Chapter 11: The Black Market Auction
The Black Market which is a place that exists wherever humans dwell.
Anything dangerous or forbidden by the kingdom could be found here. But shopping in the black market always came with danger, if your strength wasn't enough, you might not even leave with your life.
Inside, there were rules and order; outside, chaos and knives in the dark.
Before entering, Emilia and Ellan cast transformation magic on themselves, disguising their faces beneath dark cloaks and masks.
Emilia was well-practiced in disguise by her master who had often taken her outside to experience the real world, to understand the people she would one day manipulate.
An Astrologer might need to detach themselves from human fate, but they must also study the knowledge of the living. Those who refused to see the world eventually grew dull, their insight fading along with their stars.
Led by a hooded guide, they took several narrow, twisting turns before arriving at tonight's secret venue.
"Buying Spider Legs, Tier 3 or above. Price negotiable!"
"Hiring an assassin, Tier 4 and higher only!"
"Slaves, slaves! Special discount tonight only!"
Everyone wore cloaks and masks, concealing their faces. Yet the air itself trembled most were powerful, Tier 4 or beyond.
Anyone weaker would be foolish to tread here. Even if they managed to buy something, carrying it out alive would be another story.
"Fascinating… I never imagined a place like this existed," Ellan muttered, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he examined a stall selling rare magical materials.
Such an innocent noble boy.
For mages, magic research relied heavily on such resources as fragments taken from monsters, or rare elements of nature.
At the Magician Tower, mages received small allowances of materials from the royal treasury and academy, but it was never enough. The diversity here, though illicit, far surpassed anything they could obtain legally.
"A black market in the slums has this much… seems suspicious," Ellan said cautiously.
Emilia only smiled faintly. Of course it was suspicious.
No market this large could thrive without noble hands pulling its strings, perhaps even royal ones.
Money was money, after all. And when profits were this sweet, the powerful royal or noble never stayed idle.
She began to guess, just for amusement.
Arthur? No, he wasn't the scheming type.
The Emperor? Too dull for this sort of enterprise.
The outer dukes? Too far away to influence the capital's underworld.
The marquises? Lacked both power and reach.
That left only one name.
She had never met him in person, but his legend was etched into history, a man who carved victory into the battlefield through blood and steel.
A Saint Swordman of Tier 8, perhaps even concealing a power equal to her own master who is a Astrologer Tier 9.
Duke Lukas von Premirer.
If Arthur was a tiger yet to grow its fangs, then Lukas was an ancient beast of the abyss, powerful, patient, and untouchable.
If possible, best not to provoke such a monster.
"The auction is about to begin! Don't miss your chance! Tonight's finale three artifacts for Tier 7 and above!"
Emilia and Ellan turned toward a large building as the announcement rang out.
Items for Tier 7 professionals were treasures beyond imagination, each worth a people's lifetime of wealth.
"Your Highness!" Ellan whispered, excitement clear in his voice.
As a Tier 6 mage on the verge of advancement, he could hardly resist this charm. Even if he couldn't afford such relics, just seeing them would be a good experiment for a mage.
Emilia was curious as well.
"Fine. Let's take a look."
The auction hall was far grander than expected, it was located beneath the building, its underground chamber expanded by spatial magic. Nearly a thousand seats filled the vast room, with private booths for higher-ranked individuals, most likely Tier 7 and beyond.
Emilia and Ellan chose a quiet, shadowed corner.
Once everyone was settled, the host appeared.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's auction! I am your dear friend - Mr. Tea!"
A man dressed like a jester danced onto the stage, followed by a Bunny Girl carrying a tray covered with black velvet.
"Time is money, and I don't intend to waste yours! Our first item of the night, the Fangs of a Silver Wolf, Tier 6!
Perfectly intact, no cracks or flaws! Starting bid, 150 gold coins, minimum raise 5 gold coins!"
The hall erupted in fierce bidding.
"Perfect Silver Wolf fangs… impressive," Ellan murmured. "They must have a professional hunting corps supplying them."
Indeed, even a mage's precision could damage materials during battle. To hunt beasts and keep the resources intact required a highly organized team.
Whoever managed such an operation… was no ordinary merchant.
Emilia's suspicion grew stronger.
It was said that under Duke Premirer's command served a Holy Knight Regiment that had never once known defeat.
If they were the ones hunting beasts and selling their spoils here to fund their army… then it all made perfect sense.
She sighed inwardly.
So that's how it was. With the black market monopolized by a duke of such terrifying strength, there was no room for her to make a profit here.
While Emilia pondered how she might still take a bite from this beast's fortune, the auction neared its climax.
The items grew more precious, and Ellan, unable to resist this, joined a few of the lesser bids.
Then, a new object was rolled onto the stage, a large cage covered by cloth.
Mr. Tea's cheerful voice echoed through the hall.
"A rare specimen, my friends! You don't see one of these more than once in several months!"
The cloth was pulled away.
Inside the cage, half-naked and bound by heavy chains, knelt a young Beastman with ash-gray hair and cold, blue eyes. His animalistic pupils narrowed, glaring at the bidders with primal fury.
"A Tier 7 Beastman slave! Fully sealed and marked! Starting bid, one thousand gold coins! Minimum raise, 10 gold coins!"
A Tier 7 Beastman!
Emilia's abyssal eyes gleamed with sudden interest.