Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Tail Chase (2)
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From Mezaya to Maduros was a six-day journey by carriage.
With Lilia having even shed her priestly robes, riding in a church carriage was out of the question, so Shane had prepared a separate one instead.
The trip, decked out like a sightseeing tour for the sons of wealthy families, was peaceful.
If there was one regrettable thing, it was that church carriages granted free passage everywhere, while ordinary ones meant waiting here and there.
Of course, the ordinary way was the norm, so complaining about it was just the whining of the well-fed.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Yes! Safe travels!"
After six leisurely days of travel, Galen and Lilia arrived in Maduros and parted ways with their escorts.
They were people Shane had hired in the first place, so they'd find their own way back.
Instead of heading to an inn, the two went straight to the address they'd been given in advance.
An utterly ordinary mansion in an utterly ordinary residential neighborhood—so ordinary they wondered if they'd come to the right place.
"Welcome."
But the one who answered their knock was Shane.
This matter was far too important for half-measures, so to properly support the pair, he'd left the branch office in his deputy's hands and come all the way here by other means of transport.
A bit too subtle for full-on espionage work, but the Kallia Trading Company—possessing some intelligence network traits—maintained several such disguised mansions in every city.
"The black market opens four days from now, at night."
Shane said as he led them inside.
"Stay here until then. Make yourselves at home."
"Thank you for the hospitality. Any new information in the meantime?"
"Nothing special."
"Hmm."
Galen scratched his cheek.
"So, no concrete details on this black market after all?"
"Yes. Our capabilities fall short... my apologies."
"Ah, no criticism intended at all. It's inherently sensitive information."
The Kallia Trading Company's info network was unmatched in breadth. The company spanned the entire world, after all.
But breadth didn't always mean depth.
They operated by paying informants, merchant-style—which meant there were things money couldn't buy.
Details on black market executives were shrouded in secrecy; even bribes yielded nothing substantial.
"Forcing their mouths open now would be terrible timing besides."
"Indeed. It'd be like stirring the grass and startling the snake."
If their identities were somewhat known, they could be flushed out deliberately.
But they couldn't even confirm if the black market executives were in the city.
These were people who roamed from city to city hosting markets—they could dive underground at the first whiff of danger.
'Requesting cooperation from the Steelwall Family feels iffy too.'
There were personal awkwardnesses for Galen, plus the friction between the family and church over the recent ruins incident.
The reason Galen had come to Maduros was solely to obtain a 'clue' through the black market about who had handed the magic armament to the pirate boss.
There was no guarantee that person was here, nor even confirmation they'd truly passed it on.
Requesting help only to come up empty would spell trouble.
The Steelwalls would undoubtedly cry, 'The church is making excuses and wreaking havoc in our backyard!'
'Only request if a magic armament really turns up and we're truly stumped. Otherwise, better to come quietly and leave quietly.'
In any case, with the situation as it was, the best move was to wait patiently until the black market day and snatch them then.
Shane seemed to think the same. He ventured cautiously,
"As we discussed initially, participating directly in the black market seems to offer the highest chance of success right now."
"Agreed. Could you explain the specific plan again?"
"Of course. We've secured a black market entry pass in advance."
Galen nodded, and Shane produced something like a black-painted wooden token.
"Without the passphrase, you can't even buy one—but with it, it's just a hundred gold."
"Not silver coins, I hope?"
"Gold coins."
"That expensive?!"
Lilia's eyes went wide. It wasn't an amount to faze a ten-thousand-gold black card holder, but gold coins were still unfamiliar to her, having stumbled into a windfall.
"As I mentioned before, it's a high-end auction selling only prime stolen goods, not the petty stuff hawked elsewhere. With hundreds of gold changing hands at minimum, a hundred is pocket change."
"Still..."
"Anyway, one pass admits up to two people. The two of you enter together and grab your chance during the auction..."
"Hm, straightforward enough."
Lilia tilted her head at Shane's explanation.
"The black market isn't a bad target, right?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, it's not that they're too cute to touch—it's that they keep popping up no matter how many times you smash them, so it's a hassle."
"Correct."
"Even so, couldn't some justice-driven soul drop a hundred gold to raid it? Wouldn't they have defenses?"
"They station lots of underlings and prepare escape tunnels, I'd imagine. Not sure what else..."
"That's plenty effective already! Any delay, and they slip out secret passages..."
"...Then we just block those."
Galen, who had been silently pondering their exchange, finally spoke.
"Pardon?"
"Shane, the pass doesn't require two people, right?"
"Pardon? Ah, no. Maximum two. People often bring one guard, but solo entries happen too."
"No issue going alone, then."
Galen nodded and pocketed the pass.
"I'll ask for your help again later if needed, Shane."
"Understood."
"Now, I need to discuss with Lilia."
This was territory Shane didn't need to know.
*
Four days later.
As the sun teetered on the horizon.
Lilia hurried down the darkening street, hood pulled low.
The border between commoner and slum districts—security wasn't guaranteed.
Though the alleys twisted complexly, her steps were sure, having familiarized herself with the area over the past four days.
Soon she stopped before a sizable building, noise spilling out.
"......"
Confirming the sign, Lilia pushed open the door.
Ding-a-ling—
The din assaulted her ears the moment she entered.
"Wahahahaha!"
"You wanna go, punk?!"
"Ease up on the booze, man!"
Day laborers living hand-to-mouth guzzled cheap ale amid raucous chatter, while mercenaries on the other side staggered drunk already.
"Hey, missy!"
"Alone? Join us for a drink?"
Catcalls rained down before she'd taken a few steps. Some whistled.
Even with loose robes and deep hood hiding face and figure, her natural curves peeked through.
"......"
Treatment unimaginable in her priestly robes—but Lilia endured stoically.
The owner grinned sleazily as she reached the counter.
"Not my place to say, but this ain't a spot for a lone lady. Short on cash?"
"I have money."
Lilia replied in a deliberately lowered, altered voice.
"What's the local specialty liquor? Oh, at least thirty years aged."
The owner's bleary eyes sharpened for a split second.
When he spoke, his tone and expression slouched back to normal.
"Don't sell stuff that old. Gets pricier with age."
"Can be pricey without age if it's good from the start."
"Don't sell good stuff here. Not in a dump like this."
"Too bad. Thought it might be a hidden gem."
Lilia turned without regret.
"What, leaving without a sip?"
"Owner! Don't chase her out for no money—I'll cover it!"
Ignoring the drunks, Lilia exited.
Waiting outside briefly, a man followed.
He glanced at her and casually headed to the back yard like for the outhouse. Lilia tailed him discreetly.
"How many?"
"Number eleven."
The man asked offhand as he walked ahead; Lilia answered.
Without looking back, he extended a hand. Lilia handed over the black wooden token.
He nodded at the pass.
"Solo?"
"Yes."
"Confident, huh."
"A bit?"
Lilia said haughtily on purpose. He snorted and entered the storehouse.
Behind haphazardly stacked crates lay a cleverly hidden staircase. He lit a nearby oil lamp.
They walked the winding underground passage for minutes—twists, forks; easy to get lost without a guide.
Emerging, it was another warehouse-like spot.
Differing only in a small horse-drawn cart waiting instead of goods.
"Hop on. Curtains inside—pick what suits."
"Got it."
"Windows sealed for security. Tamper and it'll be no fun."
"Understood."
Lilia boarded without hesitation.
The door shut, plunging her into pitch black—like a lightless cell, sealed tight.
The cart soon departed.
"Hoo..."
Lilia sighed deeply.
Used to fine carriages, the rough ride made her backside ache.
Still, things were going smoothly.
Just as Shane described.
No info on this black market, but plenty on past ones—including recent attendee accounts.
Go to the designated spot by appointed time; guided via underground to unknown relay; then windowless cart to market.
Unknown origin meant even memorizing speed and turns yielded no precise location.
Pursuit from outside impossible for the same reason.
Unless beating the guide or driver for info—which risked alerting executives to bolt.
Better to play nice, reach the market, then wreak havoc.
But Galen's plan was different.
"Hm-hmm."
Lilia hummed faintly, stroking her wrist.
A bracelet of water coiled her left wrist.
*
Spirits were linked to Galen via a channel, invisible to his eyes.
He could sense their location and actions from afar—though distance had limits.
The spirit coiled on Lilia's wrist, which he'd been tracking, suddenly accelerated.
Walking till now; probably mounted a cart.
"Coming out of some weird spot. How'd they dig these tunnels?"
Galen grumbled, urging his horse.
Sunset helped, but the cart's pointless circling made pursuit child's play.
Oil lamp in hand, he slowed after thirty minutes.
The spirit's speed dropped, then halted—destination reached.
Galen halted in an alley.
He eyed a mansion a short distance away.
'That it?'
Utterly ordinary-looking. No heavy guards. Indistinguishable from neighbors.
But Spirit Creation's senses confirmed: Lilia was inside.
Dismounting, Galen loosely led his horse, sauntering casually before stopping in shadows.
Not too close to walls, just far enough not to arouse suspicion.
Shhh...
The mana of Domain Deployment quietly spread underground.
Eyes half-closed in focus, Galen soon grinned.
"Found you."
[Tail Chase (2)] End