Frost Swordswoman

The early bandit groups had already set up stalls stretching for kilometers in the temporary market.

There were armories displaying a dazzling array of firearms, blacksmiths with furnaces belching thick black smoke, apothecaries exuding rich medicinal scents, and steam equipment shops.

Even more were simple stalls covered by tattered burlap.

The streets were crowded with people, most of them dressed as adventurers, with firearms and sharp blades at their sides.

These were members of the major bandit groups, and even from a distance, one could feel the fierce aura of desperadoes emanating from them.

The weather was good today, the poisonous fog not as dense, so some people weren't wearing gas masks, revealing terrifying tattoos on their skin and fierce gazes. Worn leather pants, sweaty linen shirts, smoky makeup, nose rings, small dreadlocks, colorful mohawks, mechanical arms with exposed clockwork gears...

The scene was filled with a heavy, dark, metal, punk aesthetic.

"Come and see! Exquisite firearms, ultra-long range of 300 meters, high-precision scopes, smokeless gunpowder wholesale at 13,000 Liso, sold in batches of one hundred."

"Fire-element enchanted weapons, the famous [Basil's Red Serpent Saber], heirloom of the Lafayette family... only five million Liso!"

"Bulk sale of one ton of alchemical ingredients, just looted and still fresh, a steal at 30,000 Gold Kron."

"War slaves of superior beauty, merchant ladies, noble daughters, and marchioness's female knights, come and take a look."

"Empire standard steam mechanical exoskeleton, active model of the Royal Guard Legion, limited quantity, hurry!"

"..."

As they walked, the calls of vendors were endless.

A group of bandits, who clearly weren't legitimate merchants, were hawking their wares from makeshift stalls.

The valuable goods were casually laid out on the ground, looking as chaotic and disordered as a junk shop.

The expressionless female slaves, covered only by scraps of cloth to conceal their private parts, were chained like livestock and lined up on display platforms for sale. Below the stage, a group of lecherous buyers were pointing and gesturing.

Occasionally, there were sporadic sounds of gunfire and cannons – arms dealers in the black market were demonstrating their firearms and steam equipment.

On the open-air gladiatorial stage, two muscular men, stripped to the waist, were fighting desperately, while the gamblers below cheered excitedly.

Of course, the liveliest places were the pleasure houses and gambling dens with their flirtatious touts at the entrance.

Opportunistic merchants who had secret dealings with the bandits wouldn't miss such a good chance. They had already prepared fine wine and women, waiting to "plunder" every last coin from the bandits' pockets.

These fellows who lived by the sword were the ones most willing to spend money to enjoy themselves.

This was a chaotic, disorderly, and bloody "Black Market Trade Fair."

But as Rein saw it, a certain emotion within him grew increasingly difficult to suppress.

Having transmigrated here a year ago, and living on the edge of life and death every day, this was the closest he felt to "freedom."

This "Black Market Trade Fair," the largest in nearly a decade, had likely gathered over a hundred thousand people!

This was the best chance to escape, and he had to seize it.

Of course, a certain old man was thinking the same thing.

"Let's go, there's nothing good on the main streets. For these kinds of exchange meets, the truly good items are traded within private circles."

"Yes, Teacher."

"..."

Piscis pretended to lead Rein around, then gradually moved towards a more secluded area, arriving at a quiet sake house called the "Hyacinth Tavern."

At these black market trade fairs, taverns without hostesses were rarely patronized by lustful and drunken bandits, but they were the preferred meeting places for proud alchemists.

This was a high-class tavern, located in a secluded spot, suitable for conducting clandestine affairs.

For instance, murder and robbery.

"Clang!" The butterfly spring door was pushed open from the outside, and the wind chimes hanging on it rang crisply.

The interior was decorated in a Western cowboy style, but with the addition of many black pipes and valves from steam boilers.

Perhaps it was because it was still early, but when Rein and the other man entered, there weren't many customers in the tavern. The bartender with a handlebar mustache at the counter was idly wiping a wine glass repeatedly.

Piscis, a two-star alchemist, seemed to have some reputation. The bartender greeted him enthusiastically upon seeing him.

"Hey~ Mr. Piscis, my old friend, it's been a while!"

"Mm."

Piscis nodded indifferently and asked, "Boss Tom, have Joseph and the 'Flower Snake Gang' been here yet?"

The bartender shrugged and replied, "Haven't seen them, Mr. Piscis. But the trade fair hasn't officially started yet, so I imagine Mr. Joseph is probably still on his way."

"Oh."

Piscis raised an eyebrow.

Without hesitation, he flicked his finger, sending a Gold Kron spinning steadily onto the counter. "Same as usual, get us a quiet, large room."

That was a full 10,000 Liso.

The bartender, holding the gold coin, beamed. "Certainly... It's my honor to have a noble alchemist grace my humble establishment."

Listening to their conversation, there seemed to be nothing suspicious.

Rein remained silent throughout, but his peripheral vision took in the entire scene of the tavern.

He was looking for an opportunity, while also being on guard against Piscis making a sudden move.

Thump, thump, thump.

The wooden stairs made a slight creaking sound as he walked.

Rein cautiously followed Piscis upstairs, only to discover an inconspicuous guest in a nearby corner.

"Huh? I didn't see anyone else here just now."

He glanced over.

The guests were a man and a woman.

The man was a burly fellow with a full beard, as imposing as a bear, likely an extraordinary being from the brawler sequence.

The woman had a graceful figure and wavy, flaxen hair cascading over her shoulders. However, she wore a half-mask gas mask that only revealed her eyes, obscuring her face.

The two seemed to be discussing something secret; even when he focused, he couldn't make out what they were talking about.

"These two seem a bit suspicious."

Rein mused to himself.

At this moment, everyone in the tavern could be an "enemy."

After a quick glance, he naturally averted his gaze and unassumingly followed Piscis upstairs.

Completely unaware that he was observing them, his every move was falling into the eyes of the pair in the corner.

When the two outsiders suddenly appeared in the tavern, a flicker of vigilance crossed the faces of the pair in the corner.

But once they clearly perceived the strength of the newcomers, that vigilance vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Extraordinary beings of this level posed no threat to them whatsoever.

From their perspective, they were just two patrons who happened to be at the tavern.

After Rein and the other man went upstairs, the burly, bearded man finally spoke to the woman opposite him, "Your Highness, shall we continue discussing our cooperation? The terms can be negotiated, but I need to see your sincerity first."

The woman, wearing a half-mask gas mask, spoke with a distant, icy tone, calmly stating, "Mr. Bazel, you should know that my coming here alone to meet with you is already showing you ample sincerity."

"Heh heh..."

The burly man chuckled and shrugged, his tone not hiding his admiration at all. "Your Highness Ymir is indeed the most courageous high noble I've ever met, far superior to those hypocritical scoundrels. Very well, I don't trust the Oma royalty, but I've decided to trust you. We can discuss cooperation."

Upon hearing this, the woman nodded indifferently.

It was likely that no one would have imagined that the two inconspicuous patrons in the corner of the tavern were two renowned figures of the Oma Empire.

One was the leader of the "White Wolf Bandit Group," White Wolf Bazel Gustav; the other was the eldest princess of the Oma royal family, also a top-tier expert, the Frost Swordswoman Ymir Spuglin!