Kaden stared at the main hallway that stretched out before him, its walls adorned with graffiti and strange symbols that probably lacked any meaning, along with several drawings of the male and female genitalia.
The air carried a mix of dampness, decay, and the lingering scent of urine. Dimly lit torches flickered along the corridor, casting eerie shadows that danced and contorted on the worn stone walls.
Thugs lurked in the shadows, their eyes scanning the surroundings for potential targets or opportunities. Figures shrouded in robes moved about, engaged in hushed conversations and clandestine dealings.
Colorful characters roamed the hallway, their appearances reflecting the diversity of the underbelly's denizens.
Some were adorned in eccentric outfits, their attire a deliberate expression of their individuality and defiance. Others wore tattered clothing, their weary faces carrying the marks of a harsh existence.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as if conflict could erupt from the volatile mix of personalities and motivations at any moment. The air felt thick with an undercurrent of violence. It was clear that any wrong move could invite trouble.
Kaden kept his head down and walked along the hallway, not meeting anyone's gaze. He did not dare judge this place from what just transpired at the entrance.
Not everyone was weak and not everyone could be bullied like that. He was well aware that this place was a mix of barking dogs, cunning foxes, and hidden dragons.
So he tried his best to avoid confrontations and blend into the chaotic atmosphere. As he ventured further into the hallway, several corridors split from the main pathway, and each of these narrow passageways was lined with all sorts of hawkers, makeshift stalls, and shops.
The air buzzed with haggling and the exchange of hushed conversations. This sight was almost similar to what was probably going on in the city at the moment.
However, the goods sold in the two places were not even remotely the same. This place exclusively sold all sorts of contraband and illicit goods.
The stalls were filled with a motley assortment of items, ranging from stolen artifacts and prohibited substances to forged identification papers and dangerous weaponry.
As Kaden walked by, the sellers, with their shifty eyes and sly smiles, beckoned him with promises of rare treasures and hidden knowledge.
However, he continued walking, ignoring the honey-coated words. For one, he was completely bankrupt at the moment.
Also, he knew better than to trust them. The underbelly thrived on deception and the exploitation of desperate souls. Not everything sold here worked.
One particular guy from his previous life came to his mind. Jordan, a wealthy player, so rich that the man was nicknamed a money bag, had purchased a 'legendary' item from one of the shops.
He had paid buckets and buckets of gold coins to make the purchase. He had even personally taken an appraiser with him when he made the purchase.
However, in the end, everything was useless. The legendary armor cracked in a single week and became a trash-grade item. When the guy revisited the underbelly to seek justice for this, the hawker was nowhere to be found.
Ever since this incident the underbelly lost all credibility and many players simply ignored it as it was just not worth the effort.
Kaden only came here because the item he wanted to buy was quite well-tested. So he kept his distance, silently observing the transactions taking place around him, and walked toward the shop he had in mind without listening to anyone else.
He weaved through the chaotic mess of stalls and shops, going around a few brawls, and a few minutes later he finally arrived at the shop - a small, unassuming stall tucked away in a shadowy corner. Its proprietor, a weathered and weary figure, glanced up as Kaden approached.
"Hmmm? You look like you are up to no good…" The guy gave Kaden a stink eye.
Kaden ignored the rude remark as he was by now used to it. Apparently, all sorts of people simply hated him on sight thanks to the brilliant title he had.
'Tsk. What a headache.' He inwardly sighed and shifted his gaze to the several masks hanging in front of the shop. They were adorned with intricate designs, from grotesque faces to elegant patterns.
Kaden immediately recognized the one on the far right, the hero's disguise. It was a simple silver mask with golden borders. He had seen it many times in his last life. This was exactly what he needed!
"Ahem. Ahem. This is not how you should treat a customer, you know." Kaden purposefully ignored the mask he wanted and started checking out the other masks. "Bah… you don't have anything good? All of these look like they were crafted by a blind monkey," he remarked.
The weary figure behind the counter raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by Kaden's comment. "You think you can find better elsewhere? Be my guest," he grumbled, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance.
Kaden continued dilly-dallying for a couple more minutes and then as if he had completely lost interest, he casually plucked out the silver mask.
"Ughhh. I guess I will take this. What does it cost? A couple of silvers?"
The cost more precisely was only 10 silver coins as it had poor durability and it needed to be purchased every now and then repeatedly.
"A couple of silvers? Lad, are you looking for trouble?" The shopkeeper unexpectedly flared up. "The mask in your hand costs 20 silver coins. Now shit or get off the pot."
Heh. Kaden's lips twitched. The guy was actually trying to con him by asking for twice the price. However, he did not care. What he cared about was that mask and getting it right this second.
With a grumble, he tossed the 20 silver coins now truly becoming broke except for a few copper coins. The shopkeeper also responded in kind and threw the mask at him.
With a smug smile, Kaden walked off from the shop. Task accomplished!
He was feeling extremely proud of himself. With a bunch of shortcuts that he was not supposed to know, he had actually come here!
"Time to enter the city and start my trip to the top!"
Snapping him out of his thoughts, Kaden unexpectedly heard someone loudly laugh in his direction. "Come back here." He heard a voice.
Kaden halted for a moment but then he quickly hurried along, not wanting to involve himself with anyone from the underbelly.