A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with graying hair and beard, erged from the inside of the "Salmon Roe" grocery store.
He was thin but didn’t appear frail; rather, he gave off an impression of soone who had shed excess weight through years of battling the wind and waves, becoming lean and efficient. His skin was rough and dull, with wrinkles particularly prominent at the corners of his eyes and mouth, reflecting his years of having to greet people with a smile as a small shopkeeper.
He was neatly dressed, wearing a deep blue wool short jacket over a linen shirt. His gray-white beard was trimd evenly on his chin and upper lip, and his dium-length hair, speckled with silver, was slicked back with cheap and mildly scented hair oil, revealing a sharp hairline.
Perception silently ca into effect.
Xia Nan’s gaze subtly swept over him, organizing all the observed information in his mind, forming his first impression of the middle-aged man:
——A not very successful small shopkeeper pursuing dignity despite the lack of wealth.
But not so unsuccessful as to be down and out.
At least, judging by the appearance and spirit he presented in front of Xia Nan, his economic situation seed passable, without any issues like hunger or cold.
"Welco, dear custors!"
"I’m Paddy, the owner of the ’Salmon Roe’ grocery store. Is there anything I can help you with?"
The middle-aged man squeezed out a perfectly regular smile, already a muscle mory from years of business, and stepped forward to the counter, greeting them.
anwhile, his blue eyes carefully and ticulously observed the two new guests as unobtrusively as possible.
Being able to operate for years in a place as competitive as Suo Yu Bay, even though he never had the chance to expand his business, maintaining livelihood till now, proved Paddy’s capability.
Perhaps not exceptional, but certainly above average.
And as a seasoned businessman, the ability to judge people was crucial.
Among the two custors, the black-haired youth slightly positioned forward was obviously the leader.
Estimated to be under twenty, very young, but tall and close to 1.9 ters.
His temperant was cold and steady, lacking the flippancy and restlessness typical of his age.
The equipnt he was wearing...
Paddy’s expression paused abruptly.
With years of experience, his expertise was undeniable.
Almost at first glance, he recognized the extraordinary nature of Xia Nan’s equipnt.
The two sheathed straight swords behind him only showed the handles and were hard to discern.
But the silver-gray iron armor on the youth’s upper body and the exquisite leg armor on his legs, which glowed under the shop’s lights, were unmistakable.
Even without close inspection, unable to determine the exact material used for forging, Paddy could almost make a judgnt just by observing the exquisite workmanship and the unique resilience of the tal crafted from high-quality materials.
These two pieces, even if not enchanted equipnt, were certainly excellent items of very good quality among regular equipnt!
Combined with the refined vigor emanating from the black-haired youth himself...
Without a doubt.
This was a skilled adventurer who might already have obtained a professional level!
Thoughts flashed through Paddy’s mind for an instant, and his smile beca more genuine, seemingly from the heart.
His gaze continued onward, falling upon the seemingly younger, immature boy behind the black-haired youth.
Compared to the young man in front of him, who seed to be a professional, this youthful boy matched Paddy’s stereotype of kids his age.
He walked slightly hunched over, his head lowered, his gaze involuntary downward, nervous and lacking confidence.
His clothing was particularly plain, the hemp garnt lacked any design, and patches covered the worn areas like the elbows and cuffs.
Presumably, a regular country boy...
"Hmm?"
Seeing the simple boy before him, it was as if Paddy suddenly realized sothing.
Rather than hiding his gaze, he stared directly at the increasingly familiar face, seemingly overlapping it with a figure from his mory.
Gradually, they rged.
"Are you... Colin?"
With so probing, Paddy placed his hands on the counter, leaning slightly forward, and carefully asked.
Finally seeing a relative he hadn’t t in years, hearing his na called from soone in a foreign land, Colin was very excited.
He looked up sharply, facing the middle-aged man behind the counter.
"It’s ! Uncle Paddy, it’s !"
"Father, Mother, and Brother send their regards!"
His tone fluctuated with the emotions stirring, Colin took out a letter written by the village head on behalf of his family from his backpack, stepped forward, and handed the envelope to him.
Having not seen family from the village in a long ti, for a mont, Paddy couldn’t maintain his business smile. His expression turned into sothing indescribably touching.
His eyes studied the boy before him, nearly as tall as himself, constantly comparing him with the image of a younger child from his mory.
He carefully tore open the envelope, asking in a gentle tone:
"How is the village lately? Has anything happened?"
"Uncle Jack was gored by a wild boar while gathering firewood, breaking a leg; the village head’s youngest son fell ill with a fever months ago and hasn’t recovered, likely won’t survive this winter; and Aunt Lina ntioned..."
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