𝑂𝒱xt.𝗇t
What is the most common reason for artifacts to be sold at a lower price than normal?
Finding the answer is not that hard.
First and foremost, why one needs to sell the item at a cheaper price should be the question. When you rack your brain a little bit, you can see that either said person did obtain the item by abnormal means or the item is damaged.
But both of them open the same door.
The item can not be sold in legal ways. Therefore a place for the sake of illegal trade should be created.
And that place has one simple common name.
‘Black Market.’
A place for such things to be sold.
That was the place I was making my way towards right now. Of course, there are several Black Markets that one could have access to. Even inside the capital, Arcadia City, there are two different Black Markets, each ruled by a different society. There was also a special virtual black market called ‘Crimson Enchantora.’
But, being in the capital meant they were under the eyes of the Federation. Therefore their security was tight, which meant it was hard for me to enter there. My strength was also quite low, so choosing a less crowded place would be optimal.
And mostly, the items there are more expensive than this place. Capitalism is everywhere, not that I minded.
In any case, that was why I was in the Ariopolis – a city that was 4 hours of train ride from the capital.
The black market.
A place that resembled the demon world. The chaotic world of the demons was where this place was.
A world separate from the realm of laws and morals, where Villains and Heroes could coexist because they were ruled under the iron fist of the strong.
That’s where I found myself now.
Guests were required to wear masks when entering the black market to conceal their identities. As a precaution, the measure was taken to prevent government agents from tracking down anyone who may have infiltrated the location.
But at the same time, I knew this was all a fa?ade. There was no way that a random mask could hide one’s identity from the eyes of those with special skills that were solely devoted to tracking others. You could fake your face or hide, but you also needed to be careful about your mana imprints, small DNA traces, and many other small details that you would be tracked, thanks to.
Ensuring that my mask was tightly secured, I stood before a massive metal door.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
I knocked on the door three times.
-CREAK
Moments later, two bulky individuals in neat suits emerged from behind the door. The amount of pressure they were giving was nowhere close to the Headmaster or Instructor Eleanor, but it was still high for my fragile body.
But that didn’t mean it was something I had never been subjected to. No, different from what you would expect; I was subjected to such an aura before by the Hunter Friends of Aaron, the Hunter that brought me to the orphanage and trained me before entering the academy.
In any case, two bulky guys scanned my body for a little while, but they soon furrowed their brows.
“What are you here for, kid? It is not a place for little kids like you.” one of the bodyguards said, underestimating me based on my appearance.
Thought that was to be expected since even I would doubt myself in a place like this with such a body.
“I heard from a passing bird that you were looking for entertainers,” I replied, using the first part of the secret code.
The two bodyguards exchanged glances, seemingly intrigued by my response. I was pretty sure none of them expected I would know something like this. “Entertainers, huh? And what kind of entertainment can you offer?” the other guard asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m a skilled musician and dancer.”
The bodyguards looked at each other again, their expressions now more curious, as one of them put his hand into his pocket as his hands touched the button. “Impressive. We could use some entertainment around here.” He said with a smile.
“Show us what you’ve got.” And the other guard made a motion to attack at that exact moment, trying to scare me.
-SWOOSH!
Seeing him moving, I instantly grabbed my dagger from my belt and swung it into my right side while maintaining eye contact with the bodyguard.
-CLANK!
Deflecting a flying small dart aimed at my neck.
“Ho….” The bodyguard that just tried to scare me smiled. “All right, kid, you can go in.”
Just like that, they let me enter the black market.
‘Just as I expected.’ I thought.
The secret code was split into three parts. Two of them were with words, and the last one with the body.
If you didn’t know the existence of the dart, you would be dead since that dart’s presence was almost nonexistent, and the poison contained was a special position only a handful of people had access to its antidote.
As I stepped inside the black market, I was immediately struck by the contrast between its modern appearance and the illicit activities that transpired within its walls. The place resembled an underground mall, with a labyrinth of narrow alleys filled with stalls and booths selling all sorts of questionable merchandise.
Neon signs and flickering lights adorned the walls, casting an eerie glow over the bustling crowd. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and the acrid smell of electronic gadgets. Strange, otherworldly music blared from hidden speakers, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
The stalls were adorned with holographic displays showcasing their wares – from illegal weapons and advanced technology to rare collectibles and mysterious data chips. Each vendor seemed to be competing to catch the attention of potential customers, calling out their deals in a blend of different languages. In the end, even though only one language was spoken in the federation, the languages of the past didn’t disappear, and there were some who spoke such.
As I moved through the crowded alleys, I saw a diverse mix of people and creatures, some wearing stylish and futuristic outfits, while there were some with eccentric antic outfits like robes of magicians, assassins, or armors of knights. There were even cybernetically enhanced humans, augmented with mechanical limbs and glowing implants. Beside them were beings with glowing tattoos, their appearance hinting at some form of genetic modification.
Despite the sleek and modern aesthetics, the black market had an unmistakable undercurrent of danger. Enforcers dressed in dark, cyberpunk-style armor patrolled the area, keeping a watchful eye on potential troublemakers. It was clear that this was a place where the law was bent, and the powerful thrived on the fringes of society.
Even though it was such a place, it was also supported by the government. After all, even though it was a space filled with evil destruction, that meant the appearance of another place like that. Therefore rather than destroying this place, it was better for the government to have more and more access to its functions for the future, and they knew it better.
Hidden within the market were virtual reality booths and holographic projections, offering illegal experiences and shady dealings in the digital realm. The clandestine nature of the transactions was enhanced by the use of encrypted data transfers and blockchain technology, making it nearly impossible to trace. In a world where both magic and technology existed, entertainment was never limited to physical pleasure one would get just by mixing their body…..
The smell of some effective drugs entered my nose. Even though they were unfamiliar, at the same time, they were easy to discern since I could feel my body shaking slightly even after only smelling them from afar.
-MUSIC
As I ventured deeper into the heart of the market, I noticed concealed entrances leading to secret backrooms and hidden lounges. The place was like a high-stakes casino, where every move had consequences, and trust was a rare commodity.
I adjusted my mask while also constantly controlling my mana to never leak. I got gloves on my hand.
In any case, deciding to let go of my observation, I headed to the place I had in my mind. If one reason for me to come here were this place being cheap, the other would be a special person working here.
And not long after, I reached my desired location. Neon lights of various colors illuminated the area, drawing me closer like a moth to a flame. This was the street where the artifact sellers congregated, and it was always preferred by the veteran players who knew where to look at for artifacts.
I could see a lot of weapons out there, ranging from swords, bows, staffs, axes, spears, whips, katanas, daggers, knives, and guns.
‘Crescent Alley.’ I thought. It was a street that was bending constantly; thus, you couldn’t see the end from the start. It was a place for unknown blacksmiths and thieves to sell their products.
I could see a katana displayed in a good fashion; it was made from the horn of a Black Rhino, a special material that was hard to come by.
But seeing the price tag on it, I knew it was a scam.
‘100.000 Valer for a sword on the backstreets…. What a scam.’ I thought. But that didn’t mean everything here was like that.
For those that could discern good products from bad ones, in other words, for those with good eyes, it was actually a good place.
And my eyes were quite special for this case.
Just like that, I started looking at the artifacts while also looking for a person, though I didn’t mention his name.
As I continued down Crescent Alley, my eyes scanned the various artifacts displayed by the vendors. I was specifically on the lookout for a high-grade gun artifact, something that could complement my skill set. The challenge was to find a reliable seller amidst the sea of scammers.
One stall caught my attention, with an array of guns showcased prominently. The seller, a tall man with a greasy smile, immediately approached me. “Looking for something, kid? I got the finest guns in the market!”
I examined the guns, and they did seem of good quality, but experience had taught me to be cautious. “What’s the price for this one?” I asked, pointing to a sleek, black pistol.
The vendor stroked his chin. “For you, young one, a special price! Only 80,000 Valer!”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite expensive for a pistol. How about this one?” I pointed to another gun, slightly more worn in appearance.
“Ah, that’s a classic piece, my friend. Only 50,000 Valer!”
I feigned interest while internally scoffing at the blatant attempts to swindle me. “Hmm, interesting. Let me think about it.”
Moving along the alley, I spotted another stall with an impressive collection of guns and rifles. The seller, a shifty-looking woman, greeted me with a sly grin. “Welcome, young one! Looking for some firepower?”
I nodded, keeping my guard up. “Yes, I am. Show me what you have.”
She presented an array of guns, each one seemingly more impressive than the last. “This rifle here can pierce through any armor, and this pistol has an enchantment for improved accuracy.”
I listened intently, examining the guns with a discerning eye. I knew all of the things she had stated was a scam. Most of the time, it was not the guns that would make the difference but the bullets. “And how much are they?”
Her smile widened. “For a talented young hunter like yourself, 90,000 Valer for the rifle and 60,000 Valer for the pistol!”
The prices were exorbitant, and I knew better than to fall for such tactics. “I see. I’ll keep looking around.”
“Tch!” Though the woman understood from my tone alone that I saw through her fa?ade and immediately turned back.
I continued my search, wandering through the winding alleyways, dodging shady sellers trying to catch my attention with their flashy merchandise and false promises.
Just as I was about to move further, a weird-looking store caught my eye, and a weird feeling involved me at the same time.
‘This place was not in the game….’
————————–A/N—————————-
Hope you liked the chapter.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
The link to the discord server is in the description of the book.