I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 222

Chapter 222: The Source of the Contamination (4)

‘Just as Harnie said.’

As I followed Harnie, she explained the situation.

This black market wasn't just for casual sales or formal introductions; it had a hidden purpose. The real business was conducted behind closed doors.

And that business was an auction.

The sky-blue button, marked with a magic inscription, was used as a bidding device. You would input your desired amount, and if you won the auction, you would pay and collect the item.

‘That’s why they didn’t take back the buttons at the entrance.’

It made sense. They weren't verifying identities, they were simply checking for the presence of a button.

I had assumed the auction would be a distraction, a chance for me to slip away unnoticed. But I couldn't let my guard down.

“Hey, it’s Ontoni, isn't it? Heh heh. I’m Dalk.”

“What? How did you recognize me?”

“That beer belly is hard to miss, even from a distance.”

“You little…”

The nobles had formed their own network within the black market.

Even with the masks obscuring their identities, some of them could still recognize each other.

I had to be careful not to be discovered.

The buttons were assigned seating numbers, which meant I was separated from Harnie.

I had to be even more cautious.

Meanwhile, the two nobles continued their conversation.

“I heard today’s auction is going to be a long one, with three rounds and a highlight auction at the end. One hour per round, with 30-minute breaks in between. Remember that.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Didn’t you read the pamphlet? You idiot.”

Oh. That was useful information.

Three rounds, one hour each, with 30-minute breaks. And a highlight auction at the end. That meant four rounds in total. I made a mental note of the schedule.

Harnie had said she wouldn't mind if I explored during the breaks… So I had 30 minutes to search the black market.

“Just so you know, the rooms with three stars are off-limits. They have alarm magic, so don’t even think about going near them.”

“Of course, I know that!”

And I had to avoid the rooms marked with three stars.

“Don’t use the main entrance to leave. Go through the basement storage and exit through the annex. And…”

So I had to exit through the annex.

“…don’t enter the rooms with two stars without turning off your sky-blue button. Your location will be tracked.”

And I had to deactivate the button before entering those rooms.

“…And you have to buy at least one item. That’s mandatory.”

And I had to make a purchase.

This conversation was a goldmine of information.

I memorized everything.

I had learned my lesson from past mistakes in the game. Overlooking seemingly insignificant details like this had often led to disastrous outcomes.

And then…

“They said there’s one room we’re not supposed to enter at all this time.”

“Yeah, I know. Why is that again? Something about them making non-marketable items there? Anyway, they said we should stay away from that room.”

Something suspicious.

“Non-marketable items? Ah, I know which room you’re talking about. The west wing private room.”

“Yeah, that one. But ‘non-marketable’… it makes you wonder what they’re making in there, doesn’t it? I asked around, and you know what they said?”

“What?”

“‘You’ll find out after the symposium!’ Doesn’t that sound familiar? It’s exactly what the black market owner said through his representative a few weeks ago.”

“You mean… when he said they had already decided the results of the symposium, so we shouldn't worry?”

…Wait a minute. Could it be…?

I quickly increased the mana flow to my ears, enhancing my hearing.

“So I couldn’t resist, and I peeked inside. And wow… I couldn’t believe what I saw.”

“Whoa, what was it?!”

“Heh heh. 300 Pesel for the information.”

“Come on, just tell me. Don’t be stingy.”

“Can’t do it. I’m broke. The symposium has been tough on my finances. Just help me out a little.”

Ontoni, clicking his tongue, handed over 300 Pesel, and Dalk, grinning, continued,

“There were these sacks filled with fertilizer, and… they were mixing it with… monster remains! Ground-up monster parts! They even used a mana dissolving agent!”

“What? So it’s just dirt mixed with monster parts?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what they’re using it for, but they were talking about sending those sacks somewhere.”

“Damn, what a waste of money. How is that going to affect the symposium results? It’s just a bluff. The black market owner has been talking big lately. Don’t take everything he says so literally!”

“Hey, it could be true! My scores are already in the gutter after Prince Florence ripped me a new one. I need something to hope for!”

Non-marketable items, a restricted area, a connection to the symposium results…

My suspicions were growing.

And then, the mention of fertilizer sacks and the claim that they could control the symposium rankings…

‘I was right. They’re targeting Shatrain.’

This connected everything.

Shatrain, devastated by the blight, had become extremely closed-off.

Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes, once enjoyed by everyone, had become premium products for the nobles.

The Shatrain villagers had become obsessed with a specific fertilizer, imported from outside the territory.

The festival organizer, Ferdi, Map, and the 35 traitors… They had all been hired by another territory to sabotage Shatrain.

The flawed farming methods, the poor land management, the acidic soil, the contaminated fertilizer… None of it had been a coincidence.

It all stemmed from the fertilizer.

The premiumization of the crops, the blight, the downfall of Shatrain…

It all pointed towards the fertilizer.

Were the Shatrain villagers really the only ones to blame?

It seemed more likely that someone had deliberately targeted Shatrain for sabotage.

That someone had offered fertilizer and contracts to ruin the territory.

That someone had orchestrated the premiumization of Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes, profiting from their inflated prices.

Someone had deliberately caused Shatrain’s downfall.

The contaminated fertilizer, used to corrupt the soil, would prevent any recovery.

If I hadn't intervened, Carsein’s failure at the symposium would have been inevitable.

I had to find the culprit.

Without proof, I couldn't clear this episode.

-Ding!

▶ Relevant information acquired! ◀

▶ The type of evidence required has changed. ◀

It wasn’t just circumstantial evidence anymore.

The fertilizer sacks contained ground-up monster remains, and those sacks had been delivered to Shatrain.

The investigation was getting more complicated, but if they had deliberately targeted the territory, there had to be more concrete evidence.

‘Instead of fertilizer sacks, I need to find their ledgers.’

The Shatrain villagers already had the fertilizer.

But there had to be records of its production, a formula, a recipe.

A ledger detailing the purchase of monster remains, acquired outside of monster territory, would be ideal.

Contracts signed by those involved, stamped with their seals… That would be undeniable proof.

-Dong. Dong.

The lights flickered on, illuminating the stage, and the nobles cheered as the spotlight shone brightly.

-Clap, clap, clap!

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!”

One hour.

I had one hour to endure this auction.

And then, 30 minutes to search.

▶ Episode XI. The Source of the Contamination is in progress. ◀

▶ You have entered the black market. Find traces of the Waglu faction. ◀

▶ Acquiring more evidence will unlock additional choices. ◀

***

The first hour of the auction passed.

And with it came the 30-minute break, my first opportunity to search.

I had to gather more information.

30 minutes wasn’t a lot of time, but this place was filled with unknown dangers.

Even though the danger level had been lowered from “Forbidden” to “Danger,” thanks to my stats, it was still a risky area. I had to be careful. One wrong move could trigger a death flag.

My priority was to memorize the layout of the building, to identify the location of traps and escape routes.

That was more important than finding evidence.

Another hour passed.

My second search began, and this time, I was more daring.

-Step. Step.

‘Two guards.’

I quickly ducked into a nearby alcove.

“So they didn’t find the intruder?”

“Nope. Couldn’t find a trace.”

“Probably just some animal that wandered in and made a mess. Tsk.”

So the commotion from earlier had subsided. That was a relief. If they were still searching, it would have complicated things.

The guards moved on, and I continued down the hallway, reaching the room I had wanted to investigate.

“A magical security system.”

Red laser beams, like something out of a movie, crisscrossed the room, creating a complex network of barriers.

“They’re hiding something important in here.”

The mana signature was faint, so I could probably disable it with brute force, but… it looked like a carefully constructed magical puzzle, designed to trigger an alarm if tampered with.

I didn’t want to risk setting off another alarm. It was better to be cautious.

…Or so I thought.

The flow of mana, the shimmering threads of energy, were visible to my mana-enhanced vision.

“Eleven o’clock, five degrees… Sever the connection here, and here…”

-Swish!

Four threads of red mana dissipated, vanishing into thin air.

The magic, its source of power cut off, was temporarily deactivated.

▶ Emergency Mission! ◀

▶ Deactivate the mana source to search the room without alerting the guards. ◀

▶ Solve as many puzzles as possible to ensure a safe search. ◀

“So this is the Emergency Mission puzzle.”

Usually, these missions involved complex riddles or logic puzzles, not simple magical contraptions like this.

Well, whatever.

An easier puzzle meant less time wasted.

With the security system disabled, I began searching the room in earnest.

“There it is.”

-Ding!

▶ Trace of the Waglu faction discovered. ◀

▶ Acquired the manual provided to their agents. ◀

▶ Find more evidence. ◀

“A manual… And it’s stamped with Count Modric’s seal. The Waglu faction’s weakest link.”

So I had found a piece of evidence. But it wasn't enough.

Count Modric was easily expendable. They could simply cut him loose and deny any involvement.

There had to be more evidence, more clues hidden somewhere. I had to find them, to eliminate any variables that could disrupt the choices.

And then, I found something… unsettling.

“…’Wederos Kingdom Extermination Plan’?”

What was this?

-Ding!

▶ One of the conditions for the Emergency Mission has been met! ◀

▶ Trace of the Ancient Kingdom discovered. ◀

▶ Fulfill the other conditions for additional rewards. ◀

***

After finding the manual, I searched other rooms and collected several items that looked like potential clues.

But I still couldn’t decipher that document.

‘Wederos Kingdom Extermination Plan.’

I couldn't read the contents, only the title. And judging by the title, it seemed to be related to a kingdom… a nation. But…

‘I’ve never heard of a Wederos Kingdom. It’s not on any of the maps, either.’

Wederos Kingdom?

I had never encountered such a name before.

And yet, the status window had reacted the moment I touched the document?

I couldn't ignore the possibility of a connection.

I wanted to dismiss it, to assume it was irrelevant, but if this was another one of the game’s hidden settings…

‘Hmm?’

-Squeeze.

I must have been leaning against her, because Harnie’s arm tightened around mine.

‘…The auction.’

Starting from the second round, they had been allowed to sit together, since the separate seating arrangement was no longer necessary.

Her grip wasn't strong enough to hurt, but her gaze… I could see the desperation in her eyes.

“And now, we have this magnificent, violet crystal!”

She was staring intently at the gemstone being displayed on the stage, her expression unwavering.

She had to have this item.

Harnie’s reason for being here, in this black market, was this gemstone.

‘But…’

Several other nobles were also interested in the item.

She had the money, but she couldn't use it.

They all had the same sky-blue buttons, but they were assigned to different groups. Mine was assigned to the nobles’ group, while Harnie’s belonged to the merchants’ group.

If she bid a large amount, her identity, her secret trading company, could be exposed.

‘But… I can use the money. Thanks to the inventory.’

This… this was the perfect solution.

“Harnie, cancel your bid.”

“What?”

-Buzz.

“A new bidder! And the bid is… What?!”

“2-200,000 Pesel?!”

“The previous bid was 100,000 Pesel!”

“Double the price…!”

The nobles’ gazes snapped towards me.

***

A short while later, the item was sold, and they went to collect the gemstone.

“Congratulations! Haha!”

“Thanks.”

Carsein gave a curt reply and took the box containing the gemstone.

The auction ended, and he turned to Harnie, who had been staring blankly at the stage. He held up the box.

It was the gemstone she had wanted.

“I’ll give this to you later. Too many prying eyes right now.”

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. It wouldn't be good for either of us if your identity was revealed.”

So he had been watching me.

She had almost made a mistake, driven by her desire for that gemstone.

That meant he had been observing my actions the entire time.

‘This… This isn’t good…’

-Thump. Thump.

My heart started racing.

“Did you find everything you were looking for?”

“…Yes.”

Thanks to you.

“What about you?”

“I’ve managed to collect some useful information. But I think we should stay a little longer, to avoid suspicion.”

“Alright. I’ll pay you back later, with interest.”

“I appreciate that.”

Carsein grinned, and Harnie’s face flushed slightly.

‘Wh-What…?’

She shook her head, trying to compose herself, and then cleared her throat.

“Carsein, when this is over…”

-Bang!

Suddenly, a firework exploded, its bright light illuminating the room, followed by cheers from the crowd.

“And now, for the highlight of tonight’s auction!”

-Click.

“Presenting… this item!”

A spotlight shone on the stage.

The crowd gasped.

A sword lay on a velvet cushion.

A sword. Harnie probably wasn't interested, but…

…Carsein’s gaze was fixed on it.

“…Ha.”

No one had explained what it was yet.

But Carsein let out a soft sigh, his eyes fixed on the sword.

What was so special about it?

“This item is a silver dagger from the Wederos Kingdom!”

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