The wolfman merchant stands at least two meters tall, his muscles bulging beneath his clothes. Despite the black mask that covers all but his piercing eyes, his imposing physique makes him easily recognizable as the most intimidating figure in the entire black market.

“Psst, Curtis, I’ll take three of these,” Sophia whispers, pointing to a specific box filled with earrings of various shapes and sizes. Each one is adorned with a small gem of varying colors, known as ‘Chameleon gems.’

Interestingly, these gems are a rare find, dropped only by high-level chameleon monsters in a specific area within the mountain dungeons. They grant the wearer the ability to alter their appearance. While not exceedingly difficult to acquire, the possession of Chameleon gems has been criminalized by the kingdom, making it a capital offense. This has driven the price far beyond its intrinsic value.

Fortunately, Sophia seems to have a history with Curtis. On our way here, she mentioned they had worked together in the black market for several years. When he hit rock bottom in life, she helped him, so the guy is deeply indebted to her.

However, Curtis’s response is unexpected.

“One hundred thousand crowns each,” the wolf-eared man declares, a grin evident even beneath his mask.

“Excuse me?! Are you serious?” Sophia’s disbelief is palpable. “They’re not worth a tenth of that! Curtis, what is the meaning of this? Are you joking?”

“Okay, feel free to shop elsewhere then,” Curtis says nonchalantly, his eyes narrowing into slits. “Oh, wait—you can’t. I’ve already made sure of that. I’m the only vendor with these in stock, Sophia.”

“WHAT!?” Sophia’s voice rises, a mix of anger and incredulity coloring her tone. “Curtis, what the hell did you do?”

“Nothing much,” Curtis replies smoothly, leaning closer. His voice lowers into a raspy whisper, dripping with smug satisfaction. “Just a little arrangement between me and my associates. But I must say, boss, I’m impressed. That bounty on your head—now that’s a number worth talking about.”

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!”

Sophia’s temper boils over. She slams her hands against the table, causing the items on display to rattle. Her face flushes red with fury as she unleashes a string of curses, her anger erupting in a way I hadn’t seen before. Without hesitation, she grabs Curtis by the collar of his shirt, shaking him with a force that would unsettle most.

But Curtis doesn’t flinch.

“Are you buying or not?” he asks coolly, brushing her hands off his shirt as if swatting away an annoying fly. His nonchalance only fuels Sophia’s frustration.

Realizing the precariousness of our situation, Sophia takes a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She knows we don’t have the luxury of walking away empty-handed. These gems are essential for our plan, our survival, and Curtis knows it.

“Fine, how about twenty thousand each?” Sophia offers, gritting her teeth.

“Alright, since we go back a long way, I’ll give you a discount.” Curtis’s masked face tilts slightly, his eyes alight with amusement. “Eighty-five. Take it or leave it.”

Sophia groans, reaching into her pouch with visible reluctance. “Ugh!”

I watch quietly, somewhat amused. She once told me how Curtis was a trusted partner, someone she considered close. Yet he’s betrayed her for a quick profit, proving once again that loyalty in these underworld dealings is fleeting at best. Even strong bonds can be snapped in an instant for the right price.

“Here’s one hundred thousand crowns,” Sophia says, her voice trembling with simmering rage as she slams a bag of coins on the table. “I don’t have the rest of the money right now, but I’ll pay the remainder in two days. Draft a damn contract for it!”

Curtis shakes his head, his wolf ears twitching slightly. “Nope, that won’t cut it,” he replies, the corners of his muzzle curving into a ruthless grin. “You’re a wanted criminal now. If you get caught tomorrow, who’s going to pay your debt?”

“CURTIS!!!” Sophia’s enraged shout reverberates through the underground market, causing several nearby merchants to glance our way. Her eyes blaze with fury, as though she might leap across the table at any moment. “I had your back when you were down and out. Isn’t it time you returned the favor?”

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An unsettling silence settles over us. Finally, Curtis inclines his head, a cold gleam in his eyes. “Alright then,” he says, folding his arms across his broad chest. “One hundred thousand crowns… plus the ring on your hand.”

“What!?” Sophia gasps, as though she’s just been struck.

My gaze follows hers to the ring in question—a stunning golden band adorned with a massive ruby. The gemstone catches the dim light, casting fiery red reflections across the table. It’s no ordinary ring. Back on Earth, something like this would be a priceless treasure, worth tens of millions. The ruby alone dwarfs even the Estrela de Fura, the largest ruby ever sold.

“But… this ring is…” Sophia stammers, clutching her hand protectively.

“Is what?” Curtis interjects, his voice low and cutting. “Worth more than your life?”

Sophia’s gaze shifts between the ring and the earrings. Her jaw tightens, and a resigned sigh escapes her lips. Slowly, reluctantly, she begins to slide the ring off her finger.

But I’ve seen enough.

“Sophia, stop,” I say firmly, stepping forward.

Her hand freezes mid-motion as she looks up at me, her expression a mixture of confusion and relief. The weight of her hesitation tells me all I need to know—this ring is more than just a piece of jewelry. It’s a part of her, tied to something deeply personal. Perhaps a family heirloom? Not that it matters. What matters is that I won’t let her sacrifice something so significant.

Without another word, I reach into my pocket.

BAM!

The metallic clang of platinum striking the table reverberates through the air. Five gleaming platinum bullets roll into view.

“P-p-platinum!?” Curtis stammers, his eyes widening in disbelief. His usual composure vanishes as his hands tremble slightly, hovering over the bullets like they might disappear at any moment.

“M-M-Master!” Sophia echoes, her voice trembling just as much as Curtis’s. “H–how did you get your hands on so much platinum!?”

Both of them look as though they’re on the verge of fainting, their astonishment filling the tense silence.

I smirk inwardly. I had prepared for the possibility of platinum being valuable, but even I hadn’t anticipated this reaction.

“Wolfman,” I say, the upper corner of my lips curling up, “is this enough? Four platinum bullets for four earrings. Do we have a deal?”

Curtis swallows hard, his voice faltering. “Y-yes! Absolutely!”

With unsteady hands, he quickly scoops up the bullets and deposits the Chameleon Earrings into a small pouch, sliding it across the table. It’s still an outrageous trade—those earrings aren’t worth even half this much—but I can’t afford to haggle over something as vital as our survival. These earrings will give us the cover we need. No amount of wealth matters if we don’t live to spend it.

Curtis pockets the bullets, his demeanor shifting. He leans in close to Sophia, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper.

“Since you saved my life once, let me offer you one last advice,” he says.

Sophia eyes him warily, her anger barely contained after their tense negotiation. “And what nonsense do you have to say now?” she spits, her voice thick with resentment.

The wolf man lets out a sinister laugh. Then, his tone turns ominous as he utters a single, chilling word:

“Run.”

The moment the word leaves his lips, he vanishes!

Before I can process what just happened, the bustling black market dissolves around us, vendors, wares, and every trace of life vanishing as if snuffed out by an unseen force. The vibrant chaos is replaced by an eerie stillness. The once-thriving marketplace now lies silent, deserted, and ominous.

Then, it happens.

A glowing magic circle flares to life beneath our feet.

“Sophia! Yumi!” I shout, urgency slicing through the quiet.

Grasping their hands, I attempt to pull them free, but the magic circle’s pull is relentless. The realization crashes down like a hammer: we’ve been set up. Curtis wasn’t just extorting us—he was working with someone else to capture us. The entire transaction was a carefully laid trap!

But the understanding comes too late.

A barrier erupts, translucent yet impenetrable, its shimmering walls enclosing us in a cage of pure magic. Sophia throws herself against the barrier, unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches, her desperation palpable. Her attacks, however, prove futile, the barrier absorbing each strike with cruel indifference.

“Damn it!” she snarls, slamming her fists against the shimmering wall.

Yumi clutches my arm tightly, her wide, fearful eyes darting around as if searching for an escape.

Despite the escalating tension, I force myself to remain calm.

Stretching out my hand, I trail my fingers along the barrier’s surface. Its cold energy tingles against my skin as I study the intricate symbols woven into its structure.

“Interesting,” I murmur, my voice steady despite the chaos.

This barrier… it’s remarkably similar to the one that protected the summoning circle, which summoned me into this world.

No, it’s even less complex than that.

And if that’s the case, then, there’s always a way out.

But I hold back. Whoever orchestrated this isn’t finished yet. Better to let them reveal themselves.

Moments later, the heavy silence is shattered by the ominous clinking of armor and the deliberate rhythm of approaching footsteps. The air grows heavier with each step, tension thick enough to choke on.

I turn toward the source, my gaze locking onto a towering figure emerging from the shadows.

A bloated man, his grotesque frame draped in opulent noble attire, strides forward with an air of arrogance. His beady eyes glint with malice beneath a crown of thinning, greasy hair. Though unmistakably human, the man’s appearance bears a resemblance to that of an orc. Behind him trail dozens of women—elves, beastkin, and humans alike—all clad in tattered clothes and slave collars, their faces are all void of emotion and their eyes don’t show any will to live anymore.

“Bromrik the Chainmaster…” Sophia recoils, her voice trembling with dread, her eyes widening in alarm.

Judging by Sophia’s reaction, that guy must be bad news, because I can clearly see the terror on her face.