But what disappointed Ernesto immensely was that he didn't recognize this person at all.
As a gnome merchant who traded along the coasts and islands of the Mid-Ocean, he had made his fair share of enemies over the years, but few ever sought revenge.
Although Ernesto appeared greedy and cunning on the surface, he was clever enough to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Powerful forces and races were not something he would provoke, and while they might find gnomes distasteful, they usually didn't stoop to seeking revenge due to the gnomes' significant influence.
As for those with low or middling power, they were often suppressed and dared not retaliate, enduring their losses in secret.
It could be said that gnomes occupied an ecological niche perfectly suited for their survival, showing respect to the powerful and looking down on the weak, living quite comfortably.
