After deciding on their next course of action, Modret followed the direction Celine had given him toward the black market.

It took a little while to get there, but before long they arrived at a large tree by the roadside. Strange scribbles and engravings covered its bark, twisting around like a secret language.

Modret stared at it with curiosity. 'Space ability... This is the first time I'm seeing something like that,' he thought, genuinely surprised.

Even he didn't possess any space-related abilities, so he could instantly tell how rare this was.

Aside from the engravings, there was nothing remarkable about the tree. To a passerby, it would look completely ordinary, but Modret knew better.

He turned to Axel. "Did you bring it?"

Axel nodded and handed him a black mask.

According to Celine, anyone heading into the black market needed to hide their identity—there was always a chance of being targeted afterward.

Modret retrieved the mask and slipped it over his face. The black cloth draped behind to cover his hair, while the mask itself obscured his features, leaving only his eyes visible.

'So this is how the Illuminati must feel wearing masks?' Modret mused to himself with a faint smirk.

Axel followed suit, pulling his own mask into place. It looked just as plain and loose as Modret's.

After that brief preparation, both men suppressed their auras slightly. Then Modret stretched his hand toward the tree.

The bark rippled and twisted violently, pulling him in with a strong suction. Axel took a quick look around before doing the same, disappearing right after.

A moment later, Modret felt his entire perception twist. When it steadied, he found himself standing in a completely different place.

The air was dense, filled with murmurs, chatter, and the faint sound of mana mana being used.

Merchants lined the area, displaying treasures of every kind—rare herbs, glowing stones, and strange artifacts with flickering runes.

A few meters away, a man wearing a red mask escorted more than fifteen women into a side room. Most of them had stunning figures, and the exposed skin beneath their thin clothes could make one's blood run hot.

'Slave traders...' Modret frowned but didn't move.

He simply observed in silence, his gaze steady and cold.

He then looked around, unsure of what to do next.

Just then, a fat man with a chubby build approached. On his face was a green mask shaped like a dog's muzzle.

As he reached them, his small eyes lit up with delight.

"Dear friends, what brings you here? I trust it must be something important," the man said in an overly friendly tone. "With just a few celestial stones, I can guide you anywhere in this black market."

Modret's eyes drifted toward the endless rows of buildings stretching through the market.

'It's truly a big place,' he thought. Not wanting to wander aimlessly, he turned back to the man.

"Isn't your price a bit unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable?" The man gasped dramatically. "Let me tell you, I'm the best guide in this entire black mark—"

He stopped mid-sentence when he realized Modret and Axel had already started walking away, completely ignoring him.

"Err, wait! Five celestial stones?"

No response.

"Three? Two? Erm... a thousand pieces of gold?"

At that, Modret paused mid-step.

"Now we can talk."

All the color drained from the man's face beneath his mask. Gritting his teeth, he reluctantly nodded and began leading the way.

In the end, it was still better than earning nothing.

"I'm looking for a place to obtain information," Modret said calmly as they walked.

The man hesitated slightly. "What level of information are you looking for? There are different grades, you know. If it's about someone of high standing, it'll probably be grade three or above."

"I'm looking for information on a noble family," Modret replied, his tone vague but steady.

At the mention of 'noble family,' the man's composure faltered.

"That's grade four," he said after a short pause.

"I see. What's the price range for obtaining information there?" Modret asked, raising a brow.

"I don't know for sure," the man admitted. "Should be tens of thousands of celestial stones. Maybe they'll take mana stones, but that's unlikely."

"Mana stones? Celestial stones?" Modret echoed, his curiosity piqued.

The man leaned closer, lowering his voice as though afraid someone might overhear.

"Mana stones help you absorb mana faster—it's a common resource. But celestial stones... they're different. They come from the creatures within Celestial Descent. Sources say those stones can grant extraordinary strength. That's why most people prefer them over mana stones."

"I see." Modret nodded slightly, thoughtful.

A way to obtain extraordinary strength through celestial stones? The idea intrigued him.

He frowned faintly but dismissed the thought, focusing back on the path ahead.

They continued walking, passing by merchants shouting out prices and waving goods they deemed valuable.

Gradually, the bustling crowd grew thinner as they entered an alleyway. The air here was slightly heavier.

The noise of the market faded behind them, replaced by the echo of their footsteps.

Finally, they stopped before a purple-colored building.

Modret could feel an unsettling aura emanating from it. Instinctively, his guard rose.

The fat man gestured toward the entrance, clearly nervous but trying to act confident.

As they stepped inside, he started talking again, unable to keep his mouth shut.

"Let me tell you, this place might look shabby compared to those big buildings, but don't doubt its authenticity! I swear, there was a time when this lady predicted my future—and it came true! Since then, whenever someone needs information, I always bring them here."

Modret rolled his eyes inwardly, already losing interest. From the tone alone, he could tell the man had probably been scammed.

The air inside was musty. As soon as they entered, Modret wrinkled his nose at the unpleasant stench wafting through the room.

"Are you sure this is somewhere I can obtain information?" he asked, already thinking of leaving.

"You'll have to trust me on this..." the man said quickly, giving Modret a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

But the instant he did, a chilling pressure swept over him. Feeling as though his head might be crushed at any moment, he hurriedly withdrew his hand.

'Damn, how fierce,' he thought, inhaling sharply.

Modret glanced around. The room was dimly lit, with nothing but a few worn-out papers scattered about. The silence felt heavy, pressing.

Then, without warning, the light in the room brightened.

From the shadows, an entrancing beauty stepped forward.

Her presence alone seemed to change the atmosphere. A soft warmth spread through the air, and Modret found himself unconsciously drawn to her.

Her sleek curves were dangerously seductive, her slender hands graceful yet delicate. Her flawless face bore no blemish, but wrapped tightly around her eyes was a smooth white blindfold.

'She's blind? Such a beautiful lady... blind?' Modret thought in disbelief, unable to look away.

A warm, almost knowing smile curved her lips as she turned in his direction.

"Hello, Modret," she said softly. "There's no need to be in a haste, right?"

...

A/N: Female lead? Don't worry Modret won't be a Simp. Please leave a golden ticket or two if you've come this far... Thank You.

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