Chapter 47

The morning sun shone into the room through the gap in the curtains, and Luo En had already opened his eyes from the meditation state.

He had already asked for leave from Lady Ailan before leaving yesterday, and today he decided to try to go to the black market to find those special materials.

Thinking of this, he took out the parchment glowing with faint light again and carefully checked the items recorded on it:

Dream-Eating Spider Eye Fluid, Moon Shadow Bat Heart Ash, Crystalline Moss, Night Talk Pollen...

In the small booklet of precautions he received after being certified as a primary apprentice, he found most of the materials in the list of "prohibited trade items."

"These things, indeed, can only be obtained through unconventional channels in the black market..."

Just as he was thinking about countermeasures, a hurried knock on the door sounded.

Luo En opened the door and saw Andre wearing a practical dark casual suit, his golden hair simply tied behind his head, obviously prepared for today's "informal activities."

"Good morning, respected ally."

After the joking greeting, he walked into the room unceremoniously, closed the door, and lowered his voice: "Have you considered today's itinerary?"

Luo En nodded and pointed to the parchment spread on the bed: "The primary task is to find these materials, at least to get a rough range first."

Andre leaned over to look, and his brows gradually wrinkled: "My God, what exactly does Lady Ailan want to refine? Even 'Thirsty Man's Tongue Moss' is on the list."

"You know this thing?" Luo En was somewhat surprised.

"Of course, that is a common material for advanced curse spells." Andre's expression became serious:

"It is said that you have to bind a normal person alive in the desert and let them die of thirst to extract the material that has enough efficacy to be used as a spellcasting medium."

Luo En felt a chill in his heart. No matter what Lady Ailan wanted to refine, it didn't look like anything good.

But he soon made a decision—since he had already promised, he would try his best to complete it.

"It's good to have you, this know-it-all who knows a little bit about everything." He patted the golden-haired boy on the shoulder: "Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to find these things."

"That's truly an honor to be able to help Young Master Luo En." Andre revealed a proud smile: "Regarding the black market, I do know some inside information."

He looked at the sky: "These days are a good opportunity. At this time every month, the 'Sunset Tavern' will have a special trading meeting, and we can just go and try our luck."

Luo En quickly packed his personal belongings, including some magic stone fragments, defensive weapons, and a few self-made potions, and then the two quietly left the apprentice dormitory area.

Through several secluded paths, they gradually moved away from the school's central area and moved toward the mortal settlements and streets on the outer edge of the Black Mist Forest.

"Be careful of the eyes around you."

Andre reminded in a low voice while walking: "Although the school will not explicitly forbid apprentices from going to the black market area, if they are caught directly trading prohibited items, they will not refuse the magic stone fragments sent to their door."

This is probably... fishing enforcement, Luo En nodded and remembered, while strengthening his vigilance against the surroundings.

Through the keen perception gained from his multiple professions, he could feel that the further he went to the edge of the Black Mist Forest, the more chaotic the magic power fluctuations in the air became.

All kinds of chaotic energy traces intertwined, forming a unique atmosphere.

Passing through several winding alleys, they finally arrived in front of a dilapidated two-story wooden building.

"This is it—'Sunset Tavern'." Andre looked up at the rickety sign in front of the door:

"On the surface, it's just an ordinary tavern, but in reality, it's the safest underground trading place in this area."

Pushing open the creaking wooden door of the "Sunset Tavern," what rushed toward them was a complex smell mixed with alcohol, tobacco, and the body odors of various alien races.

Luo En wrinkled his nose, trying to adapt to this rich smell that was suffocating.

The light in the tavern was dim, and a few magic crystal lamps barely illuminated the crowded space.

Outside of vision and smell, the low conversations of various creatures and the sound of wine glasses colliding were mixed together, forming a strange harmony.

Strange-looking alien races were squeezed together; some were as tall as mountains, but curled up in the corner sipping the wine in huge wooden cups;

Some were small and agile, but could finish a wine glass bigger than their own head in one breath.

The way these monsters talked in low voices or drank alone made this place look both mysterious and dangerous.

Luo En's gaze swept across the tavern and saw several people in different costumes mixed in—

There were shabby clothes unique to exiles, gorgeous robes in noble style, and some outfits that looked like hunters or mercenaries. Their eyes were generally vigilant and sharp.

"Over there." Andre pulled Luo En's sleeve lightly, his voice pressed very low, pointing to a corner of the bar with his eyes:

"See that gray dwarf? That's Otto, an intermediary I know who is relatively reliable."

Luo En followed his pointing and found a gray dwarf with a thick beard, only as tall as a normal person's waist, sitting on a high stool, with half a glass of beer in front of him.

The dwarf looked like a wrinkled rock endowed with life—his skin was grayish-brown, his hands covered in calluses were tightly holding the wine glass, as if it were some priceless treasure.

The two walked toward the bar. Andre skillfully gestured to the bartender, then whispered to Luo En: "Let me do it first, Otto doesn't like strangers asking about transactions directly."

The bartender soon sent two cups of turbid liquid with foam. Luo En took it carefully. The liquid emitted a sour smell that made people frown, and a layer of foam floated on the surface.

Andre picked up a cup and took a light sip, then pretended to turn to the gray dwarf inadvertently:

"Long time no see, Mr. Otto, the taste of today's ale is still so bad."

The gray dwarf didn't look up, just tapped the edge of the cup with his rough fingers, making a rhythmic thumping sound, as if confirming some secret code: "Oh? Which old friend has come?"

The voice was low and hoarse, like two rough rocks rubbing against each other.

"The 'Highland Vein Guide' you helped me find last time was a big help."

Andre used a specific secret code, his voice pressed lower: "Unfortunately, I encountered some small troubles later and had to lose the book. It's a pity, that was a rare good book."

Hearing this sentence, the dwarf slowly raised his head, and a pair of blue eyes flickered with shrewd light under the thick eyebrows.

Those eyes formed a sharp contrast with his rough appearance, clear and sharp, revealing a kind of wisdom that did not match his appearance.

"Hey, it's you, Your Highness the Little Prince." He said softly, while vigilantly scanning the surroundings: "It seems you have some special needs again?"

(End of chapter)