6 The Black Market
Ignoring the, debatably severe, error I made in not educating Janice in the ways of modern entertainment even after being with her for a month and a half, I walked into the market.
The market itself wasn't shady, there were hundreds of stalls and tens of thousands of products being sold from fresh produce to small jewels and jewellery.
The stands themselves were mostly just four wood posts, the two at the front slightly lower than the two at the back, a wood U-shape attached and a space under the u-shape with a blanket-like cloth over the top of two posts slanted down the top of the four posts.
The reason the black market is being held near here, is because this week-long market is the perfect opportunity.
For a cover.
I walked and walked until I found an inconspicuous little stand with a grey and white blanket cloth with redwood posts. The sign said volcanic jewels. The stand had multiple black gems from onyx and obsidian, to black opal and even a blizzard stone. There were twenty seven gemstones left.
Normal people wouldn't even get close to the stall due to the insane prices.
-Black Opal: 14,999.99-
-Obsidian: 19,999.99-
-Onyx: 9,999.99-
But, this is the place. I walked up and simply window shopped as I thought about what kind of phrase people would use to get in.
I ran through lots.
'I heard there was a place I could get a new organ. Do you know where?'
'I heard a rumor that people like to play games around here, do you know where?'
And so on. Until I thought of one that might work for my purposes.
I rapped[1] lightly on the wood and got the attention of the stall owner.
He looked at me and I spoke.
"The gems look beautiful, but buying one without a friend to have a match would be quite lonely."
I looked at his eyes.
"You wouldn't perhaps know a place I could 'adopt' a few people?"
The man's eyes flickered before lowering the cap of his head and saying.
"Perhaps, I might know a place. Is there perhaps, any in particular."
My eyes sharpened and I said.
"The peculiar kind. Or, as the 'regulars' call them, the inhuman kind."
The man's eyes lit up and his expression brightened.
"Follow me."
We went through seven or so different paths and winded past several 'homeless' people. Those were the guards, no doubt.
We finally reached a small flower shop a few tens of minutes later. It had tons of different little bits and bobs for extensive flower care. The man led me past the shop owner, who I bowed to briefly in thanks. The two were stupefied and I had to get the man's attention for him to keep going.
We went down a flight of stairs and the man was about to speak when he saw me putting on a mask. The mask looked like a black fox holding a small red colored bamboo tube.
The man looked shocked before suddenly bowing and holding it before bringing me down the stairs.
As we exited the stairwell a few hundreds of steps later and entered a large hall. The hall itself had a tan-brown coloring to its clean walls. There was an occasional black pillar along the walls that led up to the top.
'I always wanted to go to the black market. Even if it was just for fun. Well, I guess it's not going to be fun now is it.'
[Rose, focus. You need the right races.]
{Yeah, yeah, I know.}
[Do you have enough money even?]
{Not for all the races, doubt it.}
[Wh-WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE THEN!!!]
{The law of equivalent exchange.}
[...Huh?]
{If I'm not wrong, there are some cops coming today. To crash the party.}
[What does that ha- oh. OHH.]
{Got it? Now shush.}
The man led me to a stereotypical bouncer, muscular, has a tux, shady glasses, earpiece, etc.
The bouncer did nothing as we passed. The man led me towards a different hall. This one looked like a theater. There was a giant semi-circle of hundreds of thousands of chairs around a huge wooden stage.
The man didn't stop though. He then led me to a different room. It was a ballroom made of pristine marble and granite which had hundreds of people chatting, eating finer foods and drinking finer drinks.
The moment I entered, all the guests stared and the important ones froze.
[Rose...? What's happening?]
"Welcome!"
A rough voice boomed in the hall and people parted to let a man in a red tux and tie with a white undershirt walked out. The distinct feature was a mask with two backward C curved horns that were completely black.
This was the owner of the Black Market.
The entire black Market.
"I greet the 'Fox'."
He spoke with respect and bowed.
"I greet the 'Demon'."
I spoke with the same respect and did a bow. I looked more like a vampire than a fox with my black-red coat and clothing though.
With the greetings out of the way, the 'Demon' raised his glass as a signal for people to start mingling again.
And thus they did. The 'Demon' walked up to me and asked.
"What happened to Rori."
I snickered before saying.
"My my, not even you recognise me? How cruel, I thought we were friends?"
The 'Demon' clicked his tongue before continuing.
"Oh well. Anyway, we have quite the stock today. You should be satisfied by it."
[ROSE, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!!!]
"I hope so, otherwise we might have a problem or two."
[ROSE!]
The 'Demon' chuckled and spoke.
"Don't worry, there'll be an interesting specimen at the end."
"Ho~ if you're saying that, I'll look forward to it."
[Rose. EXPLAIN.]
{Nope.}
[ROSE!!!!!]
'System, mute Janice for a day.'
[RO-]
»Command Executed«
'Ahh, peace and quiet.'
I went over towards the buffet. The buffet consisted of 8 large tables. There were two in the middle with one on the left and right of it with one above the center top table and one below the center bottom table. A classic diamond shape I guess.
The two center tables had drinks ranging from a 400,000 dollar wine to a simple apple juice. There were plenty of children in the families after all.
The six outer tables had an assortment of food, with an entire table reserved for 'Fox'. I made my way to the table and saw the enormous amount of pizza prepared.
My brows furrowed.
'He wants something. Well, no matter, it works in my favor.'
I began eating a few minutes while waiting patiently for the announcement.
"EVERYONE!"
The rough voice of the 'Demon' called for attention. They all turned towards him and waited for him to continue.
"Thank you all for coming, I am the host tonight. Usually, we'd have another council member hosting but tonight we have some 'special' items."
The eyes of most lit up with greed. If the 'Demon' himself said they were special, they'd be worth it.
"Now then everyone, without further ado, let us begin the auction!"
