underground black market

After Two Hours

Scott walked alone down the main street, under a refreshing evening breeze.

His life had changed overnight. Not even two days had passed, yet an astonishing transformation had taken place!

An indescribable confidence crept into Scott's depths. Although he was sure he still couldn't compete with the true talents of the Blue Class, he knew that once he underwent a period of training, he would break into a whole new horizon—an endless expanse of sky and earth—where he would ruthlessly trample the Blue Class beneath his feet.

"If they behave well, improve their manners, act cautiously, and stop provoking me, I won't hesitate to deal with them generously, for I am a great person with immense magnanimity."

"But if they insist on stubbornly continuing down their reckless path, if they keep stumbling before the great artifact hunter, Scott Walton, their arrogant lives will be turned upside down!"

Unbeknownst to Scott, a chilling cold, like the aura of an ancient sorcerer fifty thousand years old, wrapped around his body.

He was preparing to return home for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, he would head to the underground black market to purchase counterfeit elixirs. But at that moment, he suddenly changed his mind and walked toward the elevator leading to the lower floors.

Only 147 days remained until the university entrance exams.

He had to strive every minute, seize every second, and make use of every moment to excel. Then, he would astonish the world in the entrance exams.

"Blue Class students always treat the Red Class as if they were garbage. But if this 'garbage' suddenly scored higher than them in the entrance exams, what would that make them?"

Every major city in the Republic had an underground Ghost Market—a unique scene belonging to the common social class.

In the era of the Glory Sorcerer, peace was not necessarily guaranteed. There were benevolent sorcerers and forbidden spellcasters, humans and demons. The conflicts between various power factions caused constant turmoil. The Federal Republic had also been at war for a long time.

Twelve thousand feet of earth had been excavated at every strategic magical center in the Republic during its initial construction. Shelters, air raid bunkers, sewer networks, and ventilation wells had been built.

All underground facilities were interconnected, forming a tangled, complex network that created a dark fortress resembling a labyrinth. The underground city stored vast amounts of food, fresh water, and other life necessities. Mana had been used to preserve and seal these supplies, keeping them in pristine condition forever.

In the worst-case scenario, even if demons overran and occupied the surface, humanity could still defend itself by retreating into the underground fortress. The diverse supplies were enough for millions of people to survive for at least a decade.

The underground arsenal held the most secretive weapons, from ancient artifacts to flying swords, capable of mobilizing a million soldiers in an instant for a counterattack. They waited for their moment.

However, at that time, humanity was enjoying its golden years of prosperity. The Federal Republic continued to lead and expand its territories for centuries. Through strategic military campaigns, they pierced mountains and toppled fortresses. The once-prevalent military presence of ancient times gradually faded as territorial borders turned into remote regions. Thus, the underground fortress also unintentionally lost its military significance.

No one was sure when it all began, but many members of the lower class slowly migrated into the empty underground space, living and multiplying in great numbers beneath the surface.

Perhaps, at first, they were forced underground due to the combined pressures of skyrocketing housing prices and the high cost of living on the surface. But they soon discovered that the underground world's facilities were fully intact, with vast open spaces. It was far better than the slum housing on the surface.

In this way, the population of the underground grew. After thousands of years of development, the underworld had already flourished. Though it was inferior in some ways, its noise and activity far surpassed that of the prosperous surface world.

This place teetered on the edge of the law, existing in a gray zone; it had its own social system and unique ethics.

Simply put, black market goods were somewhat untraceable. The residential environments were of poor quality. There were more thieves and pickpockets. The food was a bit unhygienic.

However, if one could overlook these relatively minor inconveniences, they would be able to enjoy an incomparably low cost of living and experience countless cultures and customs completely different from those of the surface world.

"Bang! Bang!" The old mana-powered elevator shook violently, producing rhythmic clanking sounds as it descended hundreds of meters underground toward the Ghost Market.

The air changed, carrying a trace of dust mixed lightly with the cheap perfume of the people.

Scott took a deep breath. It was like a fish returning to water after being stranded for too long. His body felt revitalized.

He enjoyed mingling in the underground black market far more than in the Upper North Side. If it weren't for the convenience of being close to the Artifact Graveyard for treasure hunting, he would have definitely chosen to rent an apartment directly in the underground black market. The rent was also 30% cheaper.

After ten minutes, the mana-infused elevator came to a stop at the market entrance, where the noise of the bustling crowd echoed.

Li Yao gripped the rusty iron fence tightly and pulled it open with an ear-piercing screech. A sharp, burnt smell hit his face.

All underground black markets had a similar structure, differing only slightly. Since they were initially built according to military fortification rules, areas were designated by numbers.

Scott entered Area No. 51.

This was a well-known street for culinary delights. Its ingredients had a suspicious history, processed through bizarre and unexpected methods, transformed by culinary arts into famous ghostly foods and drinks. Their taste was enough to make people swallow their tongues—provided they didn't dwell too much on the manufacturing process.

It was said that a large number of sorcerers couldn't resist ghost food and drinks. Many often changed their attire just to come and eat as they pleased.

Even though Scott had eaten to his fill at a luxurious buffet just two hours ago, he still moved toward the food stalls. He bought eight sausages and stood before the vendor, staring in satisfaction.

He finished all eight sausages, wiped his mouth, feeling completely full, and then walked calmly and unhurriedly toward the public restroom at the corner of the food street.