Arin and Ren walked deeper into the underground market, their eyes moving from one stall to another. They slowed at some places, then moved on quickly, not stopping long enough to draw attention.
The deeper they went, the more the items began to stand out.
Some stalls displayed small bottles filled with colored liquids, sealed tightly and arranged in rows. A faint smell lingered around them. Nearby, another stall had dried herbs tied in bundles, along with bones, claws, and preserved pieces from unknown animals.
Ren glanced around, his brows lifting slightly. "Didn't expect this…"
Arin didn't respond. His attention had already shifted.
A few steps ahead, weapons were laid out across a table—short blades, broken spear tips, and pieces of metal that looked like they had come from old fights rather than clean workshops.
On the other side, a man sat behind a small table stacked with worn books. Their covers were plain, edges slightly torn, but carefully arranged.
They continued walking until a small board came into view near a crossing.
It didn't look important at first.
Just rough markings.
Different sections.
Arin slowed for a moment. He didn't stand there long, only long enough to understand.
When he moved again, his direction shifted slightly.
Ren noticed it. "You figured something out?"
Arin nodded faintly. "It's like a layout."
Ren glanced back once. "A board… or just how the place is arranged?"
"Both," Arin said. "This side… mostly real goods."
Ren raised a brow. "Mostly?"
Arin didn't explain further.
Ren understood enough.
They moved into that section.
The difference wasn't obvious at first, but after a few steps, it became clearer. The items were fewer, but more consistent. People didn't linger much. They checked, paid, and left.
Arin slowed near one stall.
A broken sword lay there.
The upper half was missing, leaving only the lower portion. The surface showed signs of wear, and a thin layer of rust had formed along the edge. Even so, the metal itself didn't look ordinary.
For a brief moment, Arin's attention stayed on it longer than anything else so far.
In his previous life, he had read enough stories.
Swords had always stood at the center of them.
"Thirty," the old man behind the stall said.
Arin's eyes shifted slightly.
Thirty.
Arin didn't think it was high.
Then the old man added, "Energy crystals."
Arin realized it at once.
He hadn't brought any energy stones.
"Thirty energy stones… for a broken sword?" Arin muttered in mild surprise, then stepped away.
Ren was already at the next stall, looking through a few items.
Arin walked over, glanced once, then lightly tapped his arm. "Let's go."
They moved away at a normal pace, not stopping long enough to draw attention.
After a few steps, Arin spoke quietly, "Do you have any energy crystals?"
Ren looked at him, then shook his head. "No."
They didn't stop.
Instead, they checked a few more stalls as they walked.
After checking a few more stalls, the pattern became clear.
Everything was priced in energy crystals.
They had come here with Credits.
Not even the right currency.
Ren gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "We didn't even think about it…"
Arin's gaze remained steady, but there was a faint tightening in his expression.
They thought they were prepared.
They weren't.
Ren lowered his voice. "Coming to a place like this with normal money…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…we really didn't understand anything."
Arin didn't deny it.
They kept moving, but now their pace had changed slightly. They didn't stop as much. They didn't look as closely.
At one stall, the seller watched them for a moment before speaking.
"You buying," he said, "or just walking around?"
Ren hesitated. "Just checking."
The man's expression didn't change. "Then don't stand in front."
He waved his hand once, already looking past them.
They moved away.
A few more stalls passed.
Some ignored them completely.
Some glanced once and looked away.
And a few—
looked longer than needed.
Before Ren could say anything, a small figure rushed past and bumped lightly into him.
Ren turned instinctively. "Hey—"
The boy was already moving.
Ren checked his pocket.
Nothing missing.
A few steps ahead, the boy slowed and glanced back.
His eyes moved over both of them.
Then his face twisted.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath. "Not even worth stealing from…"
He spat lightly to the side.
"Bad luck today…"
He disappeared into the crowd.
Ren stared for a moment. "We just got judged by a thief."
Arin didn't respond.
Ren rubbed his face once. "That's… low."
They didn't stop.
But they didn't stay long anywhere either.
At the edge of one section, a man stood near a pillar, watching the flow of people.
His eyes passed over Arin and Ren once.
Then again.
After a second, he slowly disappeared into the night.
Deeper inside, behind a closed row of stalls, a small room sat hidden from the market.
Five people were inside.
One man sat in a chair with a glass in his hand. The others stood nearby, checking items or talking in low voices.
The door opened.
The man stepped in.
"Two outside," he said.
The man in the chair didn't react immediately. He took a slow sip before lowering the glass.
"Young," the man continued. "Walking around. Not buying anything."
One of the others frowned slightly. "Looking for something?"
Another glanced at him. "Or just wandering?"
The man shook his head lightly. "Doesn't look like they even have crystals."
A short silence followed.
"Then why come here?" someone asked.
The man leaned slightly. "First time, probably. Don't even understand how things work yet."
One of them let out a quiet breath. "That young…"
Another gave a faint smile. "Could be worth something."
His eyes shifted toward the one in the chair.
"Boss… might be a big one."
The room grew quieter.
The man in the chair turned the glass slowly in his hand, watching the liquid move.
"Watch them," he said.
He paused slightly before adding,
"And see if anyone's protecting them."
Outside, Arin and Ren continued moving through the market, unaware of the attention settling around them.