Proof

At the city gate, a black-armored, black-bearded dwarf with a bulbous red nose approached the shield-bearing warriors. In the torchlight, the ends of his beard could be seen braided into fine little plaits.

Through the Analytical Eye, this dwarf's overall strength had reached A-, on par with Samuel. His strength attribute in particular had already reached A.

"Are these humans?" the black-bearded dwarf demanded loudly. "Borot! You caught those despicable thieves so quickly? Excellent!"

"I can't be certain," Borot said, shaking his head as he gave him an odd look. "Because one of these humans claims to be your friend."

"My friend?"

The black-bearded dwarf was startled, when Ina's voice rang out. "Uncle Teclin, do you remember me? I'm Ina, daughter of Enrel Span."

"Enrel Span?" Teclin thought for a moment, then walked over and scrutinized Ina from below, a puzzled look on his face. "That fellow's daughter? Why don't you look much like him?"

Ina simply ignored that last remark. "My father once told me something. One night, he was drinking with you in the Yangshao Royal Capital. You got drunk and started singing loudly, alerting the guards on curfew patrol. While you were running away, part of your beard got burned off..."

Hearing this embarrassing tale, the surrounding dwarves broke into muffled laughter. Borot laughed outright. "Teclin, so that's how your beard got burned that time! You told me sparks had hit it while you were smithing!"

"Who said that? It obviously happened because I was careless while smithing... Forget that, business first!" Teclin's bulbous nose reddened further, and he looked embarrassed. Yet his gaze at Ina softened considerably. "So it really is you, little Ina. You've grown so much—taller than me, even..."

Ina ignored that final remark again and explained, "Uncle Teclin, I'm the commander of the