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After leaving the inn, Mu’en quickly resolved his lunch and followed the route in his memory to the river at the boundary of the upper and lower towns.
The token in his hand, marked with a mouse design, was slightly warm, indicating that the underground black market was indeed open. After changing into a black robe and mask to conceal his figure and aura, without any hesitation, Mu’en jumped into the pipe by the riverbank.
In the abandoned sewer, the nauseating stench was far stronger than last time, as if countless corpses had rotted here.
At the end of the pipe, Mu’en did not see that tall figure that looked like it was about to decay from last time.
Instead, another hoarse voice came from the shadows.
“Where is it?”
“Right here.”
Mu’en showed the token in his hand to the gaunt, short figure in the corner, still unable to help but curiously ask:
“What happened to the gatekeeper from before?”
“He’s dead.”
The gaunt, short figure replied with a tone devoid of joy or sorrow, as if narrating the death of a rat on the roadside.
“Everything is correct; you can go in.”
Mu’en did not continue to ask; after all, for those living in the shadows of Bairland, it was all too normal for someone to die suddenly in the streets like wild dogs.
He quickly passed through the passage and entered the black market.
However, the moment he stepped in, Mu’en suddenly felt an unfamiliar gaze sweeping over him from an unknown source.
He instantly felt a chill down his back, for even a fleeting glance made him instinctively aware of the terror belonging to the gaze’s owner.
Even if it wasn’t the Crowned One, the difference was likely minimal.
Fortunately, the owner of the gaze seemed uninterested in investigating Mu’en’s identity, as they quickly moved away after sensing his realm.
“That gaze wasn’t there last time.”
“That means it’s a strong one that came to take charge only after the black market reopened?”
“It seems the previous purge had quite an impact on the black market.”
Mu’en couldn’t help but sigh a bit but soon lost interest.
The damage to the black market was, from his standpoint, a good thing emotionally and logically; after all, this area had given rise to so much darkness.
The phrase “you can buy anything” belied the blood and tears buried within.
But Mu’en was not so naive as to rely on his status to completely eliminate this darkness.
Because he knew he couldn’t.
In fact, no one could.
As long as Bairland remained the most prosperous city on the continent, these shadows, which were gradually growing under the sunlight, could never be eradicated.
Unless he gritted his teeth and put an end to those vile noble lords, bringing great socialist brilliance to this world.
Ah, but he was also a noble lord—so that was irrelevant.
“I just hope I can find Dragon’s Blood as soon as possible.”
Mu’en sighed; this place instinctively made him feel uncomfortable, and he wished to leave quickly.
…
However, after entering the black market, Mu’en did not immediately seek out Dragon’s Blood.
Instead, he arrived at a small shop.
The shop’s sign hung a massive ram’s horn skull, looking extremely eye-catching.
“Scammer!”
Looking at this shop, Mu’en couldn’t help but grit his teeth.
He hadn’t forgotten how much trouble he had suffered just for buying a magic potion from this very store!
It could be said that during that incident, that magic potion—no, the aphrodisiac that came with it—was the root cause that led to the complete chaos!
So today, he had to demand an explanation!
Accompanied by the crisp sound of wind chimes, Mu’en pushed open the door to the small shop.
“Oh my, do we have a customer this early today?”
The shopkeeper, still wrapped in a large black robe, had a hoarse voice, hard to discern as male or female. But with her casual movements, the robe outlined a breathtaking curve.
She seemed to have just opened the shop and was organizing the goods on the shelves. Upon seeing Mu’en enter, the hooded figure immediately revealed a hungry wolfish glint as if looking at a little lamb.
“Dear customer, is there anything you wish to look at? Our shop has everything, you know.”
“How strange…”
Mu’en scrutinized the shopkeeper, a hint of confusion crossing his face.
This time was different from last time; looking at this mysterious shopkeeper, Mu’en suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
Was it an illusion?
Or was it…
No, he couldn’t let such a baseless illusion deceive him, nor could he think a well-endowed woman looked familiar.
He was here to demand an explanation!
“I am not here to buy anything.”
Mu’en spoke in a low voice, altered to be deep and hoarse.
“Oh? Then what is the customer here for…”
Seemingly sensing Mu’en’s unfriendly aura, the shopkeeper clearly became more vigilant.
“Two months ago, I bought a bottle of ** here.”
“Two months ago…”
The shopkeeper fell into thought before suddenly realizing.
“Oh, you are that time’s big… big customer!”
“You were just about to say ‘big fool,’ right?”
Mu’en’s forehead bulged with veins:
“I won’t quibble over the price; I just want to ask you, is the magic potion you sold me legitimate?”
“Isn’t it legitimate?”
The shopkeeper replied with confusion, “Isn’t the potion effective? Isn’t it supposed to mesmerize even an elephant?”
“That it can mesmerize an elephant is not in question.”
After all, even Celicia couldn’t withstand it for two seconds in front of that potion.
“But the problem is that the gift you gave me, is that thing legitimate?”
“Gift…”
The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then as if recalling something, exclaimed in shock: “Could it be that you actually used that potion on an elephant? Including using that gift together?”
As she spoke, the shopkeeper looked at Mu’en with a hint of pity.
No wonder he was so angry.
Heard that an elephant’s…
That would surely go straight to the stomach?
Tsk, tsk, it’s a miracle this person is still alive.
“Not at all!”
Mu’en slammed the table in anger.
“I did not use the potion on an elephant. Your magic potion was also very effective. I just want to ask you why you included the aphrodisiac as a gift and asked me to use them together for better results?”
“Well… isn’t bundling sales a common strategy for merchants? It was quite popular before.”
“Indeed, for those lecherous old men it was very well received, but I am not one of them!”
Mu’en declared sternly: “I am a man of integrity.”
“…A man of integrity wouldn’t be buying that kind of potion, would they? Moreover, I think just a bit of basic knowledge in potionology should be enough to tell the potion’s effects.”
As she spoke, the shopkeeper shot a disbelieving glance at Mu’en:
“Customer, you surely don’t lack even the most basic potion knowledge, do you?”
“Well… is that really important?” Mu’en’s face blushed under the mask.
“Of course it is! Whether you are a magician or a warrior, isn’t basic potionology a required subject? Otherwise, if you go out, would you dare to drink random potions? What if the potion has strange effects and could even turn you into a girl?”
“Ahem… in any case, it’s a fact that your actions brought me great harm, so…”
Mu’en cleared his throat twice and declared loudly:
“Refund!”
