Chapter 36: Black Market
Chapter 36: Black Market
The country of Freesia was divided into five cities:
-Velcros (the capital and where I currently am)
-Lacroix
-Alden
-Ebony
-Crimson
Each of these cities had their own specialties and characteristics, but I didn't care about them right now.
I needed to travel from Velcros to Alden, which was located in the north of the country, because this is where the black market is currently located.
Oh and for your info, the Silvermoon household is located at the center of Ebony, which is basically the city of the riches and powerful, as much as "The Core" at the capital.
I walked towards the train station and bought a ticket for the next train to Alden, it was expensive but I had enough money to pay for it.
"Ouch... this is putting a hole in my wallet..."
Eventually the train arrived and I entered it, I found a seat and sat down while waiting for the departure.
I looked through the window and saw the landscape pass by, it was beautiful, but I couldn't enjoy it as I was too focused on my goal.
After a few minutes, the train finally departed and I was on my way to the northern city.
I spent the ride resting as I would greatly need it for later, I can't afford to be tired when i'm in an unknown and dangerous territory after all.
When I arrived at the destination, I immediately got off the train and looked around.
The city of Alden was completely different from Velcros, it was smaller and less populated, but it had its own charm.
"Let's go" I walked forward and started heading towards the place I needed to go, I can't waste time.
The outskirts of Alden are known to be miserable so nobody approachs them, but that's also the reason why it's one of the biggest meeting place for the black market.
I walked for a while until I reached the outskirts, and I could see a lot of shady looking people walking around.
"This is it" I thought, "time to start."
I navigated through the streets and didn't care about any looks I got or any bad mouthing directed towards me, it was all a bunch of losers who achieved nothing in life after all.
But suddenly, I felt someone grab my shoulder from behind.
"Hey kid, what are you doing here?"
I looked back and saw a tall man with a scar on his face, he was wearing a leather jacket and had a cigarette in his mouth.
"I'm just passing by" I answered.
"Trying to make fun of us by showing off aren't you?" he suddenly got angry.
But oh boy he didn't know what true anger was it seems, I immediately turned in his direction and punched his face with the "Trial and Error" skill activated, this sent him crashing into a wall, effectively rendering him unconscious.
The eyes of the other poor citizens immediately turned away from mine as I looked at them, they were broke but had enough brain capacity it to understand they shouldn't fuck with me I guess.
The remainder of the walk became surprinsigly calm afterward, fear is an excellent factor to get peace it seems.
I eventually arrived at the place, it was a normal looking house, but everybody who was here long enough knew what this was.
I knocked at the door three times just as instructed.
"Who is it?" a voice came out of the other side.
I had completely forgotten what the password was, but thankfully something helped me.
[Skill: Extra's Knowledge, activated]
[The password is: Fire emblem]
"Fire emblem" I repeated, and suddenly the door opened to reveal a staircase, there was nobody behind it though, which means the voice thing was automatic.
I entered the building and closed the door behind me, I walked down the stairs and arrived at the basement, it was dark but I could see some light coming from the end of the hallway.
I followed the source and eventually ended up in a giant hallway-like room that went on for kilometers, it was the black market.
"Welcome!" a voice greeted me, "what are you looking for today?"
"I'm here to sell" I answered.
Of course I'm not dumb, every person in this shady place is here to scam or steal from others to get money, so if they see a newbie enter it, they'll jump on the occasion to make some cash.
"Oh, well then follow me"
The person guided me to a table far from the entrance, on the way I saw a huge amount of people from all races exchange items or discuss with one another, this would seem fairly normal if I didn't know where I was.
We arrived at the table where we both sat and the man looked at me, he had a gold monocle, a long black hat and grey short hair.
"so, what do you have to sell?"
Hehehe, but if everybody in here is a scammer, then I am one too.
[Skill: Axe of Hatred, activated.]
I made the axe appear out of nowhere, thus surprising him both by it's sudden appearance but also by it's form, it was completely red and it's sides were moving like waves, of course it looks cool.
"What is that?" he asked, curious, I also noticed that many eyes turned to the bright axe.
"I call it the "Aura Axe", it's extremely powerful and can be called by it's owner whenever they are in danger, look" I demonstrated by making it appear and disappear at will, of course I was just deactivating the skill but they didn't know that.
"Interesting, but how do you know it's so powerful?"
"Well..." I got up from my seat and held the axe in both of my hands, then I concentrated, suddenly the aura around became overwhelming and everybody around was surprised by it, "is this enough?"
"How much do you want for it?" he adjusted his monocle and suddenly became serious.
"Hmm~ around 5000$ would be good" I said.
But the man lifted his eyebrows, "an axe like that can be sold for only 3000$, that's the max I'm willing to give ya kid" of course it was false.
"3500$" I added a bit, honestly I was fine with his first offer but I couldn't show that I accepted too quickly.
"Deal" he got up from his chair and pulled a bag of money from under the table, then he started counting, "... and finally, 3500$, here ya go"
I took the cash and after making sure that it was real placed the axe on the table.
"Pleasure doing business with ya kid" he smiled.
And then I walked away, but of course I could hear the other people's whispers.
"He got scammed"
"This shit can be sold for 20k$"
"I wish I could get such an easy prey..."
Keep laughing and mocking me, let's see who's gonna have the last word fools.
I climbed up the stairs which I came from and officially left the black market after I opened the door of the house from the inside and closed it behind me.
And then...
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! I couldn't stop myself from laughing loudly.
I snapped my fingers and all of a sudden the axe was back in my hand, meaning that he effectively got nothing for his transaction.
"Who's the idiot now?" I thought as I grabbed the money that was in my pocket.