ATPnovel Chapter 4095 [Marindo Ghost Market]
Chapter 4095 [Marindo Ghost Market]
Chapter 4095 [Marindo Ghost Market]
Regardless of identity, origin, or reason.
No inspection, no after-sales service, goods are not accepted after leaving the store, and you assume all risks.
They dispersed at dawn.
Justin quickly learned some rules about the Ghost Market from Dragon, which made him feel a mix of nervousness and anticipation about the mysterious and eerie market.
More and more boats converged in the underground river, and by the time Justin landed, the number of people who came ashore at the same time had exceeded one hundred.
What appeared before Justin was a small capital city hidden deep underground.
A large number of people dressed in black robes walked through the area, and vendors set up stalls on both sides of the road at will. It was rare to hear any conversations among passersby.
It's as if everyone who comes here is like a gear soaked in lubricant, all the gears turning silently and orderly, together maintaining the strange and eerie appearance of this ghost market, bustling yet quiet.
Justin looked around in astonishment, having already seen a large number of items prohibited by the Empire on the street stalls along the way.
There were even weapons museums that openly sold imperial armaments!
"This...this is the [Iron Dome] special combat light armor for planetary warfare? It can only be awarded to those who have accumulated merits in the military, at least to the rank of junior officer. How come there is one here?"
Justin took a slight breath in front of the cabinet.
"This is nothing. If we can't even get these kinds of goods, there's no point in opening this ghost market." Dorag seemed quite casual.
Justin hesitated for a moment, "This... there are some bloodstains and minor damage on this [Iron Dome], could it really have been taken from some lieutenant?"
"Have you forgotten the rules so quickly?" Dragon said calmly.
Justin fell silent, and Dorrag didn't let him stay there for long, but instead led him deeper into the Ghost Market.
Tonight, Justin was invited by Mr. Fukuzo to enter the Ghost Market for the first time. Although Dragon didn't say anything, Justin guessed that the other party was taking him to find Mr. Fukuzo.
What place is that?
A five-story building, which was rather low in this area, quickly caught Justin's attention... When he passed by, he could even see six [T-9000] [Slayers]—all combat robots of the Martial Arts Planet—guarding the front of the building.
Each one possesses combat power no less than that of a [Morning Star] star, and is extremely expensive to manufacture.
"Slave auction house." Dragon glanced at it again. "What, interested? After we meet Mr. Fukuzo, if there's still time, I can take you in to have a look. If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a bargain."
Justin was taken aback. "The empire doesn't prohibit the auctioning of slaves."
Although there isn't one in the Royal Court residential area, there is a large slave auction market in the second district of [Marindo], which Justin had visited before, but quickly lost interest.
It's basically all about the Empire's expansionist wars and the slaves captured from the planet.
“If they were legitimate slaves, they wouldn’t be here.” Dragon chuckled. “There are quite a few people inside who have no other choice but to become slaves voluntarily. As for their status… they include, but are not limited to, the princes and nobles of the empire.”
"What?! How is this possible?!"
Shh, don't be so startled.
"……sorry."
Suddenly, Dorag reached out and pulled Justin aside. Just as Justin was wondering what was going on, he saw that the pedestrians on both sides of the road also stepped aside, clearing the way completely.
Four men in black robes approached, the leader of whom wore a dark gold rose brooch on his chest.
The four of them, under the watchful eyes of others, walked openly and covertly into the small building of the auction house.
Only then did the pedestrians on the road return to their previous state.
"Who is that? Why does everyone seem so scared... Aren't they all hiding their identities?" Justin asked, trying to keep his voice down.
“The identity inside the black robe is naturally unknown, but the identity outside the black robe is.” Dorag looked thoughtfully in the direction of the auction house. “That brooch represents another identity in the Ghost Market, the [High roller]. It can only be obtained by accumulating a certain level of spending in the Ghost Market… I heard that the threshold is so high that one’s own wealth must be at least that of an ordinary [star system].
hissing...
"Just think about it, how could someone with such immense wealth have a simple identity hidden beneath that black robe?"
Justin nodded cautiously. Although he was royalty, he didn't even have the wealth of an ordinary planet, let alone an ordinary star system.
He didn't own a planet at all; he could only receive a living allowance from the foundation of the royal family members on a regular basis.
“Let’s go, we’ve already wasted a lot of time. Mr. Fukuzo doesn’t like people being late.”
……
Inside the auction house, a man in a black robe wearing a dark gold rose brooch was led into a private box by two attendants.
Two of the four men in black robes stood guard outside the door.
Then the black-robed man wearing a dark gold rose brooch approached the window and glanced at the auction stage below.
The auction had already begun.
The auctioneer was introducing a nearly naked woman.
The woman was almost glowing, with a seductive figure, a half-flame-shaped mask on her face, and long, dark blue hair.
"Item number 9, possessing noble blood from a certain noble family in the Northern Star Region, with deep blue hair as the family's trademark, nineteen years old, with an appearance rating of 91 points, and completely virgin! Due to an inability to repay a huge gambling debt, she voluntarily sold herself into slavery... She herself possesses the fifth in line of inheritance rights in this family!"
The blue-haired woman in the cage had a blank expression, as if she had already accepted her fate.
Bidding began, and it was quite lively. The genuine imperial noblewoman was already alluring enough. Although her true face was covered, her high rating of 91 points made people look forward to it, because the auction house had a complete scoring system that never disappointed.
However, the greatest value lies in the inheritance rights that women themselves possess.
"This country is truly corrupt."
The owner of the rose brooch silently withdrew her gaze and sat down quietly.
"Your Highness, shall we purchase item number 9 tonight?" another man in black robes asked respectfully. "Dark blue hair, Northern Star Region... most likely from that family, and the fifth in line of succession should be sufficient."
"Go ahead and make the arrangements," the owner of the rose brooch said calmly. "Anyway, with my status as a 'high roller' in this ghost market, I have monthly spending needs. I haven't spent anything this month yet."
The black-robed attendant nodded, then retrieved the bidding device and began the auction.
The owner of the rose brooch closed his eyes and waited silently... [It] was waiting for someone.
"Your Highness, he has arrived."
……
……
Deep within the ghost market, in a house with a secluded courtyard, inside the study.
"Welcome, Your Highness Justin."
The familiar tuxedo attire, the familiar warm yet insincere smile... Justin looked at Mr. Fukuzo and felt as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake.
"Take your time chatting, you two." Dragon chuckled softly and prepared to leave.
Justin instinctively grabbed Dragon's arm, but Dragon gently pushed him away, shaking his head slightly to indicate that Justin didn't need to be nervous.
Only after Dorrag closed the door and left did Mr. Fukuzo gracefully light a cigar. "Your Highness Justin, how does it feel to be here at the Ghost Market for the first time?"
“It’s shocking…” Justin hesitated for a moment, “and also very puzzling.”
[Fukuzo] became interested. "I can understand being shocked, but what is Your Highness wondering about?"
Justin thought for a moment and said, "How could the Empire allow this place to exist?"
Leaving aside what I saw and heard along the way, just consider the owner of that rose brooch—his wealth was at least at the level of an ordinary [galaxy]... There must be more than one person like that in the Ghost Market.
In fact, in a strict sense, Dorrag was the one who truly guided him into the Ghost Market.
So, are those who bought the injections from [Fukuzo] before me... somewhere in the Ghost Market right now?
Justin was shocked by the origins of the customers at the ghost market, and also terrified by the extent of Fuzo's infiltration of the empire.
What kind of enormous and terrifying network of relationships lies behind this?
“I’m sorry, Your Highness Justin, I cannot tell you the reason for this at the moment.” Mr. Fukuzo shook his head. “Because you are not yet qualified to know.”
"What qualifications are required?" Justin asked instinctively.
“The simplest thing,” [Fukuzo] squinted, “is to become a [High Roller] in the Ghost Market.”
Justin's lips twitched slightly. Damn it, if he had the amazing wealth to become a "high roller," would he need to come here?
"Why did you call me here tonight?" Justin finally asked the question that had been on his mind. "Are you trying to invite me into the Ghost Market? But to be honest, I don't have much money left after buying the injections from you last time... As a consumer, I probably don't have much value to you, do I?"
“How can you say that?” Mr. Fukuzo smiled slightly. “Your Highness is a member of the royal family and has a noble status. Just based on Your Highness’s status alone, it is worth a thousand pieces of gold to me.”
As he spoke, Mr. Fukuzo opened a drawer, took out an anonymous card from the Void Bank, and pushed it directly in front of Justin.
Justin's eye twitched suddenly.
“When I said it was worth a fortune, I wasn’t just being polite,” Mr. Fuzao chuckled. “This card contains thirty million small world origin units. Your Highness can use it to make purchases anywhere in the Ghost Market. If that’s not enough, I can provide more.”
"This... Mr. Fukuzo, what do you mean by this?"
Justin simply couldn't accept this "kindness"!
Mr. Fuzao said calmly, "Didn't Your Highness understand what I meant? I meant that Your Highness's status is so noble that it is worth a thousand pieces of gold to me. This thirty million is just a deposit."
Identity...identity?
Justin was taken aback, staring intently at Fukuzo with apprehension. "You...you want my identity?"
"Your Highness is intelligent."
Justin frowned deeply. "I'm just a marginal member of the royal family, and even this status might not be maintained by my generation! What use do you have for my status? Compared to me, isn't someone like Dragon, whose bloodline has always remained at the baseline, more valuable?"
“But there is something in you that Prince Dragon lacks,” Mr. Fukuzo said calmly. “To be precise, it is something you will be able to inherit immediately.”
“I don’t quite understand,” Justin said cautiously.
[Fuzo] clasped his hands together, “One spot to enter the ancestral land of the [Abriel] royal family for baptism.”
“I know about our ancestral lands…” Justin’s eyes flashed with confusion, “but what are you talking about, baptism?”
"It seems His Highness Justin doesn't know much about his own family." [Fukuzo] smiled. "His Highness Justin, you should know a lot about your grandfather's past, right?"
Justin nodded silently.
His grandfather was an illegitimate son of the royal family. He was later found and lived a quiet life in the royal court. He was nothing special.
"The baptism of the ancestral land is a ritual... or rather a means, that can help the royal family awaken their royal crest." [Fuzo] looked at the shock in Justin's eyes and slowly said, "Of course, the success rate of this baptism is very low, less than one percent. Moreover, only special royal talents are granted the qualification to undergo this baptism."
“Could my grandfather really be qualified?” Justin said incredulously.
"It's not about possession, but inheritance," Mr. Fuzao said calmly. "Your grandfather's qualifications came from his father, your great-grandfather. He was one of the special talents of the royal family and was qualified for baptism. But unfortunately, your great-grandfather died in a desolate star field during a pioneering war. This is also the reason why your grandfather was left to wander outside."
Justin swallowed subconsciously. He had learned this secret from an outsider... His family had never revealed it!
"Your grandfather has returned and automatically inherited your great-grandfather's spot." Mr. Fukuzo narrowed his eyes again. "But to this day, your grandfather has never used this spot. I think he most likely won't use it again. As for your father, he probably won't give it to him either. In the end, it will probably be designated for you."
"……Why?"
"The right to use this spot is time-limited; it will be revoked after it expires." [Fuzao] stated bluntly, "The deadline for this qualification is approaching."
"So... what you really want is this qualification to enter the royal ancestral land?" Justin frowned. "But... what do you want to do here? Only members of the royal bloodline are allowed to enter; it's impossible to bring outsiders in."
"Your Highness need not worry about that," Fukuzo smiled slightly. "I will naturally have a solution."
Justin's expression darkened slightly, and he suddenly said, "Dragon introduced you to me in the first place... was that actually at your behest?"
Fukuzo chuckled, "Akira Type B, hasn't Your Highness's wish already been fulfilled?"
Justin, now thinking of the terrifying network of relationships behind the Ghost Market, felt a chill run down his spine. He dared not think whether he could safely leave the Ghost Market, or even this house, if he refused.
“This…” Justin tried to sound natural. “Mr. Fukuzo, I really don’t know anything about baptism, or even whether there are any such places. Perhaps I should ask my grandfather about this when I get back?”
“Of course.” [Fukuzo] nodded slightly. “This is a mutually agreeable transaction, and Your Highness should naturally consider it carefully.”
Justin hadn't expected Mr. Fukuzo's attitude to be so non-aggressive, and his hastily come-uppance was practically useless. "Then today?"
“There’s still a long time until dawn.” Mr. Fukuzo chuckled softly and took out an anonymous card from the drawer. “Your Highness can enjoy the fun of the Ghost Market. Mr. Dragon is an expert on the entertainment here. Please accept this small token of my appreciation.”
This card has a credit limit of only two million.
Justin glanced at the card with 30 million, hesitated for a moment, and finally accepted the card with 2 million... If he didn't accept it, it would be disrespectful, and he wouldn't be able to leave easily.
He thought to himself, "It's just a pretense."
……
……
Ghost market, auction house.
A person dressed in a loose black robe walked into the private room with a swagger, sat down directly in front of the owner of the rose brooch, and took off his mask without saying a word.
"Seriously, this place is really dark and filthy, and quite hard to find? Plus, I smell something nauseating..."
Beneath the mask was a rugged, stubble-covered face.
"Are you the messenger of the throne of Mozi?"
All that could be heard was the owner of the rose brooch asking calmly.
The man with the stubble chuckled and stated his name directly, "Musashi."