Black Market.
This place, where rare goods hard to find anywhere on the continent are traded, is the name of the underground market operated by the ‘Gray Caravan Wandering Trading Company.’
Surprisingly, the Black Market’s location is not fixed.
The hosting trading company travels across the Prima continent aboard the massive mobile city ‘Talos,’ buying and selling goods. Coincidentally, in just a short while, that mobile city will pass near the Croa Kingdom.
When I first recalled this fact, it felt like finding forgotten money in my pocket. I needed to dispose of the treasures from the Firebird ruins anyway, so visiting Talos was unavoidable.
However, simply visiting the mobile city doesn’t grant anyone access to the Black Market.
To begin with, it’s called an underground market because its existence isn’t even known to the public.
Entry requires either a ‘membership card’ or a ‘recommendation letter’ personally written by a VIP member, and the problem is that obtaining a membership card is infuriatingly difficult.
According to the setting book, invitation letters stamped with the trading company’s seal are secretly sent only to those with status high enough to be recognized across the continent. As a Twelve Hero, Ebel must have surely received an invitation to the Black Market.
“Aiden, how do you know of the Black Market’s existence?”
“The master who taught me the Alsigima secrets casually mentioned such a place exists.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Mentioning the Alsigima school, Ebel immediately nodded in understanding.
Estriel.
Sorry for casually using your name.
“Indeed, a few days ago, an invitation arrived via messenger pigeon. Will transferring it to you suffice?”
“Transfer is fine, but personally, I hope to participate as great-uncle’s designated proxy.”
That way, only Ebel’s name remains in the Black Market’s usage records. It’s a bit petty, but if any issues arise later, it means I can shift the blame to him.
“I don’t know why you wish to participate in the Black Market, but fine. That makes the wager’s price cheap.”
He took out a pitch-black letter envelope from the drawer and extended it forward. Linia politely received it and handed it to me.
“Talos is scheduled to arrive in the Vine territory in one week and stay for five days. To avoid being late, you should prepare now.”
“Thank you. When we meet next, I expect great-uncle will have achieved something special.”
I offered fl поможет, but no reply came. Ebel was already meditating with his eyes closed. Not wanting to disturb further, I quietly left the private room.
Five days later.
Croa Kingdom, Baron Vine’s territory.
Creak, creeeek, creee—
A massive shadow crossed the barren land. Eight mechanical legs composed of hundreds of joints moved while emitting a burning smell. Astonishingly, an entire city was perched atop those moving mechanical legs—that was the mobile city Talos.
“It looks like a spider.”
“Personally, it reminds me more of the multi-legged walking weapons often seen in SF animations.”
At my casual remark, Linia made a puzzled expression.
“…SF? Multi-legged walking weapon? What’s that? Lately, you’ve been using a lot of strange terms.”
“They’re technical terms I happened to read in a book, so no need to pay much attention. Anyway, it seems to be stopping soon, so let’s prepare to board.”
Hiss hiss hiss hiss!
No sooner had I spoken than the mobile city’s legs halted, then released a flood of steam in all directions. Shortly after, it folded its long legs and gently settled onto the ground.
Mobile city Talos.
Completed about 300 Prime years ago, it has wandered the Prima continent ever since, stopping every exactly 10 years at the Alchemists’ headquarters, the Ivory Tower, to receive mysterious power. Conceived and designed by the genius alchemist Alerus, it was built by the dwarf-like Toin tribe renowned for craftsmanship—a masterpiece of magical engineering.
Ownership of Talos belongs to the ‘Alphanium Library,’ a faction led by alchemists, thanks to which they have accumulated unparalleled wealth in the world setting.
Once settled on the ground, Talos soon unfolded over a dozen staircases around it. Numerous people waiting nearby rushed toward them.
“Damn, move aside!”
“Ack! Don’t push!”
A city that moves on legs—an entertaining spectacle hard to see even once in a lifetime. Inevitably, crowds like this gathered wherever Talos landed.
The area around the stairs instantly became a chaotic mess. Seeing the scene reminiscent of a modern packed subway, I shook my head. Linia also hardened her expression in discomfort.
“It’s really crowded, young master. When will we be able to enter?”
At Linia’s question, I smiled and said.
“Hmm… Crown Prince Julian, is there a quick way to enter Talos?”
“Haha! Leave it to me, Prince Aiden.”
The one answering my question was a sturdy young man. It was Julian, heir to the Baron Vine family who attended my birthday banquet.
Just in case, note that he is a namesake unrelated to Julian Connelly, the Twelve Hero who learned the Harmony Heart Method.
Julian stepped forward confidently and led Linia and me somewhere. The destination we soon arrived at was a spiral staircase extending below the center of Talos.
Unlike the other staircases, it was very quiet.
The reason was that it was a VIP-exclusive entrance.
Mobile city Talos was able to stop here with sponsorship from the baron family ruling the Vine territory. This meant that having connections with the baron family allowed entry without mixing into that terrifying crowd.
“Thank you, crown prince. After finishing my business and exiting Talos, I’ll stop by the baron’s mansion to greet you.”
“Hmm, can’t I accompany you?”
“It’s extremely personal business.”
“Even so…”
I appropriately soothed the persistent Julian and sent him back. He seemed regretful in many ways, wanting to build friendship with me, but I couldn’t have him accompany me to the Black Market.
After sending Julian off, I climbed the long circular staircase and entered Talos’s interior.
Upon entering the commercial district, a pungent gunpowder smell stung my nose.
Clang! Clang!
Looking around, I saw muscular men about 130cm tall hammering blades or forging metal. Those resembling the commonly spoken dwarves were Toin tribe blacksmiths. Besides them, armor makers, jewelers polishing accessories or gems—Toin tribe artisans of various specialties were visible.
I led Linia quickly through the metal-scented streets. And visited a rundown building in a corner of the city.
“Customer? We’re closed for business today.”
“I’ve come seeking the path to the Black Market.”
“Black Market? What nonsense…”
Look at that calm pretense. Anyone would think he truly knows nothing. Watching the shopkeeper feigning ignorance, I recited the code phrase.
“There is one thing even the great Dragon God fears: the merchant’s tongue and the empire’s taxes.”
“Hmm. And?”
Still responding indifferently, I extended the black letter envelope. Only after carefully reading it did the man correct his attitude to polite and ask.
“It’s an invitation sent to Continent’s Twelve Hero, Lord Ebel Stroke. It is an honor to have you grace us even as a proxy. Is the half-elf lady beside you companion or goods?”
“Companion.”
“My apologies for the rude question. I would appreciate your generous understanding. After all, in the human-centric northern society, elf tribes are rare.”
Linia, belatedly understanding the exchange between the man and me, made a startled expression.
Unfazed by her reaction, the man handed us masks each. The Black Market’s principle was to thoroughly conceal identity and appearance and operate anonymously.
“If you wish, I can guide you inside.”
“A shop that can exchange archaeologically valuable items or jewels for cash. Tell me the locations of all slave traders and information brokers. Ah, no need to follow—just verbal guidance is enough.”
“Understood.”
After relaying all the information I requested, the man soon opened a hidden door in the wall.
“Welcome to the Black Market. Please enjoy your time.”
Linia and I descended the stairs toward the underground where the Black Market unfolded.
“That will be 140 Wible platinum coins in total. Thank you for your patronage, customer!”
Jingle!
I received a money pouch full of platinum coins from a cat-eared beastkin clerk.
Having sold all the treasures from the Firebird ruins to secure a large amount of cash, I pondered briefly before opening my mouth.
“Let’s visit an information broker first.”
Muttering thus, Linia asked.
“I’ve been curious since you asked the gatekeeper earlier, but it seems they deal in things like information here, not just goods?”
“Well, yes. It’s literally a place with anything you can imagine.”
Tangible and intangible, legal and illegal, people and objects, ethics and morality… such distinctions don’t matter here. If it has value, even air could be treated as a commodity—this is the Black Market. Conversely, it means anything can be obtained if you have money.
Thanks to such convenience, even the continent’s leading powerhouses tacitly permit the Black Market’s existence and secretly use it. In a sense, it’s a sanctuary.
First, I toured the information brokers, spending about seven platinum coins. This was to confirm whether this world’s history was flowing exactly as the timeline in my head.
“Fortunately, the major events seem to have occurred as I know them.”
“Of course. The prophetic dreams of the young master, descendant of Lady Tiamia, couldn’t possibly be wrong so easily, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. More importantly, refrain from talking about personal details here as much as possible. It’s unsettling if someone overhears.”
“Ah, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I strode toward the next destination. The building with the flashy sign ‘Colors’ was the largest slave shop in the Black Market.
Now, the main event begins.
“Thank you for visiting Colors, customer. Please tell me the purpose of the slave you seek, and I will assist wholeheartedly.”
“I don’t know the purpose, but I want to know if there’s a slave here with the characteristics I desire.”
“Hmm…?”
Hearing the odd request, the shopkeeper’s expression turned puzzled. But professionally, he didn’t pry.
“Characteristics, you say?”
“Race is tiger beastkin and human mixed blood, but a quarter, so practically pure human; beige hair, early teens, male. And the most important feature: three dot-shaped spots on the left shoulder.”
“Hmm… Could you wait a moment?”
After consulting with a few clerks inside, the shopkeeper soon returned to me and said.
“…Amazingly, there is one product that perfectly matches the conditions you described. Would you like to see?”
“Of course.”
I inwardly cheered.
I knew ‘that guy’ was in the Black Market at this time, but to hit the jackpot from the start.
Good luck.
Shortly after.
“This is the one. It’s a product with a difficult personality, so approaching the cage is dangerous.”
Inside the iron cage the shopkeeper pointed to was a boy around 11 years old. The kid was glaring over here as if to devour us.
He definitely looks exactly as described in the novel.
I opened the boy’s character sheet.
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