Who was he trying to fool?
Rick sneered inwardly.
He had only been at Saldean Farm for a few days, but he could already tell that the Half-Elf before him was no pushover.
Ordinary people weren't very perceptive and couldn't tell what was different about Shawn. At most, they thought his ears were a little pointy and that he was rather handsome. But Rick knew perfectly well that Shawn was a Half-Elf, born to some Elf and some human.
Half-Elves inherited the best traits of humans and Elves alike.
Although they didn't live for nearly as long as Elves, they could easily live for two or three centuries.
Shawn looked young, but he might not really be only fifteen or sixteen, so Rick couldn't treat him like a child.
And for some reason, ever since leaving Saldean Farm a few days ago, Rick had kept feeling that Shawn had become even more unfathomable than before. The way the kid looked at him seemed far too perceptive, as if he could see right through him.
With countless secrets of his own, Rick couldn't help but stay on his guard around Shawn.
Rick knew that this Half-Elf wanted to meet a mage for a reason of his own.
After hesitating for a moment, Rick said awkwardly, "Shawn, it really wouldn't be difficult... But you know, for certain reasons, I left that mage a long time ago. I haven't seen him in over half a year. And now I'm wandering from place to place. I wasn't planning on looking for the mage, either..."
As he spoke, Rick rubbed his fingers together, making a gesture anyone could understand.
An ordinary teenager might not know what to do, but how could Shawn not understand?
"Greedy bastard! Just like Merry!"
Shawn reached into his clothes and, after a great deal of effort, finally fished out three silver coins and more than thirty copper coins. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Big Brother Rick, if you can introduce me to that mage, all this money is yours!"
Rick's eyes lit up at the little pile of coins in Shawn's hand.
Three silver coins and more than thirty copper coins wasn't much, but considering Shawn was only a "fifteen-year-old boy" with no independent income, managing to save that much was already impressive. Besides, the clever boy had surely kept the lion's share to pay his respects to "that great mage."
And Rick knew exactly what that lion's share was. Everyone at Saldean Farm knew that Shawn had earned a one-gold-coin reward for repairing a Harvest Golem at Furlbrow Farm!
At the thought, Rick snatched the coins and lowered his voice. "Shawn, leave it to me! Just wait. I'll have good news for you within three days, at most. But don't tell anyone about this. We can't afford to offend the great mage!"
Shawn hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, Big Brother Rick. I'm very tight-lipped! I won't say a word! Big Brother Rick, you have to make my dream come true!"
After leaving Rick, Shawn's lips curled slightly.
Since Rick had known the mage before, he must still be in contact with him. So Shawn had no doubts that Rick could get in touch.
As for whether Rick would "run off with the money," Shawn was even less worried.
One silver coin and more than thirty copper coins wasn't a small sum for a "boy" like Shawn. But for a wanderer like Rick, it was nothing more than pocket change. And it was easy enough to understand why Rick would help him for such a small amount.
With his shifty eyes, Rick was clearly a Rogue—and his profession must have had some connection to thieves. After all, he knew Pick Lock and Pick Pocket. A man like that would never pass up a chance to make money.
So all Shawn had to do was wait. He'd meet the mage within three days at most.
Shawn had his own reasons for going to such lengths to meet the mage.
Humans were social creatures, and mages were no exception.
Most mages weren't very sociable, but that was because they pursued truth and knowledge. Their interests were so lofty that few people could talk with them or keep them company.
Now that Shawn had become a mage, he had to find ways to meet other mages. Only then could they exchange ideas and share what they knew. Otherwise, there was no guarantee that Shawn's path as a mage would take him very far.
Even with the Space Garrison.
With Rick taken care of, Shawn planned to find Old Saldean. He hoped to use the farmer's connections to find reliable Hunters and buy some leather and stone.
As he passed the only blacksmith shop in Goldshire, Shawn heard Gryan Stoutmantle's furious roar from inside.
"What? Five gold each? Why don't you just rob me? And you call this a Silver-Scaled Breastplate? It's obviously made of fish scales! I'll give you one gold coin at most, or I'm not buying!"
Hearing Gryan's shouting, Shawn's eyes shifted as he walked into the blacksmith shop.
Gryan stood at the entrance, yelling into the shop with an angry expression, like an enraged... little bird?
A middle-aged blacksmith in his forties stood before a table, holding a hammer and sneering.
A gleaming chainmail shirt lay on the table. It looked exquisite, almost as though it had been made of pure silver. But when Shawn casually used Eye of Insight, the chainmail revealed its true nature.
" Murloc-Scaled Breastplate, white quality, ordinary equipment. Made from Murloc scales and iron ingots, then silver-plated. Defense +4, Water Elemental resistance +1."
What a swindler!
The middle-aged blacksmith looked burly, but he'd come up with the idea of coating the Murloc-Scaled Breastplate with silver so it would look just like a Silver-Scaled Breastplate. In reality, it was nothing of the sort.
If it really were a Silver-Scaled Breastplate forged from bronze bars, green gems, moonstones, colorful pearls, and silver bars, Gryan wouldn't have said a word even if it cost fifty gold each, let alone five. He'd have paid on the spot. After all, the real thing was blue quality and had at least +10 defense!
But this Murloc-Scaled Breastplate was ordinary white-quality equipment, and the blacksmith still wanted five gold for it? Worse, he was trying to charge Gryan five gold each?
Did he think Gryan was easy to fool?
The cunning old man had only needed to lift the chainmail to realize it weighed too little. Then he'd scratched through the silver plating with his fingernail, revealing the fish scales beneath.
That was what had led to the scene before them.
No wonder Gryan was so furious.
He was buying the armor for his soldiers to wear when they fought Kobolds, Murlocs, and Defias bandits. If they went into battle wearing armor like this, who knew how many of them would die? This was no laughing matter.
Before you continue