The reason Feld didn't mention the Lunn Rafi Welfare Institute was because he knew that there were always some idiots who would do things just because they were told not to. So if Feld mentioned the Institute, it would become a target. Maybe because of him, no one dared to touch the Institute, but it was better to be safe than sorry. So Feld decided to expand his scope, using land transactions as a cover to protect the Lunn Rafi Welfare Institute. After all, the only valuable thing about the Institute was that plot of land. As long as no one dared to touch that land, the Institute would be safe.
Soon, Feld arrived outside the woodland, where a group of law enforcers had gathered.
"Halt!" a law enforcer ordered, preventing Feld from advancing.
Feld immediately put on an innocent smile. "Is there a misunderstanding, officer?"
"I'm just a good citizen passing by. If you want to arrest someone, arrest them. It's none of my business," Feld said innocently.
The law enforcer: "..."
With blood all over his body, how could he claim to be a good citizen?!
"Don't you agree, Sains?" Feld looked at Sains beside him.
Sains nodded immediately and waved his hand. "This is our Crab Gang's affair. It has nothing to do with this gentleman passing by. If you want to find someone, find us!"
"Yeah, find us!"
"It's all us!"
The Crab Gang disciples behind Sains raised their weapons and shouted loudly, while the law enforcers became even more nervous, fearing that these bloodthirsty gangsters would rush over.
The leader of the law enforcers frowned. He was six feet tall, handsome, with sharp eagle-like eyes, and a strong and upright posture. He exuded an extraordinary aura, like a veteran coming down from the battlefield, in stark contrast to the law enforcers who looked intimidated by the gang members.
Judging from his attire, he was probably of high rank.
"See? I'm innocent," Feld said with a smile, cigarette dangling from his lips.
For a moment, he felt like he was back in that wasteland where even breathing felt sandy.
It was so damn refreshing!
The law enforcer stared at Feld for a while, then slightly turned his head, and the group of law enforcers made way.
Feld smiled and walked out.
As he passed the law enforcer who seemed to be of high rank, his low voice came.
"You'd better not fall into my hands!"
"Hehe." Feld chuckled, patting the law enforcer's shoulder and wiping off the bloodstains on his hand.
"You'd better be a good officer."
With that, Feld strode away, paying no attention to the law enforcer's angry chest heaving.
"Take them all away!"
Listening to the angry voice of the law enforcer behind him, as well as the unruly laughter of the gang members, Feld was in a very good mood.
Soon, he returned to the Welfare Institute.
Seeing Feld covered in blood, Grandma Lunn was startled, but the group of little girls didn't seem to mind.
"Here, these are the teeth you wanted." Feld opened his hand, revealing a dozen cleaned teeth inside, randomly plucked from the mouths of unlucky victims.
"Wow!" Tina exclaimed happily, then joined the group of little girls in playing with the teeth, making Grandma Lunn's eyelids twitch.
But Feld just laughed heartily.
Tina would make a great mercenary!
Of course, he still didn't recommend Tina to go down that path, but who knows what the future holds. After that, Feld returned to the Seafoam Tavern because he needed to take a bath. Although the Welfare Institute had bathing facilities, they were still quite rudimentary. Feld had to bend his head and use a ladle to wash himself, which was uncomfortable. So he decided to go to the bathhouse in the Mercenary Tavern instead. Later, Feld would have the Welfare Institute renovated, and then he could comfortably move in.
As soon as Feld returned covered in blood, Ivy rushed over, bombarding him with questions out of concern. After confirming that Feld was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where did you go?" Ivy asked.
"Not a big deal, just went to wipe out a gang that crossed me," Feld casually replied.
"What gang?"
"The Sea Serpent Gang."
Ivy: "..."
The Sea Serpent Gang was one of the four major gangs in the Outer City, but Feld made it sound like a small group with only a few people. But by the looks of it, the Sea Serpent Gang was in big trouble. It probably wouldn't be long before news spread.
"By the way, the temporary passes for the Inner City are ready," Ivy said.
Feld nodded. "Thanks. I'm going to the Inner City later, and I probably won't be back tonight."
Ivy nodded, then realized something and pouted. "Fine, if you're not coming back, then don't tell me..."
"I just don't want someone to miss me and lose sleep over it," Feld said with a grin, leaning his big face close to Ivy.
Ivy pushed him away, crossed her arms, and turned around. "Who would miss a big guy like you? Tell me."
"Hehehe, I don't know. Just heard someone is very beautiful."
Ivy, with a hint of anticipation, asked, "Oh? How beautiful?"
"As beautiful as one would dream in happy dreams," Feld's voice came.
Ivy pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, her face turning red. Then she turned around, but Feld had already run upstairs with laughter echoing behind him.
Ivy chuckled too, but didn't chase after him. Instead, she tucked her stray hair behind her ear, looking particularly gentle.
...
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, and after greeting the landlady, Feld set out with Chi Chi. Chi Chi was his trusted assistant and went wherever he went.
Ivy obviously realized this and thoughtfully arranged for two temporary passes. The registration checks in the Inner City were more strict — at least they registered names.
Passing through the Inner City Gate and entering the Inner City, Feld felt like he had entered Grilag City. Truly the wealthy district, it was much cleaner and safer than the chaos of the Outer City. Of course, this was only superficial.
Feld knew that many rich people indulged even more than the poor, because they had the time and money to satisfy their desires and seek new thrills. Just like now.
Feld hadn't walked a few steps when a plump lady approached, accompanied by several equally elegant women, all smiling as they struck up a conversation with Feld. Their eyes kept glancing at Feld's muscular body, not even trying to hide it.
This made Chi Chi a little unhappy. The big guy liked beautiful women, but these ladies, though not ugly, couldn't be considered beauties either. To Chi Chi, beauties were at the level of Hollan and Ivy.
The big guy wasn't someone just anyone could like, meow!
So Chi Chi protected her food jealously, glaring at the ladies and even showing off the small dagger at her waist. This amused Feld greatly.
But since she was his own Chi Chi, Feld made it clear that he sold skills, not his body, so the group of ladies left in disappointment.
Chi Chi then burst into laughter, sitting on Feld's shoulder, her tail wrapping around his neck, gently scratching his cheek.
It was a bit ticklish but also comfortable.
"Owen's Blacksmith Shop..." Feld recalled the address Ivy gave him, looking around.
He decided to visit Owen's Blacksmith Shop first, finalize the job he had prepared, and then go find someone named "Iron Fist" Raymond.
Feld had a good memory, so it didn't take him long to find Owen's Blacksmith Shop.
Looking at the dark blacksmith shop, Feld nodded approvingly, pursing his lips. The exterior of the blacksmith shop was very simple, built with stone bricks, giving it a rugged appearance that contrasted sharply with the gorgeous and beautiful buildings around it.
Above the shop was a sign with the words "Owen's Blacksmith Shop" written on it, seemingly splattered with iron slag, giving it a distinctive look.
And it could be seen that smoke was billowing from above the house, and the walls were slightly crystallized, obviously smoked by the forging mineral smoke.
The blacksmith shop that Grandpa had had this crystal layer smoked so thickly that Feld felt it would take another twenty or thirty years to get it off.
It seemed like a genuine old blacksmith's shop.
Then Feld pushed open the door and walked in.
As soon as he entered, Feld felt a wave of heat hit him, and a short, sturdy figure appeared in Feld's line of sight, his voice following suit.
"We're closed today."
Listening to the rugged voice, Feld paused and glanced at the door handle, noticing a sign hanging above. But instead of reading "Closed," it read "Forging."
"Isn't it supposed to say 'Forging'?" Feld asked.
Without looking back, the sturdy dwarf replied, "Forging means not open for business, while closed means open."
Wait, wasn't that backwards?
But Feld quickly understood. "Forging" indicated that the dwarf blacksmith was currently crafting weapons for his orders. When he was taking orders, that meant he wasn't forging.
Feld chuckled. "I'm not here to order weapons, I'm here to craft them."
Clang! The dwarf struck a hot iron block into an iron brick with a crisp sound, then put down his hammer and turned around.
It was then that Feld got a good look at him. Dwarves were called dwarves because their height generally didn't exceed one and a half meters, shorter than even Chi Chi. But they were much bulkier.
Despite standing at barely one and a half meters tall, this dwarf was heavily muscled, with hands as large as Feld's, and arms that, when bent, revealed muscular peaks like small mountains. And of course, the dwarf's characteristic large beard.
The beard of the dwarf in front of him was even connected to his eyebrows, leaving only his big nose and the eyes under the thick brows visible, the mouth hidden.
The dwarf looked at Feld, then raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat surprised. After sizing up Feld for a moment, he nodded. "With muscles like yours, it's a waste not to be a blacksmith."
Feld: "..."
"That's exactly what my old man used to say." Feld chuckled, then added, "I'm here to find a place to forge weapons."
"Ordinary blacksmiths don't have the facilities to handle advanced materials, so I came here."
"Are you a blacksmith too?" the dwarf asked.
"Sort of," Feld replied.
"Sort of is sort of, not is not. What does 'sort of' mean?" The dwarf seemed a bit displeased, clearly having a temper.
Feld explained, "My grandfather was a true blacksmith, and I learned his craft, but I don't intend to be a blacksmith. I'm a mercenary."
"So, my main job is being a mercenary, and blacksmithing is just a side job."
After a moment of silence, the dwarf said, "I have the best forging equipment in the entire Sea Capital, even in the surrounding cities."
"But it's not for just anyone to use."
"Kid, if you want to forge at my shop, you'll have to be my apprentice."
Feld: "..."
He was really amazed. Why did every blacksmith he met want to recruit him as an apprentice? Just because he had muscles, was it a waste not to forge?
Feld felt helpless and asked, "I'm just here to find a place to forge, why are you bringing me into this?"
The dwarf replied, "Just tell me if you agree or not. If you don't, then leave. I'm about to start forging."
Feld: "..."
Just as stubborn as the old man.
So Feld had to ask, "What are the requirements to be your apprentice, and what do I have to do?"
"Forge," the dwarf said.
"Every day?" Feld asked.
"Not necessary. Once every two days is enough," the dwarf replied.
Feld asked, "How long each time?"
"Two days," the dwarf said.
Feld: "..."
Forge for two days straight?!
Most people would probably collapse at the forge.
Of course, Feld had no problem with it, but he didn't have that much time. He was a mercenary and had plenty of work to do.
"Would this work for you? I'll pay you," Feld suggested.
"One million," the dwarf said.
Feld: "..."
Why not just rob him?
"Can... can you lower it a bit?" Feld tentatively asked.
The dwarf scoffed. "Hmph! If you don't have the money, become my apprentice. If you don't want to become my apprentice, then leave. My hammer alone is worth one million. If you're not my apprentice and don't pay, how can I trust you to touch my hammer?"