Refund!

After leaving the hotel, Ewan quickly finished his lunch. He then retraced his steps, following the route etched in his memory, until he reached the river that divided the upper and lower districts of the city.

The token in his hand, emblazoned with a rat, felt faintly warm. This confirmed that the underground black market had indeed opened for business. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ewan donned his black robe and mask, which concealed both his form and aura, before leaping into a pipe by the river.

Inside the abandoned sewer pipe, a nauseating stench assaulted his senses, far more potent than the last time. It was as if countless bodies had decayed within its confines.

Yet, at the pipe’s terminus, Ewan did not find the tall, decaying figure who had greeted him on his previous visit.

Instead, a different, raspy voice emerged from the enveloping shadows.

“Where is it?”

“Right here.”

Ewan showed the shriveled, diminutive figure in the corner the token in his hand. He couldn’t help but ask, curiosity piqued, “What happened to the previous doorkeeper?”

“He died.”

The gaunt, small figure replied, their tone devoid of emotion, as if recounting the demise of a street rat.

“The item is correct. Go on in.”

Ewan did not press further. For those who dwelled in the shadows of Belland, a sudden death on the streets, much like a stray dog’s, was simply too common to warrant much thought.

He swiftly traversed the passage, stepping into the black market.

However, the moment he entered, Ewan suddenly felt an unseen gaze sweep over him, its origin unknown.

An icy chill instantly prickled Ewan’s back. Even from a fleeting glance, he instinctively sensed the terrifying power of the gaze’s owner.

If not a Crowned Being, they were certainly not far off.

Fortunately, the owner of the gaze seemed uninterested in probing Ewan’s identity. After merely sensing his cultivation level, the gaze swiftly moved on.

‘That gaze wasn’t here last time.’

‘Does that mean this is a formidable expert who came to preside over the black market after its reopening?’

‘It seems the previous purge had quite an impact on the black market after all.’

Ewan mused for a moment, then dismissed the thought. The black market’s suffering was, from his perspective, a good thing, both logically and emotionally. This region had, after all, spawned an untold amount of darkness.

The seemingly innocuous phrase, ‘Anything can be bought,’ concealed a history built upon countless tears and rivers of blood.

Yet, Ewan was not so naive as to leverage his identity to eradicate this darkness completely.

He knew he couldn’t accomplish it.

No one could, in fact.

As long as Belland remained the most prosperous city on the continent, these shadows, gradually growing stronger beneath the sunlight, would never be truly expunged.

Unless he gritted his teeth, brought down those wicked noble lords, and ushered in the glorious light of socialism to this world.

‘Ah, I’m a noble lord myself. Never mind then.’

“I just hope I can find the Ancient Dragon’s Heart Blood soon,” Ewan sighed. This place made him instinctively uncomfortable; he wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

****

Upon entering the black market, however, Ewan did not immediately go searching for the Ancient Dragon’s Heart Blood.

Instead, he made his way to a small shop.

A colossal horned skull adorned the shop’s sign, making it extremely conspicuous.

“Scoundrel!”

As he gazed at the shop, Ewan couldn’t help but clench his teeth in frustration.

He hadn’t forgotten the immense trouble he’d endured because of the aphrodisiac he’d bought from this very shop!

Indeed, in that whole incident, that aphrodisiac—no, to be precise, the aphrodisiac included with the tranquilizer—was the primary culprit that caused the situation to spiral completely out of control!

Therefore, he absolutely had to demand an explanation today!

The crisp chime of a wind chime announced Ewan’s entry as he pushed open the shop’s door.

“Oh my, a customer so early today?”

The shopkeeper, still enveloped in a voluminous black robe, spoke in a husky voice that gave no hint of their gender. However, with every casual movement, the robe would subtly trace a breathtaking curve.

They seemed to have just opened, busy arranging goods on the shelves. Upon seeing Ewan enter, the hood revealed the hungry gaze of a wolf eyeing a lamb.

“Esteemed customer, is there anything you’d like to see? My humble shop has everything, you know.”

“Strange…”

Ewan scrutinized the shopkeeper, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Unlike his previous visit, this time, as he looked at the mysterious shopkeeper, Ewan felt a sudden sense of familiarity.

‘Is it just a delusion?’

‘Or is it…’

‘No, I can’t be misled by such groundless illusions, nor should I feel familiar with every woman who has a good figure.’

He was here to demand an explanation!

“I’m not here to buy anything.”

Ewan stated, his voice low and raspy, thanks to the special processing.

“Oh? Then, customer, are you here to…”

Sensing the hostility emanating from Ewan, the shopkeeper visibly grew wary.

“Two months ago, I bought a bottle of ** from you.”

“Two months ago…”

The shopkeeper fell into thought, then suddenly understood.

“Oh, you were that huge… that huge client from back then!”

“You were about to say ‘huge sucker,’ weren’t you!”

A vein pulsed on Ewan’s forehead. “I’ll temporarily overlook the price for now, but I have one question for you: was that tranquilizer you sold me legitimate?”

“Was it not legitimate?”

The shopkeeper asked, puzzled. “Was the tranquilizer not effective? Couldn’t it knock out an elephant?”

“The fact that it could knock out an elephant is not the issue.”

After all, even Celicia couldn’t last two seconds against that tranquilizer.

“But the problem is with the free gift you gave me. Was that thing legitimate?”

“The gift…”

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then, as if realizing something, exclaimed in shock, “Don’t tell me you actually used that medicine on an elephant? And with the gift?”

As they spoke, the shopkeeper looked at Ewan with a hint of pity.

‘No wonder he’s so angry.’

‘They say an elephant’s… is over a meter long.’

‘Wouldn’t that be a straight shot to the stomach?’

‘Tsk tsk, it’s a miracle this person is still alive.’

“Of course not!”

Ewan slammed the table in fury.

“I didn’t use the medicine on an elephant, and your tranquilizer was very effective. I just want to ask, why did you give me an aphrodisiac as a gift, and even instruct me that it would work better if used together?”

“This… isn’t bundled sales a common merchant tactic? It was very well-received before.”

“It was indeed well-received by those lecherous old perverts with evil intentions, but I am not one of them!”

Ewan declared righteously, “I am a true gentleman.”

“…A true gentleman wouldn’t come to buy that kind of medicine, alright? Besides, I think even with a little basic knowledge of potionology, one should be able to distinguish the effects of that medicine.”

Saying this, the shopkeeper glanced at Ewan with a hint of disbelief. “Customer, you don’t actually lack even that level of potion knowledge, do you?”

“Is… is that important?” Ewan’s old face flushed beneath his mask.

“Of course! Isn’t basic potionology a mandatory subject for both mages and warriors? Otherwise, when you’re out and about, would you dare to drink potions indiscriminately? What if the potion has strange effects, or even turns you into a girl?”

“Cough, cough… In any case, it is a fact that your actions caused me immense harm, so…”

Ewan cleared his throat twice, then declared with a booming voice, “Give me my money back!”