"Ethan, bringing new guests again?" the gnome asked in a raspy voice, his eyes sweeping over Ron:
"This time it looks like a big shot."
"Balk, this is the Wizard sir, who wishes to visit the Shadow Area."
Ethan introduced respectfully, with a hint of tension in his tone: "Please provide the appropriate courtesies."
The gnome Balk’s eyes widened slightly, and he quickly stood up from his seat and bowed to Ron:
"Welcome to the Shadow Area, Wizard sir."
His attitude became noticeably more respectful, and his voice even carried a trace of sycophancy:
"The entrance fee for an Official Wizard is ten Magic Stone Fragments, but considering this is your first visit, five will suffice."
Ron did not haggle, directly taking out five Magic Stone Fragments from his Spatial Bag and placing them on the small table in front of the gnome.
"Thank you very much for your generosity, Wizard sir."
Balk quickly pocketed the Magic Stone Fragments, then brought out a small black Crystal Ball from under the table:
"Allow me to conduct a simple power evaluation for you. Rest assured, it means no harm; it’s purely for the safety protocol of the Shadow Area."
Ron understood the purpose of such an evaluation—to ascertain the visitor’s power level and ensure they were not to be offended.
He reached out and gently touched the Crystal Ball.
The sphere immediately lit up with a dazzling blue light, quickly turning purple, and finally into deep red.
"Very stable Morning Star level!" the gnome casually glanced at the color of the Crystal Ball, a hint of astonishment in his eyes:
"Your instantaneous output has at least reached Middle Morning Star!"
Ron was already well aware; judging from the instantaneous reaction of the Magic Power input, he was indeed only Middle Morning Star since he had just advanced a month ago.
"Then... please take this." Balk skillfully took a red badge from the drawer and handed it to him:
"This represents your identification in the Shadow Area, discouraging those with low Perception Ability to prevent unnecessary bloodshed."
Ron accepted the badge and pinned it on his robe.
The badge was engraved with a complex Rune, shimmering with a peculiar glow in the light.
"And my payment?" Ethan softly reminded from the side, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.
Balk impatiently tossed a few Crystal Coins to Ethan: "Got it, got it, here you go."
When he turned back to Ron, the gnome’s attitude became sycophantic once more:
"Wizard sir, everyone in the Shadow Area will show you respect. If you encounter any issues, just present your badge. In the core area, you’ll also find special services and items targeted at high-ranking visitors."
Ron nodded in understanding, gesturing to move forward.
Balk swiftly opened the small door and respectfully stepped aside.
As Ron passed through the door, he immediately felt a strong Energy Fluctuation, as if moving through an invisible barrier.
The surrounding scenery also changed instantly—the drab desolation of the outside world was replaced by strange multicolored lights.
The entire Shadow Area seemed shrouded in eternal twilight, illuminated by countless colored lights.
"Welcome to the Shadow Area, Wizard sir."
Ethan became more relaxed, as if returning to a familiar territory:
"With your clearance, you can go directly to the core area, where the unique ’Silent Market’ of the Shadow Area is located."
He glanced around, continuing his guiding duties:
"The trading mechanism there is entirely different from the outside world. Each trader has their own isolated cage, unable to sense Energy Fluctuations or conduct Spiritual Detection. All communications are carried out via the central Magic Plate. Safe and discreet, it’s an ideal place for rare item exchanges."
Ron’s gaze took in the panorama of the Shadow Area.
The architecture here was bizarre and varied, some resembling huge mushrooms, others like twisted bone towers.
He carefully observed the so-called "Silent Market."
Its dome was divided into dozens of hexagonal isolation zones, each sealed completely by a translucent Energy Barrier, making it almost impossible to see inside from the outside.
In the center stood a massive black Crystal Plate, with various texts and patterns flickering incessantly on its surface—countless traders’ demands and supply information.
This design was indeed cleverly devised, effectively preventing accidental occurrences due to Energy Fluctuation conflicts or Spiritual Contamination during trades.
For Abyssal Materials trading, such protective measures were by no means excessive.
Delving deeper, Ron noticed that these isolation zones were not the same size.
Some were obviously more spacious and luxurious, seemingly reserved for specific guest levels;
Others were small and simple, barely allowing one person to move.
This layered design reflected the internal hierarchy of the trading post, and Ron himself was evidently categorized as an upper-level visitor.
"Each trader is allocated a temporary isolation zone,"
Ethan continued to explain, speaking slightly faster to not waste time:
"Inside, they post their trading information or respond to others’ needs. All actual communications and exchanges are completed by the central system, ensuring neither party knows the other’s true identity, unless voluntarily disclosed."
At the reception stood a peculiarly designed Demonic Puppet.
Its body was constructed of silvery-white metal, embedded with countless tiny blue Crystals, and its head was a perfect sphere without any facial features.
Ron examined the intricate Energy Flow within it, noting some form of Artificial Intelligence structure inside.
"Honored guest, welcome to the Silent Market."
The Demonic Puppet spoke in a neutral tone, its voice resonating directly in Ron’s mind, completely bypassing his ears: