Chapter 22: Underground Market
Layla took out a particular mask from her inventory.
That mask would be mostly seen at the carnivals or in theatres, in Reylin's world.
It covered the top of the face, but in the Faynom World, it also affected the status and other 'game' stats.
Layla's status disappeared, and she became the unknown entity!
With her long robes covering most of her body, no one would discern her real status. She also wore the typical robes, so that added another cover!
For Reylin, Layla prepared the same clothes, and he just had to put them on his armor to hide his appearance.
His nickname disappeared from above his head, and Reylin joined Layla in their little ploy. Of course, anyone entering the underground market would do the same.
Reylin lent the arm for the high mage, and she guided him straight to the underground market.
The entrance was the old house.
It was located in the slums area, the furthest away from the royal castle. The light stones or candles didn't light up here, and even the moon seemed to avoid this poverty. People here were either on alert or sleeping guardless.
Reylin and Layla entered the house, then used the stairs down to the underground.
The underground was like a new kind of city with many houses and booths spread across the streets. No one lived here except people who operated their business. Many people either came in or left after getting their business done.
"For the underground, the air here is clean," Reylin commented.
The streets were also maintained.
No dust or trash rolled on the ground!
The same went for people, both coming and working here. Even if one bumped or scratched someone else's clothes, they would remain clean and smooth...
Guided by Layla, Reylin entered one of the stone houses.
Its design was pretty straightforward, with many showcases littering the ground. One could find many valuable items within those, ranging from the first levels up to level eighty! The shopkeeper also exposed their stats and usage so that even those with inexperienced eyes could decide whether they wanted it or not.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man, and his eyes remained emotionless after Layla exposed her black card.
"It's been a while," He said after confirming Layla's underground name.
Layla didn't reply back.
She took out the items Reylin wanted to sell and asked for the price through gestures. She couldn't pay Reylin, so using her connections, she would help him get some money and improve her relationship with him.
Layla was more eager to do it after their walk in the capital.
The man scrutinized those goods and named his price.
"787 silver coins for all of those," The shopkeeper said.
That amount was tasty for all newbie players, but Reylin aimed high. After he had done his research in the man's shop, he turned his eyes to him and said, "Those flame robes cost 1200 silver coins, which is 12 gold coins. I feel like we can exchange our jewelry for those robes."
"I said 787 silver coins, young man," The shopkeeper shifted his eyes to Reylin after Layla didn't show any signs.
Reylin chuckled, "Well. We all know the good old method of bargaining. You said the lowest, and it's our time to tell the highest. Still, I am not just offering that jewelry but also a valuable connection.
Me."
"You?" The shopkeeper squinted his eyes.
Reylin didn't give him any time; however, "I am one of the players, and this is my level. Now, as the person from the underground, it's your job to keep up with the information.
How many players have entered the underground so far? This is just the second day, so I guess just a little. Secondly, look at my level."
After Reylin exposed his level, the man's eyes widened, and shock rippled within his cold hues! The man didn't expect the player to level up this fast, but Reylin had killed an Lv. 50 resident before coming here.
Players naturally gave some experience too, but that was far less than residents, and there was no way people would have willingly given up for this man unless he was a big shot!
In both cases, this young man was different from other players.
He also managed to talk over Layla, which was one of his known clients.
Reylin attacked for the last time, "Why are we here? Of course, that is because I got those items by killing a naughty evil noble... You should know about him... What was his name? Hmm... Lord Hiba, I guess?"
"..." A sweat tumbled down the shopkeeper's temple.
"I think I am a precious connection. With so many naughty evil nobles around the world, I sure need a good underwork network. How will it be then?" Reylin smiled and asked with an impatient tone.
"How do you want to proceed? I am willing to work with you." The shopkeeper revealed his name.
His name was Matias, and his level was ten more than Lord Hiba.
Reylin chuckled, "I can conjure a contract if you want."
"Of course," Matias nodded.
Both of them looked over the clauses, fixed a few at the same time, and then signed the contract with their nicknames...
After the contract, Reylin received the flame robes for level thirty with abundant stats and a nice passive effect!
"We should see each other soon enough. Prepare some nice flame equipment for me," Reylin chuckled and left the shop with Layla holding onto his arm.
The Underground Market didn't have anything else to offer for Reylin. Those other services, such as prostitution or underground ring, didn't appeal to him, and he wasn't interested in those in the slightest.
Maybe the underground ring would see the flame outburst in the future, but that would be for the future.
Reylin and Layla left the underground and went for another walk.
Only after breathing much cleaner air did Layla speak, "I feel like no woman can keep up with you."
"You weren't useless if that's what bothers you." Reylin smiled.
"I have always been careful in the underground, but here you just signed a contract with your name on it... I don't know what to say..." Layla shook her head a few times.
"At worst, I will cry to a certain cold woman, and she will help me out there, I guess? I think she also expected me to visit such a place anyway," Reylin explained, then added, "But the clauses and what can come out from this connection will stop this man from doing anything stupid. To say nothing of plotting against me, he won't even spread my name."
"It's your choice, and I can only support you on that," Layla replied.
"That's good, and I can't appreciate it enough," Reylin burst out laughing.
At last, the couple returned to Layla's magic shop.
It was past 2 in the morning, and Reylin had gone past his usual routine! He barely did it in his life, but now that the game went live, he would spend much more time here, and his schedule would get pretty complex!
Once confirmed that it was safe, the players would spend much more hours in the game, and a few maybe even sleep here, just to wake up for another day of excitement.
Excitement varied greatly in this game, and Reylin was having fun with a foreign to him.
"Why aren't you disappearing?" Layla asked her eyes on Reylin's face.
"I expect something before going back to my world," Reylin smiled widely.
"That's why the relationship between the players and us is so difficult. You all just disappear back to your world, and we can't even contact you... So, what do you expect? The notes that made you look at me with different eyes?" Layla tilted her head and asked.
"That's something I am going to work for. Don't look down on me, Layla," Reylin said in a serious voice, closing up the rosy red lips tightly.
Layla just stared at him.
"Looks like I will go to bed with just your thinkful expression as the parting gift," Reylin said and raised his hand.
He went for the logout button, but Layla stopped his hand, then leaned forward.
Now, what Reylin expected had finally come closer to him.
He and Layla kissed.
Although it was his first kiss, Reylin pushed his tongue in and surprised Layla, whose eyes faintly opened, then closed in as fast.
She retaliated and intertwined her tongue with his.
They licked and kissed for just a few seconds before parting.
"That was harder than I expected. Was it your first, too?"
"It was..."
"I guess we have both learned something valuable then. And we both need more practice. Tomorrow, I expect a parting kiss as I am going to grind up the levels."
"Scoundrel... Don't get too conceited. You promised to teach me game terms, didn't you? You must help me with that first before the second kiss."
[Your friendship with Layla has increased by 200!]
[Your friendship with Layla has reached a very intimate level!]
Both of them saw such messages!
Layla blushed and avoided his eyes.
"Age is just a number, isn't it?" Reylin snickered.
"Go back already!"
"I promised to teach you those terms after the quest. Wait for it a little, and we will have the whole day with me by your side."
"Whole day? That might be too much, you know?" Layla softened and calmed a little, then joked with Reylin!
He laughed out loud, then clicked that log-out button, "Good night, my girlfriend."
"Good night."