"Everything is starting to make sense now…"
As he listened to Yuto's investment plan, SmallSnake's face twisted. Not in surprise, but in pure frustration.
It was… idiotic. There was no better word for it. For a brief moment, he even began to doubt his own judgment for having accepted the job in the first place.
At first, he had believed he was chosen because of his discreet reputation and uncommon talent. But now, a far simpler explanation began to take shape. No one else wanted him.
Selling CB pharmaceutical products and buying WV stocks?The plan bordered on absurdity.
CB was one of the largest pharmaceutical empires on the continent, and its shares had been rising steadily for years. There was no indication whatsoever that they would fall anytime soon.
On top of that, through his connections in the financial underworld, SmallSnake knew for a fact that there were no internal irregularities within the company.
Everything pointed to stability. Betting against it was madness.
And what puzzled him even more was the choice of a black market broker for such a trivial investment.
Clandestine brokerage only made sense when a client wanted to hide their identity. Criminals, politicians, corrupt nobles.
But that boy… he did not fit any of those categories.
Is he planning to kill someone important?
The thought crossed SmallSnake's mind for a fleeting second. But after scanning the boy from head to toe, he dismissed it.
There was no aura of power about him. No arrogance either. If anything, he seemed almost ordinary, as if something beneath the surface was carefully concealed.Judging by his breathing and the way he carried himself, his strength was no higher than rank F or E. Definitely not the type to cause a financial collapse through assassination.
And yet… something about the boy unsettled him.
A strange, nameless sensation, as if that calm exterior was hiding something far deeper.
What irritated SmallSnake the most, however, was his confidence.
The way he spoke, cold, decisive, almost bored, was the tone of someone absolutely certain he would walk away with profit.
Was it delusion? Or youthful arrogance?
It did not matter. The deal was stupid.
And yet, deep down, SmallSnake could not suppress a flicker of curiosity.
Maybe… just maybe… he was right.
A muffled chuckle escaped from behind SmallSnake's mask. Questioning it further would lead nowhere.
Within the Lost Reapers, there were two unbreakable rules.
Never ask who the client is.
Never ask why the client does what they do.
Even if he wanted to warn him, he could not. All he could do was follow protocol.
With a resigned sigh, SmallSnake reviewed the contract and signed it. At the very least, he would be well paid.
A shame that his first client would probably lose everything.
— So… how much are you planning to invest?
— Around five million U, initially. I may increase it later.
…
The air grew heavy.
SmallSnake swallowed hard.
Five million? Was this kid insane?
It was far too much money for such a senseless investment.
And yet, the way he said it, without hesitation, without even blinking, made it sound… reasonable.
The broker weighed the possibilities.
Either this was a bored young master burning through his inheritance for fun, or he knew something SmallSnake did not. Something big enough to justify that level of risk.
Both possibilities were equally terrifying.
Part of him felt relieved. The commission alone would be substantial.But another part, the more lucid one, felt the weight of the transaction like a bad omen, even with full confidence in his own abilities.
— Do you have the money with you right now?
— No. I should receive it soon.
— I see… and when do you plan to invest?
— Possibly by the start of next week.
— Understood.
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Yuto's replies were short, dry, almost mechanical. There was no emotion in his voice. Talking to him felt like talking to a door.
As SmallSnake observed him, an unsettling conclusion formed in his mind.
That boy was not gambling. He was convinced. As if he already knew the outcome.
— Alright. Are we finished here?
SmallSnake's voice cut through the silence that had stretched on for several minutes.
— Actually… I still need another service from you, I replied calmly.
He shot me a cautious look, slipping back into the professional tone he used with clients.
— What kind of service?
— I need a monster core broker.
— …Cores?
I nodded slightly, without turning my head.
It was a strange request.
Very strange.
Monster cores were rare items, fragments of condensed magical energy found only in the deepest parts of dungeons. They were not something people actively hunted for. The chance of finding one was almost nonexistent.
Even a small rank F core could easily reach one hundred thousand U. And he was talking about getting "the best prices" as if it were trivial.
First an insane investment… and now this.
Curiosity gnawed at SmallSnake from the inside.
— Are you certain about this? he asked, studying me in silence.
Still gazing at the moonlight spilling through the ceiling, I answered in a calm tone.
— If I were not certain… I would not have come here.
The silence that followed was thick, almost tangible.
Before it could turn awkward, I broke it with a steady voice.
— Smallsnake… I am sure I do not need to say this, but I will anyway.
I tilted my head slightly, the fox mask reflecting the pale moonlight.
— I want all information about this investment to remain between us. Under no circumstances should it leave this place.
He remained silent, listening.
— I will give you a heads-up, I continued. — Others will come to you with similar ideas. When that happens, keep this conversation secret. You understand what I mean?
It was not a threat.
My voice sounded almost… sincere.
And SmallSnake noticed.
He knew the difference between a warning and a request. And for some reason, the latter felt far more dangerous.
Still, something bothered him.
"Others will come to you with similar ideas"?
It was strange enough that a single person would make such a senseless investment. And he spoke of others?
SmallSnake thought about it, but found no answers. Only an uneasy feeling, as if he were taking part in something far larger than he had anticipated.
After a long minute, he finally nodded and stood up from the bench.
— I do not know where your confidence comes from… he said, adjusting his hood. — But since you are my first and only client, I will help you to the best of my ability.
— I could not ask for more, I replied, standing as well.
Our hands met once again. This time, the grip was firm.
— Very well, SmallSnake said in an almost resigned tone.
— I suppose we have an agreement.
———
After parting ways with Smallsnake, I headed toward the market stalls.
Now that I finally had some time to myself, I could explore what was being sold at my own pace.
I pulled a small black card from my pocket, the one Smallsnake had given me after we finalized the deal, and walked toward the market entrance marked by a massive metal door. I quickly withdrew 10,000 U and joined the line.
Beside the door was a neat black stall with a fairly long queue.I waited patiently for about fifteen minutes before a vendor greeted me at the counter.
I handed over the black card along with the cash.
The card was exclusive to the black market, its primary method of payment. The employee was essentially converting my money into a cryptocurrency designed specifically for this environment.
While physical money was generally safe, it was inefficient for large transactions. With the introduction of the cryptocurrency, the black market solved several problems at once.
First, encryption prevented tracking, ensuring secure transactions.Second, and more importantly, it allowed the black market itself to act as an intermediary in trades.
People often forgot that this place was filled with villains, scum who respected neither rules nor morality.
Without a control system, someone could force a sale, cheat during a deal, or even use counterfeit money.
With the black card system, such things became nearly impossible. The digital currency could only be used within the market, eliminating fraud altogether. And if someone still tried to cheat another customer, the black market's enforcers handled the issue within minutes.
— How much would you like to load? the clerk asked.
— 10,000 U, please.
— Very well. Please wait a moment.
He placed the money inside a black box and pressed a button.A few seconds later, ding, a metallic sound signaled the transaction's completion.
The vendor picked up my card, tapped it against the box, and returned it with a faint smile.
— All set. Enjoy your shopping.
I pocketed the card and turned toward the stalls.
Rows upon rows stretched out before me, filled with the scents of metal, smoke, and magic.
"Time to go shopping."