Chapter 92: The Layfay family market
Some time later, I finally left the alchemy shop.
I took a deep breath.
For the first time in many days...
My body truly felt like my own again.
The fever had disappeared.
The constant sensation of weakness was simply gone.
The wounds caused by the magical infection had healed, leaving only fresh and sensitive skin behind.
The magical parasite no longer existed either.
During the final stage of the treatment, my body completely rejected it, and the creature was extracted before it could cause permanent damage to me.
I still felt tired, but that was all. After all, my body had been subjected to an extremely aggressive process.
I moved away from the shop while pulling on the horse’s reins.
As I walked through the market streets, I couldn’t help but have a thought.
If I were just another poor Acolyte...
I would probably be dead.
I continued walking until I reached another building that had caught my attention earlier.
Above the entrance was a massive metallic sign.
Intertwined gears formed the symbol of the workshop.
I pushed open the door.
The interior was exactly as I expected.
Shelves filled with mechanical devices.
Specialized tools.
Metal components carefully organized.
A young man wearing a robe filled with pockets approached me.
On his face was an elegant pair of engineering goggles, whose lenses contained small runic inscriptions.
He smiled politely.
— Sir.
He gave a slight bow.
— How may I assist you?
My gaze continued wandering across the shelves.
The quality of the tools was surprisingly good.
I nodded subtly.
Then I turned my attention back to him.
— I would like to sell some standard Explosive Fire Crystals.
The young man remained completely calm.
He waited until I finished speaking.
Then he gave another slight bow.
— Forgive my indiscretion...
— May I ask if you are an Engineer?
My face remained hidden beneath the transformation spell.
I smiled beneath the illusion.
— I have some knowledge in the field.
That was enough.
The employee’s eyes lit up.
— I see...
— In that case...
— The Dubral Family would like to formally invite you to work with us.
— Our benefits are among the best offered by any Mage family.
— Housing.
— Resources.
— Materials.
— Protection.
— And extremely competitive compensation.
I smiled inwardly.
It was exactly what I expected.
Engineers.
Alchemists.
Enchanters.
These professions had always been extremely valuable.
Even Mages themselves did not always possess the talent to create complex equipment.
They needed to purchase them.
They needed to hire specialists.
That was precisely why the great families fiercely competed to recruit qualified professionals.
Fortunately...
No one there had any idea of my true level.
— I will consider your proposal.
Without adding anything else, I placed two metal boxes on the counter.
He carefully opened both.
The moment he saw the contents, his eyes quickly scanned each crystal.
He picked one up.
Turned it against the light.
Then analyzed another.
When he finished, he replied.
— Excellent quality.
— The total value is four hundred magic crystals.
I nodded.
It was an excellent price.
At Arcangrove Tower...
Marcos would hardly have paid more than three hundred and fifty for that batch.
The outside market truly valued this type of material much more.
Of course...
It was also infinitely more dangerous.
— Please wait a moment.
He picked up the boxes and disappeared into the back of the shop.
A little over two minutes later...
The employee returned.
Instead of hundreds of small crystals...
He placed only four large transparent crystals on the counter.
— As requested.
— Four second-level magic crystals.
I picked one up.
Held it against the light.
Then another.
My Magic Sense immediately confirmed it.
Authentic.
Much more practical to carry than hundreds of ordinary crystals.
I carefully stored them.
While walking toward the exit, I thought to myself.
The Explosive Fire Crystals I just sold are only basic products.
Any minimally competent Acolyte Engineer could manufacture them.
I left the workshop.
Untied the horse.
I began leading it slowly through the market streets again.
As I walked toward the exit of the Black Forest, I continued reflecting.
Four hundred magic crystals...
For an organization like the Dubral Family...
That meant absolutely nothing.
It was far too small an amount to justify any attempt to pursue me.
If a powerful family began killing clients over such insignificant sums...
The market’s reputation would disappear within a few months.
Mages would simply stop trading there.
And the market would have been destroyed in a war long before I ever transmigrated into this world.
Even so...
Caution was never excessive.
When I finally reached the edge of the Black Forest, I gave a mental command:
— Biochip.
— Expand the scan to maximum range.
[Bip!]
My perception immediately expanded.
I waited several minutes without moving.
[Result: No hostile signatures detected.]
[Probability of pursuit: Extremely low.]
Only then did I relax my shoulders.
I firmly held the horse’s reins.
And silently left the Black Forest behind.
.
.
.
.
Two months later...
.
.
.
.
After everything that had happened, I was already expecting some new disaster to appear at any moment.
But no.
For the first time since arriving in that world, I was finally able to simply travel.
On the old road leading to Artul Province, a sturdy horse galloped calmly while carrying a small wooden chest attached to the saddle.
On top of it...
I rode while wearing a long black robe.
This time, my disguise was completely different.
Intense red hair.
Clean skin.
Delicate features.
A face handsome enough not to arouse suspicion, but also ordinary enough to be easily forgotten.
During those two months, I crossed several small areas frequented by Mages.
Some were merely improvised villages.
Others functioned as small underground markets.
I always did exactly the same thing.
I sold only a small amount of Explosive Fire Crystals.
Never too many.
Never to the same buyer.
Never drawing attention.
The result was exactly what I expected.
I remained practically invisible.
Of course...
Not everything went perfectly.
From time to time, some desperate Acolyte would appear and attempt to rob me.
Unfortunately for them...
They chose the wrong person.
While traveling, I also took the opportunity to expand my knowledge.
I bought several books.
Everything was immediately analyzed by the Biochip.
After each piece of information was completely recorded...
I destroyed the books.
That way, I avoided carrying unnecessary weight.
Over the last two months, I also managed to master every Light-element spell model I had previously acquired.
The books no longer had any use.
They were burned as well.
As a result...
My luggage had been drastically reduced.
After selling a large portion of my Explosive Fire Crystals, practically all my belongings could fit inside a small chest.
According to the Biochip’s calculations...
Once I sold the remaining crystals...
It would be possible to travel carrying only a backpack.
I admit...
I placed a hand over the chest.
I had completely underestimated the popularity of Explosive Fire Crystals.
Throughout those months, I accumulated a small fortune.
My wealth easily surpassed seven thousand magic crystals.
If I had spent absolutely nothing and saved everything...
I would probably already be close to nine thousand.
My hand moved toward a small pouch attached to my waist.
Its material was far more rigid than ordinary leather.
Inside it, there were not hundreds of small crystals.
Instead...
High-grade magic crystals.
Otherwise...
I would have needed several wagons just to transport my fortune.
I looked ahead.
— Biochip.
— Show me my statistics.
[Bip!]
[STATUS]
[Name: George Gil]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 16]
[Race: Human]
[Level: Acolyte II]
[ATTRIBUTES]
[Strength: 3.0]
[Agility: 3.0]
[Vitality: 3.0]
[Mana: 4.3]
I observed those numbers for several seconds.
My physical condition was perfect.
I think...
I will never play around with a fairy like that again.
And if someday I commit that madness again...
My expression became completely serious.
As soon as it ends...
I will blow her skull apart immediately.
I would rather not repeat that experience.
My attention returned to the screen.
Increasing only 0.1 mana points in two months...
It was frustrating.
But also expected.
Then I projected the continental map again.
Artul Province appeared highlighted in the center of the Erna Kingdom.
It was an extremely active region.
Several small Mage families competed for influence in that territory.
Although officially it was only the capital of a human kingdom...
In practice...
It functioned as a massive gathering point for wandering Mages.
Even criminals wanted in other regions.
My gaze focused on a specific point.
According to the Biochip...
There was a huge market there belonging to the Layfay Family.
One of the three great families responsible for directly supporting Arcangrove Tower.
It was exactly the place I needed.
Over the last two months, I had tried countless times to gather information about the war.
Almost all of it was vague.
If there was one place where information truly circulated...
It was that market.
...
Some time later...
...
The horse stopped before a massive rocky formation.
I looked at the map again.
Then at the landscape.
Then back at the map.
I frowned.
If the Biochip wasn’t confirming it...
I would never believe that such an important market was hidden... inside a simple cave.
The place was extremely discreet.
No eye-catching buildings.
Only an entrance partially hidden among the rocks.
I dismounted.
I carefully observed the entire area.
The surroundings gave off a strange feeling of emptiness.
As if even the animals avoided this place.
I adjusted my robe again.
Completely covering my face.
Then I walked toward a small brick cabin built beside the cave entrance.
I raised my hand.
Tok... Tok...
The old wooden door answered with a deep creak.
A cold voice echoed from the other side.
— Who are you?
— I’m merely a wandering Acolyte.
— I wish to visit the market.
For several seconds...
Silence.
Then...
A massive stone beside the cabin began slowly moving.
Revealing a hidden passage.
A figure wearing black robes emerged from the darkness.
The instant our eyes met...
My entire body went on alert.
It wasn’t fear.
It was instinct.
That man...
Was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Some people carried a presence impossible to conceal.
An aura built upon countless deaths.
I didn’t need the Biochip to understand.
That Acolyte had killed many of his own kind.
Probably dozens.
Maybe hundreds.
He was also a Level III Acolyte.
I discreetly observed his sleeves.
The symbol of the Layfay Family was embroidered there.
He spoke without any emotion.
— First time here?
I nodded affirmatively.
— Then remember this.
— Any conflict inside the market will be considered a direct provocation against the Layfay Family.
I nodded immediately.
— Understood.
He extended his hand.
— Entrance fee.
— One magic crystal.
I took a crystal from my pouch.
I handed it over without arguing.
He stored the payment.
Then he knocked twice on the wall of the cabin.
The next instant...
The entire stone beneath my feet began to vibrate.
The ground slowly opened.
Revealing a massive circular platform.
I smiled involuntarily.
It looked very similar to the floating stone elevator used inside Arcangrove Tower.
I calmly pulled on the horse’s reins.
Together, we stepped onto the platform.
Without wasting time, I waited as the mechanism slowly began carrying us into the depths of the mountain, toward the hidden market of the Layfay Family.
...
1885 Words