Chapter 364: Black Market!
“Lackey?… That’s an unusual name,” the woman mused, stepping closer to the tall.
Her eyes trailed over his well-built form, lingering on his confident stance. Just as she moved to close the distance between them, a voice, sharp and feminine, cut through the air,
“If you’ve bought something, please leave.” The words were calm but carried an edge of authority.
The woman turned to see a striking figure emerging from the wooden stall… a wolf woman with a striking mix of black and red hair, wearing a wolf mask that partially obscured her piercing gaze.
The woman hesitated under the wolf woman’s intense glare, but then she shot one last flirtatious wink at the black-haired man before hurriedly leaving the stall.
[+4000 AP]
As the woman disappeared into the crowd, Liora, the wolf woman, turned her attention back to Aether, her expression softening slightly. “Why are we doing this again?” she asked, a hint of irritation lacing her voice.
After the chaos at the academy had been brought under control, most people dedicated themselves to helping with the rebuilding efforts.
Maelona, being one of the major tribe leaders, had thrown herself into the work…. of course not for social work but rather… seizing the opportunity to bolster her reputation!!!
Not to be outdone, Liora had rallied her tribe to do the same.
But then Aether had asked for her help… an unexpected request that had piqued her interest. She had agreed immediately, eager to spend time with him, her mind drifting to fantasies of what their time together might entail. A sly smile played on her lips as she imagined the possibilities… Her body turned hot and horny!!
However, she had not anticipated that he would ask her to guide him to the Black Market!
Before she could voice her frustration, Aether wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her closer. His lips brushed against her long ear as he whispered, “Of course, it’s to spend some lovely time with my lovely wolfy~”
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
A shiver ran down Liora’s spine at the feel of his warm breath against her skin. Her irritation melted away, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation. Her tails swayed gently behind her, betraying her pleasure. She placed a hand on his chest, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles as she gazed into his ice-blue eyes, lost in the moment.
But in reality, Aether had a more practical reason for their trip.
He had stole-ahem… taken (Permission from dead Kennedy) several valuable items from Kennedy’s laboratory—useful things he intended to keep for himself.
The rest, however, were of no use to him, so he planned to sell them off in the Black Market. And Liora, with her sharp instincts, seemed like the perfect companion to have by his side in case things went south. Just in case, he had left the clone (Aether) back at the academy, lying in an infirmary bed motionless like really wounded until he would arrive…. as a decoy to avoid raising any suspicion from Kai.
He also thought of giving Helena free time to calm herself… as he really didn’t want to wake up another yandere in her!!
So he asked Selene to take care of the situation…. Who was doing like a diligent wife!!
Meanwhile, Celestia had returned to Empress Marisandra to report the details of the events at the academy.
“Ahem!”
A cough broke the intimate moment, causing both Aether and Liora to turn their heads.
Standing awkwardly nearby was Kaelen, Liora’s son, wearing an elephant mask that barely concealed his discomfort.
Aether tried to step back from Liora, but she only tightened her hold on him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at her son. “What is it?” she asked, her voice cool and firm.
“N-Nothing, Mother,” Kaelen stammered, shifting on his feet. “Just wondering what else I should sell?” He forced a diligent smile, his eagerness to please evident.
Liora had insisted on bringing her son along when Aether mentioned needing to sell a few things, and now Kaelen found himself acting….. as a salesman in the Black Market!!
‘I guess that’s an improvement from being a mere delivery boy to a salesperson,’ Aether mused, amused by the thought. He then asked, “Have you sold everything already?”
“Yes!… Father!” Kaelen replied with enthusiasm and carefully added ‘Father’ when his mother glared at him.
When they had first arrived at the Black Market, nestled in the outskirts of the slum area, they had set up two stalls….. one for Kaelen and another for Aether. To Aether’s satisfaction, Kaelen had been quick to make sales, efficiently clearing out the items Aether had handed him.
Aether nodded approvingly, pointing out a few more items for Kaelen to sell. As Kaelen returned to his stall, Aether couldn’t help but grumble under his breath, “I wonder why I’m not selling anything…”
He glanced sideways at Liora, who quickly averted her gaze, a hint of guilt in her eyes. The truth was clear… her aggressive demeanour had been scaring away potential customers, leaving Aether’s stall eerily empty.
Aether chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement before playfully pinching Liora’s butt.
“Ouch!” Liora yelped, shooting him a glare, and in retaliation, she moved her hand towards his front, intending to pinch… shaft!
But before she could,
“Excuse me?”
Both Aether and Liora quickly turned their attention to the source of the voice… a chubby woman wearing an intricate butterfly mask stood before their stall, her eyes scanning the equipment laid out on display.
The Black Market was a place of shadows and secrets, where anonymity was both a luxury and a necessity. Masks weren’t mandatory, but for those who valued discretion, they were a welcome option.
Adopting a professional demeanour, Aether asked, “What can I do for you, madam?”
The woman flinched before briefly staring at Aether’s rabbit mask and her gaze shifting to Liora’s wolf mask.
“… Hmm… is something the matter?” Aether asked.
“Nothing,” the woman replied, her voice steadying as she pointed to a particular item. “How much for this product?”
Aether examined the item she had chosen and responded, “That would be around 1,000ˀ, Madam.”
The woman nodded but didn’t stop there. Her curiosity led her to peruse the other items on display. “Do you have any other products?” she asked her tone more inquisitive now.
Aether’s mind began to churn with possibilities, “Hmm… is there anything specific you’re looking for, madam?” he asked, rubbing his hands together like a seasoned merchant.
“Yes, something unique, something no one else has—perhaps a one-of-a-kind gift,” the woman mused, her voice thoughtful as if she were searching for something truly special.
Aether’s mind raced, ‘Unique… a rare, unforgettable gift… ‘
Aether furrowed his brow, lost in thought as he tried to think of something that would meet her request. Seeing him hesitate, the woman began to turn away, ready to leave.
But just as she took a step, Aether’s voice called her back. “What about… multicoloured flames?”
The woman stopped in her tracks, clearly intrigued. She turned back to face him, her eyes wide with interest. “What did you say?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Multicoloured flames were not something she had ever heard of before.
Aether reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, white crystal ball. “It’s still just a prototype,” he began, “but—”
“It’s fine. If it’s done well, I’ll wait for the final product,” the woman interrupted, her tone impatient and eager. She was clearly intrigued by the idea.
Aether held the crystal ball in his hand and, with a subtle gesture, activated it.
At first, a red flame flickered to life within the crystal, burning brightly but unremarkable…. The woman’s expression started to fall, disappointment creeping in—
Until, with a soft hiss, the red flame began to change.
Shhhh
SSSShhh
Shhhh
hhhh
Colours began to swirl within the flame—blue, green, purple, and gold—each hue shifting and blending into the next in a mesmerizing dance of light. The woman’s eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared, captivated by the hypnotic display.
“How much?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes never leaving the crystal.
Aether thought for a moment, calculating the value, ‘Blue is 5000ˀ, and with four colours combined, it should be around…’ He took a breath and said, “30000ˀ.” He added a little extra, expecting a bit of haggling.
However, to his surprise, the woman responded, “Just 30000ˀ?” Her tone was one of genuine surprise, not disbelief.
Aether frowned slightly, unsure of how to proceed. He glanced at Liora, who simply shrugged and whispered, “I’m not good with money stuff! You should’ve brought Maelona for that.”
He turned back to the woman and adjusted his price. “Sorry, I meant 50000ˀ.”
The woman’s surprise only deepened. “Just 50000ˀ?”
Aether’s eye twitched in annoyance, ‘Is she trying to annoy us?’ he wondered. He was just about to double the price again when the woman spoke, her tone suddenly inquisitive.
“You must be new to this field, right?” she asked, tilting her head slightly as if trying to get a better look at the man behind the mask.
Neither Aether nor Liora answered their silence a careful, practised response in the uncertain environment of the Black Market.
The woman seemed to appreciate their caution, nodding slightly, “Well, I suppose staying silent is the correct answer for a stranger… Hmm…” She leaned in closer, “Would you mind coming with me?”
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