The black market was indeed a bit out of the way, so Liens followed the method Jonathan provided and found a passerby to lead the way.

The passerby led him through seven or eight alleys, finally stopping at an alley entrance.

Because entering the black market actually required a fee…

At the alley entrance, two guys who looked like gang members stood like door gods on either side, stopping passersby and collecting a "toll fee."

Fortunately, this "toll fee" wasn't expensive, only two small copper coins were enough.

However, this essentially prevented a large number of homeless people from the Outer City from entering the black market. Was this a unique way to improve the city's appearance?

After paying the toll fee and turning through the alley, Liens finally saw the rumored black market.

The black market wasn't actually "black"; on the contrary, people came and went, and red and green lights flashed, making it look more like a bustling market.

"Little brother, is this your first time here? Do you need me to introduce you to a good place?"

The passerby seemed to be back home; his previously lifeless expression immediately broke into a smile as he spoke to Liens.

"Thank you, big brother, I'll just look around myself."

Liens shook his head in refusal, then bid farewell to the passerby.

He watched as the passerby, after they had said their goodbyes, turned the corner and walked into a building with flashing red and green lights.

There were many similar buildings in the black market.

And in front of their doors, there were usually several Misses dressed lightly with heavy makeup, smiling and inviting passersby.

Sometimes they would shout, and sometimes they would bend over to show passersby their dark abyss.

Liens stood aside and watched for a while, satisfying his curiosity, then turned his gaze to the more normal-looking shops.

Compared to those "flower houses" with flashing red and green lights, these "normal" shops looked a bit low-key.

Was it to deliberately create a sense of mystery?

Every single one of these shops, from the outside, basically appeared as a faintly glowing scene.

If he hadn't seen people constantly going in and out, he would have almost thought these buildings were just uninhabited haunted houses.

Time was limited, and he couldn't visit every shop in the black market.

So, he decided to try his luck and enter a few shops to see the situation first.

If he still couldn't get the information he wanted, then he would have to find someone to "ask."

Liens casually picked a nearby shop and walked in.

The scene inside the shop was not much different from the outside; it was a dim setting.

A few glowing candles were the only light source in this small shop, as if deliberately creating a mysterious atmosphere.

"Welcome, guest, to the Mysterious Shop."

The Shop Assistant, who was sitting behind the counter and could have been either the boss or a customer service representative, greeted Liens listlessly.

"Mysterious Shop? What do you sell here?"

Liens didn't care about the Shop Assistant's attitude and went straight to the point.

The shop's front area was very small, seemingly no more than 10 square meters, and the decor was very simple; besides the counter, there were no other furnishings.

So, even though he could see everything at a glance, Liens couldn't tell what this shop was actually selling.

"We sell many things here: weapons and armor, magic items, alchemy potions…"

At this point, the Shop Assistant paused, looked up and scrutinized Liens, then continued: "We have all kinds of intelligence information, and also various 'picture books and models' that suit male preferences…"

"Here is the list… if you don't find what you want on it, you can also ask directly."

"As long as you, the guest, can afford it, our humble shop will do its best to get you what you want."

After speaking, the Shop Assistant handed a piece of paper to Liens.

Liens took and unfolded the paper, finding that the words on it were written with a fluorescent material.

Even in this somewhat dim environment, it could still clearly show him the content recorded on the paper.

[Princess Knight Model (Bestseller)]

[Princess Knight Personal Picture Book (Bestseller)]

[Secrets the Princess Knight Had to Tell (Bestseller)]

…

As soon as he opened the paper, Liens was hit in the face by several large "Bestseller" labels.

"What is this?"

He pointed to the "Bestseller" on the paper and looked at the Shop Assistant in confusion.

He wasn't confused about "Bestseller" itself; it was just a marketing tactic.

First, there was the name Mysterious Shop, then the dimly lit environment created by a few candles, or the Shop Assistant's rhetoric of "being able to get anything."

These were all basically creating a sense of mystery for the customer, making them feel that the shop was very capable, in order to raise the customer's expectation for the price of the goods.

After understanding the shop's routine, he naturally wasn't surprised to see the words "Bestseller" on the products.

What truly confused him was, what was a Princess Knight?

"Those? These are our shop's most popular bestsellers recently, would the guest like a set?"

Hearing this, the Shop Assistant, thinking he was about to make a sale, immediately smiled at Liens.

Seeing that the Shop Assistant didn't understand him, Liens directly asked, "What is that 'Princess Knight'?"

To be honest, the four words "Princess Knight" really made him curious.

Mainly, this term reminded him of the "underworld games" he played in his previous life.

The moment he saw this term, he almost thought he had transmigrated into some "underworld game."

If it weren't for the torment he suffered in the Training Camp in the past few months, which made him understand what reality was, he really would have started fantasizing.

"You don't know 'Princess Knight'?"

The Shop Assistant looked at Liens with an expression that seemed to say, "Are you even a man?" and showed a doubtful look.

"'Princess Knight' is a special policy established by the state, aiming to attract young people to join the army through that kind of temptation."

"'Princess Knights' are usually held by noble young Misses, so you understand the meaning of those things, right?"

"Oh, and this current 'Princess Knight' is very special."

"Because the true Imperial Princess of the Kingdom has taken on this term's 'Princess Knight' role, which is why these things have been selling so well recently… So, guest, would you like a set?"

"Look at our Princess's beauty… Believe me, Her Royal Highness will absolutely not disappoint you."

Out of professional ethics, the Shop Assistant patiently explained to Liens and then gave him a final sales pitch.

"The Princess 'went to sea'? Is this country going to be finished?"

After listening to the Shop Assistant's explanation, this thought arose in Liens's mind.

To confirm his thoughts, Liens asked the Shop Assistant, "Does the royal family not care about this kind of thing?"

"Guest, we are a legitimate tax-paying shop, not some black market den."

"So please rest assured, all the goods you purchase will not have any problems."

The Shop Assistant patted his chest and righteously assured Liens.

Liens understood.

A tax-paying business was, of course, a "legitimate business," and perhaps these kinds of merchandise were even a revenue-generating project for the state…

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