"The event is delayed?! What is even going on? I am so done with this."
Edward slammed a glass of red wine on the table as he spouted his anger towards the baffling unpredictability of the events.
"Edward, calm yourself down. This isn't your drinking bar. Keep your voice down. It calls for unwanted trouble."
With a glass of whisky in his hand, Thomas sat beside Edward, took a slip, and bore an unsatisfied smile.
After being forcefully removed from the line by the guards, the two were sitting in a small bar with just the two of them alongside the bartender within the walls.
Entering the area of also an arduous task because of the angry masses. They did not get a hotel to rest in and a bar to drink. Getting rejected from place to place, they ended up in a small bar at a corner of a barren street.
"Gentleman, The two of you look quite unsatisfied. Why not have another drink?"
The bartender a tender old man wearing a proper suit and white hair sensed the discountable in Edward and Thomas's faces and approached them.
"Tell me, old man. Get me the most expensive things you have I don't care for the prize just bring something strong."
"You ask for it? How about I bring you some quality 'Black Pearl'."
The effect of the wine vanished from Edward's eyes in a flinch. He grabbed the glass of red wine, drank it whole in one sip, and slid it towards the bartender. The smile on the old man's face didn't change but Thomas began smiling.
"Black pearl, you say! Why don't you tell me how you got your hands on it first? An old man running a bar on the corner of a street in the middle of nowhere has their hands on such gold."
The Black Pearl, a wine known for its exquisite taste and unrivaled effect, had a great name in the market. The cost of the small bottle was at least 16000 ethers. It was more than twice the cost of the bar itself.
"Looks like you are a first-time visitor to the city. You need to understand our trade and markets. I suggest you leave this place as soon as possible. You won't survive long here with such naive thoughts."
The words get Edward straight in the head as he looks at the bartender with murderous intent. Thomas places his hands on Edward's shoulders, signaling him to calm down.
"Won't worry, goodman. He has got a guide here. I know this place well. He will get his visit to the marketplace soon. Just get us two glasses of drink, and we will be off."
The bartender nodded to Thomas's words and moved back to bring the drinks.
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Edward and Thomas now walked across the bust streets, bustling with people. Pushing and avoiding people left and right, Edward followed Thomas as he guided him to a new place.
They crossed the cathedral and moved behind, they kept walking in that direction, and the crowd's density got less and less and soon the amount was so low that the two could walk side by side.
"So, are we going to the real Lawless city of the holy place? I quite want to know what that place looks like, which could make me look naive, it excites me."
"Edward, carve my words into your brains. You won't ask a single merchant about how they get their merchandise. It is iron code of the market won't break it or you won't end up well."
Edward's eyes narrowed at Thomas's words but before he could speak something, a wall stopped them in their tracks.
"Another wall?"
Although it was not significant compared to the outside wall, it will 3-4 meters high, made out of bricks and painted with smaw silver colour it did not bear any markings.
The sides of smaller walls merged with the city walls from both ends, it seemed like a protective barrier to the things kept on the other side of the walls.
The two walked alongside the wall and until they reached the door, protected a group of armed soldiers.
"Don't say anything. Just follow me."
Thomas ordered Edward and started walking ahead, he began conversing with the soldier standing at the soldiers at the gate and returned soon.
"Move in the door. We are going to the lawless city."
The door of the walls was opened the two entered the Market of the Free Merchants.
As Edward's eyes feel first site the market.
A port, with a platform large and wide big enough that it could engulf half of the capital city, ships of all nations bearing different flags were present. Cargo went here to there as people carried it along.
The number of people roaming around was unexpected, but as Edward looked around, the shops alongside the walls were filled with expensive fish and jewellery, but there was nothing special. It all felt like an ordinary black market.
"You should look at the shop on the far right. Read the board, and it'll clear your doubts about this place."
As Thomas pointed at a shop located at the side and Edward began to read the signboard verbally,
"Two bottles of pure Black Pearl for 7999 Ethers only...."
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