"Master, where are we going?" Tia clearly remembered that the task Kenley had just received was to go to the blacksmith's shop, but now they had ended up at a tavern.

As soon as they entered the tavern, a wave of attention was immediately drawn to them. The tavern was full of all sorts of people—Orcs, Half-Orcs, Humans, Half-Elves, Dwarves—but Kenley and Tia's appearance immediately caught the eye of everyone present.

Kenley didn't mind at all. In Marlen Imperial City, which boasted the best security in the entire continent, no one dared to stir trouble in the Imperial City. You could provoke people, curse them, but if you actually tried to fight here—well, you'd soon experience a "friendly greeting" from the Dragon Knights.

Especially in a tavern like this, which was under the watchful eye of the military. Knights with swords at their waists often patrolled here.

"Bring me two barrels of the strongest wine!" Kenley slapped a gold coin onto the table.

Tia was puzzled by her master's behavior. Why did they come to buy wine? Could it be that her master liked to drink? But the strongest wines weren't something just anyone could handle, were they?

Moreover, he casually threw down a gold coin. It seemed like her master's money was endless. He wasn't a noble, nor did he have any land—where did he get so much money from?

Tia still remembered her past life's experiences. Every time her kingdom held a banquet, the ministers who loved to drink strong liquor were often the ones who ended up vomiting everywhere, with some even vomiting blood. Looking at Kenley's build, he didn't seem like someone who could handle such strong liquor.

"Here's the wine you asked for, customer." The bartender grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, and placed two barrels of wine on the counter. His gaze was filled with disdain, as if saying,"I don't know if you can handle it."

But Kenley paid no attention to the looks around him and didn't explain. He simply grabbed the wine and walked out, with Tia following closely behind. What Kenley didn't notice was that a pair of predatory eyes were secretly watching him in the tavern and had begun to follow him.

Kenley then took Tia to the blacksmith's shop. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a lively scene: an old man with a white beard, wearing a pair of large, soot-blackened leather gloves, was swinging a massive hammer, relentlessly striking an iron sword in its early stages of shaping.

Beside him, a young apprentice was working the bellows, sweating profusely as he provided air to the forge. The flickering flames cast an orange glow throughout the blacksmith's shop.

But Kenley's attention was fixed on the old dwarf, for he had come prepared.

[Heavy Hammer· Smith]

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Level: 50

Class: Blacksmith

Note: One of the eight famous blacksmiths in the Imperial City. He once forged the legendary sword Taiyi: Elven Dance of the Spirits for the Elven race. The Elven King once commented:"No one can escape from the brilliance of Taiyi. Smith created such a miracle."

The saying "The greatest hermits hide within the city” might well apply to an old man like Smith. Dwarves had long lifespans, and Kenley recalled first encountering him back during the first expansion (Third Era) of the game. He had seen him again just before his reincarnation (Fifth Era).

"Raden, you lazy stick of a man! Even the donkey that grinds flour works harder than you! If you move any slower, tonight you'll be eating Stark's horse feed and drinking his horse urine!" Smith suddenly turned around and glared at his apprentice.

"Mr. Smith, I really am trying my best," Raden protested repeatedly.

"Don't think I don't remember that your mother, old and over fifty, came to me with a basket of bread begging me to take you in. Otherwise, I would have kicked you out of my shop long ago!" Smith glared at him, harshly reminding him.

At this moment, Kenley entered. Seeing a customer, Smith's tone softened slightly, but the anger from earlier had not quite dissipated. "Are you here to craft equipment or to embed some gems?"

Kenley wasn't upset at all. He knew Smith's temperament. When he was still playing the game, he had received a mission to help Smith's brother, Stark, steal a barrel of Smith's wine. As a result, this old man had sent an entire Elven ranger squad to hunt him down. Kenley had joked at the time, "For one barrel of wine, really?"

So, Kenley had no intention of angering this old dwarf. Smith was a man with some serious connections. The Elves had a long-standing, permanent alliance with Smith. Whenever he had difficulties, the Elves would go to great lengths to help him.

In Marlen Imperial City, Smith was a figure not to be trifled with. Even the royal family would show great respect when they wanted him to forge equipment.

Kenley grinned. "Smith, guess what I brought for you?"

With that, Kenley placed the two barrels of wine on Smith's table. Smith's eyes immediately brightened, but he quickly regained his composure. "Kid, I don't know who you are. How did you know I like the Battle Axe's Fire Brew?"

Tia immediately understood. Her master had bought the expensive liquor for the old dwarf blacksmith.

But Kenley had just taken a job and hadn't completed it yet to collect his reward, yet he had already spent a large sum of money. This behavior confused Tia.

Her master certainly had a unique way of doing things...

Kenley, of course, knew exactly what Smith liked to drink and also knew that Smith had three old lovers! And to make it even worse, all three of them were the wives of his brothers! That was enough to completely shatter Kenley's worldview. Smith certainly had the potential to be a legendary stud.

Kenley chuckled. "Mr. Smith, Lady Lytalia asked me to bring you..."

Before Kenley could finish, Smith suddenly panicked. He quickly rushed over to Kenley and shoved his dirty glove over Kenley's mouth to silence him.

Seeing Smith's nervous reaction, Kenley couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Lytalia was one of Smith's three lovers, and she was also Stark's wife. Kenley realized that Smith was afraid of being found out about his relationship with Lytalia. He immediately dragged Kenley to one side and whispered urgently, "What does Lytalia want with me? What's going on?"

Seeing Smith so flustered yet still so concerned, Kenley responded, "Lytalia said that the boots you bought her the other day were too small. They didn't fit, and she wants you to order a new pair for her."

"Is that all? Nothing else?" Smith asked.

"Yes, that's it. Nothing more," Kenley said casually.

Smith immediately let out a sigh of relief, thinking that Stark hadn't discovered his relationship with Lytalia, and that Lytalia had just sent this young man with a simple message.