The Black market!

Zuxe froze, breath caught in his throat, as a sudden vibration buzzed in his pocket.

A phone cutting through the tension.

She glanced at the screen, then back at him, her expression shifting.

"Looks like you have to pick up the call," she said, lowering her fist.

"We'll have to call it here."

Zuxe exhaled, a mix of relief. "Yeah... I guess we have to."

Shreya offered a reassuring smile, moonlight illuminating her features with a faint glow, before she stepped back as Zuxe began to leave.

Both Raven and Shreya watched the departing back of the boy, who they had accidentally made their friend, or at least what they thought so.

"You weren't going at full strength, right?"

Raven inquired, locking his eyes with Shreya's, who stretched her hands, yawning lazily, ignoring his question and putting her own.

"What do you think?"

"About what?" Raven inquired.

"Will he pass the eligibility test?" she continued, shoving one of her hands in her pocket.

"No one knows what is to come... At least he can try," Raven replied, anticipation visible in his eyes.

"I didn't want to cripple him accidentally, preventing him from taking the test... anyways brother, wasn't he kind of mysterious?"

Shreya remarked, her eyes fixated on her hand, knuckles scraped and bruised.

Raven glared at the impenetrable dark sky, countless stars hung on it, as he squinted his eyes before speaking.

"Oh... was he?"

---

Zuxe walked along the buildings of the clan market, his eyes locked on his phone before he picked up the incoming call.

"Hello."

"Greetings, Young Master. It's already four hours past midnight, I have called you as commanded."

"Thanks."

"Anyways, what does Young Master wish to do this early?"

"Don't worry, I will just train a bit for the test."

"I wish you good luck for the test."

"Thank you again... also, don't come to check on me, I will be training with Elysia."

"W-what?... but isn't she outside of the clan currently?"

"You don't know anything about people of greater position, but it isn't your mistake either."

Cut.

Zuxe abruptly cut off the call, as he walked forward exiting the clan market, wondering how Mira called at the perfect time.

He knew that there was no lack of hidden treasures or forgotten treasures in this world; there were many things wasted on some side characters for a power-up through the game.

He wanted to find them first and use them for his benefits, but the main problem was most of them were outside the clan territory.

He was weak from birth, so using an artifact or two could ensure his survival in the world.

He wasn't a masochist who didn't want to ruin the storyline or something.

Now that he has reincarnated in the game, he knew most of the things about it.

Shouldn't the story revolve around him?

Shouldn't a new storyline be created, instead of him working to his bones just to let the previous storyline flow smoothly?

He had read many novels, and knew well about the butterfly effect.

If the world was to be destroyed, so be it, he would dimly join the side creating the mayhem.

He would try to recruit Elysia once to join his side, though.

But...

He could think of helping those goody-two-shoes protagonists if they pleaded.

Pleaded for help.

'Becoming a villain isn't a bad idea.'

Ding!

His thoughts came to a halt as a notification popped up on his phone.

He glanced at the screen, a subtle smile etched across his face.

One million Aether has been transferred to your account - 000-xxx

New account balance - 10,15,087 Aether

Zuxe stared at the screen for a while, before he put it in his pocket and suddenly began to run.

God knows why.

---

Under the towering stronghold of the clan's fortress existed a market; it wasn't some hidden secret but it wasn't something talked about openly either.

It all started small, tucked away in the lower part of the fortress.

Just a few traders selling off-the-road products after gaining permission.

But once the clan realized how much money and connection could be made, they allowed it to grow.

As long as it didn't cause trouble, they let it run.

Now it was a massive underground network, stretching far beyond the original tunnels.

It was almost like a second city beneath the fortress.

People from all over came to buy and sell things—illegal potions, rare materials, even things like banned books or unregistered weapons, but only if one had an eye for them.

The clan didn't directly involve itself with what was sold, but they kept a close eye.

They had guards at the entrance or patrolled inside, preventing anything from jeopardizing their profits.

The entrance was tucked away, looking like nothing but a forgotten storeroom near the edge of the fortress.

As Zuxe approached, he noticed a small group ahead, flashing passes to the guard at the gate.

One of the guards caught his eye and inquired.

"Got your pass or are you new?"

Eyeing him up and down, surprised to see a boy of such age coming there alone at night.

Silently, Zuxe unsheathed the katana on his back, extending it forward for the guards to see.

The katana, although normal as any other, was engraved with a clan crest, indicating he was a member of the clan.

Their eyes widened momentarily as they spoke in unison.

"Please forgive our rudeness, you may go ahead," they said as they pushed open the heavy gates.

The moment the door creaked open, the atmosphere shifted. From the outside it was quiet and reassuring, but as soon as he stepped inside, the underground market appeared as big as a labyrinth.

The air was thick with the murmur of conversations, people bargaining and clinking coins.

People moved from stall to stall, buying goods he would never find in the clan market.

He delved deeper, his eyes determined.

He had come here to find or buy something.

And that was why he wasn't worried about the eligibility test at all.

That's also the reason why he asked for money from Mira, as he wasn't allowed any budget from the Clan elders.

He also changed his hair color to black just to make sure no one would recognize him as the heir.

Because there were many people of higher position within the market.

'In the game... it was probably around that location, right?'

---

Thanks for reading.