Chapter 205
**Black Market**
It refers to a market where transactions occur outside established systems and laws. Interpreted more broadly, it may also be called the underground economy.
No matter where in the world you go, black markets are a given. From Europe and the Americas to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia—there’s truly no place without a black market.
Even in North Korea, there’s a black market. People referred to it as “jangmadang.”
South Korea is no exception. Just looking at many second-hand trading sites, items like counterfeit tickets are traded in a shady manner.
In a sense, that could be considered a type of black market. It’s not just places where guns, drugs, counterfeit currency, and illegal pornography are traded.
Anyway,
Francesca reported that she had obtained information about the northern black market. To be precise, she asked if I wanted to check out the black market, but to my ears, it sounded like the same thing.
Her method of acquiring this information was quite simple.
“Laborer?”
“Yes.”
**Episode 11 – No Issues on the Northern Front**
“…So.”
In the suburbs of Novonikolaevsk, the administrative capital of the Kien Empire’s north.
Francesca, donning a drab brown cape, was waiting for me in a quiet area.
“You heard the workers talking about the black market, right?”
“I heard it from the workers participating in the railway maintenance.”
Francesca obtained information about the black market from a laborer she met at the railway maintenance site.
With her cape covering her face, she continued her explanation.
“There was someone asking if anyone could accompany them to buy some needed items today.”
“What are they buying?”
“They said they needed things for an infant, like powdered milk or diapers.”
“Hmm…”
A biting wind sliced through the air. The bright moon looked down upon the land, while shooting stars decorated the night sky.
Though we were in a dark and damp alley, no matter how filthy the surroundings seemed, Francesca appeared as if she were in another world.
Suddenly, a painting I saw at an art gallery came to mind. It depicted a scholar and a woman walking along a wall, lit by a lantern, with a moon obscured by clouds on a dark night. At first glance, this situation seemed to resemble that painting, but this was not art.
We were in a place under martial law.
Walking the streets at night without a pass could get you shot by military police.
I glanced around and questioned Francesca.
“Can you be more specific?”
According to the laborer Francesca met, there was indeed a black market in the north. The workers utilized the black market to sell surplus items they were allotted in exchange for their work and to procure necessary goods.
The items primarily traded were daily necessities.
“Basic necessities for living are traded the most, and occasionally drugs or magical tools are traded as well. Rare items aren’t seen often, though.”
“Is there anyone who would buy those? They’d be busy just making ends meet.”
“Of course, most people can’t afford them at high prices.”
Francesca added with a slight smile.
“But someone must be buying them for there to be a market, right? No one calls it business if there’s no profit to be made.”
True enough.
The black market is, after all, a market. A market is a space where transactions occur, and traders sell valuable items.
But value is an incredibly abstract concept. Whether diamonds or gold, if people aren’t willing to pay for them, they’re just useless rocks.
So, the fact that drugs or magical tools are traded in the northern black market means there are people who can afford to buy them. At least that’s how Francesca interpreted it.
“I’m not very knowledgeable about economics… but let’s say you’re right. What do you want?”
“Huh?”
Francesca wore a strange smile, one I had never seen before. Her eyes sparkled with interest in the dark of the alley.
“You won the bet, didn’t you? If you have something you want, just say it.”
“Well… could you give me some time to think about it…?”
“……”
What on earth was she planning, that she needed time to think? How much does she think she can squeeze out from just finding a black market?
I felt like suggesting we just have a drink to settle things, but regrettably, Francesca wasn’t the type to be satisfied with that.
I sighed deeply.
“Fine. So when do we leave?”
“Oh, before that.”
Under the chilly moonlight, Francesca’s eyes drew a line.
“I have someone to meet.”
*
Francesca, who mentioned she had someone to meet, said she’d be back soon and left the spot momentarily. I tightened my loosely worn coat, waiting for her in the alley.
A while later.
“Uh…”
I stared in disbelief at the large figure that appeared before me.
“So, what’s your name…?”
“…Huh!”
A burly man with a stylish beard burst into hearty laughter.
“I’m Sir Pereyti of the Order of Saint Andrew!”
The towering man who appeared in the alley was someone I knew well. After all, I had met him just a week ago—multiple times, in fact.
He was the head of the Knights Order, the Order of Saint Andrew, sent first into the fray of the conflict between the Kien Empire and the Demon Realm.
Unexpectedly showing up, he opened his mouth in a resonant voice.
“It’s been a while, Colonel Frederick Nostrim!”
“Uh… um… yes. It’s been a while too, Sir Pereyti.”
“Sir what!”
His robust laughter echoed in the alley under the bright moonlight.
“Now that we’re comrades-in-arms, just call me Pereyti!”
“…I’ll call you Sir Pereyti.”
“Eh? That’s too stiff.”
“……”
I stared blankly at Sir Pereyti, still not understanding why he had shown up here. I couldn’t piece together the reasoning behind this.
Pinching my throbbing temples, I glanced around at the people nearby.
“……”
Beside him stood Francesca, wearing a peculiar smile, and behind her stood someone with their hat pulled low and their head bowed.
I spoke to the person concealed by the burly figure.
“…Excuse me. Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
“…Um, I-I don’t think so…?”
The person with the hat replied in a flustered tone. Even though the surroundings were dark, the bright red hair peeking out from beneath the hat was clearly visible.
“…I’m sure we have.”
“…Maybe not.”
I swiftly seized the brim of the hat and yanked it off.
As the absurdly designed hat vanished, the flattened red hair tumbled down, and a pair of blue eyes filled with bewilderment lifted to meet mine. What appeared after the hat was removed was a very familiar face.
I called her name softly.
“Camila. What are you doing here?”
“……”
Camila’s blue eyes flickered around as though there were an earthquake. When I leaned in slightly to catch her gaze, she rolled her eyes and quickly averted her sight.
Watching the flustered Camila, I turned my gaze back to Francesca. My eyes urged her to explain this bizarre situation.
“…Hmm.”
As if aware of my gaze, Francesca cleared her throat and spoke.
“Colonel, this is Sir Pereyti who came from the Order. And as you know, she is a Hero.”
“I know that too. But why are these people here?”
It wasn’t Francesca who answered that question.
“I’m going to the black market!”
“……”
“……”
“…Uh, not really?”
Sir Pereyti awkwardly scratched his head, stepping in for Francesca with a sheepish grin.
A surreal silence settled in the alley. Sir Pereyti, who was looking a bit embarrassed, soon broke into a hearty smile and explained his situation to me.
“I was asking around for things I needed, and the Administrator here mentioned that there’s a black market nearby. I thought I’d check if they had what I was looking for.”
“…Things you need?”
“Yep!”
“You’re a knight, right? No, weren’t you a priest before becoming a knight?”
What kind of religious man is planning to frequent the black market?
In response, Sir Pereyti nodded confidently.
“Of course, I know that black markets aren’t exactly nice places. I’m no fool.”
“Then why….”
“But!”
Sir Pereyti continued with a resolute voice.
“Nowhere in the scripture does it say that priests can’t use black markets!”
“……”
Well, there’s no section in the scripture that forbids it, but…
I looked at the knight, utterly dumbfounded.
“…While it may not be prohibited in scripture, isn’t it illegal?”
“Or I can just repent! The great God will forgive this little lamb’s sins! Haha!”
“……”
Is this guy even a knight?
At this point, I felt dizzy. I had thought he was not sane when he appeared in full armor at the banquet, but this guy was on another level of absurdity.
I wanted to retort, but further conversation with this man was sure to become exhausting. I decided to forgo the discussion and turned my attention back to Camila, standing behind Sir Pereyti.
“Camila.”
“…Yes?”
“You’re not here to go to the black market, are you?”
“……”
Camila hesitated, nervously parting her lips and avoiding my gaze.
“…I know it’s dangerous, but…”
“……”
“Honestly, I’m just curious… Hehe.”
The moment I heard her reply, I couldn’t help but grab the back of my neck.
How am I supposed to hit her for that?!
This is maddening.
“Damn it…”
As I held the back of my neck while swaying, Sir Pereyti caught me and straightened me up.
“Are you okay?”
“Thank you. My blood pressure suddenly spiked…”
“Haha! You seem more fragile than I would have expected!”
“……”
Fragile? Me?
No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense. I had never been considered lacking in stamina, even during my time in special forces or military education, nor have I ever received such criticisms from the Military Intelligence Agency. Yet, here I was, labeled fragile?
“……”
Suddenly, the form of Sir Pereyti caught my eye. I hadn’t noticed earlier in the darkness, but his build was astonishing.
He was easily over two meters tall, and his large frame couldn’t be concealed even by a thick coat that blocked the harsh winter winds. He was a true warrior, honed to wield a sword for his entire life. It made sense.
Even a half-baked knight like me, who only knows how to strengthen my body with magic, has a physique that pales in comparison to those in the special forces who train for endurance. How much more so would the knights, who still carry on their legacy unlike the fallen knights?
Thus, there was no comparing me to Sir Pereyti. Who’d be insane enough to compare a human’s physique to that of an orc? Instead, it was this guy, who didn’t recognize his own level, calling me fragile that felt odd.
“Calm down, both of you. Take a moment.”
“Thank you, Administrator!”
Sir Pereyti expressed his gratitude to Francesca, who smoothly intervened. Camila, peeking from behind, hid as soon as her gaze met mine, but at that moment, nobody was paying her any mind.
I glanced at Sir Pereyti, who was suggesting I build up my body, and let out a sigh while asking.
“…So you’re looking for something.”
“Um, more or less.”
“What are you looking for that makes you want to go to the black market?”
Sir Pereyti pondered for a moment at my unexpected question before breaking into a wide grin.
“Why, it’s naturally for things needed by the Order! Haha!”
So what exactly is that?
“…If it’s something needed by the order, shouldn’t you formally request it? Did supplies run out, or were your requests miscounted?”
“That’s not the case. The great celestial beings and the bishops of the National Affairs Council look over us, so we never run short on supplies.”
Sir Pereyti added,
“However, people can’t survive on meals alone, can they?”
“What on earth could you possibly need that you can’t acquire through formal request? Isn’t it something knights are supposed to have?”
“What does a knight need? Tobacco and alcohol!”
“……”
Are these guys really religious?
I looked at Sir Pereyti with a hint of contempt, but he stared back at me with an unrepentant expression.
This is not what a religious man should be like. Even the monks from those third-rate martial arts tales wouldn’t behave so foolishly.
“Did I hear you right? You need tobacco and alcohol?”
“Yep!”
“……”
The order is finished. I finally understand why the Empire is struggling against demons. With idiots like these as reinforcements, it’s no wonder they’re losing.
I can’t believe I was foolish enough to trust these guys. There’s no longer any hope.
“Ha…”
“…Ahem!”
Noticing the meaning behind my sigh, Sir Pereyti wore an awkward smile and began to avert his gaze. He seemed to realize how embarrassing this was.
The knight couldn’t even meet my eyes properly as he fumbled for excuses.
“Well, even though I’m a knight, I’m still a human. Alcohol and tobacco are legitimate commodities. The great God never commanded us to avoid these.”
“…I believe a few years back, the Pope himself stated that tobacco is harmful.”
“Come on, that’s just a bit strict. As long as it’s consumed out of sight, it should be fine.”
“……”
This knight has taken it to another level. The order is undoubtedly done for. I should have realized it when someone like Veronica was hailed as a saint.
The more I converse with him, the more drained I feel, so I decided to let Sir Pereyti’s words flow over me like water.
“Ahem! Anyway!”
After rambling for a long while, Sir Pereyti shifted gears.
“The reason I’m going to the black market is not solely to acquire items; there are other purposes as well. There are about three main reasons. The items are the second.”
“What about the first reason?”
“Aren’t black markets dangerous?”
“Well, it would certainly appear so. It’s a place where authorities can’t reach.”
“Then it wouldn’t be right to leave noble ladies to venture into such dangerous places!”
With a vow to protect Camila and Francesca no matter what happened, Sir Pereyti thumped his chest, exuding confidence.
“As companions of the Administrator and the Hero of Saint Lucia, it is only right that I protect them!”
“What about the third reason?”
“I’m going to buy a gift for Saint Lucia.”
A gift for Lucia?
Now that was somewhat intriguing. I decided to pry a bit deeper.
“What kind of gift?”
“A cigar.”
Uh, um.
Cigars?
“Hmm? You seem surprisingly unfazed. Then again, you are a companion of the saint, so I could see why.”
“…Where did you hear that? Did it come from Saint Lucia herself?”
Sir Pereyti shook his head.
“She would never ask someone directly to do something like that. She dislikes burdening others.”
“……”
Dislikes burdening others? For a moment, I recalled the things I dealt with in the magic tower.
Lifting boxes, lifting boxes, getting buried under boxes, packaging boxes…
“…Hmm.”
It seems Lucia’s kind nature was greatly exaggerated. There’s no way she dislikes burdening others. At least a part-time job gives some salary; Lucia isn’t offering anything.
“Then who did you hear it from?”
“The person who knows her best.”
“……”
At that moment, a woman’s face popped into my mind. Black hair, tear-shaped birthmark by her eye, that eerie smile, always clasping a bottle of alcohol… faint traces of cigarette smoke.
Veronica, that crazy lady. She said it was her brother’s secret. Why is she wandering around sharing it?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I could almost hear Veronica’s raucous laughter echoing in my mind.
After a moment’s deep breath, I turned to Sir Pereyti.
“So you’re saying the three reasons for going to the black market are protection, supplies, and gifts, right?”
“Exactly! I have more reasons, but….”
Sir Pereyti trailed off.
“You’ll learn that in due time.”
“Have you finished your conversations?”
Francesca, who had been waiting a bit away, strode closer. Standing in the bright moonlight, she wore a gentle smile, but the Camila hidden behind her fidgeted nervously and avoided my gaze.
“……”
“…Hmm, ahem. Uh.”
As Camila was whistling while dripping with cold sweat,
“Alright.”
Francesca, unable to wipe the smile off her face, joined the conversation.
“As you heard, Sir Pereyti has decided to accompany us for security. The Hero wishes to explore the black market. Since you’ve revealed your purpose, I also think it’s appropriate to share mine.”
“Oh, yes. Please, go ahead.”
“Honestly, it’s nothing grand. I have some things to buy and some information to gather.”
Francesca met my gaze and then turned to Pereyti, smiling sweetly.
“Sir Pereyti?”
“What is it?”
“How about revealing your true intentions to the Colonel?”
“…”
The jovial smile on Pereyti’s face turned icy.
But Francesca continued to look at him with a cheerful expression.
“It’s nothing special, and it’s only a matter of time before the Colonel learns the truth, right?”
“…Ugh!”
Seeing as there was no mistake in her statement, Pereyti groaned while scratching his head and nodded.
“Fair point. Knowing in advance won’t change anything, after all…”
“Then please, share it with us.”
“Alright, alright. No need to rush me.”
With a slight nod, Pereyti exhaled lightly and then turned his head towards me.
“Colonel, do you remember what I said earlier? That there are other reasons besides my visit to the black market?”
“I remember.”
“Actually, there is a far more pressing issue than the supplies for the knights or the gifts for the Saint.”
The knight said.
“I intend to investigate dark magic items there.”
*
A few months ago, a terror attack occurred in the center of Abas’ capital. It was an armed hostage situation.
Armed No Man’s Land terrorists occupied a department store and attempted to negotiate with the Government of Abas.
In response, the Abas government mobilized the military counterterrorism unit and magic department investigators in line with its zero-tolerance principle to storm the department store.
After hours of standoff, they eradicated the terrorists and rescued the hostages.
No casualties were reported.
All terrorists were deceased.
While there were injured hostages, none were dead, and according to the official stance of the Abas government, a survivor among the terrorists died during the interrogation as their injuries worsened.
Of course, the truth remains unknown to anyone.
Stories circulated that some terrorists arrested by the special forces were sent to a secret prison, and that investigators, including Colonel Clevenz, had interrogated them, with rumors suggesting that the terrorists all died during torture. But regardless, I knew nothing about it.
What truly mattered were the events that followed.
“… The National Affairs Council proposed a joint investigation to the Government of Abas. Abas accepted positively, and I understand that key personnel from the Inquisition have moved to Abas to participate in the investigation. Is that correct?”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that. That falls under the authority of law enforcement, not the Ministry of Defense.”
“I see! My apologies. I forgot that the knights are all under the Inquisition, so I failed to consider that part.”
The Cult proposed a joint investigation in Abas. Specifically, they would investigate the suspicious cargo discovered in the department store.
The bizarre black barrier that isolated the interior from the outside world,
And the cargo suspected to have created it.
No one knew exactly who made it, how, or how it functioned. All that was certain was that the cargo emanated dark magic energy.
By the way, the initial discoverers were Camila, Lucia, and Francesca, who were present at the scene. It was also recorded in the joint investigation team’s documents.
Given that dark magic was involved, the Cult had no intention of taking this issue lightly.
Even if the Pope faced finger-pointing for condemning a devout magician as a dark magician, that was no reason for the Cult to neglect the eradication of dark magic.
Consequently, knights of the Inquisition, led by Pereyti, started the discussion.
“The Inquisition has linked up with the Abas Interior Department and the Magic Department to track the entry route of the dark magic items.”
The cargo that created the barrier was personally brought in by the No Man’s Land terrorists. However, it was stated that they didn’t make the cargo themselves but purchased it from somewhere.
No one knew where the terrorist who testified was located. Perhaps Clevenz knew, but I had no intention to investigate that myself.
But anyway, a certain merchant supplied the cargo to the No Man’s Land terrorists. A strange merchant who looked no older after decades. The Abas Information Agency dispatched troops to No Man’s Land to trace the village the terrorists lived in, and the Inquisition sent interrogation officers there.
“What our Inquisition has learned is that the most likely candidate currently is the Empire.”
Pereyti continued,
“The merchant who sold the cargo is likely to be in the Empire. The Imperial Magic Department has been inquiring tirelessly, but they still haven’t figured out where that guy is.”
“Is that so?”
“But!”
Pereyti clenched his fist.
“How many places can a guy connected with dark magic and demons hide in the Empire without catching the attention of the Cult and the Empire?”
“……”
“He is likely to be in the Northern Regions. They say he periodically gathered grains, clothes, and medical supplies from somewhere and passed them over to No Man’s Land, so exploring the black market in the north might lead us to clues.”
In one sentence, that meant they were going to find information on the ‘merchant’ who sold the cargo to the terrorists in the black market.
Yeah, it’s good that the knight commander is directly gathering information.
The problem is,
“Why are you doing this personally, Commander?”
Why is the Knights conducting this?
The Knights of Saint Andrew are all under the Inquisition. Sometimes referred to as orders belonging to monasteries or convents, according to the laws of the Cult, the Inquisition can exercise command over them at any time. One might liken that to the relationship between local government and the central government.
Certainly, the Knights of Saint Andrew are clearly affiliated with the Inquisition, under the command of the Inquisition Director.
Yet.
“Isn’t there also Inquisition Officers and Exorcists in the Inquisition? If it’s about combat, that’s one thing. But in terms of gathering information on dark magic or demons, they must be far superior to the Knights.”
“Ugh…!”
Pereyti suddenly let out a groan and burst out shouting.
“Could I just sit still as a knight!?”
They say Inquisition Officers are too busy hunting down mental corruption issues among Northern Imperials and heretical cults, while Exorcists may stick to a single case for years just to catch one demon. Suddenly losing his temper, Pereyti started rambling incoherently.
I couldn’t fully catch what he was saying, as he spoke too fast in his excitement, but from what I gathered, it seemed that both Inquisition Officers and Exorcists lacked the manpower to gather information. In other words, it was about a shortage of personnel.
“Seeing those so-called priests running around every day without even helping the Knights, it’s quite ridiculous to tell me what to do! *Cough cough!* Uh…”
While spewing his tirade, Pereyti hunched over and coughed. It seemed he had gotten worked up to a point where his blood pressure peaked.
I gently patted his back, which was about to explode, while contemplating.
Looks like even the Inquisition is suffering from a lack of manpower.
I learned something intriguing today.
Pereyti, who was coughing as if about to spit out his lungs, finally regained his senses.
“… Given the involvement of dark magic, this issue is not trivial. Time is of the essence, so we must resolve it as soon as possible. Even a knight cannot be an exception.”
“Your words are correct.”
Francesca, the administrator and alchemist of the Magic Tower, spoke up.
“If it’s about dark magic, the Magic Tower won’t sit idly by either. Even if a magician from the tower were behind the terror, the tower would never back down.”
“The Magic Tower?”
Francesca nodded in affirmation.
“You know well what our magicians have been through in the last hundred years, right? Colonel?”
“……”
I do. How could I forget?
The Magic Tower wasn’t just established as a bastion for magicians. Governments from various countries supported the magicians, and countless information agencies became involved in the war between the tower and the Cult. The Military Intelligence Agency was no exception.
And when the Cult shackled the nations with something called the Nastasiya Treaty, the information agencies from each country were involved. The Military Intelligence Agency was also a part of that history.
I quietly looked at Francesca.
The reason I couldn’t mention anything was not because I was an information officer at the Military Intelligence Agency or that my seniors were involved in the rise and fall of the Magic Tower.
“……”
I cast a glance at the knight, Pereyti, standing next to me.
The Cult and the Tower have been hostile to each other. Historically, no diplomatic relations have ever been established, and they still can’t wait to tear each other apart at every turn.
Dark magicians.
Demon worshippers.
Witches.
Apostles of evil deities.
For thousands of years, magicians have scurried around like rats, evading the eyes of Inquisition Officers. The officers hunted down magicians, and countless magicians met their ends impaled on spikes or wheels. That’s why dark magic remains a taboo word within magical society.
It conjures up painful memories of the suffering our ancestors endured. That’s why countless wizards from the Magic Tower have fought to shed that stigma.
I understand.
I’m not oblivious.
I just felt slightly uneasy about bringing up that past in front of the priest, especially an Inquisition knight.
But,
“Um!”
Pereyti crossed his arms and groaned.
“Certainly, the significance of dark magic to magicians is well understood. And so are the numerous atrocities perpetrated under the name of the Inquisition.”
“……”
“I won’t deny that past. Considering that I enjoy all that the Cult has built thus far, it’s not right to serve achievements while ignoring the sins.”
But!
“After all, the concept of righteousness is something created by man, isn’t it? A person exists first, and then concepts arise, not the other way around.”
“……”
“Shouldn’t we prioritize saving lives first? How many lives will be lost if we leave the vile ones who wield dark magic unchecked?”
I looked at Pereyti, who was speaking gravely with determination. Earlier, I thought he was just a drunkard, but now he seemed rather composed.
“… Dark magic is.”
Francesca’s voice pierced the silence.
“Dark magic encompasses any magical art that is misused, not limited to particular disciplines. We cannot stand by while people walk an unholy path that deviates from the righteous way. That is not what our ancestors envisioned.”
“That’s true.”
“And no matter how deep the resentment runs, succumbing to emotions is also not right. Let’s act according to what Sir Pereyti said.”
“Um! Administrator, was it your intention from the start to summon me like this?”
“Well…?”
“Haha! Whatever the reason, what should we do now?”
“……”
I looked back and forth between Francesca and Pereyti, who were engaged in serious conversation. Are these two really a priest and a magician? Why are they so in sync?
As I stood there quietly, it seemed like both of them were pondering how to begin their investigation into dark magic.
At this point, I wondered if I could just go back and sleep instead. What do I have to contribute as someone utterly clueless about magic? I should also return Camila, who’s hiding over there, to her place.
Just as I was about to leave, carrying the thought of going back to rest, Pereyti’s big hand abruptly grabbed my arm.
“Colonel! Where are you going?”
“Uh… I’m going to sleep now.”
“Sleep? Slaaaaap?”
Pereyti’s beard bristled. With both hands gripping my shoulders, the knight exhaled like an angry bull, his voice scratching at my ears.
“Are you trying to run away right now?”
“No… It’s already past curfew, and… I have to take her back too…”
“Don’t treat me like an object!”
“Ugh! Just hold still! Why are you shouting? You got caught smuggling chocolates!”
“Eep…”
While I subdued Camila, who was fussing about wanting to see the black market, Pereyti reprimanded me in a highly agitated tone. He looked like he was ready to leap at any moment, raising his voice.
“It’s reckless to head to a place fraught with danger while you plan to sleep! How could you spout such nonsense as a knight!?”
“But I’m a soldier.”
“Knights and soldiers are basically just a piece of paper apart. Is being a soldier a profession that doesn’t protect people?”
“Well, that’s…”
True, I am a soldier, but… Isn’t Francesca a citizen of Patalia? So shouldn’t it be Patalian forces that hold accountable? Or the Magic Battalion of the Magic Tower?
I was about to use the civil servant’s ultimate strategy of shifting responsibility to make my escape, but sadly, it seemed Pereyti was determined not to let go. He put Camila, whom I had been awkwardly holding, down on the ground and started pushing me forward, urging me to lead.
“Let’s go! We have a long way ahead, so we must hurry!”
“Ah, no… If we get caught by the gendarmes, there’ll be diplomatic disputes…”
“Ah! I don’t know anything about that! Let’s go! Hurry up!”
Pereyti pulled me along with a grip that wouldn’t allow me to escape.
Watching them, Francesca covered her mouth with her sleeve, stifling laughter as she stepped forward, and Camila hurried after us, urging us to move quickly.
“Life…”
*
We headed straight towards the black market. The four of us crossed the Northern Regions under the bright moonlight.
Francesca provided the rough location of the black market, obtained from a laborer, while Pereyti, with four years of experience in the north, led the way confidently.
“The black market doesn’t operate on a set schedule.”
“What do you mean?”
“It opens irregularly in different locations. When news circulates about where goods will be traded, people gather there.”
And Francesca had just acquired that information.
“Exactly!”
Amid the fierce winds, Pereyti’s voice rang out.
“Most black markets in the north operate this way! To evade military enforcement, they must move around!”
“Have you visited them, Sir Pereyti?”
“Of course!”
Joyful laughter followed.
“I have indeed! The world is vast beyond the Empire, and there are plenty of black markets! There are even some within the Cult!”
Why do you know that?
Pereyti scratched his cheek sheepishly.
“Hey, do you think that because I’m a colonel, I’m devoid of desires? We have to eat!”
“Come on now! Is that really something to say?!”
“If caught, it’s illegal! If not caught, it’s legal! That’s how the world works! Just don’t let folks know that commanders of the Knights are frequenting the black markets! Director Petrus will surely rage!”
With Pereyti’s hearty laughter echoing, I momentarily drifted into thought.
Inquisition Director Petrus.
People know him to be a devout believer, but he’s actually an information officer in the Military Intelligence Agency. More precisely, a fixed spy.
His devout faith, profound theological knowledge, and high divine suitability opened the path to serving the faith, yet he chose to abandon everything and join the Military Intelligence Agency.
If he had chosen the path of a priest instead of an information officer, he might have become a bishop by now. The position of Inquisition Director is one that only the most capable and faithful could attain.
But he chose to become an information officer instead. He infiltrated the Cult, leaving behind his wife with whom he had spent a lifetime and never returned to Abas until the day she died. After decades, he sent nothing more than a necklace to his wife via a distant junior.
He forsook his family, his rank, and his name.
So no one knows him.
Only the name of Inquisition Director Petrus remains.
“……”
Looking up, I saw the moon shining brightly. The moon, hidden behind clouds, doesn’t show its true form.
However,
The starlight flowing in the pitch-dark night sky sparkled brightly.
“We have arrived.”
Pereyti’s voice reached my ears as I looked up at the sky.
“This is the black market in the north.”
