The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 65: The City of Desire and Despair (4)

After receiving the recommendation token from the Dark King, Martin and Sien actually sat down for a meal at Crossroads of Fate.

Incredibly, the Dark King himself had participated in preparing the food, which left Sien utterly shocked.

But despite everything, the food was exceptional, and both Martin and Sien filled their stomachs.

Once they were done, they used a Polymorph artifact to alter their appearances before stepping out of the restaurant.

“Mar-tin A-dal-bert.”

A voice that seemed to echo from the depths of hell drilled into Martin’s ears.

Turning to look at Sien, Martin smiled bitterly. She was fuming.

“I’m really sorry.”

“Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I realized it was the Assassin’s Guild?”

“I truly apologize. I should’ve explained things in advance and gotten your approval.”

“More than that, why didn’t you tell me where we were going? Afraid I’d stop you?”

“Well… not exactly. I didn’t want to make you worry unnecessarily.”

“You do know that’s basically the same thing, right?”

“I promise, Sien. I won’t hide anything from you again.”

With that, Martin held out his pinky, hooking it around Sien’s, like a child making a promise.

He glanced at her playfully, like a kid caught playing a prank.

Unable to help herself, Sien eventually let out a soft chuckle, causing Martin to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Anyway, why are we going to the slave market? It’s not like you need slaves… You’re not planning to…?” Sien’s lips curled into a teasing smile.

Realizing what she was implying, Martin quickly shouted, “That’s definitely not what this is about!”

“Then why are we going there?”

“I told the Dark King. I want to meet the Forest Elves and the Earth Dwarves.”

“Honestly, I wasn’t paying much attention when he said that. My mind was elsewhere. But Forest Elves and Earth Dwarves… those really exist?”

Sien’s expression suddenly changed as realization dawned on her. She now fully understood the implications of what Martin had said.

At the same time, she grasped why the Dark King had given his final warning.

“…You do realize, don’t you, Martin? If you make a mistake here, even you might not survive.”

“I’m well aware of the danger. But if I succeed, the Adalbert family will regain its status as one of the Three Great Houses. We could bring Free City Akela under our control.”

“Phew. You’re already doing so well. Why take such a risk?”

“Because we can’t afford to move slowly. The Empire’s chaos is about to spiral out of control. None of the three major factions in the capital have any intention of backing down.”

The only thing keeping a full-scale war from breaking out was the fact that the Emperor was still alive. But everyone knew his time was running out, and once he passed, civil war was inevitable.

“In times of such chaos, we need enough power to not just survive but lead.”

“I understand what you’re thinking. Right now, it’s hard for us to stand against the other three great houses, let alone the three factions in the Imperial capital. But will rescuing slaves really give you enough power?”

“Well, it would be if I were only saving humans.”

“Humans? Wait, you’re trying to form an alliance with Elves and Dwarves?”

“Not quite that far yet. This time, the goal is just to start building goodwill.”

“Let’s say you free their people from the slave market. Do you really think they’ll see that as a favor? Elves especially can’t stand humans.”

“At the very least, it opens the door for conversation. That in itself is significant.”

“You really enjoy walking a dangerous tightrope, don’t you?”

“It’s not that I enjoy it. It’s just that the situation is so precarious.”

Martin’s tone was calm and composed.

Sien shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t even begin to fathom how far ahead you’re thinking.”

“When that happens, just trust me, Sien. I’ve never let you down with results, right?”

“But you’ve definitely made me anxious.”

“Well… I’m sorry about that,” Martin replied with an apologetic grin.

“Alright, fine. I won’t keep dragging this out. Just remember—there’s a lot riding on you. Keep that in mind as you move forward.”

“Of course.”

Martin had experienced enough failures to know how high the stakes were. But just as he had succeeded in rewriting his past to create a better present, he was determined to continue shaping a brighter future.

—

Before heading to the black market, Martin and Sien transformed their appearances so thoroughly that no one would recognize them.

Then, using Spatial Movement, Martin teleported them to a small mountain near Akela’s northern gate to shake off any potential pursuers.

“I thought a black market would be hidden in a more secretive location… With it out here, wouldn’t it be easy to find, no matter how many important people are involved?” Sien asked, glancing around skeptically.

“I thought so too at first, but that’s not the case. Without a guide, there’s no way to enter the black market. The entrance is hidden with layers of magic, and if you go in the wrong way, you’ll be killed instantly.”

Recalling his past experience, Martin explained the situation while scanning the area.

Soon, his detection picked up two figures.

These were undoubtedly black market guards, so Martin began walking toward them.

“Who’s there?”

As soon as the two guards saw Martin and Sien, they raised their magic guns, aiming at the pair.

‘As expected of the black market. Even the guards here are impressive—one of them’s reached the 2nd Circle.’

Most soldiers, regardless of the country, were typically at the 1st Circle. Reaching the 2nd Circle meant you could be appointed as a centurion, and 3rd Circle individuals were treated as knights.

Yet here, the black market had 2nd Circle soldiers serving as mere guards.

Even though it was just one of them, it said a lot about the black market’s power.

Without hesitation, Martin raised his hands, and Sien followed suit, though her displeasure was obvious.

“We’re customers. We were just looking for you, and I’m glad we found you,” Martin said.

“Is it just the two of you?” one guard asked.

“Yes. I have a recommendation token. May I take it out?”

“You may. But if you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

“I understand.”

Keeping his left arm raised, Martin reached into his pocket with his right hand and produced the shining platinum coin.

The younger of the two guards approached Martin and inspected the token.

“It’s genuine.”

“What’s the number?” the other guard asked.

“The number is… Gasp! It’s number 12!”

Upon hearing the number “12,” the guards were visibly shocked.

The platinum coins numbered from 1 to 20 were owned by recognized figures from the underworld, individuals with immense influence across the continent.

Working in the black market, the guards were well aware of the importance of these coins and the status of their holders.

Considering that the person before them had received such a recommendation, it was clear that Martin and Sien were practically VIPs.

“Our apologies for the disrespect!” the guards immediately bowed.

“There’s no need to apologize. You were simply doing your job,” Martin replied graciously.

“Thank you for understanding,” one of the guards said, bowing once again before returning the coin.

Martin pocketed the platinum coin once more.

“Would you please guide us to the market?” Martin asked.

“Of course. Please, follow us.”

The guards answered with the utmost courtesy, careful not to provoke Martin in any way. They led Martin and Sien to an imposing stone wall.

Wooong.

The older guard placed his hand on the wall, and a section of the stone began to part, revealing a narrow passage just wide enough for one person to pass through. Inside the passage was a warp device.

“We’ll be taking the warp device through to the other side. Whatever you do, don’t lose sight of me. If you get lost in there, it will cost you your life, and we won’t be held responsible,” the older guard warned.

“I understand,” Martin responded with a serious expression.

Satisfied with the response, the guard stepped onto the warp device.

Wooong.

As space distorted around him, the guard disappeared from view.

Martin and Sien quickly followed suit, stepping onto the platform and, within moments, they were transported to another location.

“This place is…”

Sien’s eyes widened as she quickly clamped her mouth shut, stunned by what she saw.

Beyond the narrow passage, an expansive corridor stretched out before them. It was far larger than anything she had expected to find behind a stone wall.

But that wasn’t all.

“Is this a maze?”

“Yes,” the older guard answered. “This place is filled with magical traps. Anyone who takes a wrong turn is guaranteed to meet their end.”

“That’s why you warned us not to lose sight of you,” Sien remarked.

“Exactly.”

The older guard retrieved an artifact from his pocket and infused it with mana. A bright light illuminated the path ahead, stretching deep into the maze.

“Follow me.”

“Understood,” Martin said.

Martin and Sien fell into line behind the guards as they proceeded through the maze. Along the way, Martin surveyed the surroundings.

‘Breaking through head-on would be nearly impossible.’

The magical formations embedded in the walls were ancient, drawing vast amounts of mana from the mountain itself, transforming the interior into a space that felt like an entirely different dimension.

It was clear that without a spatial ability or immense power to manipulate the environment, anyone attempting to tamper with the maze would meet an unfortunate end.

As Martin considered his options for navigating such an obstacle, they finally reached the end of the maze.

A massive steel door, nearly five meters tall, stood before them.

“This is Yose Esbein of the 13th Division. I’ve brought guests. Open the door,” the older guard called out.

-Understood. Please wait a moment.-

A voice echoed from an artifact in the ceiling, and a moment later, the door slowly began to creak open with a thunderous rumble, sending dust into the air.

“This is more impressive than the stories made it out to be. Even a simple communication artifact isn’t easy to create,” Sien said, her tone filled with awe.

“To facilitate communication, artifacts are essential here. As a result, many of the mages in this place dedicate themselves to crafting such devices. Once they reach a higher level of skill, they move on to creating more powerful artifacts,” the guard explained.

“Quite the organized system,” Sien remarked.

“It’s a long-standing market, so naturally, systems like this have developed over time.”

Thud!

Just as the guard finished speaking, the door fully opened with a loud crash.

The guards led the way, and Martin and Sien followed closely behind, stepping into the black market at last.

“Wow.”

Sien’s mouth dropped open in amazement.

While she had managed to keep her composure upon seeing the maze, this time, she couldn’t help but be awestruck.

Brilliant magical lanterns embedded in the ceiling and walls filled the massive underground space with a radiant light.

Suspended in the air was a gravity field, holding up the immense weight of the vast underground complex.

“Have you brought your masks?” the older guard asked.

“Yes.”

Martin pulled out his familiar silver mask, while Sien donned a mask shaped like a rabbit.

After confirming they had their masks ready, the older guard continued, “During your time here, you must wear your masks at all times. Additionally, you are forbidden from attempting to uncover anyone’s identity.”

“Is there anything else we should be aware of?”

“Only magic stones are accepted as currency here. You can exchange cash for magic stones, but the commission fee is quite high, so I wouldn’t recommend it. And when you’ve finished your business, please come find me, Yose Esbein of the 13th Division. It’s my duty to guide you back according to market rules.”

“Understood. Thank you for the detailed explanation.”

“It’s my pleasure. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

With that, the guards left.

But Martin didn’t relax. He could feel the faint yet unmistakable gazes of several people watching them from the shadows.

‘It’s clear that every visitor here is being closely monitored.’

Navigating through all these restrictions and completing his mission would be no easy task. But Martin was ready.

With unwavering resolve, he strode confidently into the heart of the black market.

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