12 The Grand Duke Goes Shopping (3)

"Should I report you for treason? What reward do you think they'll give me?" Abi circled me with a teasing smile on his mug.

I would have rolled my eyes at him but even that would be a worthless effort given his shamelessness. I credit his long years of existence for that.

Anyway, if he did report me, nothing would come out of it. The Empire doesn't dare test the capabilities of those residing in the treacherous desert and the man who rules it.

I brushed him off with a subtle yet mocking scoff.

"Please. The Imperial Family is too poor to afford you."

As the wealthiest person on the continent, I can say that much. If this sly Jinn yearned for some measly reward from the imperial family, then I would have to question his intelligence and his centuries of living in this world.

Tch. As if those people could give anything remotely valuable.

"Never mind then." Abi shrugged. He then proceeded to scan me from head to toe and sighed.

"Your disguise is lousy. Let me do it." He commented with a roll of his eyes.

I glanced at my current look which is different than how I usually am. I feel like I have done a good job with it though. This was the best an aura master could muster, even better than that of the others of my caliber.

I changed my hair color, my eye color, and even some of my features. I couldn't possibly distort it further or it will look unnatural.

It's not my fault I have perfect features that can only be diminished and not removed.

I didn't want to argue about it further, however. I might as well let Abi do what he wants since he volunteered for it.

"I'd gladly take that offer. Thank you."

After hearing my agreement, Abi waved his hand and a violet light enveloped me. I could feel a force covering my entire body. It felt warm.

Once the light faded, I looked at myself in the glass window of the carriage. The reflection that faced me was worlds apart from my own.

The man looking back at me had ash brown hair and green eyes. My refined features which I downplayed in my previous disguise became even more ordinary.

For once in my new life, I appeared average. I honestly felt it was some sort of achievement one way or another.

I grinned in satisfaction and gave Abi a thumbs up in my heart. The transcendental level of mana usage is truly impressive. The level of control and refinement it requires is worth the bloody effort.

Though for Jinns, this kind of thing is but mere basics. After all, their ultimate aim is not the sublimation of the mind but the soul.

After the short spectacle, we finally arrived at our destination.

Our carriage stopped at a dark alleyway near the city's southwest gate. Abi followed me as we ambled through an inconspicuous door, seedy and dilapidated.

"We're here," I whispered to my companion. A signal asking him to act appropriately.

Nonetheless, Abi didn't seem to need it. He was sensible at times like this, that I must admit.

We entered the door and were greeted with a sight thoroughly contrasting with the outside.

The decrepit exterior belied an extravagant exterior of marble columns, a bright crystal chandelier, and a striking mahogany desk in the middle of the hall.

Strangely enough, there were hallways leading to who knows where beyond the stately table. There was even a balcony atop it with an ornate golden door.

I'm pretty sure that clients were led to the different hallways depending on their necessities.

As for the golden door, it could only be where the head of this establishment resides.

I met the eyes of the lady standing behind the mahogany desk.

"Welcome, customers. What are you looking for?" She greeted with what could be called a standard customer service smile and an undisguised inquiry in her eyes.

I applauded this show of courteousness in my heart but kept my face blank. As much as I appreciate their impeccable assistance, I was far from a moron to relish it.

It would be foolish to underestimate the receptionist of the black market. She can put up a fight with me for about fifteen minutes tops. But that was good enough to deal with those who have a moronic superiority complex.

"Immortality," I answered curtly.

I saw the woman pause, her smile slightly stiffening. She recovered quickly enough, however.

"I see. Please wait here while I call Fate." I nodded in response. The woman then bowed slightly before disappearing into one of the hallways.

Abi snapped his fingers. I felt a barrier surrounding us which prompted a questioning look from me.

"Space manipulation. A rare gift." He said with an enthusiastic whistle.

I then understood why he put up a barrier. It was so that he could gossip at ease. After all, the two of us refuse to believe that there would be no covert surveillance in a place like this.

"There is a reason she is the Black-Market owner," I remarked in support of his observation.

Mana users awaken an element that becomes the foundation of their magic once they formed their first mana circle. Of course, the four fundamental elements of air, water, earth, and fire are the most common.

Aside from these, there are also rare variations like gold, lightning, and ice. Then there are the unique ones, with a probability of appearing once every hundred years, such as time, space, and light.

The Black-Market owner was a space element magician. Highly sought after within the continent. I have to say, she was quite clever. Rather than aligning with just one powerhouse, she founded her organization. And made it so that she became an indispensable dynamic in the web of continental influence.

"She? You mean that Fate?" Abi asked with a tilt of his head.

I nodded with a smile, "Yes. She's the owner of the Black Market. A fine magician."

"Hoh? That's plenty coming from you." Abi held his chin, bemused.

"I'd love to have her in Sonomi, truth be told," I stated matter-of-factly.

The Jinn turned to me with surprised eyes and questioned, "Then, why don't you?"

"Alas, no one can control Fate," I muttered in mock lament. My words contained a double entendre.

Abi smirked at my words. I knew he got what I meant to say. "Too bad then. Well, with me here you don't need any magicians. I'm better than those squirts."

He replied, oozing with pride. I could faintly see his nose figuratively elongating to the skies.

"Hmm, are you saying you will lend your power free of charge?" I questioned him with interest.

Abi dramatically held his palm to his heart, a hurt expression on his face.

"What kind of brother do you take me for? Is the vow of the soul not enough for proof of kinship? You're breaking my heart brother."

I rolled my eyes subtly. Even a love calamity won't break this Jinn's heart entirely. Would my taking advantage of him even dent it?

"My, I'm only thinking for your sake," I pacified him blandly which earned me an annoying smirk in return.

See? Who the hell would believe he was hurt with that shit-eating grin on his face?

Abi snapped his fingers once again, and the barrier disappeared as if it wasn't there in the first place. And with just a few breaths, the receptionist that left returned with another woman behind her.

"Greetings. I was told that this dear customer is looking for immortality?" A tall, slender woman with dark hair and gray eyes bowed in courtesy to us. She exuded a subtle pressure, almost as if the space around her was distorting.

It was both curious and baffling at the same time. Though I'm pretty sure the common man wouldn't notice this fine shift in impression.

Abi and I returned with our greeting

"Good day to you, Lady Fate. Yes. We seek immortality." I replied neutrally with a bow of my own.

"Let's head inside to talk, shall we?" The woman called Fate gestured to a flight of stairs that appeared suddenly leading to the golden door on the second floor.

We followed the slim back of the lady and entered an even more elaborate room. I expected nothing less, however. Just as I guessed, this room was for the VIPs or clients with costly demands.

There was a brief silence in the room. If you asked me, it was more like a psychological skirmish.

"I'd like to purchase Vita's Tears," I stated, breaking the stalemate. I don't want to waste my time measuring strengths with her. There was a kid with abandonment issues waiting for us.

"Oh? This customer knows such an obscure thing?" The woman raised a brow, her tone astonished.

I shrugged at her surprise. Heh. I was a descendant of a long-standing family as old as the continent. Something like Vita's Tears cannot even count as obscure information.

"Well, do you have it?" I asked again, not bothering to satisfy the Black-Market Owner's curiosity. The lady raised her brow at me. Probably in amusement but did not comment, nevertheless.

"Of course. The Black Market has everything one could ever need. Even Vita's Tears. However, it will cost you." The owner boasted and then waved her hand.

A small crystal vial whose content slightly gave off a silvery sheen similar to that of a pearl but more exquisite.

I eyed the item in her hand without any semblance of surprise. Truth be told, I knew all the places I could find Vita's tears. I just didn't want to go through so much trouble when there is a more convenient place to obtain it.

"Will this do?" I took out a pouch and set it on the table in front of the Black-Market Owner.

The loosened strings of the pouch unveiled a soft, mysterious glow that slowly enveloped the room.

I heard an audible gasp from the woman. "Wh-What? How in the world do you have anima crystals?"