The blacksmith’s roar exploded like thunder in the field.
His muscular, robust body trembled due to the intense emotions within him, hatred and resistance almost solidifying in his eyes.
The wealthy, round-faced man before him seed less like a stranger quarreling over inquiries and more like a long-ti foe.
What was even stranger is.
Despite the situation escalating, the spectators who had been silent since the beginning remained motionless.
No familiar faces stepped forward to calm the blacksmith, preventing the situation from spiraling out of control; nor did any bystanders leave the scene out of a fear of being affected.
The atmosphere changed quietly.
If previously the viewers could be described as "apathetic onlookers," the cold atmosphere now creeping through the crowd had surpassed re "spectators."
Their gazes beca sharp, bodies slightly leaning forward, displaying aggressive postures, as if an invisible resonance was spreading among them.
No insults, no shouting.
But precisely this kind of cold, deathly silence was more suffocating than noise.
At this mont, it seed as if Horak was not only arguing with the blacksmith, but with all the residents of Sheep Horn Town.
Xia Nan did not know the ins and outs of the matter, nor could he easily discern the reason behind the sudden change in the crowd’s attitude.
But when he saw the blacksmith’s arm tremble, slightly raising the hamr in his hand.
He knew he couldn’t let the situation develop further.
As the bodyguard hired by the caravan, the three adventurers exchanged glances and reached the sa conclusion.
Dwarf Solting almost imdiately darted out in front of everyone, standing between the businessman and the blacksmith.
Neither shield nor edged hamr was in hand; the straightforward dwarf interrupted the dispute with his position and presence.
Though Solting’s height barely obstructed their view, the sudden intervention of a third party broke the escalating argunt’s rhythm.
Margaret signaled the caravan’s steward to drag Horak to the rear, simultaneously protecting him and gesturing for him to calm down and defuse the conflict.
As for Xia Nan... his outstanding physique allowed him to swiftly reach the blacksmith’s side.
His keen perception enabled him to ascertain that the burly blacksmith was rely an ordinary person, so the longsword remained sheathed.
He extended his hand, gently pressing down the raised hamr head and quietly advised calmness.
The blacksmith was in an unusually angry state due to Horak’s words. Feeling resistance on his hamr, he lowered his gaze to see a hand on the hamrhead, and his eyes followed the line up.
Then he spotted the fine dark silver iron armor, the two sword sheaths extending from behind, and a pair of deep, cold, piercing eyes.
Like a basin of cold water poured from above, the flas of his rage instantly subsided.
Even though he was rely an average craftsman who had never forged enchanted equipnt.
Being in the trade, he could recognize the expensive and fine equipnt worn by the young man before him.
At the sa ti, the concentrated aura emitted was sothing that those struggling low-level adventurers in the forest could never possess.
The fierceness in his eyes dissipated instantly, leaving only a trace of naive clarity.
The intervention of the three professional-level adventurers quickly brought the situation under control.
The appearance of Xia Nan and his companions also made Horak, who had been sowhat dangerously heated before, quickly calm down.
Breathing heavily, chest heaving, but the stubbornness in his eyes had dispersed.
Standing still, his gaze swept over the crowd, lightly stirred by the sudden entrance of the adventurers, before unwillingly resting on the equally cald, muscular blacksmith.
He had no intention of using Xia Nan’s party’s strength to oppress the townsfolk.
Horak forced a stiff smile on his face, wiped his sweat, and said to Xia Nan and the others:
"It’s nothing, nothing."
"We’ll discuss it in detail later; let’s head back to the inn first."
"..."
The background of the conflict was simple, at least without complication in Horak’s explanation.
At the ti, after settling several adventurers at the "Sheep Wool Rusty Nail" inn, he anxiously went into town with his assistant to gather information.
Thinking that regarding mineral items like gemstones, the blacksmith in Sheep Horn Town might know more, and given that he had gotten so information about its origin from the seller when buying the pink jadestone at Neum, he directly approached the burly blacksmith who later argued with him.
Unexpectedly, upon ntioning that he was there for the gemstone, the forrly kind blacksmith’s attitude dramatically changed, refusing to disclose anything even with Horak’s significant offer, and attempted to chase them out, with a heavily aggressive tone.
Horak was montarily infuriated and started arguing.
The steward beside him couldn’t persuade either party, and seeing more bystanders gathering, feared the situation would worsen, thus returned to the inn to seek help from Xia Nan and his party.
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