Chapter 177: Madame’s Eatery (3 in 1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Although Su Yao was ambiguous, the word ‘scientist’ moved Tang Ling a little.
In this era, the highest rank of the power pyramid was never occupied by the powerful Purple Moon Warriors and their ranks. Instead, there were many other different categories at the highest rank and many specific occupation branches such as scientists, technicians, and so on.
Maybe as Su Yao said, Safety Sector No. 17 was only a low level sector, so all the high-end occupations were missing and the information listed about them were all muddled and vague. There was also another possibility that Safety Sector No. 17 could not produce a specific occupation, so listing them down was unnecessary.
Nevertheless, the word ‘scientist’ represented super advanced technology and was not only limited to weaponry.
They also provided blueprints to technicians or even engineers to produce the said items, but they would eventually have priority over the end product, hence all scientists tended to have valuable items in their possession.
Because of that particular word, Tang Ling deeply felt that it was necessary to ask Su Yao what he meant and figure out the pulsating questions in his mind.
“Uncle, you did say that the black markets have levels? If the black market that the higher-ups of Safety Sector No. 17 controls is a low-level black market, then where’s the high-level black market?” Tang Ling asked seriously.
“I’m afraid that you’ve misunderstood my meaning. The black market is one-of-a-kind. It’s everywhere. It exists in every organization, including but not limited to the safety sector. All the different level black markets are intersected and connected together. Some parts of the black market use legal businesses to extend their influence into powerful organizations and some tend to keep themselves away from trouble though they also extend their reach to the rest of the world.
“Therefore, of course, there’s a high-level black market in Safety Sector No. 17, but it’s normal for warriors not to be able to get in touch with it, just like the 12 entrances that Tony provided you with. None of them lead to the high-level black market because all of them are only connected to the lower levels.
“The other thing that you must pay attention to is, albeit just being my suspicion, based on my observation, the real high-level black market will only observe the situation of the outside world, but they will never interfere, at least, not directly. Only one true organization is worthy of the title of a high-level black market.” said Su Yao with furrowed brows.
If an organization in the shadows only observed the outside world without truly doing anything, there could only be two explanations.
Firstly, they were not competitive and wanted to keep a safe distance from trouble. Secondly, they had a much bigger plan. The black market was the biggest intelligence network, so when all the intelligence networks gathered at a single location, how terrifying would it be?
Nonetheless, Tang Ling was not overly concerned with Su Yao’s words since he was only 15 years old, so his age limited his knowledge and his knowledge limited his thoughts. He was interested about what kind of organization it was.
Su Yao also provided a clear answer to his question. “This organization is called the Floating Iceberg which refers to a big piece of ice floating on the sea but what it reveals is only 10% or less of its true form.”
“What a great name!” Tang Ling exclaimed as he scratched his head and asked in an interested tone, “Then, does Safety Sector No. 17 have a high-level black market run by the Floating Iceberg?”
The black market had many rules and complications, piquing Tang Ling’s interest. He was also someone who had secrets to keep due to many unforeseen circumstances. Maybe the black market was where he should be instead of the Reserved Camp.
“Of course, the Floating Iceberg is everywhere,” Su Yao replied.
“Then, are we dealing with the Floating Iceberg this time?” Tang Ling was even more excited upon hearing that.
“What are you thinking about? You need a few resources and you want to deal with the Floating Iceberg? Moreover, the Floating Iceberg usually deals with the leader of a faction rank 1 or above, or any occupation rank 3 and above. Who do you think you are?” Su Yao tapped Tang Ling’s head in disdain.
“What’s a faction rank 1 or above? Uncle, I’m thinking that even you yourself have never met the real Floating Iceberg, am I right?” Tang Ling spewed his thoughts after his head was rapped.
As expected, Su Yao kicked him in the back.
******
The dark passage led all the way down, yet it was well ventilated in some unknown ways.
The turns and corners were complicated and the branching paths were confusing. Su Yao said getting lost was certain if one failed to master the paths and grasp the direction properly.
Nonetheless, traveling in the passage was not a lonely matter. Tang Ling and Su Yao would run into some other people dressed in the same black hooded mantle and wooden mask heading towards the black market from time to time. They would either walk in the same way or head into other branches, but all of them were walking quickly ahead, drawing a distance away from the duo.
It was natural that the black market had many hidden rules.
Keeping a safe distance from each other while treading ahead was one of the most basic rules. Dealing in the black market was not exactly a glorious matter. The higher the level of the black market, the more hidden rules there were.
As for the low-level black market, it was just a straight path ahead, and there were not as many rules as the higher levels.
Tang Ling did not ask questions along the way even though he was curious. Since there were so many different levels of black markets underground, how did they coexist? And in what form?
Su Yao seemed to notice the suffocating expression on Tang Ling, so he explained, “When a black market organization wants to officially enter a powerful and influential organization, they will circle an area under the said organization and two specific rules will be set up in the circled area.
“The first rule is the area must connect to the lobby. Yes, you heard me right. All the black markets, regardless of level and size, must have a unified black market lobby. The strangest scene in the black market lobby would be dozens of doors designed in various styles. All the doors are an art piece by itself, there are unique markings of different black markets on them. It is to stop people from wandering into the wrong black market and also to limit entry.”
“Mm-hmm. Limit those who have access to only the low-level black market from accessing the high-level black market.” Tang Ling understood the said restrictions on the doors.
“Correct. These doors have their own restrictions like the badge that Tony gave you. It can only open the door of the lowest level black market in Safety Sector No. 17 and nothing else, but you must first make your way into that mysterious black market lobby.” Su Yao seemed to be triggered by something as all the explanations he gave Tang Ling were explicit and detailed.
“The second rule is the underground passage of different black markets can intersect but cannot go two ways. It’s a huge and complicated process crafting all those passages. Usually, an architect from the engineering occupation branch will be hired to plan and craft the passages.”
“How exciting is this? It’s difficult for me to imagine that there’s another gray world under the ground I walk on. I thought only the settlement lived underground before this.” Tang Ling’s voice eventually grew softer as he was unwilling to speak of his past.
Su Yao tapped Tang Ling’s shoulder before he shifted the topic and said, “You’ve heard about the black market lobby, haven’t you? It’s a very interesting place. There, you will make a lot of friends that you don’t even know and you’ll be able to find hope on the bleakest day of your life. You will also get to hear all kinds of strange matters there because this world has been undergoing constant change after entering the Purple Moon Era. On top of that, you can also witness the craziest auction.”
“So, are we going to the black market lobby?” Tang Ling was evidently interested.
Su Yao sounded soft and kind and as he spoke, “No, the lobby isn’t open every day, and besides, you aren’t qualified to go in there yet, but you will someday, and it won’t be far.”
Soon, he and Tang Ling reached the end of the muddy passage lit up by dim oil lamps. They reached a relatively delicate-looking passage. The passage was not long and was covered with green stone panels carved with complicated patterns. It had the typical design style of the Goddess Continent from the old civilization. Although not exactly artistic, it was filled with wild and intense colors.
In the center of all the complicated patterns was a woman’s side profile behind a thin veil. Tang Ling had no idea what the stone panels meant.
It was not necessary for him to figure out the meaning because, at the end of this new passage, there was a big black door with the same carving of a woman’s side profile.
There was also a phrase on the door written in the Light Continent’s common language: Welcome to Madame Selina’s Black Market.
So, the woman with the veil is Madame Selina? Is she from Goddess Continent? Her name was straightforward.
There was no need to question the language between the two continents because the Light Continent and the Goddess Continent shared a common language.
The door was heavy. Tang Ling was curious and tried to push it open, but Su Yao stopped him.
“Madame’s Black Market is one of the most famous black markets. I told you before that the high-level black market has the ability to reach scientists. Madame’s Black Market is also equipped with such capabilities because the high level is just a muddled concept. If you want to be technical, the only high-level black market is the Floating Iceberg black market.” Su Yao seemed to have changed his way of explaining things. Previously, whenever he could explain things with one word, he would never spill the second.
Tang Ling was not used to the elaborated explanation, so he asked,” Then? What does it have to do with me pushing the door?”
“Of course, it does! The door of a black market of this caliber isn’t something you can simply open. It’s equipped with traps, and if you simply touch it, you’ll end up miserable.” As he explained, Su Yao took a very intricate-looking badge from his pocket.
This badge was a masterpiece compared to the badge that Tony gave Tang Ling. It was golden in color and had rubies and sapphires embedded in it, forming a very special icon. In the center of the badge was undoubtedly the carving of Madame Selina’s side profile behind a veil.
Su Yao stuck the badge on the black door. Soon, a dim light scanned the badge. The heavy door slid open, revealing a gap enough for a person to pass.
Behind the seam, a strong man in a swallowtail tuxedo and a mask over his head appeared. He looked at Su Yao and Tang Ling and said in a heavy voice, “Welcome, honored guest. Please display your badge. We have to check it again according to the rules here.”
Su Yao lit a cigarette and tossed the badge to the gatekeeper who accepted it, checked it carefully, and returned it to Su Yao. “Level 2 honored guest badge. According to the authority granted, the owner of the badge has the right to bring two more guests into Madame’s Black Market. Conditions are fulfilled. This way please.”
The badge verified Su Yao’s position and identity. The gatekeeper also sounded a lot more respectful. While he welcomed the duo, he stepped aside and invited them in with a courteous gesture.
Su Yao walked in brazenly with Tang Ling following him. Tang Ling was not as brazen as Su Yao, and he presented himself as a rather cowardly kid.
Madame’s Black Market might sound crazy, but the crazier thing was the structure built underground! It was huge like a giant building constructed inside a cave. In the center of the cave was a huge parterre.
The walls on both sides of the cave were embedded with many different colored light bulbs that formed the pattern of a flower, illuminating the cave brightly. Under the bright lights, there were more than a hundred strangely-dressed figures shuttling around the lobby. They were dressed similarly to Su Yao and Tang Ling in the same black hooded mantle and the wooden mask. Some would slightly lift their masks, revealing their mouths just so they could eat and drink.
Why are we not eating here?
A monstrous feast was set up around the parterre on long tables draped in white cloths that surrounded the parterre. On top of the tables were scrumptious food and alcoholic beverages. Tang Ling even saw boxes of cigarettes that Su Yao usually smoked piled up nicely.
As long as the hooded guests willed it, they could enjoy all the things prepared on the tables.
Should Tang Ling even be surprised about it? Was there anything else in this world that could beat the Mysterious Store in being a classy and prestigious trading place?
What about the black market? It was behind the parterre, located in a very eye-catching spot. Since it was directly opposite the main door, one would easily notice it after stepping in.
The cave was carved into three-stories that were equipped with separate flights of stairs.
The first level had four shops while the second level had two.
As for the highest level, there was only one shop...or was it even a shop? It did not have any signboards. Only the madame’s veiled side profile was carved on the door. It might be an office or something similar.
Tang Ling was not overly bothered by it either. Instead, he was concerned about another question. “Uncle, are the food and drinks here all free?”
“Yes, but I didn’t plan to let you eat or drink here. Do you want to expose yourself? With your huge appetite, people will know who you are in no time.” Su Yao grabbed Tang Ling and held him hostage as they walked towards the shops.
Stealthily, Su Yao smuggled many boxes of cigarettes from the long tables when they walked past them.
Tang Ling struggled to control himself. He also managed to grab five boxes of cigarettes and even tore a drumstick off a poultry-like beast. While it was not huge, the meat was delicately cooked. He lifted his mask slightly and shoved the whole thing into his mouth. It was delicious, but with a layer of honey coating, it was a little too sweet for his liking.
Su Yao held back the urge to beat Tang Ling to death and dragged him to the shop on the second level.
When they passed the first level, Tang Ling saw the four signboards on the four shops: Madame’s Daily Needs, Madame’s Armory, Madame’s Technology, and Madame’s Defenses.
The second level had two shops that were Madame’s Eatery and Madame’s Minerals.
Although there were only six shops in total, the place contained almost everything.
Su Yao explained the shops to Tang Ling as they walked, “Madame’s Black Market sells only quality goods although the quality goods that the four shops on the first level can also be found in other black markets that are above average. The reason I brought you here is this black market’s specialty. It’s able to provide uncommon high-quality meat and minerals that you can’t source in other black markets.”
Once he heard the word ‘meat’, Tang Ling instantly understood why Su Yao brought him here. The man did bring him to the correct place!
However, Tang Ling’s curiosity drove him to ask one last question, “What about the highest level?”
“Do you want to buy information? Or do you have some high-end business that involves a great amount of money that you want to talk about?”
Although he despised Yu and Orston since he was so poor, Tang Ling still felt like he had a great sum of money. “I have 120K credits.”
“Hmph, can you not make a fool of yourself? That amount of credits that you got from the sector will make you the joke of the day even in the lowest of black markets.” Su Yao dragged Tang Ling into Madame’s Eatery.
The place was filled with the aroma of grilled meat. At a closer look, the counter in the spacious shop was designed into a stove, and the owner seemed to be the fat man behind the stove, or rather, the counter, grilling the meat.
Tang Ling had gotten his hands on Level 2 and 3 vicious beast meat before, so he knew at first glance what meat the owner was grilling. Mutated beast meat that was at least Level 3 with little strips of meat beside it that looked like a garnish for the main dish which should be authentic Level 1 vicious beast meat.
“Customers?” The fat owner was kind and welcoming. When he saw Su Yao and Tang Ling enter the shop, he shoved the steak and meat strips off the pan, carefully cut them, and put them onto two plates.
“Those who come in are my customers. Why not have a taste of my cooking?” the fat owner said as he ran over to Su Yao and Tang Ling with heavy breaths.
When he came out from behind the counter, Tang Ling realized the owner was much fatter than he imagined.
Were the tasting samples a little too luxurious?
No, both Tang Ling and Su Yao did not think so because, in this eatery, other than the counter and several tables that were probably set up for walk-in customers, there were no other decorations.
It did not need any decorations either since the bulk of neatly organized dried meat hanging from the beam of the ceiling stated how popular this eatery was.
With a single glance at the dried meat, the lowest quality was Level 2 mutated beast meat, and Level 3 vicious beast meat was common in store too. Even Level 4 or 5 vicious beast meat which tendons were glistening in oil were among the assembled dried meat.
Was the sample luxurious?
Not at all.
Moreover, with such an astonishing display of products, Tang Ling had reason to believe that what the shop displayed was not the best it could offer. There might be a secret room or a VIP room behind like what Old Fox Quark did with his business back in the settlement.
Speaking of Quark, where had the man been? Tang Ling realized he had almost forgotten about the old fox, but thankfully, he still remembered the mysterious numbers that Quark told him before he was captured.
While Tang Ling was getting carried away with his thoughts, the fat owner served some meat to Su Yao and Tang Ling. He then sat down beside the two with a smile. “Dear customer, what do you need? You can tell me now and I’ll prepare the goods while you enjoy your food.”
The service at Madame’s Eatery was top-notch.
Tang Ling did not care. Since Su Yao had told him not to make a fool of himself, he went ahead with the food and left the rest to the latter.
Su Yao subtly took the strips of vicious beast meat away from Tang Ling’s plate. Given Tang Ling’s current strength level, digesting vicious beast meat was not exactly a pleasant experience.
Tang Ling instantly understood what Su Yao was trying to do. The fat owner also neglected the little details and thoughtfully handed them two masks that only revealed the mouth. He also turned away to allow the duo to switch masks.
Tang Ling and Su Yao changed into the half-masks that had great coverage. Other than the chin and mouth area, nothing was revealed.
Su Yao cut a piece of meat and put it into his mouth. He then took a card and put it on the table. “I want to trade all the credits here into meat, and only vicious beast meat.”
Tang Ling still could consume mutated beast meat at his current level, but the amount he needed would far surpass vicious beast meat, and it would surely cause many inconveniences. The absorption rate would also be much lower than vicious beast meat.
Since this kid started off with luxurious vicious beast meat, let’s just keep it that way. That was what Su Yao thought.
The fat owner was not surprised by Su Yao’s bold action. He picked the card up and checked it carefully.
“That’s a little hard. This is a privilege credit card from Safety Sector No. 17. Even if the amount is no less than a million credits, according to the rules, credits cannot be exchanged for vicious beast meat. All you can get is Level 7 to 9 mutated beast meat based on the exchange rate.
“If you have Hope credits, you can get some vicious beast meat, but it cannot go above Level 3 vicious beast meat either.” The fat owner’s smile remained. He was not disappointed because Su Yao had offered to trade using Safety Sector No. 17 credits. He also did not flash the duo a despicable gaze as he treated them a plate of meat each.
“Mm-hmm. There are around 3.4 million credits inside, rounding the numbers up. I’m telling you I want vicious beast meat.” Su Yao then took his badge and placed it on the table.
The fat owner glanced over at the badge, and it was the first time he reacted differently. He looked a little sour as if he was being placed in a difficult position. Still, he remained respectful.
Without waiting for the fat owner’s reply, Su Yao took two more transparent round coins out of his pocket. The center of the transparent coin was embedded with an emerald.
“I’m not just paying you with credits. What about this?” Su Yao smirked as he cut another piece of meat and put it into his mouth.
The fat owner picked up the two transparent coins on the table in surprise, his tiny eyes gleaming in happiness.