Chapter 110: The Model Enthusiast’s Fury

If you haven’t witnessed it firsthand, it’s hard to imagine the vivid expressions that can flash across a dwarf’s face in mere seconds.

First came terror.

Then, in the next instant, rage. Raine saw Barend clench his teeth tightly.

Anger?

Of course!

Even with just a glance, Raine could tell how intricately detailed the small model was. It was a figure based on a dwarf’s physique, complete with a skeletal system crafted from tiny iron rods melted, bent, and fused together. The plates covering the “muscles” of the limbs bore exquisitely etched patterns.

The craftsmanship was comparable to the MG (Master Grade) Gundam models Raine remembered from his previous life.

And let’s be clear: this world had no model factories. It was obvious Barend had painstakingly crafted the model entirely by hand.

To exaggerate a little, it wasn’t just a model—it was the embodiment of decades of a young dwarf’s dreams and youth.

Seeing the model broken in half as soon as it was brought out, Raine’s first reaction was to wince in pain as if it were his own.

But what truly pained Raine was Barend’s third reaction—grief. Just as Barend instinctively wanted to express his fury, his gaze swept over the crowd around him.

Humans.

Yes, humans. Cervantes humans, who didn’t always get along with dwarves.

This wasn’t the harmonious Karak Empire, where humans and dwarves coexisted peacefully. In Ramanque City, Barend was just a foreigner, an outsider.

For a moment, he clenched his fists—bigger than any human’s—only to let them go.

Barend lowered his head.

For some reason, this scene brought back memories that made Raine’s blood boil.

Turning his head, Raine saw a young man with brown hair and noble features walking arrogantly toward them. He was dressed in a high-collared aristocratic outfit, followed by a valet and two brawny warrior bodyguards.

Even though the nobleman looked frail, likely drained by a life of excess, he still carried himself with an air of superiority. Holding out his right hand, his valet immediately handed him a damp silk towel to wipe his hands. Moments later, the noble disdainfully discarded the towel—a piece of luxury that could feed an average family for three days.

His cold, vulture-like eyes fixed on the boy who had knocked over the table in front of Raine. “You filthy mutt, dare repeat what you just said, and I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

It was only then Raine noticed that the boy who had crashed into the table was also well-dressed, though lacking any family crest. Still, his outfit marked him as the child of a wealthy merchant.

The boy lifted his head defiantly. “You’re lying! How could Lord Tesla set such an exam question? The test materials you’re selling aren’t even about physics!”

A cold glint flashed in Raine’s eyes as he thought with a smirk: Oh? So that’s what this is about? Well, now I’m wide awake.

Before the boy could finish speaking, the nobleman’s valet stepped forward and delivered a harsh slap across the boy’s face.

Smack!

Now, both sides of the boy’s face bore five fiery red fingerprints.

The slap was so brutal that the boy’s right cheek swelled visibly.

The commotion caused by this group was so over the top that the tavern owner seemed ready to intervene.

But at that moment, the valet loudly declared, “Do you know who my master is? He is Lord Vito, the heir to the title of Count of the Marino Duchy!”

This brazen declaration of identity immediately froze any would-be peacemakers in their tracks.

Hiss!
The heir to a count was essentially as good as the count himself.

This was no trivial matter. Even the Count of Ramanque would likely find himself powerless to intervene.

But why was such a high-ranking noble selling exam materials here?

Hearing the other party’s identity, the light in Barend’s eyes dimmed even further.

The boy, clearly terrified by Vito’s status, was left dumbfounded. He knelt halfway in front of Raine, craning his neck to look up at the noble heir.

The other party’s eyes were filled with nothing but icy cruelty.

The boy’s lips trembled for a long time before he managed to squeeze out, “You shouldn’t sell old-era magic books as Lord Tesla’s exam questions—and for such an outrageous price…”

Young Master Vito was clearly enraged and retorted immediately, “79 gold coins is expensive? Magic books have been this price for centuries! Don’t spew nonsense with your eyes wide open. It’s hard to practice magic in this late-magic era… how is it expensive? You’re just poor and can’t afford to study magic!”

Seemingly worried that the boy might expose his scam further, Vito gave a signal with his eyes. One of the warrior bodyguards stepped forward, effortlessly grabbing the merchant boy by the collar. Ignoring the boy’s pig-like screams, the guard began dragging him step by step down the stairs, heading toward the alley behind the tavern.

“Hmph!” Vito snorted, flicking his hair dramatically to the other side of his forehead. With his chin held high, he prepared to leave with his entourage.

Such was his presence that the tavern staff didn’t dare demand compensation, and the other patrons remained silent, not daring to intervene.

Suddenly, a leg extended, rudely blocking Young Master Vito’s path.

“You…” The valet was about to lash out but froze when he noticed his master pause. The valet immediately shrank back.

Vito had already announced his name—who would dare block his way? Whoever it was had to be either a fool or utterly fearless.

Surprised, Vito looked at the golden-haired young man in front of him. The man wasn’t just strikingly handsome; his attire radiated opulence. For a moment, Vito hesitated, unsure of this person’s background.

Raine leaned lazily against his chair, one arm draped over the windowsill. Pointing casually at the dwarf, he said, “Hey, Ponzi junior. I don’t care how you deal with that kid, but your men hit someone and destroyed my friend’s model. You’re going to pay for that.”

Barend, upon hearing this, was genuinely touched that a near-stranger would stand up for him. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive—it was against someone about to become a count, after all!

Barend quickly waved his hands. “No, it’s fine. My model isn’t anything valuable.”

Seeing the young dwarf’s concession and uncertain of Raine’s background, Vito seemed inclined to take the easy way out. “Hah! Toys are meant to be played with. So what if it’s broken? What’s it worth? Falk, give him a silver coin as compensation.”

At that moment, the string of patience in Raine’s mind tightened to its limit. He could feel it—not just his own anger, but Barend’s fury as well. However, Barend’s large hand rested on Raine’s arm, and he shook his head. “Let it go, buddy. It’s not worth it.”

Let it go? Oh, we’ll settle this tonight, and it’ll be crystal clear.

Raine held back for the sake of the Marino Duchy’s reputation. He respected the duchy’s grand duchess, a woman who had led 100,000 citizens in defiance of the undead army in a desperate situation. Publicly humiliating Vito would be akin to slapping Sofia’s face in front of the world.

Raine retracted his leg.

Vito suddenly felt a chill of unease but chose not to escalate further. With a haughty tilt of his chin, he descended the stairs with his remaining bodyguard.

What he didn’t know was what his valet had done.

“Here! This is your compensation.” The valet, a man accustomed to aiding and abetting, pulled out a coin pouch—not containing a single silver coin, but rather an entire bag of copper coins.

But just as Barend, suppressing his anger, extended his short arm to take it…

Clink, clank, clatter!

Under the valet’s mocking gaze, the 100 copper coins spilled across the tavern floor, creating a cacophony of sound.

At that moment, the string of patience in someone’s mind finally snapped.

Bang!

A figure that had been human-shaped twisted unnaturally, crashing through the second-floor window and landing in a heap of trash at Young Master Vito’s feet.

Terrified, Vito looked up to see the golden-haired young man descending slowly, unnaturally, as if in slow motion, landing directly in front of him.

“Well, today,” Raine said with a cold smile, “I’ll let you experience the fury of a model enthusiast.”