Leon and Rees stood inside a dim-lit, dust-choked shop that looked like it hadn’t seen daylight in decades. The air was thick with the scent of old wood, dried blood, and milk gone stale. There was no one behind the counter, only a clutter of bizarre items—totems made from what looked like demon claws, necklaces of polished fangs, jars filled with floating eyeballs, and more horrific things.
*Knock-Knock-Knock*
Rees raised his hand and tapped on the counter three times.
*Thud-Thud-Thud*
The sound of something crashing echoed from the back of the store, followed by the rapid stomp of footsteps rushing forward.
*Step-step-step-step-step*
A moment later, a woman emerged from behind the curtain.
She had wild black-and-white hair tied messily back, thick goggles resting atop her head, a loose bodice that barely clung to her flat chest, and two fingers missing from her left hand. Her skin was pale, almost ashen, and twin fangs peeked from her lips like a subtle warning.
“That knock… I know that knock,” she said, stepping forward, her tone curious.
“Hello, Lia,” Rees said with a smile.
“Rees, you undead motherfucker! Where the fuck have you been for the last fifty years ? Looks like you were getting really busy in your experiments huh ?” she grinned, showing off her sharp canines.
Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly and he activated his skill immediately.
<Inspect>.
[Name: Lia Vengers]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Race: Vampire]
[Level: 110]
[HP: 1,100,000 / 1,100,000]
[MP: 550,000 / 550,000]
[Description: Lia was once a human adventurer and she was raiding a dungeon with her party but due to unusual events, a vampire inside the dungeon bit her and turned her into a Vampire herself.
Since she couldn’t survive without blood anymore, humans tried to kill her and after that she choose to open a shop in the black market. Selling her body parts for blood and money.]
’A vampire… That’s interesting, she looks completely human if she hides her fangs.’ Leon thought, eyeing her carefully.
Lia’s sharp gaze shifted to Leon. “Who’s the human brat? Don’t tell me… did you bring him as a gift for me to drain ?”
Rees sighed. “He’s not a gift. He’s a friend, I am showing him around the black market, so keep your fangs to yourself. You are just like last time, I saw you.”
“Tch, lucky boy,” Lia chuckled, licking her lips. “You’ve got Rees guiding you? Shit, kid. This bag of bones is the smartest pile of dust I’ve met in the past 300 years.”
“Oh? It’s been that long already ? I thought you were only 100 years old.” Rees smirked.
“Still trying to butter up the girls, huh ? You don’t even have a dick.” Lia spoke with a smile.
“Heheh… I can always try.”
“Now putting all this aside, What do you guys want ?” Lia asked as she looked at Leon.
“Can I get two pouches of Black Sand ?” Leon asked, his voice steady.
Lia reached under the counter and slapped two small pouches onto it. “That’ll be one silver… or some dropz of your tasty blood if you’re short, hehehe.”
Leon placed a silver coin down without hesitation, “I will pay with money.”
“Anything else ?” she asked, eyeing Rees.
“I do need a few things, but… I’m broke, turns out all of my money is gone.” Rees said, touching his skull as if trying to scratch his non-existent scalp.
Lia waved her hand dismissively. “Have I ever asked you for money ? You can pay later. Not like any of us are dying anytime soon, right ?”
Rees laughed. “In that case, I won’t be shy. I have everything written on this list- wait… where’s the list ?” He asked with a confused expression as he searched his pockets.
Leon pulled the parchment from his pocket. “You gave it to me. Here.”
“Ah yes,” Rees nodded, taking it.
Lia’s eyes scanned the list. “Hmm… these solutions, the frek bark… You’re making another Necroheart, aren’t you?”
Rees gave a simple nod. “My last one was stolen during the dungeon raid. Some humans came in took everything from it.”
“And still no grudge. That’s why I like you,” Lia said, glancing at Leon. “This man lost his heart, and he’s not even mad. My boyfriend broke my heart few years ago, that’s his head there.”
Lia spoke as she pointed towards the head of a demon hanging over a hook near the entrance.
Rees shrugged. “A scholar who lets loss dictate his path never reaches the truth.”
“Oh, shut up with the wisdom shit,” Lia snorted. “You know I have killed more than I can count and you still say things like that. I’ll get your stuff, Voo-Doo Scholar.” She vanished into the back again.
Leon’s gaze wandered around the shop, trailing over grotesque relics. ’Voo-Doo… it could be useful—especially for certain things. Wait can I use it for that ?’
“Something wrong, Mr. Leon?” Rees asked, noticing his focus.
“Rees… just to clarify—Voo-Doo allows you to stimulate someone’s body using a doll, right?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“Yes. You link the doll to the target using his skin, blood or even a strand of hair. Whatever you do to it, they will feel it,
But, you can’t kill anyone with Voo-Doo magic, only make them feel pain or pleasure.” Rees explained plainly.
Leon’s lips curled into a slow grin. “So if I make a toy… say, one shaped like a pussy—and I link it to a real woman and start fucking it… will she-”
Rees cut him off, his tone clinical. “Yes. She’ll feel everything. Every thrust. Every twitch. It’s perfectly doable but you will need a hair of that woman from near her vagina.
That’s something that I am hearing for the first time, You are really interesting Mr. Leon.”
Leon’s grin widened. “I want to learn Voo-Doo magic, Rees. Teach me.”
Rees chuckled softly. “Of course. In return, will you share a bit of your own wisdom with me, Mr. Leon ?” He asked.
“Sure.” Leon replied immediately.
“Excellent.” Rees pulled out another slip of parchment. “Lia! I’m adding more ingredients to the list!”
“Fine… where the fuck did I put the red solution.” As Lia groaned from the back, Leon turned back toward the shelves, his eyes scanning the things carefully.
’If I can learn Voo-Doo magic… I can really make use of it in more than one ways. Hehehe…’ Leon thought as an evil and perverted smile appeared over his face.
Suddenly, something attracted his attention.
A black coloured bracelet was lying in one of the shelf.
“Hmm…?” Leon immediately used his skill on it.
<Inspect>
[Name: Unbalanced Bracelet]
[Rank: uncommon]
[Description: A bracelet that can increase it’s weight according to the mana supplied into it.
The weight of this bracelet can be increased by supplying mana to it and until the owner doesn’t take the mana out of it, the bracelet will stay the same weight. These bracelets were used by ancient swordsmen to train their bodies but with time they were declared non-efficient due to their huge mana consumptions.]
“Okay… Here is all the stuff you had in your list.” Lia spoke as she brought out a huge pile of things from the back of the shop and placed it on the counter.
*Thud*
“Umm… Here are some more things. I will take these as well.” Rees spoke as he handed her the second list.
“Oh okay…” Lia spoke as she took the list from him.
“How much for this bracelet ?” Leon asked with a smile as he took out the bracelet and placed it on his hand.
“That thing ? Look, I would sold anything for money… But, since you guys are friends. I will suggest you not to buy that thing. It’s a huge mana eater. I mean you can just get weights and use them to train.” Lia spoke as she looked at Leon.
“I will buy it… How much ?” Leon asked with a smile as he walked upto the counter.
“Hmm… It’s been a very long time. How about thirty coppers ?” Lia asked as she looked at Leon.
“Deal.” Leon spoke as he immediately took out thirty coppers and gave it to Lia.
“Wow… You are rich huh? Taking the money out before speaking.” Lia asked with a smile as she looked at Leon.
“I am just a poor guy.” Leon spoke with a neutral expression.
“Umm… Lia, We need to go. The time is running out.” Rees spoke as he looked at Lia.
“Oh… Right.” Lia spoke as she immediately went back.
“What do you mean by that ?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“Everytime you come to the Black Market… Remember that there is a certain amount of time you can stay here as a visitor.
For us that would be three to five hours, Mr. Leon. You will need to go back and come back if you want to keep roaming around the market.” Rees spoke as he looked at Leon.
“I see. So what happens if someone fails to go back ?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“The keepers will kick you out.” Rees replied with a neutral expression.