Chapter 4: Seeking Trouble

"Is there even a need to ask? Of course, we should find some rope to tie it up first. Do you want to step out of the shop only to end up in jail?" Ding Ke said while looking around for rope.

Dingke's sudden intrusion did not elicit any reaction from those inside; Howard cast a disdainful glance and did not regard the fat man at all

Ding Ke pointed at Howard's nose and rudely scolded, "I spit on you, the city lord's nephew. I am the lord's son, so stop talking nonsense and just squat over there and draw circles for me."

I am leaving. Oh, by the way, if you feel unsatisfied, you are welcome to come to the academy and trouble me. I will definitely make you wish you were dead. Before leaving, Ding Ke did not forget to intimidate Howard.

Old Jack wrapped all the leather armor tightly, then pulled out a dark wooden box from under the counter and said to Dink, "I am ready, we can go now"

"I am just joking; I am an outstanding student of Santander College. How can you compare me to that kind of scum? I am genuinely interested in making a purchase," Dink said, shaking his hand.

Oh, I remember now, you have come here a few times before, but it has always been about haggling, haven't you run out of money to buy anything?" Old Jack rubbed his eyes and said, staring at the fat man as he sized him up.

"Old man, it seems you are seeking death on your own accord, so you cannot blame me!" Howard, who was deeply favored by his uncle, although he did not dare to provoke those influential merchants with connections, showed no mercy towards a lonely and isolated old man from a foreign land, clearly demonstrating his tendency to bully the weak while fearing the strong

"Tyson, Ali, go all out and hit me hard." Howard waved his hand and said emphatically, while shouting at Dink: "What are you staring at? There is no business here today, get lost."

Old Jack nodded, shouldered his bag, picked up the suitcase, and without a trace of reluctance, strode out.

"Shut up, turn your hands over, and lower your head." Ding Ke was not ambiguous at all, binding Howard and the others like dumplings, and then casually grabbed a few pieces of dark, foul-smelling burlap from the table and stuffed them into the mouths of the three.

For the DINKs, donning lightweight leather armor does not hinder their agile and nimble movements in the slightest, especially in one-on-one competitions where their strength is comparable, allowing them to take the initiative.

You ... ...

Is it true? You are not lying to me? After listening to Ding Ke's words, Old Jack displayed a hint of skepticism on his face

As Ding Ke just reached the entrance of the door and the *picture* book, he heard a commotion coming from inside: "What’s going on? It’s rare for anyone to visit here; why is it so lively today?"

"Hi, how is that possible? Just because you always give me a discount every time I come to buy leather armor, I wouldn't deceive you either," Ding Ke said with a face full of righteous indignation.

"Alright, old man, stop dawdling. You can rest assured and go on your way. Safe travels." Ding Ke waved his hand and said calmly.

Although Ding Ke's profession is that of a warrior, when on the battlefield, the best choice is to wear armor. However, a decent set of medium-quality armor cannot be purchased for less than a thousand gold coins. On the other hand, the ordinary items priced in the tens or hundreds are as fragile as paper for warriors or mages above level six who possess fighting spirit.

With two resounding slaps, Howard fell silent and behaved himself

Leaving the noisy street and passing through the quiet, desolate alley, one arrives at a shabby, dilapidated little house at the end, where a dust-covered oak sign hangs at the entrance: Blackjack Leather Armor Shop

As the fists and feet of the two strong men were about to strike Old Jack, Dink, who was standing at the door, sprang into action

Spitting out a mouthful of blood along with two teeth, Howard muttered indistinctly, "Damn it!"

"What ... ... you make me ... ..." Old Jack's face revealed a hint of dissatisfaction

Wuwu... Wuwu! Howard is really about to burst into tears, no! Who knows when those two useless ones, Ali and Tyson, will wake up

It is important to note that although it is merely the hide of a low-level magical beast, the physical defense of the fire lizard is particularly strong. Ordinary swords and knives that do not contain fighting energy cannot damage it at all. Its only flaw is its poor magical resistance. Of course, if it had strong defenses against both attributes, the price would likely multiply several times.

It is known that there are quite a few leather armor shops on Bohalin Street. However, after multiple visits and repeated comparisons, Dink concluded that the leather armor sold by this inconspicuous dwarf shop in the alley is made of solid materials, crafted with precision, and offered at a fair price, making it undoubtedly the best choice for his shopping needs

"The past is the past, today is today, speak up, give me the lowest price." Ding Ke took out a heavy money pouch and placed it on the table

Do you want to leave

Oh, I see, you are from Santander College. Seeing the clover emblem on Dink's chest, Howard steadied himself.

Old man, I am going to www.hetushu.com now. " Clapping his hands, Ding Ke turned around and said

On both sides of the bustling Boharin Street in Santander, there are shops of various designs. In the display cabinets at the entrance, exquisite and precious goods are arranged, shimmering enticingly under the sunlight, capturing the attention of passersby.

With such a superior geographical location, Santander has become one of the renowned trading cities within the alliance. It is no exaggeration to say that in Santander, as long as you have money, there is nothing you cannot buy, only things you cannot afford

The fierce light in the fat man's eyes was evident, and a hint of murderous intent was apparent. Howard's heart raced wildly, fearing that this guy might retaliate by calling for help. Perhaps it would be better to take decisive action and eliminate him to silence him for good

Dink did not think much and directly pushed the door open and walked in

"Here, take your money." Ding Ke readily opened the money bag. It is worth noting that such finely crafted fire lizard leather armor would not be available for less than two hundred gold coins at any other shop, so you need not even think of uttering the word 'buy'.

"I won't sell it. Unless you kill me, don't even think about buying my leather armor for a single gold coin, not even if you are a king." The shopkeeper, a dwarf named Jack, with his grizzled hair and a dark face marked by deep wrinkles from years of hardship, raised his head defiantly, showing no fear, while tightly clutching a piece of purple leather armor.

Meanwhile, Ding Ke unceremoniously lifted his foot and kicked Ali in the waist. Without any suspense, Ali let out a muffled groan, collapsed onto the counter, his face turning pale, and his whole body began to convulse.

"Don't shout, just let me continue speaking..." Ding Ke said, patting Jack on the shoulder.

This is truly infuriating

It is still so prosperous here, in stark contrast to that desolate place of the old man. The gaze swept unceremoniously over the elegantly dressed, graceful young girls around, and Ding Ke couldn't help but exclaim in admiration

"Alright, considering that you helped me teach these guys a lesson, I will give you a discount of 20%, making it 80 gold coins, which is the lowest I can go." Old Ke gestured with his fingers.

The fat man certainly does not fear this fellow coming to the academy to cause trouble. It is important to know that the status of Santander Academy is several levels above that of Santander City. Even the city lord treats the academy's president with utmost respect and obedience.

Young man, my uncle is the mayor of Santander City. Even your principal would have to treat him with respect and courtesy. What are you? Be sensible and step aside. I have taken the leather armor and will not hold this against you. Otherwise, I will definitely bring people to...

After each exam, the students have half a day's rest. At this moment, Dingke is leisurely walking on Bohalin Street, which is paved with granite, carrying a bag of jingling gold coins.

Let me tell you, I am Howard, the nephew of the city lord. Do you understand clearly?

Howard clearly did not expect that this seemingly harmless fat man standing at the door would actually dare to take action, and that his strength was so formidable. With a flustered expression, he pointed at Dink and said: "You, you dare to hit my people, are you tired of living?"

Ding Ke's eyes twinkled as he suddenly thought of a plan. He waved to Old Jack and leaned over to whisper a few words.

I do not know

A resounding slap echoed within the narrow shop

Ding Ke took the leather armor and immediately removed the cowhide soft armor he was wearing, replacing it with the purple-red fire lizard leather armor. Remarkably, this leather armor seemed to be custom-made for a stout person, fitting perfectly.

Relying on the presence of the Santander University within its territory, the once obscure town of Santander has transformed into a remarkably prosperous city after centuries of development

I... can we go?" Seeing Dink and Jack complete the transaction, Howard, who had been drawing circles, turned his head and weakly asked.

Damn it, turns out he is just like me, also wanting to rob openly! Howard thought to himself upon hearing the fat man's words

Tyson and Ali were in a semi-conscious state anyway, so it didn't matter much; it was Howard who suffered, being tossed around like this, nearly brought him to tears.

Bang

Moreover, if I successfully pass the promotion exam this time, I will return to the territory to become the lord, so what do I have to fear from you

"Then I will ask you one last time, are you selling this leather armor or not?" Beside the counter, a thin man dressed in a silk suit shouted loudly, his pale face appearing slightly flushed from excessive excitement. Behind him, two burly men with unfriendly expressions followed; one had the character '泰' written on the back of his shirt, while the other had '阿'.

Indeed, this fire lizard leather armor is as described in the book, exhibiting excellent elasticity and remarkable warmth, making it truly comfortable to wear. Dingke waved his arms and lifted his legs, experiencing it firsthand

Having encountered individuals lacking in manners, I have never seen anyone as uncouth as the one before me. In comparison to Huo and Tushuhua, Ding Ke felt as pure as an angel.

To the north lies the undulating Rocky Mountains, to the west is the picturesque Blue Sky Prairie, and within its territory runs the Wells Canal, which traverses the continent from east to west, while at the southern end is the renowned port city of Haint.

"Here, take this with you. Once you arrive there, just show it to them," Dink said as he handed the written note to Old Jack.

Old Jack folded the note, squinting as he said, "Take care, kid. I'll be waiting for you"

"Old man, to be honest, I see that in your shop, apart from this fire lizard skin armor which has some quality, the rest doesn't seem very valuable. If you can bring less, then bring less." Watching the old man pack away the hanging pieces of leather armor as if they were treasures, Dink was writing something on the side while speaking.

Howard's eyes were almost bursting with sparks of anger, yet he dared not argue with Dink any further. The clear red imprint on his face warned him not to provoke this fat man, or he would face dire consequences. Endure, he must endure

The fat man is not foolish; if he wishes to act nonchalantly and simply points to the door with a dismissive gesture, Howard would certainly be eager for that. He would then go out to gather reinforcements to come and give him a good beating. Although he only brought two level three bodyguards, one cannot underestimate the powerful assistance that might be lurking behind.

The only flaw is that all the leather armor styles are quite outdated and absolutely do not come with any jewelry embellishments, which does not align with the extravagant and luxurious consumption concepts of today's wealthy offspring. As a result, the business has not been thriving. However, from Ding Ke's perspective, this type of leather armor is exceptionally comfortable to wear and is undoubtedly the result of meticulous design.

Close the door properly, Ding Ke hummed a little tune and walked away.

The fat man was utterly unreserved, delivering a resounding slap with a backhand. Howard felt a stinging pain on his face; this kind of warm treatment was something he had never experienced from childhood to adulthood. Today, he finally had a taste of it.

In such situations, I have encountered them quite often in my hometown; every little detail is an experience

Old Jack hesitated for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and nodded, saying: "Well, it can only be this way, but you better not deceive me about the agreed terms, you rascal"

Ding Ke turned his head to glance at Howard, a faint smile appearing on his face, yet he remained silent

"Alright, I will organize this right away. By the way, what about those three?" Old Jack said, curling his lips at the three scoundrels.

Payment is made upon delivery

Well, first I need to buy a good leather armor, and then I can indulge myself at the tavern. I have money today. " Dink licked his dry lips and hurriedly walked towards a small alley in the distance

Listen carefully

Therefore, this city is also widely known by the nickname: Paradise of Extravagance

"Please, please, big brother, no, sir, can you not tie me up? I promise I won't run away and won't cause you any trouble." Seeing the thick rope in Dink's hand, Howard's expression changed. This guy is so ruthless in his actions, showing no mercy whatsoever. The plan he had meticulously crafted had no chance of being executed.

After sending off Old Jack, Dink turned and walked in front of Howard, kicked him, and said: "Kid, just lie here obediently. When your two bodyguards wake up, they should be able to break free from the ropes."

Although in his hometown, Ding Ke is not a kind-hearted person, he would never wantonly bully the weak, the elderly, or the sick. The fat man always feels that even a demon should possess a shred of mercy. Moreover, this guy actually wants to buy that set of fire lizard leather armor. Fortunately, he has money today; otherwise, wouldn't that little brat have taken a great advantage

"Are you joking? Look at the emblem on my chest. Are you doubting the words of an excellent Santander student? Besides, I am considering your interests; otherwise, do you think there are any other options?"

"Do you also want to buy it for a gold coin?" Jack said angrily, having just thought that the fat man had good character, only to realize that he was also a bad person.

Although the items may not be of high quality, they are the result of one's own hard work; how can they be casually discarded

Hmph, old man, do you know who I am to dare speak to me like this

Bang

"Young man, you injured a few of them, and you can just walk away, but my days ahead will not be easy," Old Jack said as he put away the money and sighed

Starting from practical considerations, based on his current consumption level, purchasing a fire lizard skin armor is the most economical choice for Dink.

Finally, I can go out and enjoy myself again; life is truly wonderful! With arms wide open, the plump man faced the warm afternoon sun and took a deep breath

A horse stance moved forward, and a powerful left hook struck Tyson's face. A faint red light flashed, and Tyson's massive body flew through the air, crashing heavily against the wall with a thud, rendering him unconscious.

Two mere Tier 3 warriors could hardly be a match for the Fatty; it is evident that this is merely a one-sided and effortless domination.