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After tossing a magic crystal to the girl, Leylin spoke in a slow, controlled voice, "I wish to enter a higher-leveled area!"
The little pink-haired girl hesitated for a moment before responding. "A higher-leveled area? You mean... the second level?"
"Of course!"
In the various Magus markets, children like her acted as guides, waiting for powerful customers to take them to the more concealed areas.
She glanced around cautiously before lowering her voice. "Since you know about the second level, then you should also understand that if you don't have an item worth over 1000 magic crystals or a guarantor, you will be denied entry."
Leylin let out a soft chuckle. "Lead the way."
The little girl raised her head, but she couldn't make out his expression under the shadow of his hood. She hesitated for a second, then nodded and turned around, leading him forward.
Leylin followed her through the winding paths of the market until they reached a deserted alley. Unlike the bustling streets outside, this place felt eerie and abandoned. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and mold.
The girl stopped at a corner of the wall, knelt down, and picked up a small stone. She knocked it three times against a specific brick.
Bang!
A deep rumbling sound echoed through the alley as the stone wall shifted, revealing a dark underground passage.
The girl turned to Leylin, her voice softer than before. "Here it is..."
Leylin observed her body language—she was clearly uneasy, almost afraid.
"Keep moving." he ordered.
The girl nodded and walked ahead, her small figure barely visible in the dim lighting of the tunnel. The passage was narrow, the walls cold and damp. They walked in silence for several minutes before reaching a large iron door.
Two men stood in front of it, dressed in blood-red robes. Both were Level 3 Acolytes, and according to the A.I. Chip's scan, they carried magic artifacts on them.
Leylin instinctively checked his own stats.
[Leylin Farlier: Knight. Level 2 Acolyte. Summon—Level 1 Acolyte, Level 2 Acolyte. Strength: 4.9, Agility: 5.3, Vitality: 4.4, Spiritual Force: 5.6. Magical Power: 5. Magical Power is in synchronization with Spiritual Force. Status: Healthy. ( Image)
Though he was not weak, he still had to be careful in this place.
The little girl approached the red-robed acolytes and whispered a few words. One of them nodded and looked at Leylin.
She returned to him and gave a polite courtesy. "Most respected Sir, I can only lead you this far."
Then, without another word, she turned and ran back into the darkness.
Leylin watched her go, mildly amused. It seems there is something in this premium market that terrifies her.
One of the acolytes stepped forward, his tone cold. "An item of proof, or an item worth at least 1000 magic crystals."
Leylin reached into his robe and tossed over a small sack. It landed with a dull thud in the acolyte's palm.
The man opened it, peered inside, and counted the contents before tossing it back. He then stepped aside and opened the iron door.
Leylin walked in unhurriedly.
This underground market was smaller than the one above. Only a single street ran through its center. Fewer people walked about, but every single one of them radiated a powerful aura.
There were almost no Level 1 Acolytes here, and even Level 2 Acolytes were rare. Most of the crowd consisted of Level 3 Acolytes, their bodies exuding strong energy fluctuations. Here, even official Magi were a common sight.
Leylin inhaled deeply and strolled forward.
Merchants set up shop inside stone huts, each filled with unique goods. Unlike the chaotic marketplace above, everything here was displayed in an orderly manner. High-grade potion ingredients, magical beasts' remains, and even low-tier magic artifacts were openly sold.
Leylin entered a shop marked with a potion sign and spent some time bargaining. By the time he stepped out, he had sold off the potions he had stockpiled and purchased several necessary ingredients.
Placing the items safely within his robes, Leylin felt pleased. He had made a decent profit, and his ingredients would allow him to brew even better potions.
As he strolled down the street, observing the rare treasures displayed in various shops, a loud commotion caught his attention.
The Slave Market
He turned toward the source of the noise and found himself staring at a large fenced area. A group of men in black robes stood near the entrance, loudly advertising their wares.
Inside the fenced area stood dozens of stark-naked slaves. Some had empty, soulless expressions, while others trembled in humiliation. They were forced to stand still while acolytes and Magi examined them like cattle.
Leylin's eyes gleamed with interest.
For the next three years, he planned to remain in Extreme Night City. Managing everything alone would be troublesome. Slaves would be useful.
As he approached, a burly man in a gold-trimmed black robe grinned and stepped forward. "Sir! Looking for a companion? We have all sorts! Warriors, servants, assistants! Or perhaps..." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "A bed slave?"
He gestured toward a separate enclosure where a group of beautiful women stood. Their bodies were flawless, and their expressions showed varying degrees of despair and anger.
"These are noblewomen," the trader continued with a sly grin. "High-class bloodlines. Their bodies are untouched. They make excellent playthings. And once you tire of them, well..." He laughed. "Use them for experiments! No one will care."
Leylin's expression remained calm. "Give me two bed slaves, but more importantly, I need guards—preferably trained knights. I also need assistants for my research."
The slaver clapped his hands. "Ah! A man of refined taste. Very well, allow me to show you our finest stock. Follow me please."
The trader pulled Leylin deeper into the market, "What you're looking for are premium slaves, and their price will be extraordinary. Of course, those who are able to enter here are customers with strength."
As he led Leylin further inside the enclosure. Rows of slaves were chained to the walls, each displaying different levels of strength and skill. Some had muscular builds, clearly warriors who had been captured in battle. Others had frail bodies but sharp eyes, likely scholars or failed acolytes.
Leylin even saw a group of Magi surrounding a few beastmen and marine species slaves, bidding over them.
The trader pulled Leylin to a large tent, and called a fatty over, "This is my friend, Dylan. Right, he has some premium goods."
The trader whispered to Dylan, and after a while, the trader laughed heartily as he walked away. Only then Dylan smiled towards Leylin and said, "Most respected guest, I have already understood your requirements! We just received a new batch of premium slaves, please follow me!"
Leylin observed the products displayed quietly, calculating his needs. For knights he carefully scanned their stats, only deciding to choose the best of the bunch.
I will need reliable guards to protect my residence.
As for assistants… I could use expendable ones for potion-making experiments.
The slaver stopped in front of a group of chained men. "These are former knights. Strong, disciplined, and obedient—after proper training, of course."
Leylin examined them. Their bodies still had traces of well-trained muscle, but their eyes held no defiance. They had been thoroughly broken.
"Good, What's the price?" Leylin asked.
"100 magic crystals each!" Dylan replied.
"I'll take four of them."
The slaver nodded, then moved toward another section. "Now, for assistants, I recommend these. Some were scribes, others were failed apprentices of Magi. They have basic knowledge and can be useful for alchemy or research."
Dylan explained a bit about the slaves, and then Leylin pointed at one of them. "Her."
Leylin pointed at beautiful blonde haired girls, her eyes were limpid and she wore a black cotton dress. According to Dylan's explanation, this maid received extensive training since she was young. She was more than capable to take on the role of an assistant for simple experiments.
She met Leylin's requirements rather well. Moreover, she had taken the Mandara Flower's essence, which could counteract the radiation from a Magus. This kept her looking youthful.
Finally, they reached the section with female slaves. The noblewomen looked at him with fear, their bodies trembling.
Leylin pointed to two of them at random. "These two."
The slaver grinned. "Excellent choices, my lord!"
Leylin turned to him. "What's the total price?"
The man quickly calculated. "Five hundred magic crystals."
Leylin nodded except for the knights, other slaves were quite cheap, the bed slaves costing only 10 magic crystals each, and even that price is because they were prominent noble once. But now their lands are lost, titles revoked, family destroyed and nothing left except for their body and beauty.
Leylin handed over the payment without hesitation.
A moment later, the slaves were unchained and brought to him. The knights stood silently, awaiting orders. The assistant maid kept her heads low, while the two noblewomen avoided his gaze, their bodies shivering.
Leylin simply glanced at them. "Follow me."
Ellinel Market did pretty well in designing their premium level. Customers can actually choose exits freely.
When Leylin and his servants appeared, they were no longer at the small village. They were at the outer walls of a city.
Leylin stood in the forest outside the small city before them, his cloak billowing slightly with the faint breeze. Before him knelt seven individuals, their heads bowed in reverence and fear.
"Master!" The knights, slaves, and the maid knelt and saluted in unison.
Leylin's gaze swept across them, his eyes cold and calculating. He had no interest in loyalty forged through respect; he sought obedience carved from fear and necessity.
"I will assign names to you now," he began. He pointed to the largest of the knights, a hulking man with a grim expression. "You shall be Greem."
The second knight, lean and agile, received the name Fraser.
The shortest of the group, whose eyes held a gleam, was named Faisal.
Lastly, the silver-haired knight, who bore an aura of quiet ruthlessness, was dubbed Mandal.
Turning to the female slaves, Leylin's gaze lingered briefly. The red-haired woman, whose beauty was marred only by her broken spirit, was named Rede. The black-haired one, who still retained a trace of defiance in her eyes, was Shera.
Finally, Leylin's gaze fell on the beautiful maid, her eyes lowered in submission. "You shall be Anna," he said.
"Thank you for granting us names, Master. We will loyally engrave it in our hearts!" the knights and slaves declared as they knelt and kissed the tip of Leylin's shoe.
Leylin waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. Stand."
The group rose to their feet, awaiting further orders.
"Greem, Faisal," Leylin addressed the two knights. "Go to the city and purchase a horse carriage. Buy provisions for the journey and clothes for everyone."
He tossed a black purse filled with magic crystals to Greem.
"Yes, Sir," Greem replied, bowing slightly.
Leylin's interjected. "Do not call me 'Sir' from now on. Address me as 'Young Master.'"
"We obey, Young Master," the seven replied in unison, their voices trembling slightly.
With that, Greem and Faisal left to complete their task. Leylin remained in the shadows, observing the marketplace from a distance. The sale of all his potions had left him with over 3000 magic crystals. His belongings were now reduced to a small knapsack, and he had burned all traces of his previous camp to avoid any pursuers.
After a while, the sound of rolling wheels echoed through the narrow streets. A pitch-black horse carriage, sturdy and devoid of noble insignia, approached. Two massive black horses pulled the carriage, their muscles rippling beneath their dark hide.
Greem and Faisal dismounted and bowed respectfully. "Young Master, the carriage has been secured. The cost—"
Leylin cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Anna will handle the finances from now on."
"Yes, Young Master," Anna replied obediently, taking the money purse from Greem with practiced care.
Leylin glanced at the carriage, satisfied with its simplicity. It was strong and inconspicuous, perfect for his journey. ( Image)
"Greem, Faisal, you will drive the carriage. Fraser and Mandal, you two guard the carriage. The rest of you, board immediately," Leylin ordered.
The three women hesitated for a moment before stepping inside the dark interior. Leylin followed, settling himself comfortably within the shadows.
As the heavy wooden door shut, Leylin leaned back and closed his eyes, his mind already plotting his next moves.
"Set course for Eastwoods Province," he commanded.
"Yes, Young Master!" Greem snapped the reins, and the carriage rumbled forward, the sound of hooves echoing through the empty streets.
---
Within the carriage, Leylin's presence was oppressive. Rede and Shera sat with their heads lowered, their bodies trembling slightly. Anna, seated beside them, maintained a composed expression, though her fingers trembled as she held the money purse.
Leylin's cold gaze swept over them. "From this moment forward, your lives belong to me. Your will is mine. Disobedience will be met with death. Understand?"
"Yes, Young Master," the three women replied in unison.
Leylin smirked. Fear was a powerful tool, but he needed more than mere submission. He needed unwavering loyalty, forged through fear and the promise of power.
Turning his attention to Anna, he said, "You will manage all financial matters and ensure the others follow my orders without question. If they falter, you will be the first to suffer."
Anna's face paled, but she nodded quickly. "I understand, Young Master."
Satisfied, Leylin closed his eyes once more.
Outside, Greem and Faisal guided the carriage through the winding paths leading out of Extreme Night Town. The city, filled with cutthroats and rogue Magi, faded into the distance as they entered the desolate forests that stretched toward Eastwoods Province.
The journey ahead would be long and perilous, but Leylin cared little. He was eager to shed his identity as a mere Acolyte. With his newfound subordinates and the power of darkness coursing through his veins, he was ready to ascend further in the world of Magi.
As the carriage rolled onward, Leylin's lips curled into a sinister smile.
His path to power had only just begun.