Ryke continued leading them through the streets.
The farther they went, the busier Soraeg became.
More people filled the streets, and the number of vehicles passing by steadily increased.
Ryke occasionally glanced over his shoulder.
The others were still following him.
*They really expect me to lead the way like I'm actually involved in this kind of business.*
*The motor is stolen, so the only way to sell it without drawing attention is through the black market.*
*There should always be one somewhere in a city like this.*
*I just have to find it.*
Suddenly—
Draven stopped.
He turned toward Pythia and Kaelira.
The two immediately followed him.
Aldric also stopped and followed.
Ryke stared at them for a moment before quickly catching up.
*Guess we're going to collect the blood first.*
A while later—
The group stood inside a small alley.
A concealment spell surrounded the area, hiding them from anyone outside.
Two dried-out corpses lay on the ground.
Aldric looked down at them.
"Alright."
"That should be enough."
Pythia nodded.
She stored the containers filled with blood inside her ring.
Kaelira stared down at the corpses.
"They're all dried up."
"They look like mummies."
Ryke stared at the bodies.
*They drained all the blood from them.*
*They look like dried wood.*
He swallowed.
*Lucky for me I wasn't in their shoes.*
*I'd be dead right now.*
Aldric turned toward Ryke.
"Now we can go sell the vehicle."
Pythia suddenly raised a hand.
"Wait a moment."
Aldric looked at her.
"What?"
"It's better if we leave no traces."
Pythia stepped toward the corpses.
Mana began gathering around her.
She raised her hand.
"Let me take care of this."
A magic circle appeared beneath the corpses.
The concealment spell remained active as Pythia began casting another spell.
Ryke watched silently.
*What are they going to do now?*
Pythia's eyes narrowed.
The magic circle beneath the corpses brightened.
"Let's make sure there's nothing left behind."
The corpses began to corrode.
Their bodies slowly broke apart, crumbling into an ash-like substance.
A moment later, the remains dissolved completely.
Pythia lowered her hand.
"Done."
Aldric nodded.
"Alright."
He looked toward Draven.
"Remove the concealment."
Draven nodded.
The concealment spell disappeared.
The group then left the alley and stepped back onto the street.
A while later—
They were making their way through one of Soraeg's busier streets.
Street stalls lined both sides of the road, with vendors calling out to passing customers.
Kaelira looked around.
"Huh."
"This sure looks like a market."
She glanced around again.
"But I wouldn't exactly call it a black market."
Ryke nodded.
"Because it isn't."
He remembered what had happened after they left the alley.
Aldric had asked him where they should go to sell the vehicle.
Ryke had told him about the black market.
*I told him we'd have to find it first.*
*There's no way we'd be able to sell a stolen vehicle somewhere like this.*
Aldric looked around.
"Since it's a black market, it should be well hidden."
Ryke nodded.
"Yeah."
"I was actually going to ask around really quick—"
"No need."
Aldric suddenly stopped.
His eyes gleamed crimson beneath his disguise as he stared in a particular direction.
"I've already found it."
Kaelira blinked.
"Oh?"
"You did?"
"That was quick."
Ryke stared at Aldric.
*How did he find it?*
*We literally just arrived here.*
Aldric smiled.
"It's no big deal."
"It might be hidden from others..."
"...but to me, it's obvious."
He glanced toward Ryke.
"My magic sensitivity isn't something you could understand."
Ryke was startled by the look on Aldric's face.
*What's with that look?*
Meanwhile—
Draven's gaze shifted toward the same direction.
He stared silently.
*I can see it too.*
His eyes narrowed slightly.
*No...*
*I can feel it.*
Even through the concealment and the bustling crowd, the presence of the hidden black market was clear to him.
Aldric turned toward the others.
"Let's go."
The group followed him through the market.
They continued walking for a while, passing between the crowded streets and various stalls.
Eventually—
They found themselves in a small alley behind a store.
Pythia looked around.
"So this is the entrance?"
Kaelira glanced around as well.
"I can sense it now."
Pythia nodded.
"It doesn't seem like they'll be allowing us free entry, though."
At the end of the alley—
Two men were sitting on wooden boxes.
One was human.
The other was a half-man, half-goat.
Pythia looked at him.
"A Satyr."
The Satyr glanced toward them.
"Black fee is—"
A faint crimson glow appeared in Aldric's eyes.
"Scram, damn rats."
The two guards immediately froze.
"Yes."
They stepped aside without another word.
Ryke stared at them.
He noticed the faint crimson glow still lingering in their eyes.
*What was that?*
*Mind control?*
*I've heard vampires can do that...*
*But this is the first time I've actually seen it.*
He swallowed.
*And I don't feel good about it.*
The group continued forward.
They reached the end of the alley.
There was nothing there except a dead-end wall.
Kaelira looked at it.
"That's it?"
Aldric smirked.
"Just keep walking."
The group continued toward the wall.
Then—
The moment they reached it—
**WHOOSH!**
Their surroundings suddenly shifted.
The dead-end wall disappeared from their sight.
The alley transformed into a completely different passage.
Beyond it—
A massive underground market stretched into the distance.
Countless lights illuminated the dark space.
Merchants shouted from their stalls.
Strange races moved through the crowded streets.
Weapons, magic items, potions, and countless other goods were displayed everywhere.
Kaelira's eyes widened.
"So this is the black market."
Pythia looked around.
"The Night Market..."
Aldric grinned.
"Now we're talking."