The night was thick with shadows as Aaron stood on the terrace of Vicente Manor, feeling the smooth, mercury-like flow of his silver-rank mana within. The research he had conducted over the past few days on spell models filled him with confidence. His strength had vastly improved, and the refined spells he had developed not only conserved mana but also drastically increased casting speed and potency. Aaron was now truly capable of establishing himself within the black market.
His gaze shifted to the distant black market, his mind already formulating a plan. Internal strife had begun within the Red Moon Gang, with its leader growing increasingly paranoid about external enemies. Rumors spread through the market, claiming that the Red Moon Gang was secretly colluding with the Shadow Alliance to expand its influence. These rumors were pushing the Red Moon Gang to the forefront, and Aaron's goal was to exploit these whispers to further weaken the Gang's hold.
With his spell models perfected, Aaron now aimed to deepen his infiltration of the black market, using the Red Moon Gang as a gateway to absorb peripheral forces and smaller factions, gradually forming a hidden network under his control. He called Arna to him and outlined her next steps.
"Arna, your task is to approach the Red Moon Gang as a representative of a rival black market faction. Use this position to get close to their inner circle and gather information on their connections to the Shadow Alliance," Aaron's voice was calm but firm, with an unmistakable air of authority. "You'll also fan the flames of the rumors, escalating the conflict between the Red Moon Gang and other factions, further weakening their power."
Arna stood before him, her expression unwavering. She had come to trust Aaron's plans and understood the significance of this operation. "Understood, Lord Aaron. I'll use the current chaos in the Red Moon Gang to disguise myself as a representative of a small faction and gradually infiltrate their leadership, gathering their plans."
"Very good." Aaron gave her a slight smile, his eyes gleaming with approval. "The leader of the Red Moon Gang is a gold-ranked assassin, who won't easily trust others. The rest of the members are similarly cautious. Your identity must be sufficiently ambiguous—so that they don't fully trust you, but also cannot refuse your 'assistance.'"
Arna nodded quietly, already formulating her next steps in her mind. She knew that infiltrating the Red Moon Gang wouldn't be easy; one misstep and she could expose herself, but her tactical skills gave her confidence in her ability to succeed.
Several Days Later, In the Heart of the Black Market
Disguised as a mercenary, Arna ventured into the heart of the black market. She wore a dark, nondescript cloak popular among mercenaries, with a worn iron mask concealing her identity. She presented herself as a member of a mercenary group called "Grey Shadow," a faction with vague ties to various smaller factions in the market. The Red Moon Gang, embroiled in internal struggles, was seeking allies for an upcoming trade fair—this was her opening.
In a shadowy corner of the market, Arna found a mid-level officer from the Red Moon Gang. She approached him directly, expressing her desire to join their cause. She hinted at connections with other small gangs, piquing the officer's interest. While skeptical, the officer knew that the black market was rife with mercenaries of unknown origins, and given the Red Moon Gang's current needs, he decided to temporarily take her back to their stronghold.
The Red Moon Gang's base was located in a hidden warehouse, outwardly dilapidated but filled with weapons and magical materials—clearly a hub for covert deals. Arna was placed in a secluded room, where she began observing the gang's activities. She noted that while the base was heavily guarded, many of the members seemed anxious, likely due to the internal and external pressures on the gang. This presented a perfect opportunity for her infiltration.
Infiltrating the Inner Circle
Not long after, a high-ranking member of the Red Moon Gang, a peak silver-ranked demon warlock, appeared in the warehouse. His expression was grim as he issued commands for the next phase of the gang's plans. Arna, pretending to be oblivious, positioned herself close enough to overhear his orders. From these, she learned that the Red Moon Gang was about to engage in a deal with the Shadow Alliance involving forbidden magical materials, scheduled for the following week.
Arna quietly recorded this information, her plan already forming. She intended to further fuel the rumors, exacerbating the Red Moon Gang's conflicts with other factions, while passing this valuable intel to Aaron to prepare for the next phase of their infiltration.
Spreading Rumors and Escalating Tensions
Meanwhile, Aaron further fueled the rumors within the black market. He spread word that the Red Moon Gang's trade with the Shadow Alliance involved a powerful and dangerous forbidden artifact, hoping to attract the attention of smaller factions and mercenary groups. The rumors quickly gained traction, and soon, every faction in the black market was monitoring the Red Moon Gang's movements.
The impact of the rumors was immediate. Other factions began secretly surveilling the Red Moon Gang, eager to learn the truth behind the trade. Some even created minor disturbances in an attempt to pressure the gang into revealing more details. Enraged, the Red Moon Gang's leader ordered a forceful retaliation against the other factions. Chaos soon erupted across the black market as tensions between the gangs reached a boiling point.
Aaron observed the escalating disorder with a cold smile. The more chaos there was, the easier his infiltration would become. As the Red Moon Gang's attention was diverted by the internal conflict, Arna could gather more intelligence within the gang's ranks, while Aaron continued to maneuver behind the scenes, slowly absorbing dissatisfied factions to expand his hidden network.
Preparing for the Final Strike
Through the intelligence Arna gathered, Aaron soon learned the exact time and location of the Red Moon Gang's meeting with the Shadow Alliance. With this critical information in hand, Aaron devised a deeper plan to disrupt the trade, creating chaos not only for the Red Moon Gang but for the Shadow Alliance as well. By throwing this deal into disarray, he could capitalize on the turmoil and secure more resources for himself.
As the Red Moon Gang's influence continued to falter under internal strife and external pressure, Aaron's and Arna's plans steadily progressed. Arna's infiltration of the gang's inner circle was proving fruitful, as her cold and decisive actions had earned her the trust of several members. She had been systematically gathering intelligence and passing it to Aaron, who was building a clearer picture of the gang's internal structure and their connections to the Shadow Alliance.
At this point, Aaron was certain that the black market was unfolding as he had planned. The Red Moon Gang was weakening, and the Shadow Alliance was tightening its grip on the transaction, unaware that they were being manipulated. Many of the lower-ranking members of the Red Moon Gang were losing confidence in their gang's future and secretly reaching out to other factions.
Aaron planned to use the upcoming trade deal as the perfect moment for a targeted "raid," throwing the Red Moon Gang into the center of the black market's conflict and even sowing seeds of doubt in the Shadow Alliance's loyalty. This would throw everything into chaos, allowing him to capitalize on the situation and reap the rewards.
With everything in place, Aaron patiently waited for the perfect moment to strike. He knew that the confusion surrounding the Red Moon Gang was only the beginning, and within the vast network of the Shadow Alliance, there were weaknesses to exploit. Once the right opportunity presented itself, his influence would fully take root in the black market, cementing his role as the true master of the shadows.