Chronicles of Forgotten Extra-Chapter 103: Black Market [1]

[Displaying the information of the artifact]

[Veil of Shadows]

[Rank - Elite]

[Description - A mask crafted by an expert.]

[Effects:

— Face Obscuration : Alters facial features slightly, preventing recognition. The mask can vanish at will.

— Presence Diminution : Makes the wearer naturally unnoticeable unless they deliberately draw attention.]

Alden checked the effect as a satisfied smirk appeared on his face.

The artifact was exactly what he needed.

The reason?

In the black market, masks weren’t just a precaution—they were an unspoken rule.

Not official, but universally followed. Too many dangerous people, too many hidden agendas.

And since he was heading straight into an illegal deathmatch, a simple disguise wouldn’t cut it.

After taking another look at the mask, he wore it without any hesitation.

He was curious how he would be able to see through this mask which didn’t even have any eyehole.

Surprisingly the mask merged with his skin as if it was part of him.

He didn’t even feel that he was wearing any mask. He quickly turned his head towards a glass window near him.

He looked at his reflection.

He saw the mask was there. Still the same plain mask without any eyehole.

But he could still see clearly.

Interesting.

He decided to check the effect further as he willed the mask to disappear.

The mask vanished from his face. He could instinctively feel it was still there but just invisible .

His facial features were still the same.

He channeled some mana into the invisible mask as he willed it to change his facial features.

Immediately his face began to morph.

His eyes changed colour from red to blue.

His facial features were completely changed within minutes.

He looked like a completely different person. Within moments, a stranger stared back at him.

More importantly, once the transformation was complete, his mana stopped draining.

The mask required energy only for the change, not for maintaining the disguise.

How do I turn it off?

Alden thought as he willed the mask to dismiss the effect and soon after his face returned to normal.

After checking the effects for a few more times he decided to pass the time until it was evening.

__

Alden spent the next few hours wandering through Valloria, taking in the sights, sounds, and hidden undercurrents of the city.

Time passed quickly as the sun had dipped below the horizon.

This is it..

The sky had darkened significantly.

Alden booked himself a cab.

Why?

Yeah I am not walking.

He was dead tired walking all day. He didn’t wish to walk more.

So he just booked a cab.

The cab arrived five minutes after he booked.

The driver barely reacted, just nodded and started the engine.

His destination was Black Thorn Club in the lower district.

It didn’t even take him ten minutes before the cab stopped. He got out of the car as he looked at the area around him.

The streets were filled with beggars. Their eyes are hollow and empty as if they had lost all their hope.

Standing in front of him was a solo building.

A neon coloured sign hung on it.

[Black Thorn]

The place looked as shady as they came.

How are they even operating black market from here?

Alden couldn’t help but question.

It was honestly too easy to find out the location. Just beat some scammers and you’ll get information about it.

So why didn’t the authorities find them yet?

Who’s really behind the black market?

Nobody knew who was behind the Black Market.

Is the black market run by the imperial family or something?

Well that could be a possible scenario and that would also explain why it is running till this date.

Not that it has something to do with me.

Thinking such, he swung open the door to the club.

The mask was already on his face.

The moment he did, the thick scent of alcohol hit him.

The club was packed with people.

Some sat around in groups, drinking, dealing, and discussing things best left unheard.

The lighting was dim, but Alden could feel some gazes sizing him up.

Probably some guards.

He ignored them.

He walked towards the counter.

Arriving in front of the counter he tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden surface.

"What will it be sir?" The bartender asked.

He was a burly man with a scar running across his chin. His gaze never left the glass he was polishing.

"Silver Widow." Alden whispered.

For a moment, the bartender didn’t react.

He just stood there.

For the first time he looked at Alden.

"...You sure?" He asked.

"Yeah." Alden answered without hesitation.

Without another word, the bartender put his hand under the counter and pressed a button.

A soft click echoed.

"Follow me."

Alden remained calm.

The bartender stepped out from behind the counter.

He guided Alden past the rows of drunken people. They soon reached an unremarkable door in the backside.

The bartender opened the door.

"You can go in." He said "Once you go through, there’s no turning back until the night’s over."

"I don’t plan on turning back." Alden answered plainly as he entered the room.

The bartender didn’t follow him inside and only closed the door from outside.

The room inside was dimly lit.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

But it was empty.

Huh?

What the–

Alden was surprised.

Did that scammer lie to me?

No, that can’t be possible.

His body tensed, ready to take action the moment he felt something off.

He activated his [Eyes of Supreme]

Soon enough the vision in his eyes shifted.

He had suspected that this must be some kind of other test before one could enter the black market.

After all, the code was too simple and anyone could know that.

True to his suspicion he saw something behind one of the walls. A faint trace of mana.

He walked towards the wall as he slightly tapped the spot.

Right on the que, the wall started vibrating before it parted, revealing a secret entrance.

As expected, this was indeed another layer to the test.

With those thoughts he entered the secret entrance without any hesitation.

The corridor was short, leading to a spacious chamber but it was empty as well.

Except, a swirling, dark portal.

Alden’s eyes gleamed.

So this is the real entrance to the Black Market.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and vanished into the portal.

For a brief moment, everything was silent.

Weightless.

Then—

Thud.

His boots touched the solid ground.

The nausea hit him like waves.

But it was controllable now. He was slowly getting used to it. With a deep breath, he steadied himself and took in his surroundings.

The black market stretched before him like city—

Yep.

Its size is comparable to a small town.

Stalls and shops were lined on both sides of the path.

The vendors were shouting out prices for everything from enchanted weapons to some questionable looking potions.

Alden walked forward.

Everyone around him was wearing masks..

Some wore simple ones. While others elaborate. But no one showed their real face.

The night had just begun.

And for Alden—this was only the first step.

He wasn’t going to visit the deathmatch arena immediately.

First he needed a broker.

A trustworthy broker who will manage his money.

He wasn’t foolish enough to bet money on himself. So he was going to hire an intermediary who will handle transactions on his behalf.

And he had a perfect person for this job.

Cipher.