Chapter 7: ck Market


    I went to the town hall to register myself an identification paper under my new alias, Nero Akuma. With this paper, I can register for stuff like the adventurer''s guild. But I don''t think I feel like adventuring right now. I don''t feel ready yet.


    Once I hit a higher level; maybe level 50, then I''ll think of it.


    For now, I need some stuff.


    The next day


    First I walked over to a clothing store which had clothes that are suited for adventuring. This ck tunic and trousers aren''t going to do so great soon.


    I got myself a ck sleeveless zippered-turtleneck beneath a ck and silver waist vest, ck slim pants, ck long leather gloves, and dark boots covered by silver gaiters with several straps.


    After paying, I quickly left so I wouldn''t get more attention than I needed. Stares from the girls passing me were enough to handle. What I need next is some gear.


    I walked to a gear shop so I could get some armor and weapons.


    I asked for anything that was light but durable and a weapon that was the same. I was suggested a padded armor stuffed with chain-mail made of mithril, a powerful metal that''s made in this world. I tried it on and it was lighter than I expected considering how heavy mithril is supposed to be. The weapon I was rmended was a long sharp dagger alongside a bow and quiver.


    It didn''t sound much but I took it. I also saw a cloak on clearance and decided to buy it as well. I bought a few just in case I lost one or two.


    Of course, I left as soon as I paid. After donning the cloak, I went down the street towards where the ve trader had decided to dwell.


    Now I have two choices. Either get one from the merchants that reside here or get one from the ck market. The ones from the merchants often sell ves used for pleasure andbor and the ones in ck markets do the same but they include children.


    Reading all those books at the library really paid off. I studied for an entire night just to understand everything in this world. How money works, politics, and even some of the history. If my parents saw me now, I don''t know whether they''d be happy that I''m studying or mad that I''m not studying about things that would make me a sessful person in life. Not that it matters anymore.


    Eventually, I arrived in front of the ve trader''s shop. This one I think is under the ck markets branch. Most ck markets are extremely good at disguising themselves as regr ve shops but they always give themselves away if they have an underground dungeon.


    How repulsive though I can''tin as I''m going there to get a ve myself.


    But still


    Upon entering, there were a few people entering and exiting the building where the ve trade was held. I noticed that most of them were men and dragging along with them were female demi-humans. I even noticed that one of them had an elf. So elves exist in this world as well.


    Swiftly with my Analysis skill, I inspected their levels and their attributes. As I expected, they were all normal humans with no powers at all. Only rich bastards that buy ves to use as toys.


    Anyway, I entered the building and I smelt a faint foul smelling from my right direction. It seemed to be leaking from that door to my right. Looks like I stand corrected. Only a dungeon would have that kind of smell.


    "Greetings, sir. How may I help you?" greeted an elderly man dressed in a robe.


    "Hello, I''m here to get myself a ve."


    I looked around and on one end I could see demi-humans, elves, and even humans ced in cages. The other end was but a wall, but past that wall were children. I was only able to see because I had activated Wolf''s Blood. How vile... not even going to hide them in the dungeon but instead in another room.


    I looked down and I noticed there were more. This is definitely a ck-market ve trade.


    The merchant was looking at me with a disdainful look. Probably because I don''t dress like one of his regr customers, aka a noble or wealthy person.


    "I see but sir, the ves here are extremely expensi-"


    I dropped a royal coin into his hand and signaled him to shut up about it. The old man looked at the coin for a while and then snuck it into his sleeve.


    "What sort of ve do you seek? One forbor? One for pleasure?"


    "Is there one suited forbat? Specifically, one that you can get from down there," I whispered thest part into the merchant''s ear as I pointed down to the ground.


    The old man rubbed his chin and thought about it. He did it while looking at the door that was giving off that awful smell earlier.


    "Yes there is. Follow me."


    The old man walked to the door and looked around for a second, then he quickly unlocked the door and I followed him down while shutting the door behind me.


    As expected, the door led down to an underground dungeon housing even more ves, kept in jail cells.


    Passing through the dungeon, almost all of them were demi-humans. I used my analysis skill as we passed by, inspecting each and everyone''s level, talent rates(or TLR for short), and level cap.


    "Here we have the me lizard race, they are more proficient in magecraft and have good endurance. We also have the night rabbits which are better for melee and have higher agility than most, they can maybe even be used for theft if you want to. There is also the harpies, better for aerialbat."


    I nced and inspected them.


    [Level 12; TLR: 21%; Level Cap: 56]


    [Level 23; TLR: 6%; Level Cap: 41]


    [Level 31; TLR: 1%; Level Cap: 32]


    I noticed that the older ones had a lower level cap than the younger ones. Looks like the older they are as of now, the more restricted their level caps are and the less their Talent Rates are. That goes the same for those with lower levels, higher-level caps, and higher talent rates.


    "Does anything catch your eye?"


    "No."


    "Well, that''s good because we have more."


    I could''ve chosen one right there but there are still more. I want to see everything, even if I find one that is in my favor, I still want to see the others.


    We took an entirep around the dungeon but couldn''t find one that I wanted. But ck markets are usually full of surprises.


    "Do you have anything on the... exotic side?" I asked the old man and he nodded.


    This dungeon was really big as the old man led me down to a second level. This time there weren''t any demi-humans, this time there were beastmen (demi-humans but more on beastly looking), monsters likes goblins and such, andstly, spirits such as fire sprites, nymphs, etc.


    Like the demi-humans on the upper floor, the beastmen had simr level caps and talent rates. The monsters were weak, ranging from level 1 to 10. Most of the spirits were the same as well so I didn''t find a single one that was in my preference.


    "Will anyone of these satisfy your requests?"


    "I saw some but no."


    Even though I saw some with promising stats, none of them would be useful for guarding me. In just two days if I grinded, I could reach level 40 or even 50. Maybe I should just find another ve shop, this one is useless.


    However, when I turned to walk away, a sinister roar echoed through the hall, scaring everyone around me, including the old man.


    "What kind of ves are those?" I asked.


    "Those are... sorry but they are those beyond our control. Even with every torture method, they are still unable to be subjugated."


    "Lead me to one, I want to see one with my own eyes."


    "Sorry but they are-"


    I tossed another royal coin at him. He hesitantly held it in the hand but eventually snuck it in his sleeve. As much as some don''t want it, they just can''t deny money.


    Another floor, this time it was really deep underground. It would make sense since I couldn''t sense them with my Wolf''s Blood.


    When we arrived, there were only a few cages. I noticed there was one that looked like a zombie as it had torn flesh and exposed bones and limbs. They are stupid if they think they were gonna tame that thing.


    There was also a human but looking at his dim yellow eyes, he must be a werewolf. He was slim and weak. Looks like they don''t feed the ones down here.


    As we passed some others, I heard the same roar but it was more clearer and feminine. Then my eyes were drawn towards a girl inside a cage.


    It was a fox girl, or Kitsune if you''d call it. I almost didn''t notice her as mostly every part of her body was ck; her long, silky hair, her ears, and her four tails. The only way I was able to recognize her was her pale skin and her icy-blue eyes which zed in the dark. She was wearing only a tattered rag which exposed a part of her breast.


    When she spotted us, she lunged at us and I almost received another scar on my face with those long ws of hers.


    I used Analysis and inspected her stats.


    [Level 51; TLR: 61%; Level Cap: 101]


    I couldn''t help butugh like a maniac. This one... she''s strong, beautiful as well. Though she may be famished, if she was fed correctly, she''d definitely grow to be an elegantdy.


    But to why I really need her. Her level, her talent rate, her level cap, they arepletely different than the others.


    I want her. She''s perfect.


    "I want this one."


    "Are you sure? Out of every ve in this room, she is the most stubborn. We can''t make any progress in subjugating her. That werewolf over there will show signs of submission, but she is theplete opposite. We tried bringing her to submission, but theher regions of the designated trainer had been dismembered. Even with the ve cor around her, she won''t surrender."


    Hearing that, I''d roar inughter. A rebellious one, huh?


    There are many things they are doing wrong. Kitsunes are creatures full of liberty; they do whatever they want. If you capture one and attempt to ce them under very, well, let''s just say there will be serious consequences.


    Even if this one won''t submit, there is always one solution.


    I''d take out my identification paper and hand it over to the merchant.


    "I''ll take it, and get me amandment crest."


    "A-are you sure?"


    "Positive."


    The merchant paused, then he nodded as he ran away.


    Amandment crest... consider them asmand seals, just with endless regtions. With the rightmand and the right amount of mana, it can bring one even a dragon to submission if they received the mark.


    "You will be of use to me."


    I gazed at the Kitsune, which in return gave me a malevolent re. Those eyes, they are burning with hatred for the ones that robbed her of her freedom. I know exactly what this one wants, after all, it is also what I want.


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