Chương 55: The Black Market

Velkaris. The sun had set, yet the city was still lively.

"Are you sure you're fine? I still think you should rest." Luke asked worriedly.

"It's okay, my injuries weren't that serious. After drinking that healing potion, they mostly disappeared." Kyle waved his hand and said, taking the lead to walk out of the adventurers' guild. What lingered wasn't the pain in his lungs but the memory of that contemptuous gaze. This was the first time in both of his lives that he had felt so powerless. Maybe that man didn't think much of his actions, but Kyle remembered them deeply. Kael's contemptuous gaze flashed in his mind again, causing his anger to flare.

Kyle took a deep breath and pushed those feelings down. Now wasn't the time to mull over these feelings. But one day, he would make Kael regret this offhand action of his. The two casually walked through the streets of Velkaris, with Luke leading the way and showing him the city.

'There's indeed a huge difference between a city that has lights and one that doesn't.' Kyle thought as he looked at the street lights stretching across the sidewalk. Walking across the busy streets, Kyle glanced around with a look of interest. He noticed that while every shop and vendor on the street had a light source hanging, there were differences between them. The big luxurious shops on the main streets had soft magic lamps that were both high-quality and odorless.

The small shops and vendor stalls had lamps whose fuel was rendered animal fat. Luke led him through quite a few shops, including a large weapon store. Kyle looked in amazement at the extraordinary rank equipment displayed behind glass. Equipment that could hardly be seen in Mirevale was displayed so casually here. Each piece of equipment had a piece of paper describing its grade and properties next to it.

[Emberfang] Type: Greatsword Grade: Extraordinary ★★ Enchantments: [Sharpness R1] [Durability R2] [Fire Damage R2] Effects: Passive: Attacks inflict lingering burn wounds. Active: Can emit a fire energy slash every minute. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Price: 1000 gold coins. Kyle looked at the cool 2-meter-long red greatsword with a look of longing, but upon seeing the price, he quickly shifted his gaze away.

[Bloodsteel Armor] Grade: Extraordinary ★★★ Enchantments: [Durability R2] [Elemental resistance R2] [Health Recovery R1] [Mana Recovery R1] Price: 1300 gold coins. [Swiftwind Cloak] Grade: Extraordinary ★★ Enchantments: [Durability R2] [Agility R2] [Stealth R1] Price: 880 gold coins. Each piece of equipment left him ablaze with longing, but he could only stare blankly because of the price.

'So those are rune enchantments,' Kyle thought as he looked at the various enchanted equipment; his gaze drifted to strange runes on their surface.

'They're completely different from spell enchantments. I guess runes are more suitable for weapons and armor, and spells are more effective on ornaments?' Kyle observed. As they wandered through Velkaris, the prosperity and freshness completely opened Kyle's eyes, from large buildings and statues of legendary heroes to various types of tamed monsters and alchemical equipment. Kyle and Luke moved to the side, allowing a large carriage pulled by a three-meter ostrich-like blue bird to pass by.

His gaze closely followed until it disappeared. As Luke led him through the city, Kyle even saw a hovering building and several 5-meter-tall golems in the distant Ernest Magic Academy.

"What the hell…" Kyle murmured as he looked at the flying building with a look of shock. It was a 4-story-tall building, hovering 100 meters above the ground.

'Is the technology of this otherworld so advanced?' Kyle's eyebrows twitched as he looked at it. Although he didn't understand the principle behind it, he guessed that the energy required to keep such a large building floating must be astronomical; thus, he wondered why they even kept it hovering.

'Do they have flying cars as well? Maybe even flying islands.' Kyle wondered as his gaze shifted to the golems.

'Holy shit! Those things are basically magical Gundams!' Kyle's eyes glowed as he looked at the golems.

'It's a pity that many places are closed at night.' Kyle felt disappointed as he wasn't allowed to enter many interesting places. Luke looked at Kyle's changing expression with a faint smile before continuing to lead him throughout the city. As they continued wandering through Velkaris, Luke leaned in and whispered with a meaningful smile on his face.

"There's somewhere I think you'll like, and it's only open at night. Wanna see it?" Kyle looked at Luke's lewd smile with a suspicious expression.

"Hey, that interesting place better be a serious one," Kyle said seriously, his eyebrows twitching. Luke's smile disappeared; his expression turned stern.

"Of course it's serious; follow me!" He said before leading him along an alley. Kyle followed behind, his expression still full of suspicion. As they walked through many dark and dirty alleys, passing by thugs and a few skimpily dressed ladies, Kyle's expression slowly darkened. Just as he was about to ask again, Luke stopped. He pointed at a small door at the end of an alley and said with a faint smile on his face.

"We've arrived." Looking at Kyle's dark expression, he suppressed a smile and said,"Don't worry, it's not what you think. Here, wear this and follow me." He handed him a dark mask with only two eyeholes and a cloak before walking toward the small door. Kyle looked at him bewilderedly before deciding to trust him. He donned the mask and cloak and followed behind. Luke knocked on the small door three times. A few seconds later, the door opened slightly, and a pair of cold eyes looked at them.

"The night hawk never sleeps," Luke said, before extending his palm, and two silver coins lay on it. The eyes closely inspected the two of them before a hand reached out for the two silver coins, and the door opened, revealing a hunched old man with narrow eyes.

"Come in." The old man said in a low, husky voice. Luke didn't say anything else; he quietly led Kyle inside. After passing through a long corridor, they arrived in a large open space. Facing Kyle's inquisitive gaze, Luke grinned beneath his mask and lowered his voice.

"Welcome to the black market."