The next morning, I held an emergency meeting with ViTech's first employee. Our meeting took place in the gun range where Jane's father used to work before his expulsion.

"Miss Jane, now that you are done with your finals as well, are you ready to make me the most advanced guns of this era?"

"Hopefully, my Lady. However, there is a problem I can't bypass on my own."

"Please, do tell. I love solving problems."

"While I worked hard on redesigning and adjusting the schematics you gave me, I lack the means to create it."

"How so?"

"I am a gunsmith, my ability to make things related to guns is limited to what is in the market. What you want here, my lady, is original custom work. Something that hasn't ever existed and has no pieces in the market that I can pick and put together."

"So you need a metalsmith, is that it?"

"And he needs to be as crafty as Saint Hermes at that. We can't afford a single hitch in a gun if we are going to make something completely new. We will be risking the hands of whoever tries it first."

"I get you. But where can we get a metalsmith with such a skill on such short notice? I imagine that most skilled metalworkers already have busy schedules and a list filled with clients. Also, these guns are a secret between you and me only."

"That's indeed the case." Jane agreed with me but it seemed that there was something she wasn't letting out.

I looked at her intensely until she was unnerved and spilled her beans.

"There is an alternative method to find a good metalsmith." She said.

"I'm all ears."

"Maybe a Duergar can help us… but that's just too unrealistic." Jane spoke then retracted her words with a smile.

"That's true. A Duergar will never work metal for a human." I nodded in agreement.

Because of their resentment against the Human race, the Dwarven subterranean race, the Duergars, would never forge metal for Humans with good intentions. They were always seen as heretical and cursed by the Temple of Saints, and their resentment goes as far as the Age of Heroes when those very Saints waged war against Dwarfkind and vanquished their kingdom.

But…

"You wouldn't mention a Duergar if you had nothing in mind, Jane." I said.

"In truth, I am ashamed to admit it but once, I had a problem with a project in the Academy and I had to spend a lot of money to rent a Duergar slave."

"A slave?"

"All I needed was a metal ankle and it cost me a thousand pounds. I wouldn't have gotten past the second year without that ankle for my contraption project."

I know that people frown upon slavery, despite it being an active practice, it is something on its way to be abolished sooner or later seeing how the world is going right now.

"Hmmm… where can slaves be found?"

"Not too far from the port area in the Blackguards' Market."

"That's on the way to Father's office."

"Are you… going there in person, my Lady?" Jane asked with a terrified face, "You can't be safe in such dangerous parts of the city."

"I don't care. My reputation isn't what I need to worry about right now. Sooner or later, some slanderous rumors will start to spread either way."

I had a gut feeling that I wouldn't be left alone and someone would start coming after me looking for trouble soon. If I keep my actions restricted out of fear, I won't accomplish much.

As for searching for a Duergar metalworker, I have just the plan to acquire one while maintaining my social image. I just need someone to spread rumors.

"My stops just increased. Esmeralda, call for Logan and the bodyguards. We are moving earlier than scheduled."

"Yes, my Lady."

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A few minutes later, I had a grumpy Logan protesting at my new traveling route.

"A slave market? This is not even a funny joke!"

"It is a do-or-die situation, Logan."

"I can't even imagine how many dangers you will be throwing yourself at everywhere you go."

"All of them, Sir Knight."

His protests were futile anyway since we were already en route. I got to enjoy myself looking through my carriage's window and watching the bustling city from an angel I had never seen before.

There is poverty in this city as well as there is richness and abundance. In the Moore mansion, one can't even imagine being lacking anything but I saw streets with urchins, beggars, and homeless for almost an hour now. If the carriage wasn't guarded and carrying the insignia of the house, there would have been all sorts of trouble.

But Archester itself is really big, a metropolis where the world revolves around. Anything small that happens in Archester can cause a large aftershock through the entire world, and one day, I'll get to witness that first-hand. Just not today, thankfully.

Our destination was a walled area reminiscent of a military camp, with three towering, spire-like structures connected by walls as a place separate from the rest of the impoverished district. The most striking feature of this place, however, was the presence of Blackguards, their appearance setting the tone for this unique location.

The carriage stopped and the knights surrounded it from all directions while throwing hostile gazes at the common-born Blackguards. Still, we were approached by a party of Blackguard officers and their leader was a bearded man with a gruff attitude. He spoke immediately before I even got the chance to land properly on the ground.

"We haven't received a report that someone from the Moore family would visit but I came as soon as the carriage was spotted." He said and tried to act with manners, alas, it was a waste of trying.

"You are addressing her ladyship Vivian of House Moore, daughter of the Right Honorable Count Julian Moore." Logan introduced me solemnly and haughtily.

Well done, Logan. I like seeing such dramas.

"Well, greeting your ladyship, I am sorry for the poor reception." The man bowed slightly, "My name is Benjamin Fisher, how may the Blackguards serve?"

"Her ladyship wishes to… how may I say this with a straight face… browse your… merchandise." Logan was about to barf at every pause there.

He can't just bear the thought of being in a slave market.

"Ooooh!" Benjamin, the Blackguard Officer, had his eyes looking at me widely as if it was the last thing he would expect from me, "I've never seen a noble come to us for a slave in… a year or so. To think that her ladyship doesn't mind browsing our merchandise, I am… overjoyed as you high people would say it."

"How dreadful!" Logan rolled his eyes.

"Enough, Sir Logan." I couldn't bear Logan's whining more than that and spoke directly to the man, "Officer Benjamin, was it? I am looking for someone who is a great metalworker, a Duergar if possible, and I was told I can find such a person here."

"That's… what we exist here for. We can satisfy all your needs, my Lady, whether it is Duergar, Hulkling, Dracoling, or even a Taurling." Officer Benjamin replied and then glanced at Esmeralda, "One of ours, I assume?"

"No, officer. That's a free woman since the day she was born." I replied.

"Well, I guess there are standards. Apologies, my lady." He bowed and waved with his hand for us to go ahead while keeping his head lowered.

As we moved, he kept himself on the lead while I was walking between Logan and a knight of my house and was backed from behind by Esmeralda. It felt suffocating but we were heading into a large gate that was guarded by a score of men that wasn't less than twenty.

"We have built our slave market so it can take a village of slaves inside. We have all sorts of merchandise… except for Humans and Draconians, of course. I am sure you can find the best jewelsmith in our market and be satisfied." The man said as he signaled for the large gate to be opened.

"Not a jewelsmith, Officer. A metalsmith, one that can forge all things that are required in all shapes and sizes." I corrected the man's assumption.

"Your words are our command, your Ladyship!" The man bowed his head and then looked at me asking, "Doesn't the lady have her own mask? Will you enter the market without hiding your identity?"

"Many people would hide their identity in fear of public shaming, my lady." Jane, who was tagging along this whole time, approached me and whispered in my ear.

"It is useless. I have many eyes on me and it will be found out sooner or later that I dealt with slavers." I replied and looked sideways to halt my guard, "No need to parade me. Wait at the entrance, I will take Sir Fabian beside Sir Logan as well as Esmeralda and Jane."

"But, my lady." A knight of mine argued.

"No arguing." Logan spoke even though I thought he was the one who'd argue.

With eight knights staying behind, the mass of our group lessened and we finally managed to enter that slave village the Blackguards are so obsessed about.

"Welcome to the Blackguards Market of Archester where we have no shortage of slaves." Officer Benjamin welcomed us to what seemed to be a shanty town in the heart of the city.

First of all, this place was the size of a baseball stadium, walled from all sides by walls that may reach 10 meters in height, and is being monitored by guards on its top and guards roaming the place within. Three towers surrounded the place and were connected to its walls and they seemed like they were built ages before the walls.

As the entrance of the market is on higher ground than most, the place we entered from had a good overlay over this place. One can see places where smoke rises like pillars, which is mostly where we are headed, and other places had buildings with red curtains like houses of ill repute.

One can find work and pleasure in the Black Market as it seems and all those who come here risk being on the bad side of society.

"Lead us to our location of business, Officer Benjamin."

"As you wish, Lady."

We descended into the market and the Blackguards accompanying me were pushing the slaves left and right as it seemed I was getting the VIP treatment. It seemed that the Blackguards were seeking the acknowledgment of nobles to maintain themselves and my visit here made them think I could support their dirty business.

I pity their poor thoughts.