Aside from the impending djinn kidnapping, which I had no reason to get involved in, there was another major issue at hand: my money situation.
"... wait, doesn't that sound a bit... 'Yeah, ignoring the kidnapping of the Elven princess, I need to make some money!'"
You would think that knowing the future would inevitably open up many ways to make money; however, you would be wrong in this case.
The protagonist has the support of the academy Headmaster, Lily, who hails from a Hero family and will soon have the support of the Elven Royal family.
Why would the book waste time explaining how to make money when he can have millions with a simple, friendly conversation?
Although I held a massive amount of information, revealing the wrong piece could lead to unforeseen circumstances that could end the world, and I wasn't greedy enough to risk that—at least not yet.
"I'm sick and tired of these disgusting cafeteria meals!"
I mean, my greatest advantage over everyone else in the world was that I knew the future, so why would I willingly make myself lose that advantage to make some money?
Sure, you can call me selfish for not using my information to save people who originally died in the book, but that's just not me.
Only someone with immense amounts of courage and integrity could willingly give up their greatest advantage to save the lives of others.
That's the job of the protagonist, not me.
As I reached the dorm building, an idea dawned upon me.
A balance is what the world needs.
Back at the amusement park, the balance was broken as Liam was far too weak, leading to fatal consequences.
Right now, the balance should be back to normal.
What if I sell products or information to both the bad and good sides?
Sure, everyone would be stronger, but at the same time, the equilibrium would remain unchanged.
A company.
That's what I needed.
However, a company doesn't need just products; it also needs the means to advertise and distribute.
Sure, I had the product, but how would I get it out there?
Thankfully, I had the perfect person in mind for this job.
Though leaving the academy was normally restricted, there were countless ways to get around, and conveniently, Jin and Han seemed to know one as they skipped class without being caught.
After sending a quick message to the two and acquiring the method, I wasted no time and immediately put it to use.
The method was actually quite simple.
The traveling club can leave the campus, so why can't other clubs?
After meeting with Jin and Han, who had just returned to campus, I picked up a slip of paper from them, casually walked towards the academy's personal portal, and displayed it to guards.
"The Capital City."
Glancing at the slip of piece of paper in my hands that said "Multipurpose Club Activties," the guard gave me a quick nod before stepping aside.
The area around rapidly distorted and stabilized in a few seconds to depict a bustling city filled with various people, ranging from those performing for money to those staring at their smartwatches without looking upwards.
Countless designer stores and flashy models could be seen, and each building had intricate and elaborate designs.
Of course, this was just the "good" part of the city. My destination was a far worse place.
After a couple of minutes, the bustling city scenery had transformed. The area before me was now riddled with broken-down buildings and beggars plastered everywhere.
Paying no heed to my surroundings, I entered a dark alley before stopping abruptly at one of the building doors.
*KNOCK*
*TAP*
*KNOCK*
*TICK*
"As the stars illuminate the night sky."
Without any hesitance or uncertainty in my tone, I calmly responded.
"So do our dreams guide us through darkness."
The door swung open, revealing an eery set of stairs that seemed to go down forever. However, I maintained my confident demeanor and walked down the stairs.
After a couple of seconds of walking down the never-ending stairs, I felt my surroundings shift for a second, and when I redirected my gaze back to the stairs, there sat a pair of wooden doors at the bottom.
Spatial Magic.
Opening the two wooden doors, the scenery in front of me bore an uncanny resemblance to the sight I had witnessed when I first stepped out of the portal.
The only difference was that the buildings were less modern, and there were hundreds of stands, that resembled those of a night market on Earth, lined up with each sporting a different amenity.
Artifacts, swords, spells, magic circles, and, at the very top of it all, information guilds.
However, I ignored all the extravagant stands and made my way to the very end of the black market.
As I descended further into the market, the appearance of the stands deteriorated greatly. At some point, there weren't even stands as people simply held up signs while leaving their products on the floor.
After another two minutes of walking, I paused. Unlike the other sellers, the person before me was not enthusiastic or eager. He simply sat down with his swords, not even looking upward to face his potential buyers.
The boy had dark, messy, and ungroomed black hair to complement his black eyes. His frail figure and tattered clothes portrayed his struggles.
Countless people walked by and bumped into me, completely ignoring the seller; however, I was not fooled.
Despite his ragged appearance, his onyx-black eyes held an unmistakable glimmer. His ambition and desire to win remained unchanged in a terrible and hopeless situation.
Not only that, but the boy still had the audacity to sell fake artifacts and worst of all, it seemed to be working, as there were only two swords left next to the boy!
Keep in mind that this boy was the same age as me.
In a few years from now, this boy would become the undisputed leader of the chaotic black market as his various businesses reigned supreme.
However, now he was mine.
A wide grin appeared on my face, and a tiny chuckle unknowingly escaped my mouth.
The boy tilted his head upwards at the sound of my chuckle and coiled back upon witnessing my expression, yet he quickly regained his composure and matched my smile.
"Looking for a sword? Well, I can tell you that these sword artifacts are the best of the best. This sword to my right was personally sold to me by a member of the Montclair family and the one on the left. Don't even get me started; the sword saint was said to have touched it..."
"... tell me about the right one."
"Yes, THAT FAMOUS MONTCLAIR FAMILY personally forged this sword. Ah, due to some struggles, I'm in desperate need of money, so I'm willing to part with this sword for far less than its value."
"..."
"You know, Sir, you must go home and pray to the gods for coming around at this time, for this sword's price is only 5 gold coins. YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY, 5."
The once sullen boy turned into a professional salesman as he practically screamed the last few words.
That's right; it was all a trap from the start.
Using his dark appearance, he intended to lure in new customers as who wouldn't be curious about the one silent boy sitting down while everyone else is standing up and screaming out advertisements?
Then, doing a complete 180, he entrapped the customer; however, he had met his match this time.
Selling fake items in the black market comes with a high price; however, this boy had made up such exaggerated rumors that one couldn't confirm whether they were actually real or false.
Therefore, in the case one of his swords was discovered as fake, he would ask the customer for evidence, and of course, they would be unable to confirm it as he would ensure that the tale of the sword involved important and unattainable people.
A blacksmithing report wouldn't suffice as evidence as the boy could say that the sword was meant to be a throwaway or a failure attempt by the family, so its poor quality was explained.
And the customer couldn't possibly ask these people about the sword's origins, so there was no evidence of it being fake.
Grabbing the sword from the boy's hands, I admired it briefly before chuckling and saying.
"I'll take it."
"Good choice, my Sir; if you hadn't, you would have forever lamented your decision at this moment."
... you'll be the one lamenting this moment real soon, kid.
After exchanging the 5 gold coins, I grabbed the sword and played around with it for a bit, but I didn't move from my spot.
After a few more minutes of this, the boy let out a chuckle, probably presuming that I believed it to be fake, and said.
"Is there a problem, my sir?"
"Ah yes, I believe this sword to be fake."
"Ah... what an accusation. Do you understand the rules of the black market? This false accusation could ruin my life. You must know that evidence is required."
Letting out a chuckle, I grabbed a small card from my jacket pocket and handed it to him before saying.
"Don't worry, I'll have evidence."
[Student ID: Ren Montclair / Year: 01]
Of course, this was a bluff, and if he had called me out, I would have had no way of contacting my father to prove that the sword was fake.
The boy's calm and confident posture quickly crumbled, and I saw him tense his legs, presumably preparing to run.
However, it was too late. I had already expected this and preemptively activated the 5-second period of Dash.
In less than a second, I was already in front of him and holding his right arm.
No longer enthuisatic or sullen, the boy angrily spat out.
"What do you want with me?"
He wasn't stupid.
I must have known the sword was a fake from the start, considering he mentioned my family, which means I had bought the sword knowing it was a fraud.
Grabbing him by his right shoulder, I started walking, dragging him behind me.
"This isn't the place to talk."
After exiting the black market and returning to a relatively safe part of the city, I entered a cafe with him and sat down.
"WHAT do you want with ME?"
His attitude does not falter even when faced with severe punishment; he really is perfect for the job.
Grabbing another coin from my pocket, I flipped it upwards and said.
"Work with me."
On the other hand, Raven, the boy with black hair, was extremely confused.
He was half-expecting to be sold into a labor camp or even slavery, but this person wanted to work with him..?
It wasn't even an ask; it was a demand!
If he denied it, he knew this person would undoubtedly report him to the black market, and from there, it would be over!
Not even pretending to mull it over, Raven responded.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
Then, a smile appeared on the mysterious man's face.
Why couldn't I have just been sold into a labor camp?
What the hell is this creepy guy planning to do with me, and why is he smiling!?
"It seems you understand your situation quite well."
What is there to understand...? You're blatantly blackmailing me...
First, this person is a noble member of the Montclair family; what could he want from me a mere commoner?
Countless possibilities immediately drifted into Raven's head, each involving gruesome torture and pain.
Snapping Raven out of his thoughts, the creepy noble spoke once again!
"A company. Us 2 are going to start a company."
Without waiting for Raven's response, the creepy person handed over a piece of paper.
On the piece of paper, there seemed to be an intricately drawn circle.
Only one thought flashed through Raven's head.
What the hell is this? A business and this circle?
Is this some ploy?
Oh my lord, what torture is awaiting me?
Please just kill me!
"That piece of paper is an advanced healing circle, more developed than any other out there. Look long and hard; you'll copy it onto many more papers and sell it."
"... why me. God, why me? What evil concoction is awaiting me? What have I done to deserve this fate..? I've been a good boy always and forever."
Raven only noticed that he had voiced these thoughts out loud after the evil person across him broke into a fit of laughter.
"PFFT"
Is he laughing at my pain and suffering...?
Raven, someone who had never even thought of god before this time, immediately assumed a praying stance.
"SAVE ME!"