Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 117: The Dark Commerce District

Time flew rather quickly.

The next evening, as the sun set and Elkrim’s darker elements began to stir, Rey met Lady Z at a prearranged location—a nondescript alley in district four that served as a transition point between the legitimate city and its criminal underbelly.

Lady Z had transformed her appearance dramatically.

Gone was the commanding young leader who’d presided over the Advisors Meeting.

In her place stood a woman who could have been any mid-level criminal operator—leather clothing designed for mobility, her distinctive features altered by Artifacts that changed bone structure and skin tone.

Her bearing was also deliberately less refined.

Rey, already experienced with disguise, had adopted a similar approach.

His elderly merchant persona had been replaced with someone younger, harder, the kind of person who’d survived years in violent trades and carried the scars to prove it.

"Ready?" Lady Z asked, her voice even modulated differently—rougher, with an edge that suggested she’d grown up on streets rather than in Noble estates.

"Lead the way," Rey replied.

They descended into the city’s underground network—not the shallow passages used for legitimate infrastructure, but deeper tunnels that had existed long before Elkrim became a major trade hub.

These passages connected to natural cave systems, which had been expanded and reinforced over centuries to serve the needs of those who operated outside conventional law.

As they walked, Lady Z explained the geography.

"The Dark Commerce District isn’t a single location. It’s a network of interconnected spaces—some underground like this, others hidden in plain sight within legitimate districts, still others operating in buildings that officially serve different purposes."

She gestured ahead where the tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber. "But the heart of it, the physical market where the Houses maintain their most visible presence, is here. The Deep Market."

Rey’s enhanced perception processed what he saw before them, and even his considerable self-control couldn’t completely suppress his reaction.

The Deep Market was extraordinary.

The chamber itself must have been hundreds of meters across, with a ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness despite mystical illumination floating throughout the space.

But it wasn’t the size that impressed—it was what had been built within it.

Rows upon rows of structures filled the chamber, creating streets and alleys in an underground city.

But these weren’t crude stalls or makeshift shops. These were sophisticated establishments that blended mystical wonder with advanced technology in ways that Rey had only glimpsed in Noble districts.

Storefronts displayed goods behind barriers of pure crystallized Ether, creating window displays that could show items in impossible detail or demonstrate their capabilities through mystical projection.

Some establishments floated slightly above the ground, held aloft by gravitational manipulation Artifacts integrated into their foundations.

Others seemed to phase in and out of normal space, visible one moment and translucent the next as their owners adjusted privacy settings.

The lighting wasn’t from torches or simple enchanted crystals.

Instead, sophisticated mystical-technological hybrid systems created illumination that could be adjusted in color, intensity, and even temperature.

Some shops maintained warm, inviting glows while others preferred harsh, clinical brightness that better displayed their merchandise.

Transportation through the market didn’t rely solely on walking. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Mystical platforms moved through designated lanes at varying heights, carrying people and cargo with smooth efficiency.

These weren’t simple Levitation Techniques but integrated systems that managed traffic flow, prevented collisions, and even adjusted routes based on congestion patterns.

"This is incredible," Rey admitted, genuinely impressed. "I knew the Dark Commerce District was sophisticated, but this..."

"Most people think illegal markets are crude affairs hidden in dirty alleys," Lady Z said with evident pride. "That’s true in smaller cities or less organized criminal economies. But here in Elkrim, the Houses have invested centuries of accumulated wealth into infrastructure. We may operate outside the law, but we’re not primitive."

She led him deeper into the market, pointing out landmarks.

"The Deep Market is divided into territories controlled by the six Houses. Each House maintains at least one major store here, plus various smaller operations depending on their specialties and resources."

Rey’s perception mapped the layout as they moved. The territorial divisions weren’t marked with obvious boundaries but became clear through subtle indicators—different architectural styles, variations in lighting schemes, even the types of people who congregated in different areas.

"The Red House controls this sector," Lady Z gestured to their left, where five distinct establishments bore subtle marks that Rey now recognized from the information cube. "Three Artifact stores, the alchemical shop, and the information broker. We maintain the largest consolidated territory, though that’s been eroding as other Houses pressure our boundaries."

The Red House stores reflected a design philosophy that emphasized both quality and accessibility.

Their Artifact shops featured extensive displays showing items in action through mystical demonstrations.

The alchemical establishment maintained environmental controls that kept different substances at optimal conditions while allowing customers to examine them safely.

The information broker operated from a building that seemed designed to project security and discretion—important qualities when dealing in secrets.

"That sector belongs to the Blue Lotus House," Lady Z continued, indicating a cluster of shops dominated by blues and silvers in their aesthetic. "They specialize in luxury goods and high-end services. Restricted items that wealthy clients want without the complications of legal acquisition."

The Blue Lotus establishments were immediately distinguishable by their opulence.

Where the Red House projected professional competence, the Blue Lotus screamed wealth and exclusivity. Their storefronts incorporated precious materials into the architecture itself—crystallized rare minerals, enchanted metals, even sections that appeared to be constructed from compressed starlight.

Rey noticed that their customers looked different too—better dressed, more refined in bearing, the kind of people who belonged to Noble society but occasionally needed services that society officially condemned.

"The Yellow Lily House is over there," Lady Z pointed to a different sector. "They compete with Blue Lotus for luxury trade but approach it differently. Where Blue Lotus emphasizes exclusivity, Yellow Lily focuses on variety and customization."

The Yellow Lily territory showcased diversity in its design. Multiple smaller shops rather than a few large ones, each one specialized in different categories of merchandise.

Their mystical-technological integration seemed more experimental—Rey spotted shops that were testing new display methods or novel approaches to customer interaction.

"Those are the other three Houses," Lady Z indicated three different sectors in turn. "The White Tulip specializes in information and intelligence—they’re our direct competitors in that space. The Purple Orchid handles weapons and combat-related materials. The Golden Sunflower focuses on transportation and logistics, moving illegal goods between cities."

Each House’s territory reflected their specialization and philosophy.

The White Tulip’s shops were deliberately understated, designed to be forgettable except to those who knew what they were looking for.

The Purple Orchid’s establishments were fortified and aggressive in appearance, clearly catering to clients seeking power rather than subtlety.

The Golden Sunflower maintained facilities that looked more like warehouses than retail spaces, emphasizing function over form.

"And the independents?" Rey asked, noting establishments that didn’t seem to align with any House territory.

"Scattered throughout," Lady Z explained. "

Some are truly neutral—they pay fees to whichever House controls their immediate territory but don’t align politically. Others side with specific Houses through unofficial arrangements. A few try to play Houses against each other, extracting concessions from multiple parties."

She gestured to a particularly impressive establishment that seemed to occupy neutral ground between territories.

"That’s the Twilight Auction House—completely independent, powerful enough that no single House can pressure them, and valuable enough that we all want to maintain good relations. They handle the highest-value transactions in the entire district."

Rey cataloged this information carefully. Independent operators represented both opportunities and complications. They could be potential allies, sources of intelligence, or threats depending on how circumstances developed.

As they walked, Lady Z introduced Rey to the managers of each Red House store.

These were hardened individuals who’d survived years in the Dark Commerce District’s cutthroat environment.

They initially regarded Rey with skepticism—another new Advisor, probably inexperienced, certainly unproven—until Lady Z made clear the authority she was granting him.

"Helt oversees all five stores with my complete backing," she told each manager. "His decisions are my decisions. His authority is my authority. If you have concerns, you bring them to him first. If he can’t resolve them, he’ll involve me. But the chain of command runs through him now."

The reactions varied.

Some managers accepted this smoothly, already calculating how to work with the new arrangement.

Others showed resistance until Lady Z made explicit the consequences of insubordination. By the time they’d visited all five stores, Rey’s position was established beyond question.

At Store #3—the establishment housing the Seed of Origin—Rey paid particular attention.

The manager was a thin man named Corvus who’d operated this location for nearly a decade. He specialized in rare mystical catalysts and cultivation resources, items that could fundamentally enhance a practitioner’s capabilities.

"The Seed of Origin," Rey mentioned casually during their conversation. "I noticed it’s listed as reserved for a Noble client?"

Corvus nodded. "Yes, Lord Ashton from the Ashton Barony. He placed the reservation six months ago, agreed to the price, but the payment keeps getting delayed. He claims complications with his estate’s finances."

"And you believe him?"

Corvus shrugged. "Nobles rarely lie about money problems directly—it’s beneath their dignity. But whether the delay is legitimate or if he’s hoping the price drops... that’s harder to say."

Rey filed this information away for later exploitation.

"If the payment doesn’t materialize?"

"Then the reservation expires and the Seed goes back to general inventory. We’d probably auction it—an item of that value would attract serious bidders."

"Keep me informed about any developments," Rey instructed. "An asset that valuable deserves close attention."

After visiting all five stores and understanding their operations, Lady Z led Rey through other sections of the Deep Market to show him the broader context.

"The Dark Commerce District isn’t just about retail," she explained. "There are services, entertainment, even education of sorts."

She pointed out establishments that served different functions.

Combat training facilities where people could learn Techniques that weren’t taught in official Academies. Information brokers who specialized in different types of intelligence.

Mystical physicians who could treat conditions or perform enhancements that legitimate medicine wouldn’t touch. Even entertainment venues that catered to tastes society officially condemned.

The mystical-technological integration was everywhere. Communication Artifacts that allowed instant contact across the city.

Security systems that combined Ether detection with mundane surveillance. Transportation networks that moved people and goods through complex routes designed to avoid official attention.

’This world truly isn’t medieval,’ Rey observed, genuinely impressed by the sophistication.

’What an advanced civilization indeed...’