Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

  Tars wore a face covering that matched the color of his hood, tilting his head as he observed the anxious red-haired woman, Myrtle, beside him.

  Three days had gone by, and Young Master Rodrigo had still not returned. No news had come from the Old Baron's castle either; it was as if nothing had happened, each day passing with the same deceptive midday calm.

  Under Myrtle's guidance, they took a beast-carriage to the border between the Inner and Outer Districts before disembarking to continue on foot. Today, she had also donned a heavy robe and a mask.

  As Tars followed her, he studied the environment of the Outer District. To put it simply, this was the true face of the city—a far cry from the grand main road they had entered through. In these areas away from the thoroughfares, the houses grew dense. Despite being under the "sunlight," there were countless corners the light never reached, where nauseating atmospheres festered in the shadows.

  They slowed their pace upon reaching a relatively wide street. The people here seemed accustomed to their attire; strange-looking mercenaries passed by frequently, as the trade caravans between the various Cavern Cities ensured that mercenaring remained an evergreen profession.

  "This way, My Lord," the red-haired woman whispered, ducking into a low-slung shop.

  Tars followed close behind. The proprietor behind the counter didn't even lift his head. Tars trailed her past shelves filled with oddities—dented music boxes, chipped daggers, and other strange wares—and out through the back door into a relatively clean alley.

  Myrtle stopped and produced five standard mana stones, placing them into five inconspicuous small pits in the ground.

  "Stand with me, My Lord."

  She stepped into the area encompassed by the pits. Tars, finding the process intriguing, joined her without hesitation. Within moments, the dormant mana stones flared with light before instantly crumbling into powder. Their figures vanished from the alley.

  After the flash subsided, Tars saw a sea of bobbing heads and felt the chaotic ripples of mental energy surrounding him. He knew immediately he had come to the right place.

  "My Lord, there usually isn't much of value in this black market; it's mostly low-level practitioners. The actual gathering starts after the market ends, and only those who pass the test of a certain gate are eligible to attend," Myrtle explained. "The market should last a while longer. If you wish to look around, I can accompany you."

  No sooner had she spoken than a crisp bell rang throughout the underground space—a tunnel-like area built of white brick and connected by arches. At the sound of the bell, panic seemed to grip the crowd. Tars saw the moving figures freeze for a split second before they began to scatter in a frantic flight.

  He turned to the red-haired woman.

  "Quickly, follow me! Over the last two years, the city has occasionally raided these black markets. Many have been forced out into the numbered districts or even the Abyss. It seems this one has been compromised as well, but we are only passing through."

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  Myrtle walked briskly toward a brick-lined doorway in a corner and inserted a mana stone into a gap in the masonry. Tars watched silently, glancing back at the black market traders who were now scurrying like ants on a hot griddle.

  "Let's go, My Lord."

  She stepped through the door and vanished. Tars followed. The moment he crossed the threshold, a familiar sensation washed over him—much like the feeling of using the mental testing rod. This was likely the "test." He wondered if physical practitioners like Knights were also tested for mental energy here.

  A bright hall appeared before him. Myrtle was already waiting.

  Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of wood striking wood echoed through the hall.

  "Due to the raids on several black markets, all gateways are now closed. The gathering will commence ahead of schedule," a crisp, youthful female voice rang out. "Please, take your seats."

  Most of the people present were dressed like Tars, in heavy robes, while a few in casual attire wore masks. Tars scanned the circle of seats—there were about forty in total, but only twenty-seven were occupied. Given the prepared seating, the organizers clearly knew that the number of practitioners in this region with qualifying mental energy consistently hovered around this figure.

  Once everyone was seated, the crisp voice spoke again. "The gathering has begun."

  Immediately, a stout man stood up. "I have a piece of intelligence concerning the three neighboring Cavern Domains. One hundred mana stones," he said in a deep voice.

  Tars was somewhat confused. He watched as others began producing stones. A creature that looked like a cross between a bird and an insect, carrying a storage bag in its beak, began to circle the room. Finding it amusing, Tars also produced a hundred mana stones. As the strange little bird approached, it collected his payment.

  Myrtle looked over at him, seemingly wanting to save him the expense. He nodded; they could easily discuss the value of this hundred-stone information privately later. Once the bird finished its rounds, the stout man cleared his throat.

  "Exclusive news; I guarantee its accuracy. Twin Moon City is facing a 'Sunset'—it will occur within the next few years. This is the primary reason it has provoked a war with Red Moon City." The man sat down abruptly, as if no further explanation were needed.

  "A Sunset? Haha, I'll actually get to see one in my lifetime!" someone laughed. Others let out muffled exclamations of shock, and a wave of hushed whispers filled the air.

  Tars remained bewildered. He looked at Myrtle and noticed that the faint glimmer—which had appeared to block her ears while the man spoke—had vanished. He gave her an inquiring look, but she shook her head; clearly, this topic would have to wait.

  Another man stood up.

  "By the side of Young Master Rodrigo of the Starry Family, there is a new, powerful caster. The mercenaries in the Abyss are whispering legends about him, claiming he is a wizard. I am seeking information on him. The reward is three hundred mana stones, with more if the intel is valuable. Equivalent trades are also acceptable. Interested parties may find me privately afterwards."

  Tars watched the slightly scrawny figure with curiosity. He hadn't expected to earn some extra pocket money on his very first visit.

  "A free piece of news for everyone: Twin Moon City might halt its war with Red Moon City and turn its spearhead toward Starry City," the stout man added casually as he collected his stones from the bird, seemingly in a good mood.

  Then, another person stood up.

  "For sale: A servant's contract, ten-year term. Two thousand mana stones. This can serve as your 'boarding pass' to enter the Wizard Domain. Serve faithfully for ten years as per the contract, and you shall have your freedom. Authenticity guaranteed."

  "Understand that this is a rare opportunity," the man continued, speaking fluently. "The next official talent test is a long way off. While the price of following a talented young master or lady to the Wizard Domain will be cheaper then, by the time they leave, you could already be halfway through your ten years."

  The man went on at length, but no one responded. Tars blinked, piecing things together from the hushed conversations around him: this was an opportunity to pay for the privilege of being someone's slave for ten years.