The door behind the counter led down a flight of stairs and then into a corridor illuminated with light crystals. It was narrow, allowing only one person to pass through at a time.
Luca was quietly impressed.
Despite the outward appearance of the pub and its rough patrons, Digger was considerably wealthy. He was dangerous in a way most people failed to realize, because he was familiar with every part of society, especially the people at the very bottom.
Digger gave out loans, performed favors, and struck countless deals with all sorts of individuals. The amount of unpaid favors people owed him had grown to such an extent that he could likely retire and live comfortably for the rest of his life without lifting a finger.
This was why no one questioned his authority. Everyone either owed him something or knew he could call in a favor to have them removed if he wished.
Luca was one of the rare few who did not owe him anything. His parents had, but they were long dead, and Digger did not call in debts from the dead. Their last request had been for him to protect Luca whenever he could.
That was what had happened back in the bar, and Luca only dared to attack because he knew Digger would step in before it went too far. If the fight had continued, Luca would have been hurt badly unless he revealed his magic.
A thought struck him.
He's not dumb. If Digger is transporting magical goods, could I tell him that I'm a mage?
It was something he seriously considered, because it would save him the trouble of constantly hiding his identity just to get his hands on rare or sensitive catalysts.
For now, though, Luca felt no trace of magical energy from Digger's body. The black energy inside him, which usually flared up when it sensed someone concealing their mage status, remained still and dormant.
Digger was trustworthy, but Luca decided to observe him longer before making a decision.
The trio eventually stopped at another door. This one opened into a wine cellar, filled with stacked barrels of ale and different varieties of alcohol.
"Eh?" Luca muttered unconsciously, frowning at the sight. He had expected them to enter the black market immediately.
Digger only grinned. He walked over to one of the barrels and knocked lightly three times.
At once, the bricks at the far end of the wall shifted, sliding apart to reveal another space. It was no mere room. It stretched out like a grand hall.
Luca froze at the sight. He had never seen anything like it before, and what unsettled him more was that he felt no obvious traces of magic or mana. Not the kind he could detect easily, at least.
"How—" he began.
"An artificer I hired from the South. Styria." Digger's grin widened as he glanced back at him. "You ain't seen nothing yet, lad. Down there, they've got metal monsters that run through forests faster than any horse, barrels that shoot little balls of steel and kill quicker than any blade you've ever seen."
He waved for them to follow and began walking into the hall, a few people nodding in recognition as he passed.
The description was vivid, but Luca found it hard to imagine.
"Trains and guns," Erina said casually, her gaze locked ahead at the bustling hall.
Luca turned to her, unable to hide his surprise.
"You know what those are?"
"The Empire uses guns and cannons in the Imperial Capital. Even the capital uses them."
"What about trains?"
She shook her head. "Blasphemy. The Solar Primarch and the Emperor outlawed them as unholy abominations."
Her tone was light and amused.
Regardless, her words opened Luca's mind to a new world of engineering, one that seemed to promise mortals a power they were not supposed to wield. Naturally, that made him want it.
My greed might be the end of me one day, he thought, though the realization did little to dampen his desire.
Erina's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"We're looking for three items in particular. Two will be risky for me to get, so you'll help. The last isn't dangerous, it's just something I've had my eye on for a while."
She described each item in detail before handing him a pouch filled with crowns. Without another word, she disappeared into the crowd.
Luca lingered for a moment, scanning the hall. It was unlike anything he had expected.
The place stretched nearly thirty meters in length, with rows of tables spread across the floor. The ceiling was high, supported by thick pillars, and dozens of light crystals glowed so brightly it almost resembled daylight.
The people inside were not the kind of desperate cutthroats he had imagined. Most looked refined, dressed in clothes that suggested wealth or at least significant connections. The items on display matched their appearances.
"Rare beast heads from the exotic continents of Paria and Aethiopia!" one man shouted.
"Styrian contraption, available for purchase!" cried another.
"An original sculpture by Lioran master Leonardo da Sarto!"
Luca's eyes darted across the many goods: horns, beast skulls, ordinary-looking trinkets, strange contraptions, paintings, and statues. Every item carried some value, whether obvious or hidden.
This was the black market. And the majority here were collectors who could not acquire such things by legal means.
In his and Erina's case, they were searching for magical items while passing as ordinary buyers. Because of the kingdom's strict laws, no one here would announce openly what they were selling. Still, the real traders knew how to signal one another.
Luca's eyes, sharpened by mana, picked up faint magical signals from objects scattered across the market. The black energy inside him reacted faintly whenever something was being deliberately concealed.
He wove through the crowd, careful and deliberate, looking for one of the items Erina had described. The hall was large, but she had been precise enough about the likely sellers that he spotted a candidate before long.
Straightening his coat and brushing his hair flat, Luca stepped toward a vendor with a bright smile.
"Good day, sir."
***
Author's Note: Thank you supreme_primordial for the power stone! (hey, a review would be nice too). If you do give a review, I'll waive the 20 power stone goal entirely and do the mass release!