On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 036

 

 

Black Market (1)

 

 

Crow.

Erso.

It was the day he got thoroughly beaten down after writing a disciplinary report over the Takeus incident.

 

“So damn dirty and petty, really.”

 

Because of that bastard Takeus, the entire Organization almost suffered damage.

Actually, if you think about it, wasn’t it The Organization’s fault since they made the contract, not Erso?

Of course, arguing like this would only increase the number of disciplinary reports he’d have to write.

Erso accepted the fine and suspension for now.

 

“Maybe I should drink.”

 

Since missions were banned for a while, there wasn’t much else to do.

Suddenly, anger surged up.

 

“If only that bastard hadn’t been there. Damn it.”

 

That bastard who was clearly a tremendous veteran in this industry!

If only that bastard hadn’t been there, things wouldn’t have turned out like this!

And after putting him through all that hell, he settled it with just two daggers!

 

“Damn bastard, really.”

“Are you talking about me?”

 

Erso’s heart froze solid.

It wasn’t an exaggeration—it really felt like his heart had frozen completely.

 

“You live in a spacious place.”

 

Erso’s head turned slowly with a creaking sound.

The Safe House he’d prepared with a lot of money.

Right in the middle of it…

That bastard was there.

 

“H-h-how…”

“The security isn’t very good.”

 

That couldn’t be!

The security was perfect.

Triple-layered Intruder Detection Devices.

He’d even installed magical tools that showed illusions.

The amount invested in security alone was a whopping 150,000 Cel!

 

“You should reinforce the ceiling a bit more. It would be a little easier if you entered through there.”

“The ceiling?”

“Yes. Ah, I came in through a different place.”

“…”

 

That bastard.

Ziel, whose name Crow still didn’t know, asked.

 

“I’ll ask again. Were you just talking about me?”

 

His heart was frozen, but his brain worked quickly.

 

“N-no way! I was cursing my boss!”

“Seems like you don’t have a very good boss.”

“He’s so vicious. Doesn’t pay well either.”

“Is that so? I’m pretty decent. I pay well.”

 

What bullshit.

Two daggers count as good pay?

Unless they were famous swords or magical daggers.

Or something used by a famous person.

 

“But how on earth did you get h… no, why are you…”

 

This was really driving him crazy.

Had he sprinkled Tracking Incense somewhere?

Or had he implanted something in his body while he was unconscious?

No matter how much he thought about it, neither seemed right.

Crows must undergo related inspections at locations designated by The Organization before returning from missions.

They couldn’t risk being tracked.

Naturally, Erso had also undergone the related inspection when he returned after finishing the Takeus case, but was judged to have no abnormalities.

 

‘He’s really a scary bastard.’

 

His body trembling!

Since becoming a Crow, he’d only trembled like this when he first met this bastard and when he witnessed his superior’s death right before his eyes.

 

“I came to make a request.”

 

A request?

 

“There’s a place I need to go.”

 

Erso tried to resist timidly.

 

“I’m currently… suspended, so I officially can’t take missions.”

“Suspended?”

“Y… yes. That’s how it turned out.”

“So you can’t do it the proper way.”

“The proper way… yes, th-that’s right.”

 

Could he be backing down?

 

“Then I’ll proceed personally.”

“Ah.”

 

It sounds like he’s saying he’ll do whatever he wants.

That’s my fate.

I thought I’d be living comfortably at the inn for a while.

 

“Where are you going?”

“The Black Market.”

“…What?”

 

I doubted my ears.

 

“That’s supposed to be a request?”

“Yes. It’s a request.”

 

I was a bit flustered.

In this business, the Black Market is just a place you go in and out of anytime.

Going to the Black Market together is a request?

 

‘The Black Market…’

 

My mind raced quickly.

What could it mean?

This guy is a pro among pros.

I can’t just take what he says at face value.

There might be some elaborate scheme hidden behind it.

 

‘Could it be?’

 

Wait.

This guy paid me last time too.

Let’s think about this logically.

 

‘Why did he pay me?’

 

There was no reason to pay me.

He’d already instilled fear in me!

Simple hush money?

Well.

Two daggers would be too little for that.

If he really wanted to silence me, he would have given me big money.

 

‘Then…’

 

The fact that he bothered to pay me means he was pleased with something!

I don’t know why it was just two daggers, but anyway, the important thing is that he paid me!

 

‘That means…’

 

And this guy came looking for me again this time.

Considering his skills, most people in this business can’t even compare.

Wherever he is, he’s definitely someone capable…

 

“What are you thinking about?”

“J-just a moment.”

 

My thoughts were almost organized.

Erso reached a conclusion.

 

‘A scouting offer!’

 

My frozen heart began to pound with excitement.

 

‘And asking me to go to the Black Market together… it’s not just simple companionship! Right. He wants to check my judgment too? As expected, he’s thorough.’

 

“Your heart rate is rising. Are you plotting something?”

“Ah, th-that, no! Haha. I’m just a bit excited.”

 

It’s here!

A chance to turn my life around!

Scouting offers are common in this business.

However, once you reach the level of Red Shadow where Erso belongs, it becomes difficult to receive such proposals.

Because there’s no particular reason to leave this place.

But a scouting offer from someone with this level of skill is a different story.

 

‘Then this is an entrance exam.’

 

It’s not just large-scale organizations like Red Shadow or the recently destroyed Black Sky.

Small organizations.

There are definitely organizations that gather a select few elites to perform very special missions only.

Judging by this guy’s skills, he’s definitely leading such a small but powerful elite organization.

Or he’s thinking of creating one now!

 

Gulp.

 

Dry saliva swallowed from anticipation.

I’ve always dreamed of something like this.

I’ve dreamed of retirement too, but being born a man, shouldn’t there be this kind of romance at least once?

I may not know combat, but I’m confident in Espionage and Information Gathering.

 

‘Someone like me is premium talent.’

 

“I’ll do anything. Let’s go.”

 

Erso burned with enthusiasm.

For the first time in a while, his heart, which had grown complacent since joining Red Shadow, was beating.

 

“This time’s payment is a single dagger. One I used to use.”

“Half a blade or half a fragment, I don’t care. Anything at all!”

 

Ziel nodded at Crow’s noticeably changed attitude.

 

‘He really seems to like it.’

 

The remaining silver coins had other uses, so he couldn’t give those away, which is why he gave the dagger instead.

From what he’d heard, items that the ‘Specter’ had used were selling for high prices at the black market.

He was the Specter, so he thought the dagger he’d used would have that kind of value, which is why he gave it.

Anyway, it was fortunate that Crow liked it.

 

“The black market isn’t far from here. I’ll guide you there. They’re actually auctioning off Specter’s items today, so it should make for an entertaining spectacle.”

“Is that so?”

“Everyone in this business will probably gather there today. Items that the Specter used! Isn’t that incredibly exciting?”

 

Items he had used.

Nothing particularly came to mind.

When escaping the organization’s secret hideout, he had taken everything worth taking.

Dikelen’s silver coin was also something he’d grabbed then.

 

“Is it exciting?”

“Incredibly so!”

“I see.”

 

He wasn’t sure what it was about, but he figured he’d understand once he saw it.

Most importantly, he needed to cure Yurio’s illness.

 

‘He’s my student.’

 

Ziel was no longer an assassin.

 

“Let’s go! Oh, but… there’s something I’m curious about.”

“What are you curious about?”

“Well, I was wondering how I should address you.”

 

Forms of address.

Something he’d read about in books came to mind.

Forms of address were like the beginning and establishment of relationships.

 

“What form of address would be comfortable for you?”

 

Rather than deciding forms of address for others, it was better to let them call you what they preferred.

 

“Um… how about Senior?”

“Senior?”

“You seem to have been active longer than me, and your skills are superior…”

“Fine. Call me that.”

“Thank you!”

 

Senior became Ziel’s form of address.

Though considering years of experience, he certainly wasn’t a senior.

 

 

The underworld’s black market had two rules.

One.

Its location changed every time.

Two.

Only authorized individuals could enter.

Both were for security reasons.

However, the second rule needed some elaboration.

 

“This time’s theme appears to be poison.”

 

Erso explained the rules for today’s black market.

 

“It seems we need to inject antidotes before entering to be safe. There appears to be poison mist spread throughout the entire black market.”

 

This was a black market that absolutely couldn’t be entered without so-called ‘immunity.’

If someone who hadn’t received an antidote injection tried to enter the black market, they would immediately collapse.

It was a method of filtering out intruders.

 

“The last black market was probably…”

“A password.”

“That’s right.”

 

Ziel’s body, befitting an assassin, had already been conditioned against many poisons, so poison wouldn’t be much trouble.

However, having a companion like Erso was necessary to avoid even minimal suspicion.

 

“This is the place.”

 

The black market’s location and entrance changed every time.

This time it was some ordinary inn on the capital streets.

More precisely, it was an underground passage connected from a first-floor room of the inn.

 

‘I’ve been to this place before.’

 

Several inns in the capital were often used for such purposes.

Safe houses for assassins.

Or intermediate supply points.

Today it was a black market entrance.

Of course, this wasn’t the only entrance.

 

Click.

 

They entered a room, felt around the floor and pulled, revealing a passage.

After climbing down a ladder and walking a bit further, the black market entrance finally appeared.

A man was blocking the way ahead, and Erso immediately presented his identification.

 

“Crow of Red Shadow. You know?”

“I thought you might have put on a Human Skin Mask.”

“Suddenly?”

“Because you seem to have gotten uglier.”

“Damn bastard.”

 

The identification token presented together.

The man who examined the token looked toward Ziel.

 

“What about the one behind?”

“My companion.”

 

The man scrutinized Ziel carefully and then nodded.

 

“Well, it’s guaranteed by a Grade 1 Crow of Red Shadow. But if you cause trouble, you know?”

“I know. Don’t worry and just let us through. I heard today’s goods are amazing?”

“50 people have already passed through this entrance today alone. If the Imperial Family strikes, today would be the opportunity, right? Everyone’s gathered here, so a complete sweep is possible.”

“Seems like many came.”

“But unfortunately, many high-ranking people came today too. I guess everyone’s curious since items that Specter used are coming out?”

 

Probably many nobles came as well.

Well, of course.

Rumors had already spread throughout the industry, and these were items belonging to Specter, who had become a legend.

Moreover, he was someone who could never be seen again now.

 

“This is an antidote.”

 

The man flicked his finger.

 

“You there, the companion should take it too.”

 

The two who swallowed the antidote.

However, Ziel didn’t swallow it and kept it in his mouth for a moment.

Of course, the man didn’t notice.

 

“Open your mouth. Ah, like that. Hmm. Both of you swallowed it.”

“Can we go now?”

“Be careful because you might get attacked because of that face. Next time, come wearing a Human Skin Mask at least. This companion doesn’t need one since he’s handsome, right?”

“Damn bastard.”

 

Actually, Ziel was wearing a Human Skin Mask.

The man just didn’t notice.

Anyway, as they entered inside, Ziel secretly took the antidote hidden in his mouth and put it in his pocket.

 

“Finally, the Black Market.”

 

Upon entering the Black Market, a familiar scene unfolded.

As expected, poison fog was spread around, but even without an antidote, it posed no problem for Ziel.

 

‘Nothing has changed.’

 

Unlike a regular market, there were no hawkers.

Everyone quietly displayed their goods and buyers would find what they needed on their own.

However, there were quite a few more people than Ziel remembered.

It seemed to be because of today’s auction, as Erso had said.

 

‘The scent is strong.’

 

Ziel confirmed that there were many customers here who couldn’t usually be seen.

Although everyone covered their faces and wore robes, they couldn’t hide the scent of perfume that nobles often wore.

Nor the smell of oil that knights applied to their swords.

 

“Senior, is there something you’re looking for?”

“I’m looking for mixing ingredients. There it is.”

 

The place Ziel headed to was where various rare medicines and plants were sold.

Most were byproducts obtained during missions or items secretly sold because their distribution was prohibited within the Empire.

 

“Edelin Five Roots and Belberg Wings. How much for both?”

“Edelin Five Roots are 4,000 Cel each, so 20,000 Cel total.”

“That’s the price of 20,000 chicken skewers.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Don’t you have Belberg Wings?”

“We don’t have those. They’ll probably come up in today’s auction. Try aiming for them then. There are few goods available these days.”

“I see.”

 

For now, Ziel purchased the Edelin Five Roots.

Belberg Wings seemed difficult to obtain as expected.

Still, it was fortunate that they were scheduled to appear in the auction.

If that didn’t work out, he was thinking of raiding a place he had in mind.

 

“When does the auction start?”

“It looks like it’s about to start over there.”

 

The flower of the Black Market was the auction.

Although good items could occasionally be found at these stalls, most rare items were put up for auction.

 

“Come, come, get your numbers. Number 60.”

 

Ziel and Erso received numbers 60 and 61 respectively and took their seats.

 

“Now! Before we start today’s auction, you’ve all heard various rumors!”

 

The auction finally began.

The auctioneer’s booming voice rang out.

 

“Today, finally, that person we all know! That very person’s items will appear in this auction!”

 

Erso’s voice was trembling.

 

“S-Senior. It’s starting. Finally!”

 

He seemed extremely excited.

It wasn’t just Erso.

Everyone in the Black Market was gathering in that direction.

 

“A legend of the industry! The hero in all our hearts! That’s right, that’s right! These are the Specter’s belongings!”

 

Only Ziel stood with his arms crossed, watching with an indifferent gaze.

 

“Unfortunately, the Specter has left our side, but his legendary achievements remain in our hearts…”

 

That very Specter was right here.

With his arms crossed, wearing a Human Skin Mask.

 

“Now then, cutting to the chase, let me introduce the first item. This is the ‘Assassination Sword’ used by the Specter himself! Starting bid is a modest 1 million Cel…”

 

As soon as the words left his mouth, someone raised their hand.

 

“3 million Cel.”

 

Specter.

That name alone ignited the bidding from the start.

But Ziel looked at the item with a calm expression and thought.

 

‘It’s fake.’

 

It seemed they were doing business by selling the Specter’s name.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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