In my world there were also black markets, they were relatively safe places, as long as the person didn't do anything even slightly suspicious. In this world they existed in a different way, everyone knew, even though it was something illegal. Which made the environment perfect for trading.
The Kingdom ignored it, even knowing where the markets were, this way they managed to make some nobles richer and avoided some problems. At least that's how I saw it, since in my world humans acted that way, they always knew there was a problem, but ignored it to avoid displeasing some powerful people or to keep some friendships.
Besides, keeping powerful people happy could be good to stay in power, and also serve as a bargaining chip in some matters.
The weather was sunny and perfect to stay at home doing nothing, or at least resting. Going out on sunny days was something I always hated, my pale skin never hid how much I despised the sun.
Elys was wearing a light dress, it was blue and that made her more beautiful, her white hair and tan skin stood out with the color of the dress. I didn't know how to describe it in more detail, but that certainly caught my attention, it was hard not to keep looking at her, but I tried, since I didn't want to cause any embarrassment.
Tan female skin matched very well with blue dresses.
That dress somehow enhanced her breasts, they looked bigger, firmer and more beautiful. They bounced slightly as she walked, not wearing a bra made them move more, it was something beautiful to watch.
The others from the group didn't come and that strangely felt like a date, I hoped she wouldn't see it that way, since it could cause some discomfort in the group. I preferred only discomforts inside my head, since in my mind I could think whatever I wanted and however I wanted.
The market wasn't far from the inn, which was good, but it was very close to the guild, which made me a little curious about the reason.
"You can't ask too many questions, just ask what the item does and how much it costs, asking where the item comes from always brings some trouble," Elys said with an angelic voice. I didn't know, but I thought that only now I had actually noticed how beautiful she was, maybe because she was more feminine and that was much more attractive.
The black market was in an alley, it was a little hidden with boxes and some debris. In the middle of the mess there were several stalls and some small shops inside houses.
"They use a kind of magic, we can only see these stalls when we actually enter the market, no one outside can see."
That was interesting and very useful, the market was organized, even if a bit crowded, but that was already expected.
"Let's go to that seller," Elys pointed to a fat merchant, he was most certainly a noble, so I was really right.
"Good morning," I tried to be polite, but the seller found it strange.
"What do you want to buy?" He was direct.
"Actually, he wants to sell," Elys looked around and continued, "he wants to sell salt."
It felt like I was committing a crime. In fact, I was, but it was a crime without any victim.
"How much salt do you have?"
"I have at least twenty bags like this one, all full of salt, but I can get as much as you want," I said as I placed the bag on the counter.
He kept watching, then opened it and looked at the salt. He looked around and asked the price I was willing to sell for.
"I'm not sure how much this is worth, I'm willing to negotiate," I said something terrible, I showed I was an amateur and he could take advantage of me.
"6 silver coins, since I'll have to sell it for a price below the market and I need to have a profit margin that's worth the risk, I know this price is very low and..." it wasn't a bad price.
"All right, I accept, but I want a long-term supply deal, as I said, I can get as much as you want," I interrupted his speech.
He looked unbelieving, it seemed like a bad deal, and it really was, but I wanted money so I accepted, at least it was three times more than I had been selling. He scratched his mustache and offered the other hand for me to shake.
"Come in," he said while walking.
His shop was a bit big, bigger than I had thought, looking only from the outside it seemed like a simple and small store. A beautiful young woman with red hair went to the front of the shop and the fat man sat down on a chair next to a table.
"I am Baron Hector Sullivan," he was expecting me to introduce myself.
"I am Lian Whisper," the baron seemed to have recognized the last name.
"Now show me all the product."
I put nineteen packages on the table and the baron placed the twentieth. He opened all the packages, checked the contents and then placed them on a scale.
"They all seem to have the same amount, I'll get the money," he said as he entered a room that only opened when he placed his right hand on the door. "Do you prefer gold coins or silver coins?"
"Both are fine."
After a few minutes the baron returned and placed 10 gold coins and 20 silver coins on the table.
"Here it is, come back when you have more. Don't worry about me, I'll never ask you how you got all this."
I agreed and started looking around the shop, it had various items of all kinds, some antiques, some weapons, porcelains and nothing that seemed illegal. I found it strange, but I didn't say anything, since Elys had already warned me about asking questions.
My eyes went straight to a sword, it was different from all the swords I had ever seen in my entire life, it was white and had some crystals, it was as if it were made of marble or bone. The blade looked very sharp, but it didn't look like metal, the material didn't seem resistant or able to withstand impact. It would certainly cut, but could be easily broken, still it was beautiful.
"Do you like swords?"
"A little, but I don't have one, I only used one that my master lent me."
"I understand. I wouldn't recommend this sword, for two reasons. The first is that it has a very high value, 200 gold coins. The second reason is that it wasn't made for combat, it only makes its users lose."
"What do you mean?"
"I would say it's some curse, or the crystals do it, the material itself is resistant, even though it doesn't look like it, but whoever uses it always ends up getting hurt."
"So why is it worth that much?"
"I think it's beautiful and I don't want to sell it," he said laughing.
That was strange, he could keep it in his house as decoration, but he kept it in the shop. Maybe he wanted the customers' eyes focused on the beauty of the sword.
He went to a cabinet where there were some swords, opened a drawer and took out a blue sword, it was a metallic and strong blue.
"This sword is made of a metal that came from a stone from the sky, its name is moon sword, or Tsukuyomi."
I had already heard that name somewhere, a legend or something like that. That didn't matter, the sword was very beautiful, the bluish metal and the hilt painted in blue leather made it even more beautiful. Looking closer I saw it was leather from some animal or monster, with scales.
"This sword is very beautiful and can be yours, as long as you pay 450 gold coins."
More expensive than a house.
I stopped for a while and started to calculate how many bags of salt I would need to sell.
"750 bags of salt, that's the amount," he answered when he noticed I was counting. He calculated fast, very fast.
"All right, I'll bring enough salt so that this sword will be mine. But I have one more request, can you sell me a house?"
Once again he scratched his mustache and Elys kept looking at me without understanding the proposal.
"I won't ask how you manage it, but salt is something very rare, I won't even be able to sell much without raising suspicion. Even among powerful and very rich clients this is complicated. But if you manage to bring me more than 1500 bags of salt, I'll give you the sword and a house."
It seemed like he would refuse, but he accepted.
"I don't have enough bags, if I bring one sack with the right amount, will you accept?"
He agreed.
"Do you really have all that amount?" Elys asked me.
"I don't have it yet, but in a few days I will."
Elys seemed to doubt me, or maybe she was just confused. But she didn't say anything, she only showed it, but at the same time it seemed like she was disguising her curiosity.
"All right, I won't ask any questions," she said while smiling. "Now let's have some fun and eat something."
Now it really felt like a date.