Aoki walked confidently towards the bartender, a young man with dark blue hair standing behind the counter.
"Dark Market," Aoki said in a low but firm voice.
The bartender glanced at Aoki for a moment, then quickly gestured with his hand under the table. In an instant, a secret door appeared, hidden from view. Aoki did not hesitate; he stepped inside, feeling his heart race.
The people around the bar showed no curiosity. They seemed accustomed to the presence of people like Aoki, who entered and exited through that hidden door, continuing their routines without a second thought.
After passing through the door, Aoki found himself walking through a corridor entirely made of wood. The sound of Aoki's footsteps echoed along the dark walls, creating a tense atmosphere. As Aoki reached the end of the corridor, he was surprised to find himself underground.
"So that's how it is," Aoki thought, contemplating this clever design. The corridor was indeed designed to lead people to the heart of the Dark Market. With renewed determination, Aoki continued on his journey, heading towards the reward exchange.
After navigating the narrow alleys of the underground market, Aoki finally discovered a small building hidden among the other shabby structures—the reward exchange. Without hesitation, Aoki pushed open the creaky old wooden door and stepped inside.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, with a faint smell of incense mingling with the aroma of metal and medicine. Behind a simple carved wooden desk stood an old man with a thin beard, dressed entirely in dark purple. The old man's gaze was friendly yet attentive, like someone who had grown accustomed to witnessing violence seep into every corner of life.
"Welcome. How can I assist you?" the old man greeted, his voice soft yet firm.
Aoki pulled a scroll from his pocket and spread it out on the table. "This is Foko Sako," Aoki said briefly as he broke the storage seal. In an instant, Foko's lifeless body appeared before them. "I want money for this person's head."
The old man's eyes blinked rapidly, showing no surprise on his face, as if the corpse just revived from the seal was a common occurrence in this place. Calmly, the old man donned a pair of white medical gloves and began examining Foko's body, his eyes scanning every wound and identifying mark. The old man's fingers moved deftly, confirming the identity of the corpse with cold professionalism.
After a moment, the old man turned back, his face once again looking at Aoki with a thin smile. "Dear customer, we will need a few minutes to process this payment. Please be patient."
"Just do it quickly," Aoki replied in a flat tone, his gaze remaining unchanged.
The old man merely nodded, taking Foko's body behind a dark curtain. In that room, only the faint whispers of a few people could be heard, enveloping Aoki in a waiting silence.
A few minutes later, the old man returned with a calm demeanor. "The item has been inspected. Although the man's body has several serious wounds, it is still acceptable." The old man looked at Aoki for a moment, his thin smile still intact. "However, if possible, we hope that next time the target's body can be brought in slightly better condition. It would make the process easier, you understand?"
Aoki simply nodded slightly, his expression unchanged. "For the payment, the dark market charges a 10% commission. You understand that, right?" the old man said.
"Yes, I know," Aoki replied, his voice flat as he extended his hand.
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[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
A Shaman from the Uzumaki Clan in the World of Naruto
A man named Reiji from Earth, who is a shaman from Japan and comes from a famous family of shamans. Reiji is a talented and very powerful shaman. However, Reiji then disappears when facing the resurrected Yamata no Orochi, who attempts to kill people.
Instead of ending up in heaven or hell, Reiji finds himself in a room. In that room, there are various children with red hair. Seeing this, Reiji is confused and astonished.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" asks a girl next to Reiji.
"What? Who are you? No, who are all of you?" Reiji instead questions back, staring in wonder.
"What do you mean? Aren't we all Uzumaki?" the girl replies with a puzzled expression.
"... Oh damn," Reiji mutters quietly.]
[Note: 155+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]