Inside a poorly lit, worn-down room that stank of sweat and dust, a young man moved with slow and deliberate effort. His shirtless body trembled greatly as he pushed through another set of push-ups. His limbs were lean—bordering on malnourished—and his ribs stood out against his pale and taut skin, and each rep looked like it was completed out of sheer will.
Of course, the young man was none other than Noel.
Previously, he had always exercised like this out of habit, as no matter how disciplined he had been, it was impossible for him to gain strength when his stomach was constantly empty and his body had been running on scraps.
His frame had always been frail, and his muscles couldn't grow without the proper nutrients. Not to mention, he had always been weighed down by untreated internal injuries. Therefore, there was simply no way for him to achieve any notable results.
However, that wasn't the case anymore. Ever since the system had healed him, his body felt entirely different. With no internal injuries plaguing him, he fully engrossed himself in his exercise routine, and for once, he believed that each drop of sweat that dropped on the creaky wooden floor would yield substantial results.
Two days had passed since his traumatic experience inside the F-rank rift, and aside from spending the 7,200 credits he'd earned from selling mana crystals on proper meals, he'd done nothing but train and rest. His routine had been simple—eat, sleep, and exercise.
Noel gritted his teeth as he dropped to the floor, his arms giving out beneath him. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and his entire body twitched in protest, sore from the sudden return to real training. He groaned sharply, rolling onto his back, panting like a man who had just completed a marathon.
"Shit... this pain is on a whole different level," he gasped, sweat trailing down the side of his face as he stared at the nearly collapsing ceiling.
He was about to curse even more when he suddenly heard a loud ding echo through the room.
Noel turned his head, and with a trembling hand, he reached out and grabbed his old, battered phone, the broken screen flickering faintly as he tapped it open.
Noel stared at the message and blinked slowly, and then a low chuckle slipped from his lips, a wolfish grin stretching across his face.
"That's more like it!" Noel laughed wolfishly as he sat up and leaned against the wall, his blue eyes glued to the screen.
"Ten million credits!" Noel exclaimed in a delighted tone. He had never seen such a large amount of money in his life!
"With this amount of money, I can finally do the things I couldn't do!" Noel laughed even harder, and all the fatigue and pain he felt from his intense workout miraculously disappeared.
"With half a million, I can easily cover Julius' hospital bill for six months and still have enough left over to finally upgrade my gear!" Noel grinned as he pocketed his phone, his heart pounding rapidly from excitement.
Noel grinned as he stood to his feet, his muscles still aching, but he paid it no heed.
There was now only one thing on his mind.
"It's time to pay a visit to the black market."
***
Nestled in the very heart of the city, the Black Market was an urban bazaar that pulsed with life and energy. Rows upon rows of stalls lined the crowded alleyways, overflowing with magical artifacts, glowing mana crystals, enchanted weapons, and a variety of accessories; the scent of numerous magical merchandise lingered in the air.
Merchants hollered over one another to advertise their wares, and a countless number of people flocked to the various merchants, their constant haggling creating a loud and chaotic atmosphere.
Contrary to popular belief, the Black Market wasn't tucked away in the shadows or hidden behind secret doors where one needed passwords to gain access.
No.
Anyone and everyone could walk in.
The nature of its merchants, not their secrecy, earned the Black Market its name. They were ruthless, cunning, greedy, and always looking to bleed you dry. These black-hearted merchants were what truly defined the place. They were like a pack of wolves waiting to prey on a flock of sheep.
Yet, despite the outrageous prices of their goods, a lot of Awakened and Hunters alike constantly flocked to the Black Market. There was simply no competing with the amount of merchandise and resources they had—if you could afford the prices, of course.
Noel weaved through the bustling streets, his sharp eyes flitting across several stalls and carts, searching for items that matched both his needs and his pocket.
His main priority in coming to the Black Market was to upgrade his gear and restock his supplies, but more importantly, he needed to outfit Kaiser as well. He couldn't have Kaiser unarmed when next they raided a rift; otherwise, he would just be signing both his and Kaiser's death.
How was Kaiser supposed to protect him if he didn't have a weapon and armor?
Still, Noel could only settle for what his pockets could afford. Ten million credits might seem like a fortune to the average person, allowing them to live the rest of their lives without worrying about anything, but for a Hunter stepping into the Black Market? It barely scratched the surface.
If he was able to get a pair of Rare-rank weapons or accessories, he could consider his visit this time a huge win. The only question was whether his pockets could handle it.
Noel kept walking and moved from stall to stall, scanning various enchanted items, weapons, accessories, and their tagged prices, most of which made his stomach tighten.
"Hey, handsome boy! This dagger is one of a kind! Come take a look!"
"Over here, pretty boy! This robe will enhance your affinity to mana! Limited stock available!"
"You look like you need something special, so come take a look! I assure you that I have all you need!"
Noel ignored them all and continued forward. He didn't have the time—or the credits—to waste on smooth-talking swindlers.
After over thirty minutes of dodging overpriced junk and relentless hawkers, Noel finally stopped in his tracks.
Tucked away in a rundown corner stall was a pair of glimmering black earrings. They were long and slender, with a faint magical shimmer, and they reminded Noel of earrings worn by nobles in a kingdom.
He glanced around and saw that the owner of the stall was nowhere in sight. Curious, he reached out and picked up the glittering black earrings.
The moment he did so, a ping sound suddenly echoed in his ear, and the translucent black screen that he had now gotten accustomed to suddenly materialized in front of him.
[You have unlocked skill: Appraisal]
[Allows Host to see hidden information on objects]
Noel blinked as he stared at the translucent screen in front of him, and his eyes widened.
"I just got a new skill?"
He stared at the earrings, then back at the screen, and a slow yet devious grin suddenly spread across his face.