Chapter 31
Julio led Caron and Leo to a small house tucked away at the edge of an alley before announcing, "We have arrived."
The house appeared ordinary from the outside, but once they entered, Julio pulled a book on the study shelf and a hidden staircase that led to a basement was revealed.
"This is the only entrance. I believe Caligo has a separate passageway they use, but I don't know its exact location," Julio explained.
"So, in case of an emergency, they just seal it off?" Caron asked.
"Exactly," Julio confirmed.
"That's pretty ruthless," Caron remarked, noting the secrecy and tight security typical of a black market operation.
After giving this brief explanation, Julio descended the stairs first, leading them to the true entrance of the black market. The door was made of wood, but it radiated a faint magical aura, indicating the presence of protective spells. Two burly men stood guard in front of it.
"Julio, long time no see. What brings you here?" one of the guards asked, not bothering. to hide his hostility. He was a large man wearing a red eyepatch over his right eye.
Caron took a quick look at them and thought, Even these gangsters are magic-users, huh...
Although their power was weaker than that of a 1-Star knight, having mana at all was a significant advantage, marking them as more than just ordinary thugs. It made sense in a place like this, where power struggles were constant and brutal.
"I've brought guests," Julio replied calmly.
"The guests you bring are always big spenders. But why did you come to us?" the guard asked with a sneer.
"These esteemed guests requested it specifically," Julio answered with a steady tone.
The guard's eyes shifted to Caron and Leo, scrutinizing them closely. With their masks on, they clearly stood out as nobles. Nobles were the black market's most valued customers, as they were discreet, wealthy, and had needs that sometimes required the market's services.
However, the guard's response was completely unexpected.
"Go back," he said.
"...Why? Is it because of me?" Julio asked.
"No, the Chairman ordered us not to let anyone in today," the guard replied.
Even from the very beginning, things weren't going as planned. Julio, clearly frustrated by the stern dismissal, spoke. "You guys are known for doing anything if the price is right. What caused this sudden shift in policy?"
"It's not our place to question the Chairman's orders," the guard said as his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. He continued, "Take my advice and leave while you can."
The guards were clearly ready to draw their swords at any moment. Caron, who had been quietly observing the situation, let out a small, amused laugh before speaking up.
"Go ahead and draw your sword. I'm curious to see what will happen next," Caron said; his youthful voice echoed through the basement, causing the atmosphere to tense up immediately.
Leo, clearly alarmed by Caron's boldness, leaned in and whispered urgently, "My lord, perhaps it would be wiser to stay quiet for now..."
But Caron wasn't in the mood to back down. Referring to Leo by the alias they had agreed upon, he said, "No, Urhan. These lowlifes just referred to us as nobodies. Do you really think I'd let that insult slide?"
Caron's hand rested casually on the hilt of Guillotine as he continued with a smirk, "Since when do street thugs dare to threaten nobles?"
"I'm warning you now, I have no interest in spilling the blood of such vermin."
"Shut up, you cursed blade," Caron muttered under his breath. Even when sheathed, Guillotine's voice echoed in his mind as long as he touched the sword's handle.
Ignoring the sword's complaint, Caron stepped forward, approaching the guards. It was clear from the situation that entering the black market peacefully was no longer an option. Of course, it wasn't as if he had expected it to be easy from the start.
With that in mind, he saw no reason to hesitate about what needed to be done next. He said calmly, "Urhan, it's time for Plan B."
"Why am I... I mean, my Lord, is there a second plan I was unaware of?" Leo asked with a tinge of frustration in his voice.
"That's because I never told you what it was," Caron replied, his tone light but firm.
For him, this approach was much simpler. Instead of sneaking around, gathering information, and piecing together clues, it was easier to confront things head-on.
"Tell the Chairman to come out right now," he demanded.
Charging straight in seemed the better option. Caron was more comfortable with this direct, physical approach than with the polite and subtle games nobles usually played.
"No matter how much of a noble child you are, remember, this is Thebe's night. It's a time when young nobles who overstep their bounds can easily end up dead from a stray blade. Can you handle that?" the one-eyed brute asked, his tone dripping with menace.
The moment Caron mentioned the word "Chairman," the entire atmosphere had shifted. The one-eyed brute didn't bother hiding his hostility anymore.
"If you leave now, I'll make sure you receive special privileges the next time you visit," the guard said.
"Special privileges? Do you even know what the word 'special' means? Somehow, I doubt it," Caron said mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain. "What I want is to meet this 'Chairman' of yours right now."
As Caron spoke, he pointed toward the guard's sword. He continued, "It's simple. If you want to stop me, then go ahead and draw that sword."
"Do you think I'm joking right now?" the guard growled.
"Go on, draw it. What's stopping you?" Caron taunted.
Swish!
In an instant, Caron drew Guillotine from its scabbard, and the blade flashed with deadly precision. He said coldly, "No? Then let me help you out with that."
Guillotine sliced through the one-eyed man's scabbard, cutting it clean in half with a swift, precise strike. Despite the close range, Caron had expertly aimed only at the sheath, leaving the man stunned as his useless sword clattered to the ground in two pieces.
The other guard next to him reacted immediately, drawing his own sword with a furious shout. "Dammit—!"
Clang!
"Can you please just tell me before you do these things... my lord!" Leo exclaimed, exasperated but quick on his feet.
In the end, he was a step faster. Leo swiftly deflected the guard's sword, sending it clattering to the ground with almost humiliating ease. In an instant, the guards were disarmed.
Caron didn't waste a moment and held Guillotine's blade to the neck of the one-eyed man. He taunted, "What do you think? You like it?"
The guard's face contorted with anger as he asked, "Do you really think you'll walk away from this unharmed?"
"That's for me to worry about," Caron replied coldly.
"I can't let you in under any circumst—" the guard began.
But at that moment...
Whoosh.
A soft hum filled the air as a red sword emblem on the guard's chest began to glow. A calm and soft voice resonated from it.
"Karl, these are the guests who've come to see me. Let them in, will you?"
"Chairman, these people are dangerous," Karl protested.
"It's fine for now. It'll be more dangerous if you don't let them through. Nothing will happen, so don't worry," the voice reassured him.
The voice belonged to a woman, and in such a tense situation, one would expect her to sound anxious. But her tone was steady and composed.
Caron nodded slightly and responded with a grin, "The Chairman has quite a refreshing personality."
"I'm pretty good at handling dangerous situations," the Chairman replied with a hint of amusement. "I have no intention of offering my neck to a riled-up wolf."
It was clear that she knew who she was dealing with. This was a well-informed organization.
Caron quickly assessed the situation and asked her in a low voice, "Does our Chairman care about her subordinates?"
"Of course! These are my precious people, who've stuck with me through tough times," the Chairman answered warmly.
"Good to hear," Caron said, and in one swift motion, he pressed his blade to Karl's neck.
"What are you doing?" the woman's voice asked.
"There's still a lack of trust between us, wouldn't you say? We need to look out for our own survival too," Caron replied casually.
"Chairman, don't worry about me! Just get these people—" Karl began, but before he could finish, the Chairman's laughter echoed through the basement.
"Oh my, you're just as the rumors said!" the Chairman exclaimed.
"Rumors? What rumors?" Caron asked.
"I heard that the youngest of the Azure Wolves took hostages without hesitation. I couldn't believe it at first, but now I see it's true. You're quite the interesting one. How did someone like you come from such a boring family?" the Chairman remarked. After having a good laugh, she said again with a bright tone, "Alright, but if even a scratch is left on my dear subordinate, you will pay for it."
"Isn't the key when taking a hostage keeping them in perfect condition?" Caron replied with a sly smile.
"The more I hear, the more I like you. You'd fit in well with us. Ever thought about joining our side?" the Chairman offered.
"I appreciate the offer, but as you can see, I'm a bit of a pricey catch," Caron replied with a chuckle.
"Well, I'll be eagerly waiting. Karl? I'm sorry, but you'll have to put up with this. I'll treat you to some expensive liquor later, alright?" the Chairman said.
"As you wish, Chairman," Karl said through gritted teeth.
The communication ended, and as the voice faded, Caron patted Karl on the back, still grinning. He remarked, "Just trust me, alright?"
"Go to hell," Karl muttered, his teeth clenched in anger.
"Oh, feisty, aren't you? Alright, everyone, let's go," Caron said cheerfully as he opened the door to the underground passage and stepped inside.
***
What followed was a long descent down a flight of stairs. Eventually, however, it came to an end and revealed the underground black market.
"Wow," Caron and Leo both exclaimed simultaneously, unable to hide their surprise.
They had expected the black market in Caligo to be a rough, makeshift affair, but the sight before them was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The ceiling soared high above them, and neatly constructed buildings were arranged in distinct sections. It looked less like a market and more like a small, hidden city.
"Julio, are all black markets like this?" Caron asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Not quite. The Caligo black market was built on top of ancient ruins. I believe they used magic to completely clear the underground ruins before constructing the buildings you see now," Julio replied.
It was like an underground city, too grand for a mere criminal organization to occupy.
"The atmosphere here is incredible, isn't it, Leo?" Caron remarked.
"Have you given up on hiding your identity now?" Leo sighed.
"We were caught anyway, weren't we?" Caron replied.
"Ugh... Can we even make it out of here alive?" Leo muttered, glancing around anxiously.
Between the buildings, they could see faces twisted in anger staring back at them. The threatening looks from these strangers made the tension palpable. And yet, the one who had caused this hostile atmosphere, Caron, kept walking ahead. He grinned and whistled without a care.
"Everyone here has a certain flair. It's nice to see," Caron said.
After about ten minutes of walking, they arrived at an opulently decorated mansion. Guards stood at the entrance, but they stepped aside as soon as Caron and his group approached.
With a creak, the mansion's doors opened, revealing an extravagant reception room. It was filled with luxurious furnishings, clearly designed to impress the noble clientele that frequented the black market.
"Let the guests in," Caron said as he boldly entered the reception room.
Inside, he quickly noticed two people. One was a knight standing silently, wearing a mask. The other person was lounging on a sofa, casually sipping tea. The person on the sofa wore a golden mask, a peculiar sight that immediately drew Caron's attention.
"Hey, Owner, be careful. That knight is at the threshold of 8-Star," whispered a voice in Caron's mind.
I'm aware, Caron replied internally.
Caron wondered if the person in the golden mask was the boss they were looking for. But the presence of an 8-Star knight made him cautious. An 8-Star knight was on the same level as Sabina and Zerath, and there were only a handful of them in the entire empire. The strength of such a warrior was incomparable to that of the 6-Star knight he had faced before.
The knight didn't say a word, merely staring at Caron, but the pressure from his gaze was enough to make it difficult for Caron to breathe.
Who could this be? Caron thought. If the knight displayed his mana, perhaps Caron would be able to identify him. But the knight remained silent and still.
Behind Caron, Leo let out a strained groan, struggling under the oppressive atmosphere.
At that moment, the person with the golden mask rose from the sofa and spoke. "The youngest grandson of the Duke of Leston, Caron Leston. Who would have thought I'd meet such a distinguished guest in a place like this?"
The voice was thin, but it wasn't the same one they had heard earlier, the one from the boss. The voice was androgynous, impossible to pin down in terms of gender. With a smile, the masked figure approached Caron and continued, "I saw what you did with the guards at the entrance. I didn't expect a kid like you to be from the Leston family."
"Do you enjoy mimicking a woman's voice?" Caron asked.
"Pardon? Haha, you're probably mistaking me for my sister. She stepped out to brew some tea. But could you let that friend of hers go? Karl might look intimidating, but he's actually a nice guy," the person in the golden mask said.
Caron frowned, scrutinizing the golden-masked individual who had now reached him. He asked, "Are you the Chairman's younger sibling?"
"Not by blood, so it's more like being a sibling-in-arms. But either way, nice to meet you," the figure responded casually.
"Oceanwolf Sword Art: Secret Weapon," Caron suddenly declared.
"Hmm?" the figure responded, confused.
In an instant, the guard Caron had been holding fell to the ground, and the person in the golden mask replaced him as the hostage.
With a satisfied grin, Caron said, "Oceanwolf Sword Art: Secret Weapon is a hostage switch."
"Owner, you're truly insane. Do you really want to do this?" muttered Guillotine in disbelief.
But the hostage didn't seem upset at all, bouncing excitedly as if they were playing a game. "Sir Mason! Look, I've been taken hostage! Wow, this is more thrilling than I imagined! I'm glad I came to Thebe after all!"
They continued, "Alright, Caron Leston. I'll fully cooperate with your hostage situation. Believe it or not, my life is worth a lot, so feel free to make the most of it."
Caron stared into the golden eyes behind the mask; with the mention of Sir Mason, the 8-Star knight, it didn't take long for him to piece together the lunatic's identity.
It was the Sixth Prince, a direct descendant of the emperor himself... which meant Caron was now holding a royal hostage.
"Oh, even Grandfather won't be able to handle this," Caron muttered to himself with a laugh.
He had unintentionally stumbled into a major incident, one even his formidable grandfather, Duke Leston, would struggle to manage. Caron had no idea why on earth the Sixth Prince was in a place like this, but one thing was certain.
"Let's storm the imperial palace and overthrow the empire, Caron Leston! I'm rooting for you! What should we do first? Record a magical message pleading for my life to send to my father?" the Sixth Prince asked.
This prince was completely insane, a formidable rival for the title of the empire's greatest lunatic.