Under Quevedo's guidance, Furen entered the basement. Compared to the narrow, dark entrance with its simple door and table, the scene that unfolded in the cellar could be described as grandiose.
The basement was illuminated by the bright candles of the many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, bathing the place in a brilliant light. A dense crowd, filled with animated figures, pressed into this vast space. Having seen the desolation outside the gate earlier, Furen had thought that few people frequented this extraordinary underground market. Yet, although everyone tried to speak in hushed tones, the combined murmurs still formed a deafening din.
Standing next to Furen was Quevedo. Seeing his friend's astonishment upon entering the Beyonders Market, Quevedo seemed to have anticipated it. He joked, "What, you thought the Beyonders Market wasn't crowded? You're sorely mistaken. I thought the same thing when I saw only a few people at the entrance, even thinking I was the only guest. But I quickly realized my error. Oh yes, it was that guy, Carret, who was guarding the door back then too."
Erich turns to Quevedo and asks, " Since this place is so successful, and the organizer has invested so much money in it, how does he make a profit? Does he rely on the goodwill of the merchants to pay? And if someone buys a counterfeit, does the organizer intervene?"
Following Erich's extremely precise questions, Kvido let out a small laugh, clearly pleased with himself. "Hey, buddy, you're a really excellent sociologist. You were right on the money. I was wondering the same thing at first, but after hearing a few rumors, the answer came quickly."
Seeing his friends gather and form a circle around him, Quevedo led them to a secluded spot and said in a low voice, " I've heard this information too at extraordinary gatherings. The old Sage levies a tax on the money each person earns from selling extraordinary materials. Yes, you heard right: he collects taxes." Quevedo then prepared to pique the curiosity of the three people present.
After a minute of silence, he noticed that the three men were staring at him without flinching. Taken aback, he quickly said, "Well, it seems the old Sage is part of an extraordinary organization. He has an extraordinary informant who knows the fortunes of sellers of extraordinary products. The old Sage uses this information to collect taxes and make profits."
Imagine, someone once tried to hide their wealth. The Old Sage said nothing, but this person disappeared for a long time. And those who knew them later learned that they had died mysteriously at home. Now, no one dares to inflate their income at the Old Sage's Beyonders Market.
Seeing the thoughtful expressions on the three people around him, Quevedo continued, "You know what? Ever since the old Sage used that tactic, those vendors haven't dared to mess with him. They took a small portion of the merchandise, leaving us the rest. Those who come here are usually ordinary, well-to-do people interested in the Extraordinary World, so no one complains. Of course, even if they did complain, it wouldn't matter. But it seems, hehe, that the vendors are making a fortune, which makes many people want to become merchants in this market."
"However, this Beyonder Market only cares about money. If you buy counterfeits, the organizers don't care. After all, those who buy here aren't extraordinary beings, and the materials are a mix of real and fake." Quevedo continued, thus introducing the Beyonder Market.
Quevedo had just presented, in broad outline, how this Beyonders market would function.
Seeing that Quevedo maintained his usual cold expression and that Erich remained silent after asking the question, Furen simply said to Quevedo, "This Beyonders market is something extraordinary. Did we come here just to get a general idea?"
Quevedo chuckled softly and replied, "Of course not. This Beyonders market doesn't offer anything directly from the extraordinary world, but it's full of things that come close. For example, if Karl wants to gather all the Beyonders materials he needs, he shouldn't have any problem."
Karl only spoke when he realized the question concerned him: "So, the Beyonders materials in this market won't pose any problems, will they?"
Quevedo didn't reply immediately, but smiled and looked at Erich. Seeing Quevedo's amused expression, Erich understood: "No problem, I know the properties and forms of these extraordinary materials. I can't be fooled here. I'll be able to recognize the extraordinary materials Karl needs."
Kvido nodded in satisfaction, then gave Furen a light push, saying, "In that case, let's split up. Let's meet at four o'clock at the entrance, don't forget the time."
Furen saw that Quevedo was determined to accompany him and, after a moment's thought, he understood. Quevedo wanted Karl and Erich to buy the necessary Beyonder materials, without mentioning the Reader's. He was speechless. Despite his enthusiasm, Quevedo knew his limitations and understood the importance of clarity, even among close friends. He didn't want his friends arguing over trivial matters, which could have disastrous consequences. So he accepted Quevedo's plan and prepared to part ways.
However, Quevedo didn't immediately push Furen into the bustling marketplace; instead, he led him to a corner. Suddenly, long-buried memories flooded back to Furen. Released, he turned, his lips trembling, and said, "Quevedo, we're not meant to get along."
Quevedo, who was taking a scroll out of his inside pocket, jumped and asked, "Huh? What? What are you talking about?"
Seeing Quevedo's utterly bewildered expression, Furen realized that knowing too much could sometimes be a flaw. He then replied impassively, "No, nothing. Why did you bring me here?"
Quevedo wasn't one to meddle in other people's affairs, and he didn't care what Furen, that experienced driver, had to say.
He smiled and handed the scroll to Furen, saying, "Listen, Furen, you have to accept this. I promise."
This time, Furen was completely baffled. Kvido, still smiling, offered no further explanation. When Furen unrolled the scroll and saw the word "Omniscient" at the top, followed by a long list of Beyonder material names, he understood immediately and, almost instinctively, wanted to return the scroll to Quevedo.
Quevedo pushed the parchment away, his face grave, and said to Furen, "Furen, I promised to give you and Erich the potion formula as payment. That was my promise. You don't want your friend to lose credibility, do you? For us, losing credibility is far worse than losing a potion formula from Sequence 9, isn't it?" Furen looked at Quevedo,
Seeing Quevedo face, more serious than it had ever been, Furen felt as if he were meeting this friend for the first time.
(End of chapter)