Chapter 144: Black Market (1/2)

”What to do, sir?”

Nell asked me and Oni also waited for my answer. Now that new information came up we couldn't just turn around now.

I looked at the Darkgen at the distance. It's looking up the sky as if it's waiting for someone.

Is he waiting for that guy we captured? Too bad, that guy died with a smile on his face. Proud that he didn't cough out any information

Well, if he's really waiting for that guy, another Darkgen isn't a danger. Could it be that the danger is the runner of this Black Market?

”Those other stealthy figures are they…”

I pointed at the group who just appeared from the entrance and asked Nell. They're talking to themselves, if she used a bit of her ability she could hear them.

Just that, there's a possibility that her use of Meta Energy will be detected. I'm already clutching the Orb of Concealment, just in case.

Nell nodded as if understanding my intention, she focused on the group and used her Enhanced Hearing which she specifically targeted towards them.

”No. They're vagrants living around here.”

Vagrants eh? They're those who were picking up scraps from previous battle sites to trade for food or weapons. They're also trying to unearth buried treasures in various ruins just to survive.

”I see. So are they trading peacefully here? Are there the same instances like this before?”

I did read up about the history of this world that wasn't mentioned in Nysia's story. However, I couldn't recall an instance like this where they willingly trade to the enemies of the world. Something that shouldn't be written?

Most likely. Not everything written there was true anyway. There's a lot where they're praising the New Haven Empire or about the 20 Nations joining hands to become the Moonlight Confederacy without talking about crushing the nations in between them. History was always written by the victors, no matter the world.

”There was one instance but it was before the Free City was established. It was the Anzeans who they catered with. When the Head caught wind of that, she crushed that Black Market along with them.”

Ah. Anzeans is what they called the Alien Civilization which boasted their dark green skin, sensitive feelers and hard carapaces.

Oni retold the story about Nysia cracking up a Black Market which traded goods with the enemy who seeks to occupy their world.

She's still not a Mythic-rank back then and using a standard Metagen that could only exert 50% output, she managed to destroy them, root and all. Of course, it was with the help of her League members. No matter how strong she is, it will be hard for her to destroy them alone.

I somehow want to see her in action. Fighting her in the simulation isn't enough. Even if I was always thrashed by her there, I found out that her Defense Manipulation wasn't that absolute. Every ability has their own limitations.

”Alright. Change into vagrant clothes. Let's see what's inside.”

Everything was accounted for before going into missions such as this. More often than not, patrol teams who find a suspicious area will disguise themselves as a vagrant to mix in and investigate.

”Eh? Are you sure, sir?”

Nell asked, a bit doubtful. It's like going inside a den of lions for them. However, for me, it's already a normal occurrence. How many times have I already slipped inside enemy ranks and camps? I'm already an expert in infiltration.

”We might get trapped.”

Oni also has the same concern.

”We have the means to go out if something went wrong or you two can wait out here, I'll go in by myself.”

Having the Orb of Concealment can always get us out of a tricky situation. Ever since I got this from Zerina, it has always been used and has already saved me a few times before.

Well, it's great that they're cautious. I wouldn't blame them if they decided to stay.

”No! Take me with you!”

”Me too!”

When they heard that I would still go in even without them, the two changed their minds about not going, quickly changing into tattered vagrant clothes.

Good choice. I also preferred that they go with me. Oni could act as the leader of our group while Nell's ability was more than just useful here, she could probably hear useful information even if it's only from the customer's mouth.

However, there's a huge possibility that the use of ability was restricted there.

We'll see.

I'll report to Nysia about this later, there's no need to be hasty.

After ordering Nell to find out the passcode to enter the Black Market without being suspected, we set out with the same setup. The tall Oni at the front while Nell and me at his sides.

We acted like starved vagrants with few scraps of regenium and Metagen parts we would trade.

When we arrived at the door, we were stopped by two door guards who were wearing an ash-black Powergen.

With Oni at our front, he was assumed as the leader and was asked about the passcode before ordering us to open the tattered bags we slung over our bodies to show the scraps we were going to trade.

After verifying it, they didn't check our identities and just asked us to wear some kind of tag which indicated that we are traders.

Passing through that door, the danger my Adaptability was picking up was heightened. This meant it's really somewhere around this ruins-turned-Black Market.

At first, we were greeted by a corridor which leads to a closed door.