Global Market

The four-wheeled carriage rolled steadily toward its new destination, gradually leaving behind the commoners' district and entering the realm of the wealthy.

Jay, peering out the window, could clearly witness the transformation unfolding before his eyes. The streets grew cleaner, the chaotic sea of pedestrians thinned into polite clusters, and the tangled mess of overhead wires vanished entirely. Even the design of the streetlamps shifted—sleeker, more elegant—befitting the affluent surroundings.

As the carriage continued its journey, the poorly dressed crowds were replaced by well-groomed men and women—each with deep pockets, round bellies, and, in the case of the men, significantly less hair. The women, meanwhile, showcased extravagant fashion: costly makeup, glimmering accessories… and, of course, far less character.

Eventually, the carriage halted in front of a building—no, not a building… a castle. A structure so grand it left Jay utterly speechless.

"Wh-what is this place? Is this the Hall of Elders?" Jay blurted out in disbelief.

He wasn't entirely mistaken. Anyone seeing such majestic marble architecture for the first time would likely assume the same. The Hall of Elders wasn't just a structure of stone and artistry—it was a cornerstone of the Empire's history. The cradle where monumental decisions had been forged, and where many more would follow. It was the pride of the capital, the fortress of the Lord of the Empire.

"Hahaha… If this amazes you, you might just faint when you actually see the real Hall of Elders," Luke chuckled, clearly entertained by Jay's reaction.

"Then what is this place?" Jin asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"Oh, of course—this is the Global Market of Awakened," Luke replied matter-of-factly. "You'll find any mystical item you can imagine here."

"This is the Global Market?" Jay exclaimed, his excitement erupting like a geyser.

'Any item, huh…' Jin sank into silent thought.

For someone in his current condition—a Deep Sleep state—he was barely different from a Hollow. But with the right enchanted item, something suitable, perhaps he could bridge the gap. At least temporarily.

It wasn't a flawless plan, but it was better than doing nothing.

'The real question was… what item would help most?'

"Jin? Jin, come on! Time to go!" Jay called out, giving Jin a little shake to break him from his thoughts.

"Ah—yeah…"

Snapping back to reality, Jin realized he was the only one still sitting inside the carriage. The others had already stepped out. A staff member, holding the carriage door open, stared at him blankly.

"Oh… right."

As he stepped out, his gaze took in the architectural marvel around him. It wasn't particularly stunning—not to someone like him, at least. Unlike the sleek modern design of the Agency Office, this place had a more archaic charm. He had seen enough by now not to be easily impressed.

He followed the group. Jay dashed ahead, wide-eyed and buzzing with excitement. Mr. Nell trailed behind him, worried that the countryside bumpkin might get lost in a place like this. Luke strolled calmly, every step laced with the elegance of nobility.

"Hmph…"

For some strange reason, Jin felt a faint wave of relief wash over his heart.

***

"Come on, Jin, hurry! Luke, look! You can even see multiple floors from here!" Jay shouted with enthusiasm.

"Don't act like an idiot. People are watching," Luke muttered, hurrying toward Jay in visible embarrassment.

Mr. Nell adjusted his hat and called everyone to stop for a moment. Once they gathered, he handed each of them a small leather pouch.

Inside were neatly folded bills and coins—the same currency Jin had once received from Albedo. Back then, he hadn't understood their value. But after poring through several finance books, he now held a more refined grasp of the currency system—possibly even more than the average citizen.

Opening his pouch, he counted a total of 12 ruls: two five-rul notes and one two-rul note, along with one fifty-rals coin and two ten-rals coins. No copper.

Closing the pouch, Jin reviewed the currency system mentally:

Copper was the lowest denomination—issued in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, and 100. A bag of rice cost around 52 copper. A humble breakfast at a roadside eatery? About 30 to 40 copper.

It was also the daily wage of the working poor. Male laborers earned 60 copper per day, women 45, and children just 25.

266 copper coins made 1 ral. Rals also existed in coins, but were more polished, aesthetically pleasing, and bore intricate artwork depending on their value.

The middle class earned in rals, typically on a weekly basis. Government employees, however, received monthly salaries.

Ral was the most commonly circulated currency—available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 denominations, as well as half-rals and quarter-rals.

166 rals equaled 1 rul, the highest standard denomination. Rare among commoners, ruls were generally reserved for luxury purchases and elite transactions. Yet, despite their rarity in the hands of the people, ruls accounted for the largest share in high-value exchanges.

And now, Jin held 12 of them.

He wondered just how much he could extract from this sum. Then again, he wasn't here to buy food or trinkets.

He was here for enchanted artifacts.

Moving toward the second floor—where the true market began—they ascended one of the many staircases leading upward.

"Alright, everyone, don't act like fools up there," Mr. Nell warned sharply, his tone low but firm. "This entire district is crawling with guards. And their eyes never leave the Awakened."

"But all the guards I saw were Hollows," Jin said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Hey, hey now! You can't say that out loud!" Luke stepped in quickly, raising a hand to stop Jin. "Don't you know it's illegal to call ordinary people that?"

"Oh? What does that mean?" Jay asked, his embarrassment forgotten—swept away by fresh excitement. In fact, he seemed a little too thrilled. But no one was paying much attention, so he wasn't flustered just yet. And something about Mr. Nell's presence felt oddly familiar to him.

"Oh, I should have mentioned this earlier," Mr. Nell said, removing his hat as if in belated apology.

"Umm… did I say something wrong?" Jay asked, scratching his head.

"Well… yes. It is a crime to call them that."

That—meaning Hollows. A term used in certain noble conversation to describe non-Awakened humans. A label born from those with the knowledge of souls.

Jin understood immediately.

"I see. Then I shall refrain from using that word again."

"Yes, that would be for the best," Luke sighed, visibly relieved.

***

Upon reaching the second floor, the true market finally revealed itself.

The layout was different from below—numerous shops surrounded a spacious open area, each stall seamlessly connected to the center like branches sprouting from a tree.

Every shop displayed spiritual items, some glowing faintly with suppressed energy, others concealed behind veils and sigils. Yet, to Jin, the so-called Global Market felt… lacking. The quantity and variety didn't live up to the name. Then again, it wasn't surprising—there simply weren't enough Awakened in the general population for such a market to flourish in just one area.

"Alright, kids, I'll be waiting over there. Come find me when you're done," Mr. Nell said, already strolling toward a nearby tea stall with the air of a man too old to babysit.

Luke and Jay began whispering excitedly, heads close like children plotting a grand adventure in their neighborhood playground. Jin, of course, wasn't included. Not that anyone even attempted to include him. Perhaps they knew better—after all, a person without visible emotions hardly fit into the idea of 'fun.'

Not that Jin minded. In fact, he had already slipped away before they could think to ask.

He didn't understand such behavior—he found it a complete waste of time.

On his own, Jin started moving from shop to shop, scanning every item carefully. But soon, he encountered a serious problem.

Without access to spiritual energy, he couldn't sense or identify which items were truly spiritual and which were mere decoration.

After several frustrating attempts, he reluctantly decided to relocate Luke and Jay—only to find them nowhere in sight.

During his aimless search, he eventually found himself standing in front of a small stall. Not a proper shop, but a crude setup beneath a striped canopy. An old man stood behind it, waving enthusiastically with a wide grin plastered across his wrinkled face.

With Luke and Jay gone, Jin figured taking a short break was the responsible choice—especially considering how his current human body was already beginning to breathe heavily from a bit of exertion.

He was certain the body Albedo gave him held latent abilities, but in his Deep Sleep state, none of them were accessible.

So, he stopped.

The old man, still grinning, leaned forward and said softly, "So, young man, looking for a love potion, are you? Don't worry—I have just the thing to make your sweetheart fall head over heels for you."

Hearing that, even Jin—truly emotionless—couldn't help but raise an internal eyebrow. How indecent… at his age. Then again, perhaps the old man wasn't actually old. Maybe he was a young man using an aging artifact… or even a woman. That was possible, too.

"No love items. Something for killing," Jin said coldly.

"Oh-ho, I see. A broken heart, is it? Then take a look at these," the old man cackled, gesturing to a tray filled with ominous-looking trinkets. "Deadly little beauties. Perfect for eliminating love rivals."

Jin ignored the perverted tone and turned his attention to the items on display.

Among the various pieces, a short dagger caught his eye. It was small, the blade forged from dark steel, etched with strange graffiti-like symbols that pulsed faintly under the shade.

"What about this one?" Jin asked, pointing to the dagger.

"Ah… oh… that one." The old man's expression grew complicated. He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "That's a no-go, my friend."

"Why not?"

"Well… you see, that one's not exactly… for men," the old man said, leaning even closer and whispering the last word with a conspiratorial wink.

Jin remained silent, his eyes still locked on the weapon.

"Why is that?"

The old man sighed dramatically.

"Ah, you rascal—you really want to make me say it, don't you?"

Then, after glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he leaned in again and whispered:

"That dagger's cursed. Anyone who uses it will be turned into… neither man nor woman."