Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Chapter 12: City of Desire and Despair (3)
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As soon as morning broke, Martin and Sien left the guesthouse and headed into the city.
Fritz Kahn, instead of joining them, went to the city hall.
To check on the guild members staying there.
And to keep drawing the attention of the watchers as much as possible.
“Where will you be this morning?”
“The southwest district.”
“Didn’t know you were into gourmet street, Martin.”
“How many people in the world hate good food? Since we’re here, I think we should check it out properly.”
The Free City of Akella was a key transportation hub connecting the empire’s west and north, and with a river running through it, trade had flourished there for ages.
In the process, foods from various regions spread, and chefs settled in the southwest district entirely.
As a result, a famous spot called Gourmet Street was born.
‘My real goal is something else.’
The second reason they came to Akella was to rescue dwarves and elves from the slave market.
Of course, sending them back home wouldn’t make them instant friends, but it would at least create an opportunity to build rapport.
To pull that off, they first needed to enter the illegal market where the slave market was located, but that wasn’t a place just anyone could go.
‘Only those recommended by a manager can enter.’
Strictly speaking, they needed a pass from a manager.
That’s why they were heading to Gourmet Street.
He didn’t have any close acquaintances, but there was someone with a tenuous connection.
Even if it was a bad one.
“Smells good.”
“Yeah.”
As they neared Gourmet Street, delicious aromas filled the air.
Having skipped breakfast, they felt a fierce hunger.
“Picking what to eat is the first task, right?”
“No worries, Sien. I scouted the places ahead of time knowing this would happen.”
“You’re so thorough.”
Sien beamed at Martin’s reply.
He silently apologized to her inwardly at the sight.
It was true that the place they were going was a famous restaurant.
The problem was that a proper meal was unlikely.
‘I’ll make sure they treat us right.’
Watching Sien’s genuine joy, Martin steeled his resolve.
In the meantime, they entered Gourmet Street.
True to its name, eateries of every kind lined the road endlessly, and even in the morning, plenty of people had come to enjoy the food.
Martin led Sien deeper into the street.
And stopped in front of a three-story building.
The shop’s name was ‘Crossroads of Fate,’ and all floors were bustling with people.
‘Talk about terrible taste.’
Considering what the restaurant really was, it was arguably the worst name possible.
But what could he do?
He had to stop here to achieve his goal.
With his resolve firm, Martin entered the shop, and Sien followed.
Immediately, a server approached as if waiting, and at the same moment, Martin’s eyes flashed.
The movements were too sharp for an ordinary employee.
“Welcome to Crossroads of Fate! Table for two?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s space on the third floor. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Third floor’s fine, but how about dining with the underground VIP instead? You guys should recognize my face, and someone like me deserves an invite to the Shadow Room.”
Whoosh!
The moment Martin finished speaking, sharp killing intent focused on him.
Sien urgently reached for her sword, but Martin held out his left hand to stop her.
“……What the hell kind of place is this?”
Sien scanned the surroundings with a stiff expression.
The servers around them were all glaring daggers, radiating killing intent.
Yet the other patrons continued eating, oblivious.
They were all clearly experts who could control their auras perfectly.
“Assassin Guild.”
“What?!”
Sien was genuinely shocked.
Martin, ignoring her, stared down the server in front of him.
And continued what he had to say.
“Cut the nonsense and take me to your master, why don’t you? You know even if all of you came at me, you couldn’t win. Your master already gave up fighting me and ran.”
At Martin’s words, the killing intent from the servers—or rather, the Assassin Guild killers—intensified.
That was when it happened.
Step, step.
A man in his late twenties descended from the second floor.
“The master requests your presence.”
“That’s more like it.”
No sooner had the young man spoken than the killing intent vanished.
The servers then parted to clear a path.
Though they yielded without resistance, their glares at Martin and Sien remained piercing.
‘Why is this guy so oblivious?’
Sien stared at Martin in disbelief.
How could he grin like an idiot in a situation like this?
There were limits to courage.
Ignoring her reaction, the young man headed back to the second floor, and Martin followed right away.
Sien trailed behind, resigned.
“……This is really the Assassin Guild? You’re not messing with me?”
“Come on, I wouldn’t trick you over something like this, Sien.”
“You already did.”
“It is a famous restaurant. You’ll see when we eat later.”
“E-eat here? You’re dead set on getting poisoned?”
“The master here isn’t that petty.”
As the two whispered quietly, the young man silently led the way.
Moments later, on the second floor, he headed to a warehouse at the back of the building.
He caressed the wall at the far end.
Rumble.
The wall split in two, revealing stairs leading down.
“Please proceed from here. The master awaits.”
“Thanks for the guide. Here’s a tip.”
Martin tossed a silver coin as he spoke, and the young man caught it with an expressionless face.
Flash!
The moment they stepped onto the stairs, the magic stone lamps on the walls blazed with light.
Unlike the wary Sien, Martin descended leisurely.
The basement held only one room, filled with ornate decorations.
And one person waited there for them.
“Nice to see you again.”
“I figured we’d meet eventually, but didn’t expect you to come looking first.”
A wry smile crept across the lips of the man whose face was more than half-covered by a golden mask—the Shadow King.
* * *
Martin’s arrival in the Free City of Akella and his invitation to the market had reached his ears quickly.
He’d even assigned watchers to track his movements.
‘Not just me, either.’
The position of lesser lord of the Adalbert family was enough to shake Akella.
But that wasn’t all anymore.
Martin’s recent actions were downright unconventional.
With all sorts of illegal dealings rampant in Akella, the underworld bosses and corrupt officials had no choice but to focus on him.
“Your information network is impressive as always, young lord. You even know the nature of this humble establishment.”
“If you’re going to praise me, at least put a little sincerity into it. Every major power knows this place. Information network my ass.”
“Hah. Fair enough. So, what brings you here? Want to settle the score from last time?”
“You ran away after I smashed you, and now you’re acting all bold. Nah, I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“Placing a request? Whoever’s marked is in for it.”
“Anyone else, maybe, but that’s rich coming from you. Anyway, it’s not an assassination. I prefer killing my enemies with my own hands.”
“Then what is it?”
“I want to go to the black market, but it’s not open to just anyone, right? So I’m here for a pass. Your recommendation should get me in.”
The Shadow King’s presence vanished.
If he weren’t still sitting there, Martin would’ve thought he’d disappeared.
“I don’t get it, young lord. Why would you need to go to the black market? The goods there are decent, sure, but nothing compared to what comes out of Vareahein. And you, of all people, know that.”
“There’s one thing. Something no dungeon city, Vareahein included, ever deals in. They call it the employment agency here, don’t they?”
“……The slave market. Dangerous interest.”
“That’s rich coming from you. You’re secretly brewing dangerous drugs behind the Medicine King’s back. Doom, was it?”
The Shadow King was struck speechless for a moment.
Martin continued with utter nonchalance.
“You haven’t released Doom in earnest yet, so we can chat like this. Otherwise, one of us would be dead. And odds are high it’d be you.”
“Your confidence is something else, young lord.”
“I did win, didn’t I?”
The Shadow King shook his head in exasperation.
“Fine, drop it. If you’re here to keep yapping about Doom, just leave.”
“It’s not urgent, so I’ll let it slide. Just hand over the pass.”
“If you cause trouble, it comes back on me as the recommender. Why would I take that risk?”
“You’ve got a debt to me.”
“Debt?”
The Shadow King was genuinely baffled.
It was true he’d backed down after losing to Martin.
But that was because the assassin had fought head-on recklessly.
If they stuck to stealth and ambushes, he was confident the outcome would differ.
“You barely got mentioned during the Fratel cleanup. And even then, it was because I brought up Doom.”
“Claiming you did me a favor, young lord?”
“Honestly, if I’d called in reinforcements from the main house, this headquarters would’ve been done for. I had the power but didn’t act. So you owe me, right?”
“Aren’t the Adalberts a swordsmanship powerhouse? Why are you so damn eloquent too?”
“Cultured nobles are good with words.”
Martin shrugged lightly.
Then drove the point home.
“I’ll ask again. Hand over the pass.”
“That’s some attitude for a favor…… But nothing’s free. What do I get in return?”
“I’ll call it even for attacking me before. Dodging an enemy in the Adalbert family with a few words? Can’t beat that deal.”
Martin spoke with full confidence.
The Shadow King, however, panicked.
The black market was strictly for the select few.
Yet Martin thought he could brush it off with words?
‘But I can’t just ignore it.’
The Adalberts had lost their status as one of the three great houses recently due to depleted forces.
They still outmatched most nobles, though.
Clash with them?
Even victory wouldn’t end well.
“If that’s not enough, I’ll throw in some info. Real generosity.”
“Let’s hear it first.”
“Steer clear of the slave market entirely. It won’t be around much longer.”
“I respect your skills, young lord, but don’t meddle there lightly. Even you could lose your life.”
The Shadow King glared at Martin.
He’d used the slave market himself several times.
To turn talented kids into assassins.
The orphanages nationwide were more important, but he couldn’t just abandon a supply source for recruits.
“You’re so damn picky. Last piece of info from me: the forest fairies and earth spirits are gunning for it. That enough?”
“……You’ve reached that far?”
“No comment.”
Martin grinned broadly.
“What a day for craziness.”
The Shadow King glared, then finally shook his head.
He pulled a platinum coin from his pocket.
It wasn’t the standard gold coin used across the continent.
“Smart choice.”
“Keep your promise.”
“Of course. I’m a man of my word.”
Martin pocketed the coin from the Shadow King.
Now all that was left was heading to the black market in the north.