"Absorb," I repeated.
The idea made sense when I thought about it. Why would people sell monster cores if they didn't provide any sort of benefit?
Mr. B nodded briefly before continuing with the rest of his explanation.
"Cores are condensed essence. Naturally, you can sell them, where they can be used as active ingredients in potions, or you can feed them to your own core. It's the only means to stabilise your core. While combat can help you level up, to stabilise, you need to absorb cores."
So, to balance and stabilise, I needed to absorb the monster essence from the core. Thinking back to the battle, the system did mention that my output was strained. Was that because my core was unstable? There were still so many questions, but I think I understood the general concept.
"So it's like… eating batteries to stabilise skill usage?"
"That's one way to put it," he said. "You don't eat them—more like meditate and absorb them. It's a whole process in itself."
"Thank goodness. The thought of eating this core sounded less than appealing."
"Given your track record," he replied deadpan, "I'm not taking any chances."
We kept walking, and the deeper market sounds gradually crept back in—vendors calling, murmured deals being struck, distant metallic clinks, the soft electric buzz of mana lamps. My brain was trying to file everything away, but it felt like trying to organize a hurricane.
Soon, the familiar stalls from earlier came back into view. We'd completed the full round trip to the beginning. Honestly, the fifteen-minute walk felt quite quick. It felt like all conversations with Mr. B went like this.
Mr. B slowed near a quieter stretch of corridor, then reached into his jacket.
"Anyway," he said while shuffling through his pockets, "you did good."
I blinked. "Is that… praise?"
"Don't get used to it," he muttered.
Then he pulled out something wrapped in cloth and placed it into my hands.
It was round, cool to the touch, and heavier than it looked.
When I unwrapped it, my breath caught.
An Oracle Ball.
Translucent. Mist swirling lazily inside. Faint symbols flickering across the surface like half-formed thoughts I couldn't quite grasp.
I looked up at him. "You're giving this to me?"
"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck like he was embarrassed to be caught doing something kind. "I won't always be around to walk you in like this. If you're going to keep doing stupid solo runs, you need a reliable way in and out."
My grip tightened around the orb. It felt real and valuable. The first gift that I had received in a very long time.
'Damn, that is annoyingly thoughtful.'
I hadn't known him for long, but he had helped me so much already. More than he ought to, and here I was thinking that all people from the black market were shady individuals.
It felt like only five minutes ago I was contemplating conking him with my silver chain while walking down the alleyway, yet in the matter of a few hours he had already made me warm up to him.
'Dangerous.'
Was this the power of a conman, the power of an illegal black market dungeon broker?
He waited for me to process the gift before covering his mouth and letting out a purposeful cough.
"This is for graduating," he added, tone deliberately dry. "From random lost alleyway kid to illegal hunter alleyway kid who somehow didn't die."
"I'm not—" I started automatically.
He raised a hand. "Save it."
I stared down at the orb again, then mumbled, "Thank you."
He nodded like that was enough. Like it was a common task, but I wanted to really let him know that I was grateful. The old man was clearly kind in nature. I'd have to do something back for him eventually.
I couldn't leave a debt unpaid.
Lost in thought, we eventually reached the same unremarkable brick wall that we had arrived through.
Mr. B pressed his own Oracle Ball against it, and the bricks rippled open like water. Light bled through, forming a passage.
"After you," he said, giving a small theatrical sweep of his hand.
I stepped through again for the second time within twenty-four hours.
The black market vanished behind me. For a brief moment, I was in a disorientating vortex of colours before arriving at the familiar neon flicker and damp city air of Ekram Alley.
Mr. B followed a second later, and the wall sealed itself shut as though it had never existed.
And yet again, the air was replaced with silence. A tranquil moment of quiet where it was just me, him, and the alley. It was quite serene, a heavy contrast from the very illegal place we had been just minutes before.
We stood there like we were about to film the awkward farewell scene of a drama. Well, it wasn't going to be a permanent goodbye.
I'm sure I'd see him again. After all, I had now hired him as my personal broker.
Just as I was about to say my goodbyes, Mr. B cleared his throat.
"One more thing," he said.
I narrowed my eyes immediately. "Of course there is."
He nodded, completely unashamed. "The gift comes with a slight price."
My jaw dropped. Did this guy have no shame? Just when I had given him the benefit of the doubt, he pulled this stunt.
"Oh my god. I knew it. I fell for your shady salesman technique."
"For one, I'm not shady," he protested, then immediately undermined himself by adding, "It's entrepreneurial. And the favour is nothing crazy."
"You're actually a shifty individual," I told him, pointing like I was delivering a courtroom verdict. "This is why you should never trust people from the internet."
I held onto all my prized belongings. The orb was mine now. It was a gift that he was not getting back. As for my money, absolutely no way. My love for sleep was only closely followed by my love for food and money.
As if he could tell what I was thinking, he waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax. It's not money."
I crossed my arms, still on guard. "Then what is it?"
He hesitated, scratched his cheek, and suddenly looked less like a hardened broker and more like a tired uncle who didn't want to admit he cared about anything.
"My niece," he said. "The one I mentioned."
"Yeah, the one who you said is around my... actually never mind," I said, recalling the information.
"Well, how do I put this. She is an idol hunter and got me a ticket to her performance event. A big thing that she's very excited about."
I had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going.
"That's cool and all, but what does this have to do with me?"
"Well, she wants me there, but I'm going to be particularly busy on that day. And rather than not going and wasting the ticket..."
I stared at him.
Then stared harder.
"You want me to go in your place, don't you?" I said slowly.
He pointed at me like I'd just cracked a difficult code. "Exactly."
This shifty man. He had won me over by gifting me an item, only to emotionally use this kindness against me. How skillful. I kind of respected it a bit.
"And that's your price."
"Yep."
I leaned back, incredulous. "Bro. I just fought slime royalty. You want me to go to a random concert?"
"It's not just a random concert," he corrected. "It's an event my niece is participating in."
He sighed. "You'll go, won't you?"
I opened my mouth to refuse.
Then I remembered how he had helped me throughout the day. Sure, I had paid him, but he had gone out of his way to make my life easier. Misunderstanding or not.
My pride and conscience fought a very brief war—maybe half a second—before I came to a conclusion.
"…Fine," I muttered. "Whatever. I'll go."
His shoulders visibly loosened.
"Good."
I pointed at him. "But if I get dragged on stage, I'm blaming you."
"Don't give me ideas."
I gave him a death stare.
"Relax... relax. Just a little joke!"
Mr. B jerked his chin once, casual again. "Alright. Get home safe. Clean up and try not to get into any more trouble."
"I don't pick fights," I said.
He snorted, then turned to leave.
As he walked away, he called back over his shoulder, "I'll send the event ticket details to your burner account. Don't forget to check it out."
He raised a hand without turning around, the universal gesture for I can no longer deal with you, before departing.
'What a strange guy.'
For the first time, I stood alone in Ekram Alley, Oracle Ball tucked safely against my chest, as I watched him disappear into the crowd.
Then I let out a long breath.
"Okay," I muttered to myself. "Time to relax and maybe get some shuteye."