‘A 2% stake being 6,600 shillings…’

The fact that a 2% stake held this much value meant the Rorte Newsletter was not a large enterprise.

Still, the Hardcore Assassin deck information seemed to have had a significant effect.

The Rorte Newsletter’s market share was gradually climbing, so there was no need to sell the stake in a hurry.

It was money that would grow even if left alone.

Those who favored the Hardcore Assassin deck the most were Bronze Tier players without any item combination formulas.

The deck’s appeal lay in its ability to produce solid deck power even without core items, which made it highly popular.

Thanks to this, the Hardcore Assassin deck was now joining the mainstream alongside the Gunslinger deck, and the reputation of ‘Meta’—the one who devised the deck—was growing by the day.

Everything was going well.

But the lack of information about the Black Market was holding me back.

Due to the battlefield mana remaining in my body, not only was additional body enhancement blocked, but the use of skills in reality was also sealed off.

It wasn’t an immediate threat to my life.

But if I couldn’t use skills, I couldn’t guarantee my own safety, so it was best to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

Trivik was not a city known for its good security, after all.

***

Before heading to the northern region where private battlefields were held, I stopped by the Arrow of the Blue Sky’s headquarters with Chasey.

“Welcome!”

Whether the gift I sent had been effective, the two who had previously been rather aloof now greeted us warmly.

You have to give to receive—that was why I had sent an expensive Air Circulator as a gift.

The Air Circulator I had received as a reward was something I had no use for at present.

Of course, the primary reason for sending the gift was to obtain information about the Black Market.

“The Black Market… I’ve only heard rumors myself. I’m not entirely sure it actually exists.”

But the answer I received was not encouraging.

A situation that drew a sigh from me.

Just then, a confident voice came from behind.

“I know quite a bit about the Black Market.”

It was Teiz, a new recruit who had recently joined the Arrow of the Blue Sky.

“Is that true?”

Finding a glimmer of hope, I took a step closer to Teiz and was able to observe his appearance in detail.

‘His look has changed.’

Unlike before, when he had sported a goat beard and worn an excessive number of jeweled rings.

Now he had a clean appearance reminiscent of an elite financier.

I wasn’t sure which was Teiz’s true look, but the Teiz I had faced was no ordinary Bronze-tier player.

I knew that from having faced him directly.

He was, at the very least, more skilled than the current Chasey.

He had possessed an item combination formula that was incomparably better than my Dice of Fortune, and he had his own strategies to boot.

Moreover, anyone who knew enough about the Black Market had to be someone with considerable pull even in Trivik.

Given that his intentions were unclear, it was best to be somewhat cautious.

Teiz smiled.

“If you’d like, I can guide you to the Black Market.”

“Is that really true?”

It didn’t sound like a lie.

But judging by his expression, he wasn’t going to tell me easily.

“If you help me, I’ll pay the price.”

“A price… what kind of price did you have in mind?”

It was a meaningful remark.

I thought for a moment.

What could I offer someone like Teiz?

Money?

From his nouveau-riche first impression and the item combination formula he possessed, it was clear he had more money than I did.

But teaching him about the battlefield was also difficult.

Unlike Chasey, he was a player with a fairly well-established understanding of the game.

I could see areas he needed to improve, but would he listen to someone who was merely Bronze Tier?

As I’ve said before, players had quite a bit of pride, and he might interpret it as unsolicited advice.

Chasey was the unusual one—I couldn’t hold other players to her standard.

Perhaps sensing my deliberation, Teiz spoke first.

“Haha— no price necessary. I’m merely telling you where the entrance to the Black Market is. Obtaining access is a separate matter, of course.”

Teiz extended his hand for a handshake with a smile.

“… …”

I looked at his hand and hesitated.

Teiz’s seemingly considerate words concealed multiple intentions.

First, by offering to help without asking for anything in return, he was creating a sense of indebtedness.

Second, by indirectly stating that while he could reveal the entrance, obtaining access would require a price.

The goal was to extract a price while simultaneously creating an implicit debt of gratitude.

‘What an exhausting fellow.’

At this point, I had no choice but to play along with his scheme, fully aware of his intentions.

He surely knew that fact as well.

“…Thank you.”

In the end, I had no choice but to take his outstretched hand.

“Don’t mention it.”

Teiz flashed a grin.

***

The Black Market was held in Trivik’s western region.

The date was six days from now, at noon.

I arranged to meet Teiz in front of the Colosseum in the western region on the day of.

There was still plenty of time.

In the meantime, I planned to participate in a private battlefield being held in the northern region, while Chasey would participate in one in the eastern region, and we would regroup according to schedule.

“It’s been a while since I’ve moved around on my own.”

I savored a freedom I hadn’t felt since meeting Chasey.

But with my skills currently unavailable, I needed to act with even greater caution.

Whooosh-

‘The weather’s gotten chilly.’

A cold wind cut through the gaps in my linen shirt.

It was a sign that Trivik, too, was entering full winter.

I felt the cold because I had removed my insulating robe.

Since my appearance was known, there was a possibility of drawing people’s attention, so I had packed the robe and mask in my travel backpack.

I wouldn’t be able to put them on until after leaving the eastern region, at least.

“We’ll be departing now.”

Neigh-!

The mode of transportation I had chosen to travel to the northern region was a horse-drawn carriage led by an old coachman.

With my improved financial situation, I could afford this level of luxury.

Clip-clop- clip-clop-

The carriage left behind the bustling center of Yukantar and headed toward the city’s outskirts.

About an hour passed, and the noise that had been surrounding us faded completely.

Rattle- rattle-!

Only then could I open the carriage window and take in the surrounding landscape.

Yellow sand dunes visible in the distance.

The wind blowing in from the desert carried the dry scent of earth.

Hearing the window open, the old coachman glanced my way.

A smile was etched across his deeply wrinkled face.

“It seems the road will be congested for a while. I ask for your understanding.”

Wondering what was happening, I looked ahead and could see people and animals gathered in one place in the distance.

A long line had formed, and the carriages behind it were unable to pick up speed.

It didn’t take long for our horse-drawn carriage, which had been racing along briskly, to join the procession.

‘What is that…’

The cause of the congestion was a Bactrian camel with two large humps.

And there were dozens of them.

The camels’ flanks were laden with backpacks and various goods hanging in abundance.

The people holding the camels’ reins had tanned skin and wore white turbans.

It was the first time I’d seen such a massive caravan moving all at once.

A unique sight that would be difficult to witness anywhere but Trivik.

The old coachman explained the situation.

“They are nomads living in the Herseba Desert outside Trivik. They come to Trivik from time to time to trade resources, bringing goods they’ve gathered from the desert.”

“Do people actually live in the Herseba Desert?”

“Of course. The desert is a home provided by nature, just like any other.”

The camels moved at a leisurely pace, grazing as they went, and the ground they passed over was invariably stripped bare, revealing yellow earth beneath.

Camels ate everything—dried grass, fresh grass, even thorny cacti—so the areas they traversed were turning into wasteland.

As a result, the road became even more congested, and the horses, having lost their running space, slowed down.

Neigh-!

The horse-drawn carriage I was in also came to a complete stop.

As if this were a common occurrence, the coachman spoke in a calm voice.

“If you’re pressed for time, I can look for another route.”

“No, it’s fine. This is quite an interesting sight to watch.”

Since I had departed a few days earlier than the start date of the private battlefield in the northern region, I wasn’t rushed for time.

The old coachman had a wealth of life experience, making him an excellent conversational partner.

“Every year around this time, the desert merchants visit Trivik’s northern region. They need to stock up on tools and provisions to survive the winter.”

“With Trivik right in front of them, I don’t quite understand why they insist on living in the desert.”

If they were capable of organizing a trading caravan to Trivik, couldn’t they simply spend the winter in Trivik?

I couldn’t understand why they clung to the desert.

The old coachman smiled.

“Haha— I can see why you’d think that. But they have their own reasons for living in the desert.”

Reasons they had to live in the desert…

“What reasons?”

“Most of them are people who were exiled from Trivik, or their families. People who cannot enter the city of Trivik.”

What could they have done to be exiled from Trivik?

Trivik wasn’t known for interfering in most matters, after all.

“So they’re criminals, then?”

“You could say that, I suppose.”

Despite his words, the old coachman was watching them with an ambiguous look in his eyes.

It seemed there was more to the story.

“So there are some who aren’t criminals.”

“Well…”

I demanded an answer with my gaze.

The old coachman hesitated.

Being old was proof of having survived.

He knew better than anyone the importance of holding one’s tongue.

“I promise I won’t speak of this anywhere.”

Perhaps my firm assurance had an effect, for the coachman let out a deep sigh.

The traces of time were visible on his lined face.

“The truth is, their ancestors were once residents of Trivik.”

“Residents of Trivik in the past…”

“This was during the era when Alfred Luhibio, the worthy ruler, governed the city. Counting the years, it’s been nearly a hundred years since then.”

This was the era when Alfred Luhibio, the owner of Trivik, was still alive and well.

“A hundred years ago, Trivik was a city of art renowned for its glasswork industry. Many artists would visit Trivik seeking inspiration.”

The Herseba Desert’s alias was the White Desert.

The name originated from the white quartz sand, ideal for glassmaking, that covered the desert.

Situated between the unique terrain of the Herseba Desert and the bountiful lands of the Regalavak Great Plains, Trivik became known as a city flowing with milk and honey.

“It’s said that during Alfred Luhibio’s lifetime, law and order were well maintained. He possessed the power and authority to ensure it.”

Alfred Luhibio was known to be at least an upper-tier Gold player.

Given his level of skill, countless champions followed in his wake, which was how order was maintained.

The shattering of this peace was caused by something no one could have anticipated.

The catalyst was the sudden disappearance of Alfred Luhibio.

The people under his command strove to maintain Trivik’s order on the belief that he would return someday, but as years passed, that resolve inevitably wavered.

Trivik was a city flowing with milk and honey.

Few could resist the temptations sitting right before their eyes.

“The first to act was his disciple, Ruta Garos. He began gathering the remaining people, using the pretext of protecting the city until his master returned.”

“Garos, you say…”

“Yes, the predecessor of the Garos faction that exists in Trivik today. A hundred years have passed, so there have already been four generational successions.”