Chapter 16: Encounter in the Underworld Market

It seemed every secluded alleyway held such a dilapidated door, its destination unknown. Beyond the curiosity of adventurous children, few ever wondered why these enigmatic portals existed.

Xiluo’er reached out, knocking a rhythmic pattern upon the weathered door before her.

Three long, one short. After completing the knock, Xiluo’er stepped aside, waiting patiently.

Xiluo’er was certainly no curious child; she was here to gather information from Karna City’s underground black market.

As an assassin, Xiluo’er possessed her own methods for intelligence gathering. Though not a ‘local,’ she had a general understanding of the black market’s location within Karna City.

After all, while the city itself was unfamiliar, the game ‘Braveheart’s Adventure’ was something she knew intimately.

Such games typically featured hidden passages or easter egg rooms within their maps, and ‘Braveheart’s Adventure’ was no exception.

It seemed designed to emphasize Karna City’s nature as a borderland, for the game included a hidden map: the underground black market.

As a seasoned player, Xiluo’er still remembered the hidden map’s location and activation method quite clearly.

Over the past two days, under the guise of leisurely exploration, she had scouted the surrounding area. After meticulously comparing the actual terrain with the game’s map, Xiluo’er finally pinpointed her target location.

After half a minute of patient waiting, the alleyway before her indeed began to change.

The dilapidated door remained exactly as it was, unchanged. However, the stone slabs before it slid aside with a grating screech, revealing a pitch-black passage before Xiluo’er.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xiluo’er tightened her black cloak around her and descended into the passage.

****

Along the not-so-spacious passage, various stalls lined both sides, offering a myriad of goods and services. Were it not for the dim, yellowish light overhead casting an air of mystery, this place might have been mistaken for an ordinary market at first glance.

However, a typical market would never be this quiet; everyone here conducted their business in hushed tones.

Nor would people in a market conceal their faces and figures beneath shadows and cloaks as they did here.

Cloaked, Xiluo’er strolled beneath the dim light, her aura of ‘hidden sharpness’ blending seamlessly with the surroundings.

Each time she donned this cloak and mask, Xiluo’er, as ‘Cat’s Tail,’ transformed into a completely different person from her usual self.

As she ambled through the black market, Xiluo’er pondered her objective.

This was, after all, not a game; even for gathering information, Xiluo’er sought reliable informants.

She had no desire to be betrayed while in the process of acquiring intelligence.

For anyone who came to buy information was, in themselves, a piece of information.

Her gaze, hidden behind her mask, swept over the stalls before her as Xiluo’er continued deeper into the black market.

Like a hunter tracking prey, she possessed immense patience.

However, after only a few more steps, and having just brushed past another cloaked figure, Xiluo’er suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Cat’s Tail? What are you doing here?”

The next instant, a person also wearing a mask darted out from directly in front of her.

Xiluo’er’s nerves instantly tightened.

Aside from her contact, ‘Xiluo’er’ should have no acquaintances in Karna City.

Who was this person who had suddenly called out her codename?

Had the person before her not seemed utterly devoid of malice, Xiluo’er might already have drawn her dagger.

“Hello, hello? Can you hear me?”

The person waved a hand before her, causing Xiluo’er to instinctively take half a step back, subtly observing the mysterious newcomer.

Though also cloaked, this individual clearly had no intention of concealing their identity; the wide hood hung loosely behind, revealing a shock of white short hair.

Moreover, the red mask and the voice, clearly un-disguised, struck Xiluo’er with a sense of familiarity.

Xiluo’er immediately sifted through her memories, and an answer quickly emerged.

“Red Spider? What are you doing here?”

The red mask flashed in her memory; the person before her was not an enemy.

Xiluo’er let out a breath of relief, her hand, previously hidden, emerging from within her cloak.

This person was someone she knew—or rather, someone ‘Xiluo’er’ knew.

Red Spider was a member of the professional assassin organization, the Assassin Shadow Kill Corps.

This character rarely appeared in the main storyline, only making a few appearances in ‘Xiluo’er’s’ personal side quests.

Truthfully, at this point in time, they couldn’t even be called ‘acquaintances,’ having only had previous contact during missions.

Despite her limited appearances, Xiluo’er had a rather deep impression of this character, which was why she recognized her so quickly now.

As for why the impression was so deep… it was because Red Spider seemed utterly unprofessional.

Just like now, what assassin would be so brazenly unconcerned with their disguise?

Not only was her hood casually thrown back, but Red Spider also made no attempt whatsoever to conceal her natural voice.

Furthermore, in a place like the black market, she dared to casually approach and greet someone.

‘It’s not like running into an old classmate while grocery shopping…’

Xiluo’er silently grumbled to herself.

“Someone commissioned me to investigate a few things in Karna City. I’ve been here for a while now.”

Red Spider seemed utterly unconcerned with revealing her purpose for being here. A sweet voice emanated from behind the red mask, and coupled with her white short hair, it was easy to imagine a playful and adorable young girl hidden beneath.

And…

Xiluo’er glanced at Red Spider’s chest; even the cloak couldn’t completely conceal the prominent curves beneath.

“What about you, Cat’s Tail? Why are you in Karna City?”

“Let me guess, have those problematic High Priests of the Chaos Cult finally decided to let you out for some fresh air and practice?”

To dare insult another organization’s higher-ups to their face, calling them ‘brain-damaged’… only someone so brazenly thick-skinned could pull off such a feat.

However, Xiluo’er actually agreed with Red Spider’s assessment. What else could a group of people obsessed with resurrecting an evil god be, if not brain-damaged?

“To gather some intelligence from the black market.”

Xiluo’er simply stated her purpose for being there, unwilling to reveal too much information to Red Spider, even if they knew each other.

“You want to gather intelligence?”

Red Spider clapped her hands together.

“What a coincidence! I’ve collected quite a bit of information for my own commission during my time in Karna City.”

“Since we know each other, I can tell you some things I know for free, you know.”

Red Spider offered this proposition to Xiluo’er.