CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47 CROW MARKET

Today, "Mr. Zorro" looked entirely different from the thief he appeared as that day.

A gentleman’s hat was pulled low, almost touching his nose, revealing only a few strands of deep blue hair at the edges. His understated yet luxurious attire spoke of noble breeding, making him appear like a child of the aristocracy.

However, the actions this fellow took today were entirely unbecoming of such fine clothing. After leaving Gabred’s bustling main road, he continuously ducked into secluded alleys.

If it weren’t for the fact that he seemed in too much of a hurry to look back, Aiven might have thought he had been discovered and was circling to evade being followed.

"What a mysterious fellow."

To be cautious, Aiven increased the distance more, following from afar so as not to lose sight of him completely.

After walking through five or six narrow alleys where even carriages couldn’t pass, Aiven finally saw him stop at the gate of an abandoned estate.

Despite the remote location and old buildings, the place was indeed quite large.

Judging from the faded and broken decorations, this must have once been prime real estate in the old city, though it had fallen into disuse so long that wild shrubs had grown everywhere.

Standing at the gate of the deserted house.

"Zorro" took a black integrated cloak from his small bag and draped it over himself, then faced the tightly locked wrought-iron gate and directly walked in.

Amidst the rippling water-like waves, he vanished entirely, as if the gate that seemed weathered by time didn’t exist at all.

"Witchcraft? Illusion?"

Aiven stepped cautiously from his hidden spot, observing carefully.

Not until he got close did his active spiritual power detect the lingering traces of witchcraft in the air.

The place had been set with a permanent witchcraft enchantment!

In fact, it was originally set to block ordinary people, but for extraordinaries, especially those with activated spiritual power like magical transcendent individuals, it shone like a beacon within five meters.

No wonder the fellow seemed to have no anti-reconnaissance awareness on the way here; this place was practically a semi-public venue, open to anyone who knew how to find it.

Having read Leon’s notes, Aiven, no longer a complete novice, had already speculated what this place might be.

"Lucky me, just when I was feeling sleepy, a pillow comes along."

Aiven felt quite lucky not to have worn his uniform today, opting instead for a casual cloak with a hood pulled down to conceal his face, leaving only his chin visible.

Perfect!

He then walked straight inside, as if passing through a shimmering water membrane, and was immediately greeted by a bustling noise filling his ears.

"How much is....."

"Too expensive, and the side effects are too great...."

"Don’t touch it if you’re not buying."

Various stalls and stores, along with the bustling crowd, instantly gave Aiven a sense of a lively marketplace.

Only, this market was different from elsewhere.

Mysteriously dressed buyers and sellers, intentionally hushed conversations, a dark-themed decor, a variety of bizarre and even bone-chilling items for sale, and an odd pervasive smell all demonstrated the peculiar nature of this place.

Indeed, it was a market, but not for the general public—it was the Crow Market, specifically for extraordinaries!

Leon’s notes documented the Crow Market, in which he was a regular participant, particularly as a seller. Despite differences in time and region, its essential nature remained the same.

If Aiven had to compare it with something mundane, it would be akin to the "Ghost Market" of old, gathering at sunset and dispersing at dawn, with no responsibility for transactions made once the market closes.

Aiven felt Mr. "Zorro" was his fortunate star, bringing a pillow when he was sleepy. He first "presented" him with Leion’s notes and now a Crow Market. He was indeed a kind-hearted soul.

Aiven couldn’t help but speculate that this man must be a wizard; otherwise, his bizarre behavior had no reasonable explanation.

Noble, thief, apprentice knight of peak level, wizard apprentice—these multiple identities made Aiven increasingly intrigued by Mr. "Zorro"’s secrets.

This type of presence, which was clearly a priority target for the Church and the Kingdom, could appear openly in a major city like Gabred. But Aiven was not one for probing too deeply; the underlying reasons were beyond what a newcomer to the Extraordinary World like him should investigate.

After reserving some caution, he officially entered the market.

Entering Crow Market for the first time with a sense of novelty, Aiven didn’t concern himself with Mr. "Zorro"’s whereabouts, blending into the crowd to wander around leisurely.

"How much for this Clever Tongue Grass?"

Squatting at a vendor selling herbs, Aiven pointed at a bundle with leaves resembling a sparrow’s tongue, asking in a deliberately lowered voice.

Clever Tongue Grass was one of the main ingredients for the "Bird Language Potion", one of the three self-created magic potions recorded in Leon’s notes. While not a rare herb, he couldn’t miss the chance to obtain it here.

Originally worried that frequently purchasing peculiar herbs might attract attention, Aiven decided to avoid any risks for the moment. But in Crow Market, where everyone hides their identity, such concerns were unnecessary. Once outside, he could remove his hood, and nobody would recognize him.

"Twenty stalks in total, two Golden Lions and they’re all yours," responded the vendor, equally hidden under a black hood, their head not raised, a cold voice emanating from the shadows beneath the hood.

Unfazed by the vendor’s attitude, Aiven noted many vendors had this take-it-or-leave-it demeanor, which would have driven them out of business anywhere else, but it was common here.

"Two Silver Bulls!" Aiven stated his price expectation calmly, slashing two-thirds off the original price.

The vendor looked up at Aiven.

At least Aiven felt two cold gazes from beneath the vendor’s hood before they finally said, "Take them."

Still indifferent.

"I’ve still overestimated!" Even though Aiven tried to overestimate the level of shadiness in Crow Market, judging by the vendor’s attitude, his offer still exceeded the vendor’s psychological price significantly.

However, he didn’t feel disheartened; after all, knowledge written on paper was ultimately shallow. The notes merely captured Leon’s own experiences.

What’s more, given a century had passed, if he confined himself to the insights in Leon’s notes, Aiven knew he would suffer more losses ahead.

He then visited each stall, acquiring scattered herbs he was somewhat familiar with, but avoiding touching any of the strange-looking items.

Buying at Crow Market required discerning eyes.

In an antique market, a bad investment might cost a bit of money, but buying an unknown, bizarre item here could be deadly!

This was also why Aiven hesitated to collect spoils from eerie enemies in the past, be it Blood Anchor Zack or the aboriginal witch doctor Gagong.