—
He felt a surge of knowledge fill him—fragments of an ancient past, moments of power, and the stories of those who had shaped the world long before them. It was overwhelming, exhilarating, and frightening all at once. But just as quickly as it had come, the vision faded, leaving Kent with a sense of awe and confusion.
He opened his eyes to find Nima watching him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What did you see?" Auri was sitting on Kent’s head.
Kent’s voice was hoarse, as if he had just woken from a dream. "I don’t even know how to explain it. It was like… I saw everything but nothing all at once. The vision was very weird."
As the day turned to dusk and the sun’s dying rays bathed the Azure Bay city in hues of tangerine and magenta, Kent, Nima, and Auri set off. Kent had a destination and a purpose—to explore the hidden black market of the city. Jade had given him a personal task.
His message had been brief but urgent find out how many shops there were and what type of tools and peculiar treasures they sold. With that task weighing on his mind, Kent led Nima and Auri through the labyrinth-like back alleys of the city.
A few turns later, the streets came alive with a kaleidoscope of neon signs mingling with the ancient charm of stone buildings and narrow lanes. Vendors shouted from their makeshift stalls, offering everything from enchanted trinkets to bizarre-looking tools and multicoloured, peculiar liquids. The atmosphere of the black market was both chaotic and whimsical—a fitting backdrop for a night of exploration.
According to a text message from Jade Monroe, this market should have at least fifty different shops. But Kent saw over 200 makeshift shops—the actual number might be even higher. Most shops sold common items like recovery potions, low-level spiritual tools, and basic cultivation techniques.
Nima jumped in excitement, hopping her arms through Kent’s. "Kent, you brought me shopping! You’re such a good big brother. Give me some money—I can’t wait to see what this market can offer." Auri chirped excitedly from Nima’s shoulder, "I want good food. I want to taste all the colourful juice. They look so yummy."
Kent didn’t tell Nima they were in a black market. "First, let’s explore a little. If we find something useful, we’ll buy it. Don’t wander far from me. Stay close."
They turned a corner and entered an open corridor lit by strings of flickering fairy lights. Stalls of every shape and colour lined the narrow passageway. A wizened vendor with a shock of unruly white hair and a long beard was selling exotic, evolved birds at one booth.
At another, a burly man claimed he had a mushroom that could make men’s private parts grow. He was forcing a customer to take off his pants to try it, while curious crowds egged the buyer on. The entire scene was hilarious.
Kent’s attention, however, was laser-focused. He had a special goal—to find something useful for them. With his appraisal skill, he could easily discern quality; no one could cheat him. He had already given a command to the system to inform him if there was something useful for him, Nima, and Auri.
After aimlessly wandering through the maze-like black market, they came upon a small, inconspicuous stall with a sign reading "STONE & SPARK: RICKS WITH MYSTERY." Behind the makeshift counter, a bespectacled, lanky old man in a threadbare lan coat busied himself sorting through various stones. His fingers danced over each specimen as if they were priceless gems. The old man noticed Kent and the others approaching his stall.
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"Ah, young customer, welcome, welcome!" the man exclaimed in a singsong voice as Kent approached. "Young customer, are you looking for something extraordinary and rare? Then you have come to the right stall. I have stones that are rare, rocks that can make you rich. There are hidden treasures, spiritual tools, and cultivation techniques inside these rocks. Want to try your luck?"
Kent’s eyes lit up when he saw a floating screen in front of him. "I hit the jackpot. I found something that could make me rich. If others find out about this, there’s a possibility that a bloody battle will break out just to take this item."
[Ding! System notifications: A spiritual stone mine core detected.
Note: To pinpoint the exact rock, it will take ten million SP.]
{Do you want to pinpoint the location?}
[Yes/No]
Kent said to the system, "Ten million… No, there are only twelve stones. I will buy them all. I don’t want to waste my SP—I have a one hundred million SP loan to pay."
"Mr. Stall Owner, do you have other stones in the back? If you do, bring them out. I will give you good business. I will buy a lot, but I want to choose from everything you have. Most stall owners keep their good stuff in the back and sell the defective ones first."
"You are a cautious young customer," the old man replied. Then he grinned broadly and reached beneath the worn velvet tablecloth. He pulled out a big box with some stones. At first glance, it looked entirely ordinary—the stones were covered with dust and mud, and their colour had faded to grey. In total, there were twenty stones.
Kent said to the vendor, "I knew it—you have other stones. You hide the good stuff. These rocks have potential. Tell me about the price. Don’t try to overcharge me; I am also a seller. I know all the tricks."
The vendor leaned forward, his eyes twinkling. "I won’t cheat you. One stone costs ten thousand dollars. This is my regular price. I’ll give you a discount today because you said you would buy many. Give me eight thousand, and it’s yours, young friend—a discounted price only for you."
Kent replied, "Hey, don’t give me that bull— I will give you one thousand dollars for everything. What do you say? Is it a deal or not?"
Ding! +999, +999, +999, SP copied from the vendor. (Shock)
Ding! +999, +999, +999, SP copied from the vendor. (Speechless)
The vendor’s face twitched as if he had just swallowed a particularly sour lemon. "One thousand? For everything? Are you serious? Young man, are you trying to rob me? These stones are rare—ancient! Do you know how hard it was for me to get my hands on these stones? This stone came from one of the first ruins. If you are lucky, they are life-changing stones."
Nima stepped in with a look like an old grandmother. "Mister, listen, you just said that if someone is lucky, then it’s a life-changing stone. What if there is nothing inside? Our money will be wasted. My big brother was very generous—he could have offered you five hundred dollars. Because he respects elderly people, he offered you double the price. It’s a blessing for you."
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The vendor choked at hearing Nima’s praise for her big brother. "A blessing? You call this robbery a blessing!? Both of you siblings are like gangsters trying to rob me. At least be reasonable! I already gave you a discount—eight thousand per stone."
Kent waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, I don’t want you to charge me over the odds. I’ll give you a final offer: two thousand for everything. You can go home early and have some rest."
+999 SP copied from the vendor (anger).
+999 SP copied from the vendor (frustration).
+999 SP copied from the vendor (anger).
The vendor sputtered, ready to explode at any moment. His face turned a mix of red and blue, and it looked as if smoke were coming out of his ears and head—as if he were a pressure cooker. But before he could protest, Nima leaned in, her eyes twinkling. "Old sir, let’s be honest. This is a street market. You probably got these for dirt cheap, if not for free. And look at them—I saw you clearing dust! No one else even glanced at your stall. We are the only ones showing interest. You should be thanking us!"
Auri flapped his wings dramatically from Kent’s shoulder. "Yes! Yes! Be grateful! And also, do you have snacks? I want to buy some snacks—I’m getting hungry from all this intense negotiation."
The vendor looked like he was about to collapse. His mind raced with thoughts: "Now their pet bird is also talking to me. They aren’t young kids; they’re devils." He rubbed his temples, sighed deeply, and then groaned, "Fine, twenty thousand for the lot. That’s as low as I will go. Take it or leave me alone."
Kent grinned. "Now we’re talking business. Nima, pay the man. You took my mobile earlier to go shopping."
Nima gasped, "That’s a lot of money. I think two thousand dollars was a good price."
After receiving the payment, the vendor handed over all the stones with a defeated sigh. "You two young ones are the hardest customers I’ve had in my life."