NOVEL WEB Chapter 6: The Underground Black Market
As the crowd dispersed, the excitement did not subside.
The news spread quickly, and students at Saint Stone High School couldn't stop talking about it.
A pet cat, seemingly ordinary, had defied expectations by striking down a Bronze 14-level Sky-Eyed Wind Wolf with a single swipe of its paw. Then, in another dramatic move, it killed a Silver 10-level Frogman with a flying tackle.
The extraordinary results were so unbelievable that they seemed almost unreal, shocking everyone who heard about it.
This strange incident quickly became the talk of the school, drawing more attention and awe than the ongoing rivalry between Kent and Zhao Xuan.
Many were eager to find out how this pet cat had acquired such incredible combat abilities. Was it perhaps a Silver-level Beastmaster's companion?
In fact, since the world-shaking event that altered Earth, it was rare for pets to become Beastmasters' companions. Having been domesticated by humans, pets lost their natural instincts, and most civilians, unable to afford a true Beast, had only pets like cats and dogs as their companions.
However, countless instances had proven that pets, once domesticated, had low combat power and were not worth training, with no cases of them ever advancing to Silver level.
If Kent's pet cat truly was Silver-level, the implications were obvious, offering immense potential.
But, most people who knew about the incident were students, and they didn't think much beyond the surface.
...
Kent left the training grounds with a sense of anxiety. It wasn't because of his falling out with Zhao Xuan, but because he was flat broke and couldn't even afford a meal.
Looking at his identity wristband, his balance was almost zero. He urgently needed to earn credit points, or he wouldn't even be able to eat.
Credit points were the universal currency used in all cities on Earthstar, similar to the dollar on Earth.
Kent had done some quick calculations based on the price differences between the two planets, and one credit point was roughly equivalent to one dollar.
In the cafeteria.
Kent sat with his classmate Zhou Yun, eating lunch.
"Ah Yun, do you know where I can quickly earn credit points?" Kent asked, eager to find a solution to his financial woes.
"Kent, you're out of money? I can lend you some," Zhou Yun offered. His family owned a restaurant, so they were doing okay.
"Thanks, but I need a lot of credit points. I need to buy some nutrition liquid for Garfield, or Zhao Xuan might come after me again," Kent shook his head.
Zhou Yun knew all about Kent confronting Zhao Xuan, and he had cheered for Kent's victory. He thought Zhao Xuan had been too arrogant, but there was concern as well. Kent was powerless and without influence, and if Zhao Xuan wanted revenge, things could get dangerous—he could easily vanish one day while walking home alone.
Money could make things happen, and Zhao Xuan could easily hire someone to harm Kent.
"Well, if you need nutrition liquid, it's going to cost quite a bit. A basic nutrition liquid is 1,000 credit points, a mid-grade one is 3,000, and a high-grade one is 10,000," Zhou Yun said, his face showing some difficulty.
He couldn't lend Kent that much; his own Beast was only of average strength, and he didn't have much extra.
But then, Zhou Yun had an idea. "Kent, I know a place, but it's kind of dangerous, and there are some shady characters there."
Kent's ears perked up at the mention of danger—opportunity often came with risk. "Where is it?" he asked eagerly.
"The Underground Black Market."
Zhou Yun explained, "There's an underground black market in the northern part of Microglow City. They have all kinds of tasks posted every day, and there are Beastmaster combat fights, just like tournaments. They also sell rare items, like corrosion agents, rage potions, and Beast evolution liquids."
Kent's eyes lit up. That place sounded promising, especially with his Divine Beast Evolution System. It was worth checking out.
But Zhou Yun, seeing Kent's interest, couldn't help but warn him. "Kent, are you really thinking of going? We're still students. It's best not to go there—things could end badly."
Kent felt Zhou Yun's concern, so he didn't want to be too direct in rejecting his advice. Instead, he casually replied, "Don't worry, I'm just asking out of curiosity."
But in his mind, he was thinking, A wise woman can't make a meal without rice. I have the system, but evolving a pet... it requires a lot of credit points.
With a sigh, Kent decided to take the plunge. With only a little over two hundred credit points left, he was ready to risk it all.
...
After making up an excuse, Kent asked for permission from his homeroom teacher to leave early.
Now, he was on the subway heading to the northern part of the city, gazing out the window while lost in thought.
Microglow City was one of the thirty-six cities on Earthstar, with a population of over 20 million, making it highly congested.
It couldn't be helped.
The global cataclysm had led to the formation of numerous spatial rifts, causing mutations in almost all plants and animals. Only about 20% of these mutations were beneficial.
So, when a rat crossing the street had blade-like teeth and the size of an armored vehicle, or when a wild grass grew to nearly 100 meters high, its tendrils sweeping through everything around it, humanity could only hide behind massive steel city walls, trembling in fear.
This was a calamity for humanity but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The discovery by the pioneer Kant had led humanity into the Beastmaster Age, where acquiring extraordinary powers had become the ultimate goal for Beastmasters.
"I envy those Beastmasters fighting outside the cities," Kent thought. "But unfortunately, Microglow City only allows Beastmasters aged 18 and above, with a Beast's combat power over 300, to leave the city."
Kent thought about this as the train rumbled on.
After about an hour, he reached the northern part of the city. Following the address he found online, he entered a shopping mall and headed to the basement level.
"Stop! No entry," a burly security guard blocked his path, holding a baton.
"I'm here for the black market," Kent said, looking around nervously. There were no cameras nearby, and he felt uneasy, but he stood firm.
The guard sized him up and, after a moment, nodded. "Follow me."
Kent was led to a room.
"First time here? Do you have a referral?" asked a man in a purple robe, his sharp eyes scanning Kent.
Kent shook his head.
The man in purple didn't ask further questions. He spoke calmly, "You'll need a mask and an alias. The fee is 100 credit points."
"Eight God," Kent blurted out without hesitation. He swiped his identity wristband to pay the 100 credit points.
"Eight God" was a title from Earth's King of Fighters game, perfect for hiding his true identity. It sounded prestigious enough that no one would associate it with a high school student.
The man nodded, took out a tiger-shaped mask, and engraved the words "Eight God" on it. He handed it to Kent and waved for the guard to escort him.
"This is the black market entrance. You'll need to wear the mask every time you enter or exit," the guard said coldly, pointing at a dark, ominous door.