Ch.24 The Girl’s Grand Ambition
Luo Nan followed at the end of the line, walking through the long stone cavern corridor.
The winding, twisting corridor was filled with moisture, and stalactites overhead dripped beads of water with a pitter-patter sound.
“The path is quite long.”
Silently calculating the distance traveled since entering the basent, Luo Nan estimated his current location.
“Are we already nearing the edge of the Lune River?”
Recalling the river that split the Imperial Capital in two, Luo Nan couldn’t help but compare it to the description of the Whisper Market in ‘The Shining Myriad Trails’—
The Whisper Market, a ‘free market’ built on the periphery of the ruins of the old underground city. Here, you can purchase all kinds of goods from across the entire continent—whether it’s ‘Snow Wolf Maids’ produced within the northern Rosian Empire or ‘rmaid Songstresses’ from the southern Landheart Sea. As long as you have money, they will all kneel at your feet.
Of course, besides ‘long-term labor contracts’, the Whisper Market also offers ‘discounted goods’ from all corners of the world.
That is, ‘smuggled goods’ not recorded by customs and not normally taxed.
Although the ‘scales from the corner of a rmaid’s eye’ Luo Nan needed could be purchased through normal channels, as the mansion’s caretaker had said, this supernatural material produced by the rfolk of the Landheart Sea required over a month to transport from Linxia Bay to Opalia, passing through various checkpoints and procedures.
Even using the Duke’s mansion’s internal special channels, it would still take half a month.
But Luo Nan couldn’t wait that long.
The plot point of ‘collusion with demons’ was imminent, and ‘her’ threat echoed in his ears—Luo Nan wished he could obtain the scales right now, imdiately, without delay.
“Please halt.”
At the end of the stone cavern corridor, a gray-black iron door completely blocked everyone’s path.
A tall ‘guard’, wearing a gargoyle mask, appeared in everyone’s sight.
“Please present your identification.”
As the largest ‘free market’ in Opalia’s lower district, the Whisper Market naturally wasn’t a place where just anyone could enter.
It operated on an ‘invitation-only mbership system’—only those possessing mbership cards could enter the market.
Luo Nan looked at the guard’s bulging, oversized robe and was certain that beneath it lay high-powered magic weapons. If anyone attempted to force their way in…
“Please present your mbership card.”
When it was Luo Nan’s turn, the guard asked politely.
mbers of the Whisper Market ca from all corners of the world—who knew which mask concealed a third-tier or even fourth-tier powerhouse, or soone the market couldn’t afford to offend? Thus, the guard’s manners were extrely courteous.
“A mbership card?… I don’t have one.”
As an upper-district noble, to be honest, Luo Nan didn’t even know what the ‘Whisper Market’ was before awakening his past mories, so naturally, he didn’t possess their mbership card.
“Hmm?”
Hearing Luo Nan’s reply, the guard’s robe shifted slightly, and beneath it seed to co the sound of tal clinking and a gun being cocked.
“However, I have this.”
Saying this, Luo Nan pulled out his own unlimited-credit black gold card. The card’s holographic coating shimred like flowing gold under the dim light, displaying to everyone present the status and wealth of its owner.
It must be known that only the Imperial National Bank had the authority to issue ‘black gold’ tier credit cards, and the annual number of ‘black gold’ cards was limited. When reviewing applications for ‘black gold’ cards, the bank considered wealth rely one unimportant factor among many—identity, status, strength, and other elents were also comprehensively evaluated.
“This is… black gold?”
Clearly, the guard knew his stuff—he imdiately recognized the black gold credit card in Luo Nan’s hand. His previously sharpened deanor instantly turned respectful. “Esteed guest, since you possess black gold status, the doors of the Whisper Market naturally open for you.”
With that, he bowed deeply to Luo Nan, hesitated for a mont, then continued, “If you are interested, the Whisper Market will grant you the status of VIP mber. Any goods you purchase in the market will permanently enjoy an 8.8% discount.”
As an employee of the Whisper Market, the guard desperately wished to introduce a black gold credit card holder as a market mber.
If this esteed gentleman could casually ntion his na during mbership registration, the guard could use this opportunity to be promoted to a higher position, rather than remaining a miserable doorman.
“Hmm, I’ll consider it.”
“Whisper Market, Guard No. 23, Polat, honored to serve you!”
Only after Luo Nan responded did Guard Polat straighten his body, then personally pushed open the market gate for Luo Nan.
He watched until Luo Nan’s figure completely disappeared inside the gate before turning around to continue his work.
“Next.”
“Here’s my ID.”
Anya, her face wrapped in white cloth, skillfully pulled out her market junior mbership card and handed it to the guard.
“Hmm, verified as authentic. Go in.”
Polat’s voice was utterly flat. He glanced casually at Anya’s ID, returned it, and though his tone wasn’t outright hostile, the coldness was unmistakable.
He knew how to judge people by their status—those holding only junior mbership cards likely had little purchasing power.
“Hey, what’s your attitude? Discriminating, huh?”
Normally, she wouldn’t care about the guard’s cold attitude, but after seeing how obsequiously this guy fawned over the golden crow-beak mask earlier, she imdiately felt discriminated against!
“That person has a black gold card—do you?”
“Black gold card? What’s that?”
Seeing this cloth-faced person’s ignorant expression, Polat couldn’t be bothered to argue, so he chose to ignore her. “Next!”
“Damn it!”
Knowing she’d gotten nowhere, Anya angrily kicked the market’s gray-black iron door and swiftly left with a loud clang.
“They talk about a free market and equal treatnt, but I see they haven’t changed their essence of bullying the weak and fearing the strong!”
Clutching her junior mbership card, the girl felt a stifled anger building in her chest.
“Hmph… Fine, those dog-eyed, status-obsessed bastards—once I obtain the scales and break through to the second tier using that thod, achieving peerless strength within my tier and even capable of fighting beyond my tier, I’ll make everyone who looked down on
regret it!”
“Especially that detestable Luo Nan von dillion!”
“Hey, what are you blocking the doorway for? Planning to collect tolls?”
Just as Anya was transforming her grief and anger into strength, full of ambition, she heard an impatient voice from behind.
The girl then realized she’d been standing in the center of the corridor behind the door for quite a while, and people entering the market had already gathered behind her.
“Ah, no, sorry.”
Knowing she was in the wrong, the girl quickly stepped aside and once again envisioned in her mind the beautiful scene after breaking through to the second tier.
“I rember—if I can beco second tier before school starts, I’ll get priority dormitory selection, tuition waivers, and all sorts of cultivation subsidies, right?”
“Mm, I must obtain the ‘scales from the corner of a rmaid’s eye’—no one can stop , no one!”
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