In the Era of Radiance, year 8775, on July 8th,
The morning mist enveloped the entire Lorand City with a chill in the air.
Lear, shrouded in a black cloak that only revealed his eyes, slowly stepped into the most dangerous area of the Ninth District.
The Black Market.
No matter if they were big names from the Underworld or nobles standing at the top, everyone had something they needed to handle discreetly.
Due to the power of Lorand City, the black market of the Ninth District was infamous even throughout the Northern Province.
No matter what goods arrived here, they could be easily offloaded.
The black market opened once every three days.
Each time, it attracted a massive number of sellers and buyers, including speculators from afar.
The craziest thing is — a place where transactions creating enormous wealth occur is hidden in the most impoverished slum.
It can't help but be seen as a great irony.
Perhaps it's precisely because of this that the slum is qualified to exist?
The black market was established amid ancient building ruins, with few buildings intact.
Once the black market closed, it became an empty ghost town.
But at this moment, people came and went, a continuous stream, an expanse of black heads.
More than half, like Lear, concealed their faces using various methods.
On both sides of the road, a variety of stalls were laid out.
However, there were few barking vendors, most sat silently in front of their stalls, waiting for buyers to inquire about prices.
Lear turned his head to look; the stalls were filled with an array of goods.
Unknown ores, beast fangs, sharp long swords, potions emitting magical power waves, half-elf slaves bound by chains... he even saw 20 sets of high-level full body armor imprinted with the Griffin Empire Royal Legion's emblem at one stall!
Are these things really being openly sold here?
At this moment, Lear was truly witnessing the wildness of the black market.
But he didn't waste much time, starting to search for his target.
'On the morning of July 8th, when the sun has just risen, it will be sold at the 23rd stall at the entrance of the black market.'
This is... the 17th stall.
Calculating in his mind, Lear arrived at the 23rd stall.
In front of him sat an elderly man with a broken right arm and graying hair, seated on a small stool, with a display of colorful ores before him.
Is this... a Tomb Raider?
Lear couldn't see any traces, and the ores hardly connected to tomb raiding.
Who would bury ore in tombs?
Um... except the Dwarves.
But there's only this one entrance to the whole black market...
He silently bent over to search for the Crystal Ball.
The one-armed old man glanced at Lear's movement, saying nothing, continuing to gently caress the pitch-black ore in his hands.
Lear appreciated the quiet, but the stall was only so large, with only about thirty or forty ores. It didn't take long to check over, and there was no sign of the Crystal Ball.
His gaze shifting to the old man, just as he was about to speak, warm sunlight broke through the mist.
Illuminating the entire Lorand City.
An orange-red sun appeared in view.
The sun... had risen!
At the same time, three men dressed in shabby clothes, carrying leather backpacks with a scent of earthy mud on them, walked to Lear's side.
The man in the middle, with a dull face and small stature, had a Seven-Colored Bamboo Dragonfly carelessly stuck into his backpack, giving a whimsical look.
In the dark tones of the black market, it seemed quite peculiar.
The three remained silent, looking at the empty space beside, directly spreading out a dirty yellow cloth on the ground.
Opening the backpacks behind them, clumsily taking out items.
The man with the Seven-Colored Bamboo Dragonfly slowly took out a yellowish Crystal Ball from his backpack.
Lear's pupils constricted sharply.
Turning his head, the group of men had already inserted themselves in front of the ore stall... becoming the 23rd stall!
Taking a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the emotions within, he moved closer and softly spoke.
"Gentlemen, may I handle these items?"
The three men immediately raised their heads to look at Lear, the cloak only revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes.
The dull man slightly adjusted the Crystal Ball, speaking in a muffled voice.
"Of course, though if you don't plan on purchasing, please handle it gently... these items have a bit of age."
Looking at the items, some with the soil still not dry, Lear nodded.
"Naturally."
Even if the Griffin Empire's Royal Legion's standard armor was being sold, items dug out from tombs were hardly surprising.
From the inside out, handling each one, ten minutes later, he gently grasped the Crystal Ball.
Fist-sized, with the icy coldness of rock.
The surface was covered with scratches and marks hard to remove from long burial underground.
His gaze subtly shifted.
Who would have thought that such an inconspicuous item held inside it a Divine Format enough to make the world go mad?!
Pondering for a moment, he casually set it down.
Continuing to inspect other items.
The three men seemed indifferent; what they sold was made for a niche.
If it was appealing, anything could be discussed.
But this guy seemed just to have happened upon them, looking casually, so they held no hope of selling, though having someone draw a crowd wasn't bad either.
Almost done examining everything on the stall, Lear tentatively picked up an ivory bowl.
"This piece, what price are you willing to sell at?"
The small, dull man spoke with a low tone.
"10 Gold Coins... the price is firm."
Lear picked up a second item.
"And this ivory cup..."
"12 Gold Coins... firm price."
After inquiring about seven or eight items, he lightly pointed.
"This Crystal Ball?"
"10 Gold Coins..."
At the price, Lear's eyes fixed.
After asking about several more items' prices, he tangled over seven choices, gradually putting back four of them, leaving three.
"Gentlemen, if I buy these three at once, could there be a small discount?"
Seeing Lear genuinely intended to purchase, the man's face became a bit more expressive, no longer a deadwood appearance.
Even the one-armed old man selling ore turned to glance.
"These were obtained at great risk; we never change the price... but if you're sincere, then take these three for 28 Gold Coins!"
Lear's gaze stirred slightly, seriously.
"How about 20 Silver Coins? Let's become friends..."
The man's face changed at Lear's offer, this wasn't just haggling; it was robbery.
"Impossible, we risked our lives for these... absolutely impossible at that price."
With the act needing to be thorough, a series of intense price negotiations later, Lear purchased three ancient items freshly raided from a tomb, for 20 Gold Coins.
That yellowish Crystal Ball was included.
Both parties were satisfied with the transaction...
Only the old man selling ores felt a pang of regret in his eyes; had he known Lear was this foolishly generous, he would have introduced himself... who knew this guy was so easy to fool!
Lear packed the items away, suddenly spotting the unique Seven-Colored Bamboo Dragonfly on the man's backpack.
Hesitated, he spoke softly.
"Sir... this dragonfly, is there any chance you'd part with it?"
The man paused, then silently removed the dragonfly, revealing a faint smile.
"My daughter gave this to me this morning... if you'd like it, it's yours."
Daughter?
Lear remained silent.
In this cannibalistic world, who doesn't have unspeakable situations?
"Thank you for your generosity..."
Holding the whimsically charming Seven-Colored Bamboo Dragonfly, Lear slowly exited the black market, his face calm, but his heart roiling with emotions.
Swamp Divine Format — the most core item of a Divine Spirit!
The world's most precious treasure, now in his possession!
Something enough to drive anyone to madness!
The corners of his mouth under the hood slightly raised, then gradually expanded, until they became a wild grin!!
In merely two days, he already possessed the ultimate trump card!