12 Chapter 12: Inner Area of Black Market

While running away from the people that pursuing them, they eventually arrived at the innermost part of the Black Market without stopping on their tracks.

They lose the pursuit from the people chasing them while continuously confusing them by circling around the crowds and entering multiple shops.

"We finally lost them. Who are those guys anyway?" Ziv sighed in relief as he asked Reynold while looking at their backs.

"Just some small time thugs that didn't know what's good for them. They are doing this type of thing when a newcomer that just arrived in 'their' area, they are just here to intimidate us and let us spit out some items. Nothing special." Reynold shrugged while casually saying.

"We could have just killed them, right?" Ziv coldly asked.

"Well, It's not I'm afraid with those annoying turds. It's just the vendors, customers and the Black Hawk I was wary within this place."

"Those people that I mention aren't simple. Did you notice that there isn't any guards that patrolling the Black Market? Because this place didn't need one to begin with the vendors and the people buying around here either have guns or skills in their disposal."

"In this kind of chaotic environment that may lead to one sh*t to another it's just a normal day for these people that it may happen and also we're not impervious to guns." Reynold explained while pointing out the reason of their escape.

"That's true." Ziv replied, accepting his reasonable explanation.

"Well, enough for that, we've arrived at our destination! Welcome to the Red light district!" Reynold loudly announced while foolishly smiling and swinging his hand up and down.

When he looked around his surroundings he saw a different environment than before.

If the environment from before was gloomy and bleak, the atmosphere here is lively, dazzling and captivating for people that passing by.

In the streets, there is a lot of woman with a seductive outfit continuously shouting at the people that walking down the streets to attract customers to their shops.

There is a lot of motel, bar and even a big gambling den around this area while you will see countless people getting drunk when walking out of the bar or being kicked out of the bar and there's also those people being accompanied by prostitutes inside the motel.

"Hey~! Little boy wanna play?"

"Wanna come with me inside~!"

"You can do it with me cheaply~! Wanna do it?"

The prostitutes are getting their customers from the people that 'curiously' asking for their service with their flirtatious and dirty way of speaking while revealing some of their cleavage and even showing their undergarments.

"Why we came here anyways?" Ziv asked in confusion while looking at Reynold.

"We.. I thought we could have.. Some f-.. Intel! You know Intel! We could gather some Intel here!"

Reynold softly said the first sentence of his word while awkwardly laughing and trying to emphasize the word 'Intel' when he saw Ziv despising him.

"Okay then lead the way." Ziv said while gesturing his arm to the front that indicates to 'lead the way'.

Reynold is now getting afraid as he saw him acting like that then he decided to go towards the direction of a bar that was packed with people outside.

While they approach the bar they can hear some loud noises and shouting at the bar while some people and even passerby was looking at the window and the gap of the door.

"This is the 4th time this day that I spend on my drink without tasting."

"Ah! This piece of sh*ts don't really learn! My drink!"

"I hate it when they are ruining my drink. I really hate it!"

These people that seemingly waiting outside that was sighing in frustration and venting their anger was actually the customers inside the bar.

Because of how these people were acting, both of them got curious about this bizarre situation as he asked a man that was standing near them to know what's going on.

"What's happening here?" Ziv taps the shoulder of the man while curiously asked.

"There is a two crazy fella in the bar!" the man answers.

"What about it? You guys can't stop them?" Ziv asked him.

"Well, we want to stop them if we want, but we don't have any strength to do that or else we will die early." the man explained their reasons for not interrupting.

"Who are they?" Ziv asked curiously on the identity of the two.

"A member of Black Hawk and the Boss of this area I think." the man said while feeling unsure.

He went back to inform Reynold on what he learned while leaving his bag with Reynold.

"There is a member of Hawk guys inside I will try to talk with him, stay here for a while and ready to help me if the situation is getting awry. Also, take care of my bag." Ziv said while handing his bag.

"Why are you the one ordering me around, isn't that I supposed to do that?" Reynold exclaimed as he became a bag carrier.

"You are only good when fighting and not good at thinking." Ziv insulted when he heard that.

"H-Huh!? F*ck you!"

While Reynold cursed him he didn't insist on pursuing this issue as he know that Ziv is the smart and cunning son of a b*tch type of guy.

As they do their usual banter for a while, Ziv pushes himself through the people that blocking the entrance to see the member of the Black Hawk inside the bar.

After pushing himself in the crowd, he went near the window where he can clearly see the interior of the bar.

At the bar, he saw two young men having a standoff inside, one is standing and the other is lazily seated on the chair with his feet on the table and alcohol on his hand.

The young man with the black jacket that was standing was a tall, handsome man that breathes a small smoke every time his mouth exhale.

While the other guy has a messy hair that blocking his face, unkempt clothes and inhaling white smoke while talking.

"Malek! We, Black Hawk is giving you a chance to surrender this place if not either you will die pitifully or you will die without regrets." the young man with black jacket shouted.

"Mate! You know that.. *sniff* this the only place I can get my purple kush, right? Also, why both options that you mentioned is about me dying?" Malek who was lazily seating on the chair replied.

"You don't have a choice, but to obey!" the young man with black jacket arrogantly declared.

"Well, is it my problem that I owned this place and you want to get it from me?" Malek said while farting.

*puuuu*

"You! What kind of-"

The young man that was talking loudly suddenly fainted without any apparent reason.

While the people that watching this scene felt it was comical, as they only saw them talking and shouting when the Malek guy just farted and the other guy immediately fainted.

"I-Is that the 'Myriad Fart of Death'!?"

"What is that?"

"According to legend, this type of ability can kill a grown man with a single fart and this type of ability is beyond the human level it's a man's dream."

"Impressive!"

Some 'experts' that watching this solemnly explain as they tell the legend of the 'Myriad Fart of Death'.

But, Ziv didn't get affected, nor influence by these people as he noticed from the earlier action that he did was infused with Energy.

'He is a strong User and on top of that, he can skillfully utilize his skills perfectly. An expert.' Ziv thought while observing the man that was seated on the chair.

'Okay. I'll try to negotiate.' Ziv leaves the place where he was staying and decided to enter the bar.

While under the gaze and stare from the people around him, he stepped in the bar as he resolutely approached the man that was seated inside.

"Can I sit right here?" Ziv asked while pointing at the chair.

"Be my guest." Malek gestured him to sit on the chair.

After Ziv seated on the chair under the sharp gaze of Malek, he didn't talk or say anything, instead he also just stares at him while smiling.

*Silence*

The people outside are whispering and getting impatient when they saw the two of them just staring for half an hour.

"What is happening?"

"Shh! They are battling who is going to survive the 'Myriad Fart of Death'."

*Whisper* *Whisper*

When they were about to break the stalement of the two people they saw Malek couldn't wait anymore as he said while standing up and yawning.

"Follow me. Let's talk somewhere." Malek said with annoyed tone.

'Like I thought, he is the boss around this area.' Ziv thought while following behind Malek.

"I also have another friend with me." Ziv added while following behind.

"Do whatever you want." Malek shrugged.

When they went outside the bar they walk past the huge crowd at the door that was looking at Malek and Ziv with respect, curiosity and fear while they are giving them a path to walk with.

Ziv walks directly towards Reynold who was stunned at the scene that unfolding in front of him while bringing him to follow with Malek.

"Let's follow him. He has what we want." Ziv inform Reynold while pointing at Malek that walking away.

"What have you done, when you enter there?" Reynold asked in confusion

"Becoming stubborn for half an hour." Ziv said while laughing heartily.

"That's true." Malek said while smirking.

"I'm confused."

They walked for a few minutes while bringing them at the center part of the Black Market and arrived at the only gambling den in the whole area. The Herzik House.

When they enter this 3 stories gambling den, the first thing that he saw in the front was a luxurious main lobby decorated with chandelier on the ceiling and a red curtain that was neatly designed on the wall.

There is also a red carpet that was placed in the ground for the guests to step in, a guard at the entrance and a two beautiful receptionist that was standing in front of the counter.

""Welcome to Herzik House.""

The receptionist bowed their heads slightly while showing an alluring demeanor paired with a beautiful white neck, white long sleeves and a small red skirt that highlight their seductive body.

"It's intoxicating, isn't?" Reynold said while mesmerized by the sight of this gambling den.

"Yeah. The decoration, entrance and even the receptionist are beautiful around here." Ziv said while complimenting the atmosphere of this place.

'If there are no zombies outside. I would think that I was brought back to our old world with no apocalypse.'

"Oh! Welcome to my domain by the way." Malek reminded as if he just realizes it.

Malek brought them on the 3rd floor of this building in a room that was guarded by two black suit men that armed with guns.

There is not much decoration in the room except for the black wall, wooden table and chair and an one sided glass window that overlooking the people in the gambling table in the first floor.

"What are your intentions for coming to my place?"

Malek asked while sitting on the wooden chair and uncorking the wine on the table.

"At first we are here for Black Hawk as we thought that they are managing this area, but I think we are wrong." Ziv explained while staring at his eyes.

"Oh really? Why were you looking for them." Malek asked lightly.

"We need a passage." Ziv replied in straightforward manner.

"To where my friend. Oh! You want some?" Malek was intrigued as he curiosly asked him.

"Fernia City." Ziv said while accepting the wine that he give.

"Hmm.. The bridge was destroyed by those spineless bastards to stop the supply of products from coming here and now that the apocalypse started it would be hard to fix it."

"But I can lend you a boat to get across that bridge." Malek ponders for a while before suggesting a solution.

"How much for getting across?" Ziv asked the price.

"Just only 2 Tier 1 Energy Crystal for 2 people in need." Malek give his price for the service they wanted.

"Y-You cow! Cheeky vermin! Money sucker!"

While Reynold was cursing at the price that Malek proposed he was thinking if the deal was actually worth it or not.

"We will not accept your deal f*cker! Let's go!" Reynold stood up as he was preparing to leave.

"It's take it or leave it my friend. I have no choice if you didn't take it." Malek casually said while drinking his wine.

"1 Tier 1 Energy Crystal and 12 Tier 0 Energy Crystal is our roof." Ziv lowers the price.

"Hmm.. I don't want to pressure you my friend then we got a deal." Malek smiles before agreeing to his price.

"You can rest in one of our rooms here. We will notify you on two days. Have a nice stay to my humble abode." Malek sincerely said.

They leave after getting what they came here while staying in the room that Malek reserved for them.

While walking towards their room, Reynold is still indignant about the price of the boat they rented earlier.

"Why do you accept that unreasonable deal? Are you an idiot? That's a Tier 1 Energy Crystal we are talking about here, not some shabby Tier 0." Reynold said indignantly.

"It's okay, we still have one remaining." Ziv comforted him while seeing him act like that.

"B-But.. That is mine." he said, feeling depressed.

"Haa.. We will go for another run tomorrow morning, but first let's talk inside the room. There's a lot of sh*t going on lately." Ziv sighed while feeling tired ignoring what he was saying.

"That's mine.." Reynold softly said while standing at the corridor.