Chapter 153 (1/2)
The black market is a secret place for aristocrats and others of wealth alike, run by the Red Mouse Family, one of the three most powerful families inhabiting the ruins.
The place is cleverly hidden and quite difficult to get to without a guide.
”The 'black market' is divided into three sections: the first level which bears the same name and can be entered by anyone, the 'backdoor market' which can only be accessed by some of the wealthier people, and finally the 'Dark market', which is the deepest and most dangerous.”
”What kind of people go to the dark market?”
”Those who are sick in the head. You can find drugs, torture devices, organs and anything else you can think of. I want to make it clear that my family is not involved in these things, in fact, we want to put an end to this kind of operation.”
We walk down several flights of stairs down a narrow passageway.
The person who is leading us is a member of the Red Mouse family. His name is Ash, and he holds a high position in this organization.
”But even in the backdoor market, dangerous things are sold, right?”
”It's not as comparable. As much as they're scum, the nastiest things they can sell are organs and slaves. Plus, they have some ethics, like if you're someone who mistreats slaves, they can go so far as to snatch them up.”
”Hmm, so those involved in the dark market are worse than scum.”
”Yeah. Thanks to that, I get a lot of looks of contempt and intimidation on the floors above, which is really annoying.”
At the end of the stairs was the fourth floor.
On this floor is the Red Mouse family's headquarters.
At what appears to be the entrance, a group of drab-looking men gather around a bonfire.
They straighten their backs when they see Ash.
”Has our guest arrived?
”No, my lord.”
”All right, keep working.”
We re-enter the narrow passageway.
”Who are those men?”
”They are my soldiers. Unlike upstairs, there's a lot of trouble down here and you never know when other families might attack. Better to be safe than sorry.”
At the end of the hallway, we came upon a very spacious area.
It was surprisingly clean, however, with many tidy stores and houses.
Still, if you looked down the alleys, you'd see litter strewn about and drunks asleep with bottles in hand.
”Welcome to the Red Mouse estate- don't you think it's magnificent?”
At the end of the main street was a large mansion, an emblem the shape of a red mouse engraved on its huge door.
Perhaps their chief is a tribe of mice?
”The dark market is this way, follow me.”
Ash headed down a narrow alley and knocked on the metal door of a building.
An eye slit opened and a sharp pair of eyes appeared.
”What do you think of breasts?”
”It's not how big they are that counts, it's how they feel.”
The door opened after that answer. The person behind was a man from the rabbit tribe with an intimidating appearance.
Without saying a word, Ash led us through the door and into the back.
”What was that?”
”The password. We can't let just anyone in, so it's used as a bit of a safeguard.” They're very cautious.
The goods and people gathered here must be too bad to be seen.
Going down a long flight of stairs, we came to a hallway separated by a wire fence.
On the other side of the wire fence was a member of the organization, guarding the closed gate.
”Let him through. He's a guest.”
”Hm.”
The barbed wire gate swung open. Beyond it was a wooden gate that appeared to be of better quality. We went through it and into the dark market compound.
”Good, we've arrived. Now that I have shown you the way, you are free to bargain with the merchants here, or search for whatever you're looking for. The organization will not intervene in matters between the merchants and customers. However, if you have any problems, you can address them to us, but we can only intervene once. After that, you're on your own.”
”Are you going somewhere?”
”I'm a busy man, I have a lot of work to do.”
Ash waved his hands and walked away.
”There's so much stuff here! This is going to be fun!”
”Kyu!”
Frau stood above Panda and gazed at the stores that lined the aisle with sparkles in her eyes.
The area itself didn't seem to be that big, but it was packed with people and items.
However, there are stranger items than the ones on the upper floors, and the people you come across are dressed to the nines.
I stopped at a random store and spoke to the owner.
”What's this?”
”Orc fluids. It's a good energy tonic.”
”And this?”
”The secret diary of a queen from two generations ago.”
”And this?”
”A copy of the book describing the security measures for the country's weapons vault.”
”How does something like this even exist?”
Now I understand why this is a dangerous place. You find things that if found on the l surface, would generate chaos among the crowd.
”Master, there's an unusual piece of kitchenware there.”
”Let's see it.”
”Frau will take a look on her own. Give me some money.”
”Here.”
After receiving the leather bag, Frau flew off with Panda toward the back of the store.
I feel like she just wants to go shopping.
I hope she didn't forget that we came here to gather information.
”...Roswell? The former demon king?”
”Do you know where he is?”
The plump nobleman we approached answered.
Behind him was a beautiful elven slave boy, but he dared not let him out of his sight.
”He must be in the Great Forest to the west. Ask the fairies, they will tell you.”
”Are there fairies here too?”
”Yes, there are fairies here too. Try going there.”