FVN Chapter 57 Black market
Chapter 57 Black market
After a few minutes, Ethan stepped out of the room, Lia trailing closely behind. The streets of the city had grown busier, the chatter of merchants and customers blending with the clatter of wagons and footsteps.
"So, where exactly are we headed?" Ethan asked, his voice low as they maneuvered through the bustling streets.
"There's a market in the eastern district," Lia explained. "If you ask the right questions—or slip a few coins to the right people—you can find some... less-than-official vendors."
"Less-than-official," Ethan repeated with a smile. What the hell was he getting himself into? Perhaps he should stick to leveling up his summons and leveling up himself?
"Master, we are here." Lia whispered to him, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Ethan blinked and looked up, realizing they'd entered a part of the city that felt distinctly different from the rest.
The bustling streets gave way to narrow alleys filled with haphazard stalls and makeshift tents. The vendors were a mix of shady characters and ordinary folks trying to make ends meet, their eyes darting warily at the passersby.
"This is it?" Ethan murmured, his voice low as he scanned the area. "Looks... sketchy."
"It is," Lia replied, her voice equally hushed. She stayed close to him, her hazel eyes sharp as she watched the crowd. "But it's also where we're most likely to find what we're looking for. Just... let me do the talking at first. You don't want to draw unnecessary attention."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."
Ethan replaced the scroll carefully. A barrier spell sounded useful but what he was looking for was... his gaze landed on a newer-looking parchment that was clearly nothing unique.
Mana bolt
He held it up, glancing toward the vendor. "This one," Ethan said.
The vendor leaned forward. "Oh? Basic attack spell," he replied gruffly. "Every novice mage starts with something like that. It's not fancy, but it's reliable. Good range, low mana cost. You want something more destructive, you're looking at triple the price."
Ethan shook his head. "How much for this?" He asked, rolling the parchment slightly in his hand.
The vendor smiled. "One full corpse of that thing!"
Ethan's eyes widened. "A whole corpse? Of an insectoid?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "For a basic spell like Mana Bolt?"
The vendor's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with opportunism. "It's not about the spell, friend. It's about the trade. Those insectoid corpses—especially fresh ones—fetch a high price with the right buyers. Materials, alchemy, crafting... You wouldn't believe how valuable they are."
"That's excessive. A single limb should be more than enough for a basic spell scroll."
The vendor chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Look, you're the ones who want magic without going through official channels. You think I don't know the risk involved? If anyone finds out, I'm the one who pays the price. So, yeah, a whole corpse. Take it or leave it."