On the Yowein Continent, any city of a certain size has a Dusk Market.
The Dusk Market lies between the Daylight Market and the Night Market, forming a grey area within a city.
It differs from the Daylight Market, which is completely dominated by the Administrative Office, where all trading rules and laws are analyzed and formulated by those elegantly dressed Politicians.
Similarly, it is not like the Night Market, which is controlled by dark forces where all trades must pass through Crows, Rats, Spiders, and their ilk.
The Dusk Market belongs to this middle zone. Sometimes the Administrative Office participates in auctions, and at other times, dark forces intervene to dispose of stolen goods.
Most Dusk Markets are hidden away in some corner of a city, allowing various groups to trade freely.
However, behind this free trade, there are still minute interests. Where there are bones, dogs will gnaw, and naturally, this profit, however modest, gave rise to a third force independent of the Administrative Office and the dark forces: the Twilight Messengers.
The Twilight Messengers serve both the Administrative Office and the dark forces. They seem to be a group of hidden ones, appearing only when needed.
However, exceptions always arise.
The Dusk Market in Liuli City was different from others. Liuli City's Dusk Market was legitimately established within the Administrative Office's marketplace, and the Twilight Messengers serving it were all uniformly loyal to Lord Babasha, the mayor of Liuli City.
The dark forces in Liuli City—such as Rats, Spiders, and Crows—had been utterly shattered by the Liuli City Court of Guards.
Outsiders arriving in Liuli City would surely feel it was a clean and fair place, devoid of Crows, Rats, Spiders, or Earth Wolves.
However, to Phil, Liuli City was no different from Gaga County.
Gaga County belonged to Elder Rostellum, and Liuli City was merely a larger version of Gaga County, its master being Lord Babasha.
Lord Babasha managed Liuli City and also controlled Elder Rostellum; the Dusk Market and similar establishments were all under Lord Babasha's control.
So, the first thing Phil did upon arriving in Liuli City was to seek out Estev, the Deputy Court Chief of the Liuli City Court of Guards, for a drink.
"So, that fellow Rostellum has had some good luck recently?" Estev asked, toying with the stones in his hand, his tone strangely sarcastic.
"Yes, yes, but no matter how lucky Elder Rostellum is, he can't compare to you, sir, let alone Lord Babasha. The Elder said that if the Dusk Market's valuation is appropriate, he's willing to give you a cut, sir," Phil said subserviently, nodding and bowing. He knew that on someone else's territory, if one wasn't appropriately generous, the path ahead would be fraught with difficulty. When mentioning the cut, Phil deliberately lowered his voice and made a gesture with two fingers.
Phil's meaning was clear: if the stones were genuine, two-tenths of the proceeds from their sale would go to Estev.
A Deputy Court Chief of the Court of Guards earned a monthly salary of no more than 30 gold coins. Even adding all sorts of illicit and semi-licit income, he'd make one gold bar at most in a month. Yet a single Rain Crystal Stone was priced at 50 gold bars on the Daylight Market. Two stones would be 100 gold bars, and two-tenths of that was 20 gold bars. This bribe was indeed substantial.
And that was just the Daylight Market price.
As for the Dusk Market's valuation, especially in Liuli City's Dusk Market, the value of these two stones was even harder to ascertain.
Estev squinted his already tiny eyes, took a gentle sip of Rum, and said slowly, "That old fellow Rostellum isn't too bad. As for your request, I'll take a look."
Phil breathed an inward sigh of relief. With his own abilities, combined with the connections of Housekeeper Lord Uli and Elder Rostellum, the highest official they could reach in Liuli City was Estev, the Deputy Court Chief. This was largely thanks to his status as a Fighter. If not for being a Fighter, he would never have earned the regard of Housekeeper Uli, nor would he have had any contact with the Liuli City Court of Guards, let alone met Estev.
Estev was an easily contented man; he always took what benefit came his way and never haggled for more. He knew that knowing when to quit was one of the most fundamental survival rules for anyone involved with the Administrative Office. No matter how frequently superiors changed, they wouldn't trouble an insignificant person who posed no threat.
So, for all these years, Estev had remained the Deputy Court Chief, whether under Mayor Babasha's administration or that of the previous Mayor, Aevernan. He had no intention of getting involved in the struggles between Politicians and had readily yielded every opportunity for promotion to Court Chief.
However, it was precisely this perennially unchanging position of Deputy Court Chief that gave him a "status" in Liuli City second only to Mayor Babasha.
After all, having been in this position for so long, his network of acquaintances was naturally extensive and diverse. From Liuli City down to the various villages, whether they were Rats, Spiders, village heads, or county chiefs, he could recognize them all with his eyes closed.
Sometimes, even Mayor Babasha had to consult him on such matters.
Estev's philosophy of life was to heartily consume the meat he could get his hands on now, never saving it for later, and never eating until he was too full. Living without worries in these Mixed Calendar years was hard enough; there was no need to demand too much.
Estev took another sip of Rum, tapping his fingers on the table. "Well then, tomorrow you'll accompany me for a stroll through the Dusk Market. These stones, according to regulations, should be confiscated. However, considering old Rostellum's unwavering loyalty, we'll handle this contraband internally."
"Yes, yes, of course! We'll be relying on your help for this, sir," Phil could only offer the expected flattery and agreement.
He was relieved that Estev hadn't found the two-tenths cut insufficient, but he also worried about how things would play out if the two stones weren't actually Rain Crystal Stones.
At this moment, many pairs of eyes in the tavern were secretly fixed on the stones in Estev's hand. Phil could feel the greed and malice in those gazes, which also served as an indication that these two stones were no ordinary objects.
The reason Estev dared to openly toy with the stones was his thorough understanding of those who coveted them. Thus, after a flash of greed and malice in their eyes, the onlookers' gazes were quickly filled with helplessness and resentment.
Phil picked up the wine bottle, intending to refill Estev's empty glass, but Estev covered the rim with his hand.
"Two large glasses of rum are enough. I am a man of moderation."
"Yes, yes, of course, sir! You are temperate in all things, upright and honorable—truly a model for us all!" Phil could only lay on the flattery.
"One shouldn't aim to eat until full; that's all there is to it," Estev said, rubbing his fingers and staring silently at a stranger seated diagonally across from him.
The stranger, dressed in plain clothes with a hood pulled over his head, was leisurely savoring his wine. A moment later, however, he clutched his chest and slumped to one side.
The other patrons continued drinking, seemingly unfazed by such occurrences. Phil's jaw dropped in astonishment; he knew that for a Fighter to achieve such a level of perception required considerable skill.
Estev had merely rubbed his fingers, yet he had caused the other man to collapse without a chance to retaliate. A Fighter's most fundamental perception skill must be at least High Rank to achieve something like this...
"In Liuli City, no one should even think of harboring ill intentions." Estev walked over and kicked the fallen stranger, then turned to the tavern owner. "Notify the Court of Guards to take this man away. And investigate his background; he doesn't seem to be one of our local Crows."