Early the next morning, Raine declined George's invitation to gather more nuts and went to the blacksmith shop.

Heat rolled over him the moment he entered.

The apprentices were already busy at their stations, while Boris Patton forged an iron sword.

Raine's eyes brightened.

He was about to move closer when Drus, who was working the bellows, waved eagerly.

"Raine! You're here!"

The moment his name rang through the shop, the apprentices hunched over their work all stiffened.

Several of the brawny men exchanged glances.

The same silent urgency passed between them.

*Why is that kid back? And this time he came first thing in the morning. What rotten luck.*

To everyone's surprise, Boris greeted Raine first.

"Raine. You're here."

"Yes, Uncle Boris. Are you forging a longsword today?"

Raine pretended he had only just noticed and edged two steps closer, hoping to observe Boris's technique.

The glowing sword blank was clearly longer than an ordinary one-handed blade.

"That's right. I'm making a hand-and-a-half sword for a friend," Boris answered briefly.

Raine nodded in understanding.

A hand-and-a-half sword fell between a one-handed sword and a two-handed greatsword. It possessed more reach and power than the first while remaining easier to carry than the second.

Nobles, bounty hunters, and mercenaries favored the weapon, though wielding one properly required training.

"Raine, you became familiar with the bellows last time. Help Drus operate them again today."

Boris put him to work without delay.

"All right, Uncle Boris."

Raine accepted the same assignment without complaint.

He wanted to learn smelting and the forging of nails, pots, and other iron goods. But trust between people took time.

Money could accelerate that process. With enough coin, Raine might have persuaded the stingy Boris to teach him something substantial that very day.

Unfortunately, his purse was empty.

The thought made him grind his teeth at Hamilton, the new sheriff.

When Raine reached the bellows, Drus surrendered his place with delight.

"You were already good at this last time. I'll leave it to you."

Drus darted to Boris's side with the agility of an ape and stared hungrily at the hand-and-a-half sword.

Raine smiled.

He wagered Drus wouldn't be allowed to watch for long before Boris assigned him another task.

Sure enough, fewer than five minutes passed before Boris sent Drus to smelt iron ingots.

Raine suppressed a laugh.

Boris was famous throughout Goldflash Town for guarding his craft. Without real money on the table, he wouldn't teach anyone valuable techniques in a short time.

The only alternative was to remain in the shop long enough to earn his trust.

Raine put the others from his mind and focused on the bellows.

[Practice: Bellows Operation]

[Bellows Operation EXP +3]

[Blacksmith Apprentice EXP +1]

Aside from returning home at noon to eat with his family, Raine spent his entire Sunday inside the blacksmith shop.

The results pleased him.

He opened the second page, the Blacksmith Apprentice Class Panel.

Blacksmith Apprentice Lv. 3 had already passed the halfway point. At his current pace, it would reach Lv. 4 next Sunday.

[Blacksmith Apprentice Lv. 3 (265/500)]

[Bellows Operation Lv. 3 (395/500)]

[Hoof Trimming Lv. 2 (295/300)]

[Horseshoeing Lv. 1 (56/100)]

As the sky darkened, a tired Raine left the shop and started back toward Habsburg Estate.

At the same time, evil was unfolding in a secluded alley nearby.

---

Inside a low, cramped house, a small, thin boy opened the door to buy something.

A filthy cloth clamped over his mouth.

The boy struggled.

"Mmff!"

"Damn brat. Hold still."

A man's low voice sounded behind him. The cold edge of a dagger gleamed before the boy's eyes.

He froze.

Hemp rope bound him quickly and tightly. A coarse rag was forced into his mouth, and thick hands stuffed him into a large black sack.

Before long, two burly figures carrying black sacks disappeared into the alley's shadows.

"Boss, what do the people above us want with so many children?"

"Counting this one, we've already taken eleven. I heard the other crews are snatching children too."

"Have the nobles suddenly developed that much appetite for boys and young girls?"

"But would they even want skinny, stinking street children and poor brats like these?"

Scarface couldn't understand and turned toward the bearded man beside him.

"Scarface, is that something you need to worry about?" the bearded man snapped. "The people above gave the order. As long as the money is good, we do the work. Stop asking questions."

Then he considered Scarface's point and added, "It probably isn't for the nobles in Mayst City. I heard the Brotherhood of the Wilds may be behind this."

"But don't ask about it around outsiders. Otherwise, you may die without ever learning why."

"Yes, yes. You're right, Boss."

"We've searched most of northern Goldflash Town," Scarface continued. "In a few days, I'll scout the south."

"Be careful. The new sheriff, Hamilton, is paying close attention to this. If he notices you, we'll have trouble," the bearded man warned.

"Relax, Boss. I push a snack cart through the streets. One look tells me which children make easy targets."

Scarface patted his chest.

"Once we're paid, where should we go for fun? The prostitutes in Goldflash are awful. Why don't we return to Mayst City for a few days? We can lie low and enjoy ourselves."

Pleasant thoughts brought a vulgar expression to Scarface's face.

"Damn it, Scarface. You'll die on top of a woman one day." The bearded man considered the idea. "But you're right. Once we're paid, we'll return to Mayst City."

Scarface tugged at his face. "This human-skin mask is too tight. It's driving me mad. Get me a new one, Boss."

---

Raine heard something from the alley beside him.

He stopped and listened for a moment, then shook his head and continued toward Habsburg Estate.

He had no idea that he had just passed within reach of the evil hiding in the darkness.