"And you call it a boutique? Just look at the quality of the equipment coming out of your shop!"
"I’ve had this leather armor for less than three months, haven’t even visited the Mist Forest a few times, and it’s already falling apart ."
"Today, you must give me an explanation!"
Holding a newly purchased bottle of "Rock Heart Black Beer," Xia Nan was walking down the street, not yet having had the chance to enter the shop.
He heard a string of scolding coming from inside the "Rock Hammer" shop.
Judging by the sound content, it seemed there was a quality control issue with the blacksmith shop, leading to an adventurer purchasing defective equipment and now demanding answers.
He found it inexplicably strange in his heart.
He had been in River Valley Town for a while now and was a regular at "Rock Hammer," where nearly all his equipment was purchased.
He naturally knew the quality of this shop.
Just like what the drunks in the tavern would say:
"The only problem with Rock Hammer is that it’s expensive."
Over the years, under the careful management of its owner, Barn, Rock Hammer had become recognized as a premium blacksmith shop in River Valley Town.
It was even featured in the [adventurer’s manual], with excellent reviews and very few complaints.
Even when people occasionally complained in the tavern, it was never about "quality" issues.
From what Xia Nan knew about Barn, he was definitely not the type of unscrupulous merchant who would cast aside his conscience for profit, deliberately selling defective goods to deceive customers.
For example, the "Beheading Longsword" he carried now, made of "Gray Steel" from the "Flame Cast Peak," was quite expensive.
Yet even because of a tiny, almost negligible oversight during forging, which couldn’t even be confirmed to affect the quality, Barn had tossed it into the scrap pile, awaiting a remelt.
That’s how it ended up being a bargain for him when funds were tight at the time.
On the other hand, at least from Xia Nan’s subjective feeling.
The sharp rebukes felt, in reality, did not reflect the kind of disappointment of someone who had saved money for a long time, carefully selected in the blacksmith shop, and finally bought a piece of premium equipment for themselves, only to find it defective.
Feeling deceived, with efforts and hard work wasted, wanting nothing more than to kill the shop owner out of grief and pain.
It seemed more like a deliberate, sarcastic raising of the voice, wanting to make sure the sound reached the street outside, letting passersby hear.
With a hint of curiosity and the mindset of watching a show, Xia Nan didn’t shy away and walked straight into the shop.
What met his eyes was an adventurer wearing simple equipment and the "Rock Hammer" shop owner Barn.
"Customer, could it be that you’ve made a mistake?"
"Our shop has never sold this style of leather armor, and the tanning craftsmanship on this equipment doesn’t match my usual techniques."
"If you don’t mind, maybe you could show it to me, perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, the middle-aged adventurer in front of Barn, whose gaze was dodging, shrank back as if on reflex.
The leather armor he originally held was hidden behind him, and raising his head, he threatened loudly yet weakly:
"I warn you, don’t get handsy!"
"Today, if I don’t get 100 gold, this matter isn’t over!"
"You wouldn’t want a rumor going around that your shop sold faulty goods..."
Suddenly, Barn, who had previously been sincere and friendly, seemed to have confirmed something from the man’s words and actions.
Straightened up, allowing the shadow of his burly body to cover the man in front.
"Newcomer, huh? How long have you been in River Valley Town?"
"How do you know..." The middle-aged adventurer paused, then quickly reacted, "Don’t change the subject, I’m..."
An arm as thick as an average person’s thigh cut through the air with explosive noise, and the massive fist almost big enough to cover the man’s entire face suddenly swung out with a swoosh.
It was about to smash into the man’s cheek but abruptly halted just before contact with the tip of his nose.
Beneath the gust of wind was the man’s sharply contracting pupils and suddenly pale face.
The middle-aged adventurer involuntarily stepped back two paces, his legs turning to jelly, and collapsed on the ground.
Perhaps the impact of that punch was so immense that he didn’t even dare to utter harsh words, crawled up awkwardly, and scrambled towards the exit on all fours.
In his haste, he didn’t pay attention to what was ahead.
He collided head-on with Xia Nan, standing at the shop entrance.
It was as if he had smashed into an iron wall that didn’t budge a bit, and he fell to the ground with a grunt of pain.
Rubbing his nose, which throbbed and tingled from the collision with the iron armor.
He widened his eyes and slightly parted his lips, just about to say something.
His gaze inadvertently caught sight of the gray Longsword on Xia Nan’s back.
His expression immediately changed.
He practically forced down the words that had reached his throat, lowered his head, hunched his body, and skirted around Xia Nan to escape to the shop exit.
Glancing at the rapidly disappearing figure on the street.
Xia Nan turned his gaze back, not overly concerned in his heart.
"Came looking for trouble on purpose?" He joked to Barn ahead.
After multiple visits over several months, the two had grown closer, and were friends of sorts.
Seeing it was Xia Nan, Barn of "Rock Hammer" also showed a wry smile, shaking his head.
"Don’t worry about it."
"This kind of thing happens a few times every year; I’m used to it."
Unlike those Mage apprentices at the Magic Academy or teachers and students in city campuses.
The adventurer line of work has virtually no barriers to entry.