone carrying a heavy sense of stability. "The Town Mayor took the soldiers and the Sheriff away. Someone has to keep an eye on the town to prevent blind bastards from causing trouble in the chaos."
"So, esteemed Sheriff, what exactly brings you here?" Old Henry stood to the side with his arms crossed. With a sarcastic tone that was three parts mocking and seven parts impatient, he sneered, "Spit it out quickly. My small business can’t afford to waste the precious time of a big shot like you."
"Uncle Henry, I’m an old customer, at the very least. You don’t have to be so unwelcoming, do you? I’m just having a few words with this kid, I haven’t offended you, have I?" Jason clearly caught the displeasure in Old Henry’s tone. He scratched his head, looking completely baffled. Soon after, he straightened his expression and stated the reason for his visit: "It’s like this, Uncle Henry. The town hasn’t been peaceful lately. For three consecutive days, several drunkards have mysteriously disappeared at night. Housekeeper Maurice is taking this matter very seriously.
"Therefore, he specifically asked us temporary Sheriffs to notify all shops and residents to stay indoors as much as possible at night. Don’t linger outside alone, especially after drinking."
Hearing this, Raine slightly furrowed his brows. Since the town currently lacked the defense and patrols of the Guards, it was indeed somewhat defenseless. After all, Adventurer Guards were not skilled at such tasks.
"Hmph, this is Mottled Town! There are plenty of Adventurers of all sorts here. Unlucky fools and cowards lose their lives every day. Isn’t it perfectly normal to lose a few drunken sots who can’t even find their way around?" Old Henry dismissively tapped the edge of the counter with the Cow Bone Hammer. "Maybe they owed gambling debts, or maybe they suffered a setback. Just like that Iron Butterfly Tie, they might have felt too ashamed to show their faces and sneaked back home. What’s so strange about that?"
"We thought the same at first, but the missing people’s companions all swore that those guys would never leave without saying a word." Jason’s expression turned a bit heavier. "Just the night before, they were drinking and boasting together, dreaming about what good quests they could pick up the next day or what treasures they could find. Furthermore, for several of them to disappear every day for three consecutive days... that’s far too much of a coincidence."
"That Housekeeper Maurice is always overly suspicious! During the Harvest Festival, didn’t he turn the Town Mayor’s Mansion and the town mill upside down, screaming about a gang of Goblins stealing grain?" Old Henry picked up the wooden stick again and violently skewered the roasted potato. "And the result? They didn’t find a single green hair! Instead, they shut the mill down for three days, nearly leaving everyone without bread to eat!
"Besides, aren’t the Professionals from the Ring of Steel still stationed in town? Which blind fool would dare to make trouble right under the noses of Professionals?"
He chattered on endlessly, seemingly harboring a strong grudge against Maurice.
"Be that as it may, it’s always better to be cautious." Jason smiled. He seemed ill-equipped to handle Old Henry’s barrage of questions, so he prepared to leave after delivering the news. "Anyway, I’ve passed on the message. Take care, Uncle Henry. I’m off to the next house." Before leaving, he gave Raine’s shoulder another firm pat and winked. "Boy, you did a great job! There aren’t many in Mottled Town who can kill a Razor Beast at your age. Keep it up!"
Accompanied by hearty laughter and heavy footsteps, Jason’s figure disappeared out the shop door. The store returned to its quiet state, leaving only the faint CRACKLE of the fireplace.
Raine turned his head, wearing a smile as he looked back at Old Henry, whose complexion was still rather poor. "Master, can we talk about custom-ordering the Leather Armor now?"