nyslfriends Chapter 46: The Black Market
Chapter 46: The Black Market
Chapter 46: The Black MarketThe next morning, I held an emergency meeting with ViTech’s first employee. Our meeting took place in the gun range where Jane’s father used to work before his expulsion.
"Miss Jane, now that you are done with your finals as well, are you ready to make me the most advanced guns of this era?"
"Hopefully, my Lady. However, there is a problem I can’t bypass on my own."
"Please, do tell. I love solving problems."
"While I worked hard on redesigning and adjusting the schematics you gave me, I lack the means to create it."
"How so?"
"I am a gunsmith, my ability to make things related to guns is limited to what is in the market. What you want here, my lady, is original custom work. Something that hasn’t ever existed and has no pieces in the market that I can pick and put together."
"So you need a metalsmith, is that it?"
"And he needs to be as crafty as Saint Hermes at that. We can’t afford a single hitch in a gun if we are going to make something completely new. We will be risking the hands of whoever tries it first."
"I get you. But where can we get a metalsmith with such a skill on such short notice? I imagine that most skilled metalworkers already have busy schedules and a list filled with clients. Also, these guns are a secret between you and me only."
"That’s indeed the case." Jane agreed with me but it seemed that there was something she wasn’t letting out.
I looked at her intensely until she was unnerved and spilled her beans.
"There is an alternative method to find a good metalsmith." She said.
"I’m all ears."
"Maybe a Duergar can help us... but that’s just too unrealistic." Jane spoke then retracted her words with a smile.
"That’s true. A Duergar will never work metal for a human." I nodded in agreement.
Because of their resentment against the Human race, the Dwarven subterranean race, the Duergars, would never forge metal for Humans with good intentions. They were always seen as heretical and cursed by the Temple of Saints, and their resentment goes as far as the Age of Heroes when those very Saints waged war against Dwarfkind and vanquished their kingdom.
But...
"You wouldn’t mention a Duergar if you had nothing in mind, Jane." I said.
"In truth, I am ashamed to admit it but once, I had a problem with a project in the Academy and I had to spend a lot of money to rent a Duergar slave."
"A slave?"
"All I needed was a metal ankle and it cost me a thousand pounds. I wouldn’t have gotten past the second year without that ankle for my contraption project."
I know that people frown upon slavery, despite it being an active practice, it is something on its way to be abolished sooner or later seeing how the world is going right now.
"Hmmm... where can slaves be found?"
"Not too far from the port area in the Blackguards’ Market."
"That’s on the way to Father’s office."
"Are you... going there in person, my Lady?" Jane asked with a terrified face, "You can’t be safe in such dangerous parts of the city."
"I don’t care. My reputation isn’t what I need to worry about right now. Sooner or later, some slanderous rumors will start to spread either way."
I had a gut feeling that I wouldn’t be left alone and someone would start coming after me looking for trouble soon. If I keep my actions restricted out of fear, I won’t accomplish much.
As for
"Not a jewelsmith, Officer. A metalsmith, one that can forge all things that are required in all shapes and sizes." I corrected the man’s assumption.
"Your words are our command, your Ladyship!" The man bowed his head and then looked at me asking, "Doesn’t the lady have her own mask? Will you enter the market without hiding your identity?"
"Many people would hide their identity in fear of public shaming, my lady." Jane, who was tagging along this whole time, approached me and whispered in my ear.
"It is useless. I have many eyes on me and it will be found out sooner or later that I dealt with slavers." I replied and looked sideways to halt my guard, "No need to parade me. Wait at the entrance, I will take Sir Fabian beside Sir Logan as well as Esmeralda and Jane."
"But, my lady." A knight of mine argued.
"No arguing." Logan spoke even though I thought he was the one who’d argue.
With eight knights staying behind, the mass of our group lessened and we finally managed to enter that slave village the Blackguards are so obsessed about.
"Welcome to the Blackguards Market of Archester where we have no shortage of slaves." Officer Benjamin welcomed us to what seemed to be a shanty town in the heart of the city.
First of all, this place was the size of a baseball stadium, walled from all sides by walls that may reach 10 meters in height, and is being monitored by guards on its top and guards roaming the place within. Three towers surrounded the place and were connected to its walls and they seemed like they were built ages before the walls.
As the entrance of the market is on higher ground than most, the place we entered from had a good overlay over this place. One can see places where smoke rises like pillars, which is mostly where we are headed, and other places had buildings with red curtains like houses of ill repute.
One can find work and pleasure in the Black Market as it seems and all those who come here risk being on the bad side of society.
"Lead us to our location of business, Officer Benjamin."
"As you wish, Lady."
We descended into the market and the Blackguards accompanying me were pushing the slaves left and right as it seemed I was getting the VIP treatment. It seemed that the Blackguards were seeking the acknowledgment of nobles to maintain themselves and my visit here made them think I could support their dirty business.
I pity their poor thoughts.