Episode 87
* * *
Some time later, Aurelia officially became a knight of the Grave Guard.
Auror Masters, each of whom has reached the level of Avatar.
Among the knights commanded by the High Lords, there are some who have the power to be Auror Masters. However, there are not many cases where the very existence of the Saxon House’s “Grave Guard” is shrouded in mystery.
Among the Night Raven Knights, they are the best warriors who have taken a vow of silence and protect the House of Saxony from the shadows. They have no knightly nobility or virtues. In the shadows, they swing their swords in the ‘Saxon way’.
They were knights and assassins of the highest caliber, shadow swords that showed no mercy when necessary and did not hesitate to heighten the notoriety of the House of Saxony.
Aurelia became the ‘Guardian of the Grave’, the first ‘Grave Guard’ that Dale ever obtained.
Dale, and furthermore, by making a very special contract with Dale’s grimoire ‘Shub’. Not a member of the Saxon Duke’s family, but a black maiden who is completely loyal to Dale in his shadow.
Lady Shadow.
That was Aurelia’s new name.
Not the virgin of a fallen nation who was burned at the stake on charges of witchcraft in the frozen soil of Saxony after an Inquisition trial and was reduced to a handful of ashes.
* * *
Dale’s performance was producing solid results.
He attained the level of the 4th circle, and along with sword practice, he was also taught the nullification magic by Sepia. In addition, the teachings of the continent’s greatest black magician, Black Gong, were no exception.
There is no end to learning. That is why Dale’s training among the best teachers was adding to his accomplishments day by day.
And around that time, an uninvited guest came to the Saxon duchy.
He was a high-ranking envoy of ‘Guild City’.
A golden empire that was once the successor to the Seven City Republics in the southern part of the continent, and a highly developed center of finance and commerce that controls the continent’s gold.
“Your Excellency the Duke of Saxony, and the ‘Black Prince’ of the House of Saxony, I greet you.”
The high-ranking envoy of Guild City bowed to the wealthy Saxon family, without hiding his characteristic business smile.
From the Guild City in the southern part of the Empire, you came all the way to the frozen lands of the Duchy of Saxony. That meant only one thing.
“I have come to see the Duke of Saxony for no other reason than… … .”
“──The black market will open.”
“Hehehe, as expected from Your Majesty the Duke.”
This wasn’t an ordinary market. It was the largest black market on the continent, boasted by Guild City.
Black Market.
A place that most people are unaware of, and which only a select few who have received an ‘invitation’ from Guild City can enter.
“The City Master deeply regrets not being able to visit the House of Saxony in person.”
“Enough with the formalities. State your business.”
The Duke of Saxony added coldly, and the envoy smiled as if he had expected that.
“When it comes to opening a black market, it would be an intolerable rudeness to leave out the world-famous Duke of Saxony.”
The man had come to invite the Duke of Saxony to that very black market.
‘Is it that time already…?’
The cycle of the black market is not fixed. The items traded there are extremely expensive items that lower-class nobles would not dare to imagine, and items of value that even the world’s great nobles would have to reduce their losses. Therefore, only when enough items are gathered to open a market can the black market open.
A secret chapter reserved only for the continent’s most noble and wealthy.
And just like its name, the market deals in a variety of goods, whether they are objects or living beings. From all sorts of unique items that adventurers have obtained from underground labyrinths, to all sorts of goods and treasures that Guild City has obtained through its own routes. From the young daughters and princes of noble families who were sold as playthings after their downfall, to rare creatures that are rarely seen.
“Also, in this black market… … .”
The envoy from Guild City continued speaking in a meaningful voice.
“We have prepared a ‘very special prize’ that even His Excellency the Duke of Saxony will covet.”
“It’s a product that I really want.”
The black ball on the throne asked heavily.
“Are you prepared to take responsibility for your words?”
“Who would dare to utter irresponsible words against His Excellency the Duke of Saxony?”
There is no need to say anything about the notoriety of the man sitting on the throne. The name of the man, Black Duke, makes even the ‘Black Prince’ seem like a child.
“You can look forward to it.”
The Guild City envoy held out a small jewel from his bosom. A skull ornament cast in gold. Inside it was the special encrypted magic of Guild City.
An invitation to the black market.
“You must also know the rules of the black market.”
The Duke of Saxony did not answer. However, the envoy from the Guild City also bowed his head as if there was no need to hear an answer.
“Well then, at this point, we will take our leave.”
The envoy crossed the great hall of the Duchy of Saxony in silent obeisance.
The storm on the plains, perhaps this is what it means. The wind and waves began to sway on the calm plains.
* * *
The most important rule of the black market is that the ‘invited party’ can never participate.
It is risky for a large number of nobles with that much power to gather in one place. That is why the noble who receives the invitation appoints his ‘representative’, and it is also the representative’s job to actually enter and exit the market.
The important thing is that since you can’t know in advance what products will be on the market… … the agent must be very careful about what his lord needs and what to buy. Even if he is the greatest lord of the empire, he must be careful about what he buys.
In a sense, that is precisely the charm of the black market.
Therefore, the person who could understand his lord best would take on the role of representative, and in the case of the Saxon Dukes, there was only one person who could best understand the intentions of the Black Duke, the head of the family.
“Please send me to Guild City.”
He was Dale of Saxony, the son of the Black Duke.
“… … I knew it would turn out like that.”
The Duke of Saxony’s office.
To Dale’s words, the black ball responded as if it was nothing surprising. The recklessness and spirit that his son displayed was nothing new.
“How much do you know about the black market?”
“It is a place where ‘expensive goods’ that cannot be handled externally are traded.”
And now Dale is a magician who has reached the level of the 4th circle. He is still not enough to call himself a high-ranking magician, but when you think about the meaning of Dale’s 4th circle, he must have more than enough skills to protect himself, unless he is dealing with the powerful forces of the empire.
“Guild City is a very dangerous place.”
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“I am keeping that in mind.”
Guild City. In the past, the Seven City Republics were subjugated to the Empire and received a new name. It was an oligarchic republic, a city alliance where seven great guilds each ruled seven cities, and many small guilds were subordinate to the rule of the great guilds.
‘City Master’ meant a representative elected by the seven ‘Great Guilds’.
During the Unification War, the various dirty deeds of the Empire could not have been carried out without the cooperation of the ‘Guild City’, and so Dale of the past became the hunting dog that dealt with these dirty deeds, and he knew the inside of the Guild City in detail.
For example, there is a ‘shadow court’ that even the city masters and major guilds cannot tamper with.
“A lawless land where gold and violence justify any action.”
That’s right. It’s a golden empire where even taking a person’s life is solved with a few gold coins. In order to survive, you have to either acquire more wealth than your enemies or have more power than your enemies.
‘Gold is Power.’
As the guild masters always say, the importance of the guild city is bound to grow. Especially during this time when the black market is open.
“Guild City has everything we, House Saxony, lack.”
That’s why this is an opportunity you can’t miss.
“As a financial network and commercial and industrial center that even the empire cannot tamper with.”
From the highly sophisticated financial industry to the textile industry that is responsible for food, clothing and shelter.
“In other words, it is like the lungs that support the entire continent.”
The House of Saxony has power and wealth, a black tower, and an immortal army that cannot be counted. But at the same time, there are barren lands and countless threats. It would not be wrong to call them warlords.
That’s why the power of Guild City was needed.
A financial network and commerce that extends across the continent. A card that can strangle an opponent more peacefully, but more surely than moving soldiers. Sometimes, gold and wool are more of a threat than weapons.
“I guess the black market is just your sole purpose.”
The black dwarf, who had guessed Dale’s intentions, said.
“Do you have any other thoughts?”
“I always think of our House of Saxony.”
Dale answered, and the black ball smiled faintly. It was a conversation between the two rich men, no different from any other time.
* * *
The two iron rules of the Black Market. Officially, a representative attending the market cannot reveal his identity. Fortunately, twelve-year-old Dale was a precocious child in many ways.
If you wear the artifact ‘Shadow Cloak’ with a black robe and pull the hood down deeply, you will not be able to tell the difference from an ordinary traveler at first glance.
Disguised as a traveler in black robes, the journey to Guild City began.
Even without the knights of Saxony, including Sepia, it was not that he did not have his own insurance. However, considering the activities he would be carrying out in Guild City, he did not need the cumbersome companions he had before.
As an extraordinary magician who has reached the level of the 4th circle.
‘I’m finally getting to the point where I can use dispel magic in real combat.’
Only then can they break free from the hands of their guardians and truly pursue their own goals.
Officially, the seven great guilds rule Guild City. However, in addition to the seven guilds that oversee legislation and administration, there is another force that actually rules the city.
Those who enforce the law of Guild City.
‘Shadow Court’.
And before that, the Black Market will open in Guild City.
What kind of product could possibly be so desirable to the Black Knight? It would be a long journey, but one worth taking. Dale raised his head and pulled the reins of his horse.
The sunlight poured down, but the shadows cast beneath the black robes were very dark.
