CHAPTER TWO... The Cloakman....

The man walked towards the trader, his foot steps cranking the floor annoyingly. The old man took a glance at him with a grin look on his face.

The man was putting on a cloak, hiding his face from people wanting to take a quick peek.

His shoulders are broad, showing faintly through the cloak. He is huge and very athletic.

Mere looking at him, one can divulge certain information about him.

The way he walks showed he is an experienced trained combat soldier with a very lengthy years in service. Probably from a very young age.

His fingers are very slim and neat which signifies he is either obsessed with neatness or he comes from a Noble family.

What can he be doing in a black market? The black market are for strays, rogues and machineries that do not have access to normal market called the Sable. Black markets are usually found outside town, in an underground slum.  He doesn't look like a stray nor rogues. Strays and rogues are the filthy, dirty citizens with no record. But he is either from a noble family or he is a combat soldier turned machinery.

His shoes sure look noble. Although, his shoes was dirty, it was obvious it is an expensive brand, made of the finest luxury materials. Beast skin coupled with the finest animal leather was used to carve out the shoes on his feet.

His shoes is enough proof that he's either from a noble family or he is a rich combat machinery with access to lots of private contracts. There are two class of machineries. There is the first tier and the second tier.

The first tier are the high ranked combat officers with loads of experience. The second tier are for the rookies trying to run free. All machineries are soldiers that are honourably or dishonourably discharged from active duty

If he is from a Noble family, he wouldn't be seen in the black market shopping for Catalyst. Noble families have their own personal catalyst production facilities. They have access to it in abundance.

From all descriptions, he looked like a cloaked high ranked machinery in dying need of a catalyst.

Sadly, Archie's mind wasn't on the cloakman. He was too angry to notice all the attributes that gave him away as a machinery.

You dare not stay close when a machinery is trading. They don't get cheated. If they snap, they can wreck havoc with just few skilled moves.

Although, the old trader, normally is a very cautious person by nature, but at this very moment, greed clouded his mind.

He had just received an information from his informant that there had been a shortage of catalyst in all of the black markets.

That explains what brought the cloakman down to the slim.

The old trader saw this as an opportunity to make more money from the only catalyst he has left for sale.

As a matter of fact, his catalyst is the only available one in all black markets. He quickly increased the price of the catalyst by 500% its market value. Since it is now a hot cake in the market, it can as well go for bidding.

When an item is scarce in the black market, the available ones go to the bidding House. Buyers assemble to bid for the items at higher rate. The highest bid gets the item.

     Suddenly, the cloakman raised his left hand, pressed a button which popped out a holographic image in the air. Though its visible, it was actually blurred to both the old trader and Archie. They both do not have the eye implant needed to read the holographic image.

The cloakman rapidly tapped the images with his fingers. In few seconds, he flicked his finger towards the old man.

The old man's wrist band lit up. He raised his hand to observe his messages. After a while, he raised his head up, his eyes shining a sinister glow.

"I think you are mistaken about about something", the old trader said looking right at the cloakman. "If you'd paid in full some few minutes ago, I would have sold the catalyst to you for 200 Geno. But right about now, the price has gone up to 1000 Geno. Which means, Mr, you would have to pay additional 900 Geno to get it, or wait till it gets to the bidding House".

The old trader laughed shrewdly as he muttered the words. His eyes opened wide, hoping for the cloakman to jump on the offer since no one prefers items going to the bidding House.

Archie was stunned by what the old trader just said. He originally thought he still had some hope in purchasing the catalyst. But obviously after that he just heard, there was not a single iota of hope left to purchase it.

"How on earth can I compete for this catalyst with the new price?" He thought to himself as he sat down on the ground, dispirited.

The atmosphere grew tense as the cloakman stayed silent for a moment before sighing audibly. "This is exactly why I hate merchants. They don't keep to their words willing to court death for just little profit."

The old trader felt a bit scared but he wasn't worried at all. As a merchant who has been in the black market business for many years, he was very confident in his combat prowess and also, his backer.

No one dared to cause a ruckus in the black market because of the strict rules of the market.

Unfortunately for the old trader, he guessed wrong this time. He was in for the surprise of his life.

The cloakman was standing on the outer edge of the wide and long counter housing junks.

Without warning, the cloakman suddenly stomped his left foot to the ground as countless thin black tendril like aura exploded from within him.....

Boom!

His figure flashed like magic as he rammed through the counter shaterring it into pieces.

Bam!

The counter wood debris flying around in all directions.

A windy black foam formed as he rolled his fist. He threw the punch in the direction of the old trader. The black foam hit straight into his chest making a loud rib cracking sound...

Ghrrr!!!

He threw the second punch with his real fist, possible of turning the old man into meat paste had it been he dodged it quickly.