Last months (2)

Sebastian descended the stairs with cautious steps, and after a while, he arrived again at the Black Market.

"Home Sweet Home."

With confident strides, Sebastian walked among the throng of people, knowing perfectly where he was going. After some time, he arrived at another subterranean shack.

This place looked old, and a bit worn out, with wooden walls patched up with pieces of metal.

Despite its simple look, it stood out in this hidden market corner. Right above the door, there was a plain sign with "The Hound" written on it.

The writing was straightforward, just like the man Sebastian was here to see.

A single lantern nearby threw a soft light on the sign, making sure it caught the eye of anyone looking for The Hound.

Sebastian couldn't understand why a man selling fake identities could be called the hound, but he didn't dwell on the details for too long despite the curiosity.

The man paused for a moment outside the shack, taking in the sight of it.

The outside might have looked plain, but he knew the importance of the meeting waiting for him inside.

Sebastian took a deep breath and stepped toward the door, ready to meet The Hound and secure a new future for his family.

Sebastian stepped inside and found himself in a setting similar to his visit to the Whispering Siren—a few chairs and a counter, with an older man stationed behind it.

This man sported unkempt grey hair and a lengthy beard peppered with black spots, giving off the impression of considerable age.

However, his movements betrayed an unexpected sprightliness, suggesting he wasn't as old as he appeared.

This observation didn't escape Sebastian, who couldn't help but smile behind his mask at the man's energetic demeanor.

The smile then turned into a huge grin.

"Good evening," Sebastian said. He walked in front of the counter, stepping into the sparse interior of the shack.

"What do you need?" the hound asked.

"I'm looking to buy identities for three people: a young man, a small child, and a middle-aged woman."

The Hound's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Alright, we've got a few choices here, depending on what you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend. Our top-tier option covers everything you need to leave your old self behind. It gives you all the real-looking papers and gets your details into the official systems, making everything legit. Plus, we'll come up with a backstory for you, help you out for an entire year if any problems pop up, and even recommendations for job placements to integrate into your new life."

"And the other packages?" Sebastian wanted the best of the best, but it was clear he had to at least see the other options to know if they could be useful.

Besides, it was clear their prices were lower than the top package. If he could save some money, he would gladly do it.

The Hound leaned back, outlining the alternatives. "Our regular deal gives you the papers and puts your info on the basic systems, good enough for places that don't look too closely. But you won't get help after or advice on jobs with this one."

He paused, and for Sebastian, it looked like a good deal. He didn't really need help, and he knew his mother was smart enough to find a safe job easily. Without the pressure from the four sacred clans, it was likely she was going to get one that paid her well.

"And then there's the simple deal, just the papers, nothing fancy. It's best if you're only looking to cover your tracks for a little while or for stuff that's not too serious."

Sebastian paused, mulling over his options. Even though he didn't need all the bells and whistles of the premium package, he found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He realized what The Hound was offering was essentially the same service across the board, just with fewer features in the less expensive options.

<Should I go to the top one?>

However, he couldn't take a decision without knowing a tiny but crucial information. "And the cost for this premium package for three people?" he asked, bracing himself for the answer.

"For three, considering the breadth of services provided, it comes to a total of 300 thousand Starcoins," The Hound said.

Sebastian took a moment to digest the figure.

<Damn! Couldn't you directly point a gun at my head?! Jeez!>

This was a substantial amount of money he had to part with. But what if his mother was going to need that little push the top package could offer? After a brief internal debate, he decided.

"I'll take the best you have." He had to force himself to say those words, but in the end, despite his heart was crying, he said them.

"Are you sure?"

A brief silence followed, during which Sebastian thought twice about the situation. Finally, he nodded. "Proceed."

The Hound retrieved a computer from under the counter, his fingers gliding over the keys. The process was started immediately, but it required some time.

Sebastian remained in the small shack, seated at one of the chairs in front of the counter for at least an hour.

"What are you doing?" he asked after that much time, waiting without nothing to do.

"I'm creating the identities on the government databases, complete with backgrounds and necessary documents."

After some time, when the hound was done inputting the data, the man asked Sebastian for something.

"Could I have photos of the individuals?"

Sebastian was reluctant to do that. A criminal having his photo would not end well, but he didn't need to hide for long since he was going to end up in Somnium soon. The problem was his family, though.

Since he knew he had to give him the photo to make the IDs, he took some from home and brought them with him. He handed over the photographs of his family without a word, and with a bit of reluctance.

As The Hound worked, Sebastian observed the process. The operation took less time than he had expected, culminating in the sound of a printer which Sebastian couldn't see.

It took some time to prepare everything, but in the end, the Hound did his work. It took 2 hours to complete the process.

The Hound packaged the documents in plastic wrap. Sebastian saw plastic IDs between the folder, but the hound held onto them, waiting.

Sebastian understood the cue. He pulled out a hefty sum of cash from his backpack and exchanged it with The Hound for the documents.

"Inside, you'll find everything as legitimate as real ones," the Hound said.

"But be wary of cross-referencing. It might reveal the double identities if the photos are directly compared. Stay under the radar, or they may check it." The Hound said as he handed the package to his customer.

"Thank you," he said. With a last grin, Sebastian left the shack. Now there was something else he had to do, buy the house. The identities were the first and necessary step, and it cost a hefty sum.

But Sebastian wanted to get a nice house for his family. Small enough not to catch anyone's eye.

With the most important part settled, Sebastian left the Black Market.