Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Black Market and the Black Dragon Sword
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Beyond the stone gate lay a rather spacious area.
It was stocked with three weeks’ worth of dry rations and drinking water.
While it seemed designed for focused training, its primary purpose was to prevent the secret arts from being leaked.
I placed the books I had brought on the desk.
One of them was a secret art of the Rantzverger family, learnable only upon becoming a 1st-class assassin.
The Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique.
The technique caused a kind of perceptual disruption.
It allowed for perfect concealment, but it had a clear drawback.
It had little effect on non-living things.
Against people, however, it was incredibly powerful.
An assassin could be right in front of them, yet they wouldn't perceive a thing.
The second was the aura technique of Douglas, a swordsman who had been active in the Beldam National Alliance.
He was quite skilled for a mercenary. Of course, that’s precisely why he was underrated.
Taking a dagger from my bag, I first began to practice Brutal Short.
Vwoom!
As I focused my mind, a deep, bluish-white flash erupted from the dagger.
The white light, wrapped in a dark blue energy, was different from a typical aura.
Tzzzt!
As I moved my mana according to the principles of Brutal Short, the energy flickered and took on a sleek form.
Soon, the Wheel Energy Arts of the Riverune family, which had been wiped out eighteen years ago, unfolded.
Swoosh!
The aura I thrust into the air looked ordinary at first glance.
But the moment an opponent blocked it, the true power of Brutal Short would be unleashed.
The technique was designed to split in two upon impact.
This much is a given. Now, for the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique.
Brutal Short could be used with any energy art.
The Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique, however, could only be activated with the Konntraeger Energy Arts.
"A bit complicated."
As befitting a family secret art kept in the 1st-class training hall, it wasn't easy to execute.
But I was once called the greatest prodigy of the Riverune family.
An art like this? Please.
After a few trials and errors, the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique was finally mine.
Ssshhh…
The moment a faint energy enveloped my entire body, my presence was completely erased from the stone chamber.
Though my tunic and pants would occasionally flicker into view, the technique held for quite a long time.
"The mana fusion is working perfectly. As I thought, the Wheel Energy Arts can be used to perform other secret techniques."
I had managed to execute the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique using the Riverune's energy art.
Not only that, but I could also draw out the aura refined by the Konntraeger method.
The Wheel Energy Arts was a secret art that allowed one to learn both magic and swordsmanship simultaneously.
It made it possible to master even techniques of completely different natures by fitting them together properly.
Thanks to its incredible versatility, learning multiple energy arts at once posed no major problem.
I can't do anything about the aura's color, though.
When using the Riverune's Wheel Energy Arts, its unique bluish-white energy was revealed.
It seemed I would have to refrain from using it in front of others.
I had now properly taken my first step as a 1st-class agent.
So far, my plan had proceeded without a single hitch.
The Acting Head Selection Tournament—that will be the turning point.
The Rantzverger family selected its Head based on the principle of the strong ruling, regardless of origin.
When I learned that, I felt a thrill that made my heart pound.
It was as if a smooth, clear path to my revenge had just opened up.
To participate in the tournament held every ten years, one needed to be at least a Transcendent-class agent.
Transcendent-class agents were those who had reached the 3rd to 2nd tier.
They were the core of the family, holding positions from branch chiefs to the head of the council of elders.
To reach that level, one had to be a hardworking genius.
Working this hard isn't my style. Isn't there an easier way?
I grumbled inwardly but didn't stop my training.
To become the Head, one needed the martial prowess to back it up.
The three weeks in the training hall passed in the blink of an eye.
Afterward, I stayed in my quarters and trained for an additional two weeks.
It was to bring the newly learned techniques to a usable level.
The very edge of the 5th tier. Much faster than in my previous life.
From the 4th tier onward, one was considered a Special Agent.
Of course, even if my level had risen, I couldn't be promoted immediately without a track record.
I would have to focus on 1st-class missions for a while to become a Special Agent.
To think I have to go back to the assassination guild… I'm already starting to miss my idle life.
I had one month left before I had to return to my duties.
If I didn't get a move on, I might mess up from the very beginning.
I immediately submitted a written report of my departure from the island and went down to the underground cave to wait for the regular ferry.
* * *
Upon arriving at Pailos Harbor, I immediately headed north to the Luveric Fief.
The south-central region of the Livius Continent was where the Rantzverger family's influence was strongest.
Wasn't there a Black Market around here? It might be good to stop by on my way to the Empire.
The Luveric Fief was a hub of commerce, situated where the Vertos Empire, the Felton Sword Family, and the four autonomous districts met.
I could probably find a decent sword here easily enough.
With a sense of anticipation, I sought out the Black Market.
The scale is quite impressive, as expected.
The Black Market wasn't just a single shop.
More than half of the Luveric Fief was its territory.
The entire city was known as the 'Sanctuary of Smugglers.'
Auctions were also held frequently, and the place I was about to enter was the only VIP auction house in the entire Black Market.
Naturally, only the chosen were allowed entry.
"Please show your invitation."
I carefully observed the guard's gaze, posture, and the aura he exuded.
As expected of a place managed by the family, a 3rd-class agent was stationed here.
He seemed to be one of those who had chosen to specialize as an intelligence agent from the very beginning.
With a casual shrug, I tossed him my red plaque.
"Hmm…"
The guard's brow furrowed.
This was an identification plaque that only a 1st-class assassin could possess.
Even a 3rd-class agent would not be ignorant of the cipher and the insignia's design on the red plaque.
A 1st-class agent had the authority to enter the Black Market's VIP auction house at will.
The problem was my youthful face, which looked like I had just completed ten years of arduous training.
Heh. I'm curious to see his reaction.
He would have been suspicious even if I were 2nd-class, let alone a 1st-class assassin.
Although he seemed uneasy, the guard, after a moment's hesitation, granted me passage.
It seemed he had set aside his suspicions for now, as the red plaque was genuine.
"…You may enter."
"Looks like you chose your path well. That intuition of yours will save your life often in the future."
Offering a word of advice with a smiling face, I leisurely passed through the entrance.
Inside, the VIP auction was in full swing.
"…Next up is a diamond circlet crafted in Dropia of the Beldam National Alliance. This item was once used by Princess Lucia of the Corinth Kingdom! As it is such a rare piece, we will start the bidding at ten thousand Geld!"
Corinth was a kingdom in the western part of the Livius Continent, famous for the beauty of Princess Lucia.
For a time, the western continent had been abuzz with countless marriage proposals from various nations.
But interest had vanished in an instant when the frail Princess Lucia died young.
Get on with it already. They're really dragging this out.
Although it was a treasure with a story, it was utterly useless to me.
As I waited with a yawn, the next auction item was finally brought onto the stage.
"This time, we have a truly magnificent item. This is the famed sword, Perun Wind, once worn by the Young Lord of Riverune eighteen years ago! The starting bid is set at twenty thousand Geld."
"…!"
I reflexively unfolded my arms and stared blankly as the red cloth was removed.
Perun Wind was a ceremonial sword I used to wear only to important events back when I was the Young Lord of Riverune.
Its hilt was adorned with all sorts of jewels, and its blade was even inlaid with golden script.
Though it was never meant for actual use, it was still a very fine sword.
To think that would show up here…
Despite the auction's heated atmosphere, I turned away with a somber expression.
If I kept looking, the desire to reclaim it would only grow stronger.
It would be far better to find a sword from one of the weapon merchants within the Black Market.
A ceremonial sword like that doesn't suit an assassin anyway.
Quickly pushing aside thoughts of Perun Wind, I began to wander around the Black Market.
As one would expect, most of the merchants here weren't selling legitimate goods.
This wasn't to say there was a problem with their function, but that they were likely stolen.
But with the Rantzverger family backing the Black Market, there was no stopping the trade of stolen goods.
As long as an item wasn't too famous, one could get a decent piece for a low price.
It's still a bit obvious. This makes me feel uneasy.
The stolen goods had been slightly altered from their original forms.
It seemed they had been modified like this since they couldn't be sold openly.
While they might look flawless at a glance, they couldn't escape my discerning eye.
Still, I singled out and examined only the items that showed almost no signs of alteration or hadn't been modified at all.
Then, a sword of a familiar shape caught my eye.
Hm?
I couldn't take my eyes off the sword, which was pitch-black from hilt to blade.
Hummm!
As I drew closer, the sword seemed to hum its name as if in greeting.
Could it be… Black Dragon Sword? You bastard! To think a legendary sword like you is being treated like this…
I stood frozen, gazing at the Black Dragon Sword I had used in my past life.
It was as if time itself had stopped.