Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Chapter 12: The City of Desire and Despair (4)
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After receiving the recommendation token from the Dark King, Martin really did have a meal with Sien at the fateful fork in the road.
The Dark King himself even participated in the cooking, which left Sien genuinely freaked out.
That aside, the food was truly delicious, and the two of them filled their stomachs heartily.
Afterward, they altered their appearances with the polymorph artifact and left the shop.
“Ma.r.tin A.dal.bert.”
A voice that could have come from hell pierced his ear.
Martin gave a wry smile as he looked at the furious Sien.
“I’m really sorry.”
“An assassin guild out of nowhere—do you have any idea how startled I was?”
“I sincerely apologize. For not explaining ahead of time and getting your permission.”
“An apology is one thing, but why didn’t you tell me the destination? Were you afraid I’d object?”
“Uh... it’s not exactly objection... I just didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”
“You know that’s the same thing, right?”
“I promise you, Sien. From now on, I’ll never hide anything.”
Swoosh.
Martin reached out and hooked his pinky finger with Sien’s.
He subtly gauged her reaction, looking for all the world like a kid caught playing a prank.
In the end, Sien couldn’t help but let out a chuckle despite herself, and only then did Martin relax.
“Anyway, what’s the reason for heading to the slave market? It’s not like you need any slaves. You’re not... thinking...?”
A mischievous smile played on Sien’s lips.
Martin could read her thoughts plain as day, so he hurriedly shouted.
“That’s absolutely not what you’re imagining!”
“Then why are you going?”
“I told the Dark King. I want to meet the forest elves and the mountain dwarves.”
“Honestly, things were so hectic then that I don’t even remember what was said. But forest elves and mountain spirits? You mean those actually...?”
Sien’s face went blank as she started to question him.
She had fully grasped what Martin’s words implied.
At the same time, she understood why the Dark King had given that final warning.
“...You know, don’t you, Martin? That if you mess with the wrong people there, even you could lose your life.”
“I know it’s dangerous. But if it succeeds, the Adalbert family can fully reclaim its status as one of the three great noble houses. We’d have the free city of Akella right in our grasp.”
“Sigh. You’re already doing so well. Why take such risks?”
“Because we can’t go slowly. Soon, the empire’s chaos will spiral out of control. None of the three factions in the capital have any intention of yielding.”
The only reason all-out war hadn’t broken out yet was that the emperor was still alive.
But his life was clearly nearing its end, and that’s when the civil war would truly begin.
“To seize the initiative in that chaos without getting swept up, we need that kind of power.”
“I get what you’re thinking. Right now, we can’t handle the other three great houses, let alone the imperial factions. But isn’t building real strength just by buying slaves a bit tough?”
“Well, if it were just humans, yeah, it wouldn’t be enough.”
“Humans... you don’t mean you’re trying to ally with elves and dwarves?”
“That’s going too far. This time, the goal is just to create an opportunity to get close.”
“Say we free their kin from the slave market. Do you think they’ll see it as a favor? Humans are the ones they despise outright.”
“At the very least, it’ll open the door to conversation. That alone has meaning.”
“You really love walking that tightrope.”
“I don’t particularly like it. The situation’s just that bad.”
Martin answered calmly.
Sien shook her head.
“I can’t even guess how far ahead you’re seeing.”
“In times like that, just trust me, Sien. I haven’t disappointed you with results so far, have I?”
“Instead, you’ve made me anxious.”
“Uh... sorry about that... I’m thinking.”
“Well, I won’t belabor a done issue. The point is, you have a lot riding on this. Always keep that in mind.”
“Of course.”
He had already suffered enough miserable failures.
Just as he had changed much of the past over the last few months to create this successful present, he would continue forging a new future ahead.
* * *
Before heading to the black market, Martin and Sien disguised themselves completely.
To the point where no one could recall their original appearances.
Then, Martin used spatial transfer to shake off any pursuers.
Their destination was a mountain near Akella’s north gate.
“I figured a black market would be in some super secretive spot... Isn’t this too easy to find, even with big shots involved?”
“I thought the same at first, but it’s not. Without the guards’ guidance, you can’t enter no matter what. The entrance is covered in all sorts of magic—you won’t even find it, and if you blunder in, you die on the spot.”
Martin explained, drawing from past experience.
Even as he spoke, he kept scanning the surroundings.
Moments later, two figures entered his detection range.
They had to be the black market guards, so he headed straight toward them.
“Who goes there!”
The two guards pointed mana guns at Martin and Sien the moment they spotted them.
‘Fitting for a black market. Even the guards—one’s reached the 2nd circle.’
Regardless of nation, soldiers were typically 1st circle.
Reach 2nd circle, and you could be appointed a company captain; from 3rd circle on, you were treated as a knight.
Yet the black market used company-captain-level folks as mere guards.
Even if just one of them, it spoke volumes about their power.
Swoosh.
Regardless, Martin obediently raised both hands, and Sien followed suit.
She radiated displeasure, though.
“We’re customers. We were just looking for you folks—talk about lucky.”
“Just the two of you?”
“That’s right. I have the recommendation token in my pocket—mind if I take it out?”
“Go ahead. But try anything funny, and you’ll regret it big time.”
“Got it.”
Martin kept his left arm raised while slipping his right into his inner pocket.
A platinum coin gleamed brilliantly in his hand.
The younger guard approached, took the coin, and verified it.
“It’s genuine.”
“Number?”
“The number is... Gasp! It’s 12!”
“Number 12?!”
Both guards were genuinely shocked.
Coins numbered 1 to 20 were held by underworld heavyweights recognized across the continent.
Working the black market, the guards naturally knew their owners.
Considering they’d received the token from the recommender, these two were practically VIPs.
“Forgive our rudeness!”
“No need to apologize. You were just following procedure.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The guards bowed deeply once more and returned the coin.
Martin pocketed it again.
“Will you guide us to the market now?”
“Of course. Please follow us.”
The guards replied with utmost courtesy.
Their intent to avoid offending Martin was crystal clear.
Under their lead, Martin’s group soon reached a sheer rock face.
Wooong.
The older guard stroked the wall, and space split open, revealing a small hole.
Narrow enough for just one person, with a warp device inside.
“You’ll cross to the other side through here, but you absolutely cannot lose sight of me. Get lost, and you die—we take no responsibility.”
“Understood.”
Martin replied gravely to the older guard’s warning.
Satisfied, the guard stepped onto the warp device.
Wung.
Space warped, and he vanished.
Martin and Sien followed right after, teleporting almost simultaneously elsewhere.
“This is...”
Sien hurriedly shut her mouth.
But her eyes remained wide as saucers.
It was impossible to believe this vast passage lay beyond the rock face.
And that wasn’t all.
“Is this a maze?”
“Correct. It’s laced with all sorts of magic and traps—take a wrong turn, and you’re dead.”
“That’s why you said we can’t lose sight of you.”
“Exactly.”
The older guard pulled an artifact from his pocket and infused it with mana.
A bright light bloomed and stretched out ahead, forming a path.
“This way.”
“Got it.”
Martin’s group followed in single file.
Along the way, Martin examined the maze.
‘Breaking through head-on is basically impossible.’
The magic circles etched here were ancient.
They had ceaselessly drawn in massive mana from the surrounding mountains, transforming the interior into something like another dimension.
Unless you had innate spatial abilities or were a powerhouse who could manipulate space, tampering with this place would end badly.
While Martin pondered how to tackle it, the group reached the maze’s end.
There stood a steel door, nearly 5 meters high.
“This is Yos Esbain of the 13th Squad. I’ve brought guests—open the door.”
-Understood. Hold on a moment.-
A man’s voice echoed from a ceiling artifact.
Boom boom boom!
Moments later, with a deafening rumble, the door began to slowly open, kicking up dust.
“It’s even more impressive than the stories. Even simple artifacts aren’t easy to make.”
“Artifacts are essential for smooth communication. That’s why most mages here focus on basic ones. Once they advance, they start crafting powerful ones.”
“Very systematic.”
“With the market’s long history, the systems naturally fell into place.”
Clang!
The door fully opened as the explanation ended.
The guards led the way, and Sien and Martin followed slowly inside.
They had finally entered the black market.
“Wow.”
Sien’s jaw dropped.
She’d managed to hold it together at the maze, but not this time.
Magic stone lamps embedded in the ceiling and walls scattered brilliant light everywhere.
A gravity barrier enveloped the entire interior, perfectly supporting the vast space’s weight.
“Have you prepared your masks?”
“Yes.”
Martin donned his customary silver mask, while Sien pulled out a rabbit-shaped one.
Confirming the masks, the older guard spoke again.
“Guests must wear masks at all times while here. And never try to uncover another’s identity.”
“Any other precautions?”
“Only magic stones are accepted as currency. You can buy them with cash, but the fees are steep—not recommended. When your shopping is done, find Yos Esbain of the 13th Squad. Per market rules, I must guide you out.”
“Understood. Thanks for the thorough explanation.”
“No trouble. Enjoy your time.”
With that, the guards departed.
But Martin couldn’t relax.
Faint gazes from all directions prickled his senses.
‘So customers are under total surveillance.’
He steeled himself to achieve his goal despite all these constraints.
It wouldn’t be easy, but he strode forward confidently.