Dole chatted with them for a while and learned that they had come about the Blacksmith Guild. He had no interest in taking the exam, and they did not press him. After a little more talk, Uncle Hong said, "I know you want to learn advanced hammer techniques. When you get back, I'll teach you."
Dole's eyes lit up. "Then thank you in advance, Uncle Hong."
Dole left through the back and returned to the front. He had just sat down when he looked up and saw Kadiya walking in, dressed as a swordsman.
Kadiya's face was calm, giving nothing away. He walked briskly over to Dole's forge, tossed him a small pouch, then turned and left without lingering.
Dole caught the pouch and watched Kadiya go, baffled. What was with him today? He opened it and looked inside. His heart jolted.
The pouch was full of glittering white crystals. He had seen them before: Magic Crystal residue.
The Magic Crystal residue he had picked up at Bianchi Mine—the stuff Dog Aoduo had later eaten—had looked just like this. He had not known how valuable it was then and had kept none of it. Thinking back, he still regretted that.
Why had Kadiya given him Magic Crystal residue? Still, Dole could hardly deny his excitement. Just when he needed it, someone had delivered it to his door!
Just then, he saw a squad of patrolmen run out from the city in neat formation. They searched the street frantically, questioning everyone they came across. Another squad of city guards appeared from somewhere and began roaming the streets, seemingly looking for someone.
The street fell into chaos. Pedestrians cowered at the roadside, trembling in fear of the guards, with no idea what had happened.
Soldiers spread across the entire street, then rushed