The market of Gellerg City boasted an overwhelming scale compared to any other city.
Advanced production technology and business-friendly policies were cited as reasons, but in reality, unrestricted trade accounted for the largest share.
There was nothing that couldn't be traded in Gellerg City.
In a corrupt city eroded by capital, circumventing legal regulations was an easy task.
It was to the point where the saying, "If you can't find sothing, bla your own wallet," was considered a golden rule.
The exchange that represented the reality of such a city was the black market.
On the surface, it professed to be a normal market, but it was a hotbed of illegality that engaged in back-alley deals.
Its scale also varied greatly, and the huge black market called the Auction had sales and operating systems comparable to a corporation.
'So that's why the Mage Tower's traitor is trying to sell the Blade Knuckle.'
Most of the items put up for auction are stolen goods.
Adding the Mage Tower's stolen goods would be like adding a drop of water to the ocean.
'Morally, it should be condemned, but I also benefited a lot.'
Among the players, there were few who were not auction users.
A versatile shop where you could find everything was so attractive that it was a loss to pass by.
'It's about ti I paid a visit.'
I had escaped the period where I could barely take care of myself and now had so spare money.
The fact that I ca for a request was unusual, but using it was possible.
As they say, might as well pick the mulberry leaves while you're at it. A sparrow couldn't just pass by a mill.
"It's been a while here too."
District 4, a deep place in the entertainnt district of Gellerg City.
Colin, who was with , repeatedly inhaled and exhaled with an emotional expression.
"This damp sll, this scenery full of desire. I like this neighborhood because it never changes no matter when I visit."
"Isn't District 4 a disgusting place for a noble mber of the Mage Tower?"
"It would be for a mber of the Mage Tower. But for a wanderer's friend, isn't it all about alcohol, gambling, and won? I used to co here quite often."
Colin laughed proudly.
It was a secret story that would have gotten his head bashed in if the elders of the Mage Tower had heard it.
"Just don't be a bad influence on Sage."
"Of course, I don't share such personal matters either."
"If it were that child, she would nag you until your ears fell off."
"...Ahem, I'll be careful again."
He seed to be shuddering, having been tornted a lot in the past.
"Let's go in."
Colin tapped my shoulder and led the way.
It was the most splendid building even among the streets with dazzling neon signs.
A pollution of brilliant light that was dazzling even in broad daylight.
It resembled the splendid casinos of the West that I had only seen in photos.
It was the landmark of District 4 and the largest and greatest black market, the Auction.
"Welco to our establishnt."
Under the welcoming greetings of the staff, all sorts of people ca and went through the main entrance.
As long as one was not clearly shabbily dressed, there were no entry restrictions.
This was because, on the surface, it professed to be a legal market.
The inside was even more splendid than the outside.
A chandelier that grandly decorated the lobby ceiling.
A sweet scent that made one feel excited wafted through the air.
The lights reflected on the marble shone golden, and a stream of water gushed from a huge fountain like a waterfall.
A country bumpkin who had just co to the city would have been dizzy.
Fortunately, I had graduated from that stage thanks to my nurous play experiences.
"...As expected, you're not surprised. You weren't from a noble family of low rank, were you?"
"…?"
"Ahem, it's nothing."
Colin muttered so incomprehensible nonsense and then found a spot in a corner of the building.
"Let's review the plan before we start the operation."
As he snapped his fingers, I felt a weight settle on the surrounding atmosphere.
A simple barrier, a basic spell to block eavesdropping.
I recited the plan we had discussed before leaving.
"The auction where the traitor is expected to put up his item is the day after tomorrow. If we catch the transaction on the spot and recover the item, the request will end cleanly."
It was easy to say.
If things had gone according to plan in reality, the Mage Tower would not have made a request to .
"The tracking magic, is it definitely working?"
"Of course, don't worry, it's already reacting. It's definitely around here. He'll have to release the seal when he hands over the item to the organizers, so as long as we don't miss the timing, we'll be fine."
A tracking magic was cast on the Blade Knuckle.
It was a high-level spell for a re traitor to dispel.
He had temporarily dealt with it with a mana control seal.
But a temporary asure was a temporary asure.
He had to release the seal during the transaction to ensure there were no defects.
That was the timing we were aiming for.
To recover the item when it was not yet under the Auction's jurisdiction, a quick movent that didn't miss the opportunity was important.
"It's a relief that he didn't hand over the item early as expected."
"It ans he can't trust the security of the dirty black market. Tsk, tsk, for a traitor, he couldn't let go of the Mage Tower's old-fashioned ways."
"It's a stroke of luck for us. If he had already handed over the item to the black market, the only way to recover it would be to participate in the auction."
The Auction doesn't ask for the origin of the stolen goods.
In other words, it was proof that they could protect it no matter who tried to interfere.
It wasn't baseless confidence.
As proof, even the Mage Tower hesitated to throw its weight around at the Auction.
'The owner of the Auction has not been revealed.'
A lawless zone abandoned even by the city governnt.
It was an organization that maintained the largest black market there and hid its identity until the end.
Their capabilities were taken into account, and they were treated as a sanctuary that should not be touched unless absolutely necessary.
"So for today and tomorrow, let's just do so reconnaissance. The possibility of that bastard foolishly showing himself is slim, but you never know."
It was a way of saying to prepare for the one in a million chance.
...But even if it was wrapped in prudence, the fishy sll couldn't be hidden.
I subtly brought it up.
"I heard the Auction's gambling den is that luxurious, is it true?"
"Of course, of course! How much did I lose there! This ti, I'll definitely get my money back...!"
"..."
At my sharp glare, Colin subtly trailed off.
"...Ahem, don't misunderstand. Do you think I would have suggested coming early just to play with money?"
"I didn't say anything."
"Ahem, this is all part of the plan. If he's putting the artifact up for auction, it ans he's desperate for money. Wouldn't it be hard to resist the temptation?"
It was common for people in bad situations to be blinded by the prospect of a windfall.
If we were aiming for a pre-emptive arrest, it was more rational than just looking around the venue.
"I'm not blaming you."
"Then?"
"I was interested too."
I had received an advance from the Mage Tower, but it wasn't enough to participate in the auction.
I wasn't planning on taking out a loan, so I had to earn the rest myself.
At my interest, Colin's expression turned uncomfortable.
"It's all good, but it's a bit much to bring a novice to a gambling den..."
"You don't have to worry."
I said with a confident tone.
And for good reason.
"I'll earn, not lose."
I had been to a gambling den far more tis than he, who was called a wanderer.
***
The auction house was connected to a secluded passage inside the building.
"This is the catalog for today's auction."
After confirming our identities and entering, we were able to check the list of items for auction from a staff mber.
It wasn't a good day, so there were no particularly attractive items.
On the contrary, the auction catalog for the next day, which we received after slipping so money, was the main event.
'Elixir.'
It was a plant that grew in the barren land with mana from birth, just like a person.
It was a contrast to the general plants that were threatened with survival due to the absence of spirits.
'If a person eats it, they can absorb the mana and convert it into magic power. It's the most necessary item for Sage, who lacks magic power.'
This situation was the sa for others.
Elixirs were a highly competitive product.
Since it was an auction where the price was relatively inflated, I was anxious with my current assets.
'I have to make a big score.'
The users of the gambling den were almost the sa as the attendees of the auction house.
I could even increase my assets by taking the other party's assets, so it was killing two birds with one stone.
A golden future unfolded in my mind.
On the contrary, Colin was still restless.
"Hey, think again. If it's your first ti, I can teach you a little, so just watch today..."
"It's okay, go about your business."
"No, you'll get hurt if you're so conceited."
Colin beat his chest in frustration.
When he beat his chest, it sounded like a drum.
"Ugh, I'd rather die than suffer. I don't know what will happen if you co crying to later."
When I didn't back down, Colin gave up worrying about and opened the door to the gambling den.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
In the dark space, the full-color flashing lights made my eyes dizzy.
My heart pounded to the fast rhythm of the music that hit my eardrums.
It was an atmosphere that stimulated the raw instincts that had been hidden.
"Damn! It was so close!"
"Hahaha! Too bad!"
"Bring more chips!"
Their clothes were neat, but it was no different from a marketplace.
It seed they didn't restrain people from raising their voices to a certain extent.
'That way, they'll get drunk on the atmosphere and pour money without realizing their losses.'
This was also a strategy.
Even players who went to the gambling den often ended up returning empty-handed, contrary to their initial plans.
"Then let's enjoy ourselves first."
Colin found his place as naturally as if he had returned ho.
At first, he said he ca to find the traitor, but his true intentions ca out.
I didn't do the uncool thing of pointing it out publicly.
Because I also ca to make money.
"Hmm..."
I walked around slowly and checked the gas.
Roulette, cards, slots, dice, etc.
They were the typical gambling gas I rembered.
'If I just jump in, I'll lose more than I earn.'
The gas in a gambling den were structurally advantageous to the dealer by default.
Unless you were really lucky, you were bound to lose in the long run.
'And...'
I knew the secret of this place.
'The dealers are all using tricks.'
It wasn't cheating.
It was a world where you didn't know where a monster that surpassed a superhuman would pop out.
If a cheater could deceive even them, they would be playing in the big leagues instead of being a dealer.
That's why it was a trick.
'A petty trick using a luck-enhancing artifact.'
It was a way to increase the dealer's chances of winning without cheating.
Since it didn't guarantee an unconditional victory, the possibility of a big win for the user still existed.
Thanks to that, unlike other establishnts where incidents were constant, disputes were extrely rare.
'There are two standard strategies.'
First, arming with artifacts.
It was a way to overwhelm a small luck with the superposition of a bigger luck.
It was a stable thod, but it was difficult to realize as there was no way to procure artifacts right away.
Second, causing a scene.
It was a way to reveal the trick and completely overturn the ga.
But this was aid at disrupting the business, not making money.
As a result, not only would the gambling den disappear, but you would also incur the grudge of the gang behind the Auction.
It was a thod that should be avoided at all costs.
'That's what the standard strategies are.'
Of course, there were also strategies that were considered heretical.
Personally, I preferred this one.
'You respond to a trick with a scam.'
A cardsharp's sleight of hand that even the eyes of monsters couldn't see.
'Of course, with this body, the physical ability isn't there.'
It wouldn't be , but another kid.
Who?
Twinkle, twinkle!
The tenant spirit who had recently been forced to learn the value of labor.
***
Unlike what is depicted in the dia, the way to make big money in a gambling den is not a fierce battle of wits with the dealer.
When you look at it, it's dirty, simple, and petty.
It's about finding a sucker.
I carefully scanned each ga table.
I was confident in any ga, but it was more efficient to fleece one guy.
"Damn it! I lost again!"
"Too bad."
I spotted my target when I was halfway around the venue.
I stopped in my tracks at the sudden scream-like shout.
The attention of the crowd was abnormally focused on him, to be dismissed as just one of the many ruined people scattered around.
"How much has that guy lost now?"
"Just what I counted is over ten million."
"He hasn't won a single ga all this ti? What terrible luck."
Every single thing they whispered was outrageous.
He had lost over ten million.
It was a huge sum that would make most people's hands tremble.
"I'll let you off if you confess now. You cheated, didn't you?"
"How could I deceive all the sharp-eyed custors? If I had pulled a trick, it would have been exposed long ago."
"Then what, are you saying I'm a fucking sucker?"
"...Would you like to play another ga?"
"Look at you changing the subject, you bastard."
The man slamd his fist on the table and stood up.
It was a boisterous action that contrasted with his gentle voice.
The staff overlooked the man's actions, which should have gotten him kicked out long ago, as they had made money.
"Damn it, next ga!"
Even after losing so much, the man moved with a mountain of chips still piled up.
That was now in the realm of stubbornness.
Even if soone tried to stop him, he wouldn't be able to pull out, feeling it was a waste of what he had lost so far.
'A perfect target.'
I licked my lips with my tongue.
If I just fleeced that guy, I would more than achieve my target amount.
'The next ga is... roulette, I see.'
A representative ga of a casino.
A ga where you guess the number where a steel ball stops after being dropped on a roulette wheel.
'I should step in.'
It was also perfect for pulling a trick.
I pushed through the crowd and stood next the man.
The man paid no attention to who was next to him.
His bloodshot, greedy eyes were fixed on the table.
I glanced at the man's gaze and turned away, then turned back in surprise.
'...What the hell.'
The man's gaze must have been quite intense, as he turned to look at .
As I faced him directly, I beca even more certain.
'Why is this bastard here?'
It was a face I knew.
And definitely not in a good way.
(End of Chapter)
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