The Night Rose

"Mark, you should know the city, so be my escort today," Arwin said while looking at Mark and smiling at him.

"Hmm, okay. What do you need so I can screen it out and plan the way?"

"I would need basic thieves equipment, so a lockpicking tools and key making tools preferably.

Climbing claws, small crossbow but strong enough to fire a climbing hook or a hook generally.

So the hook and then crossbow bolts obviously. Hmmm, what else do I need?

Oh yeah! Hacksaw and glass cutters would also be helpful. You probably know what I do mean." Arwin said casually before winking at Mark.

"I thought you are a pirate and that pirates only know how to kill, steal, and blow things up and not use these delicate tools that you just listed out," Mark said amused before continuing, "Luckily, I do get you, and I think I know just the place where we need to go. Follow me," Mark said while starting to head on alleys.

"Hey! Yes, I do admit it's way easier just to shoot the lock open or blow things up, but you know we also do these delicate jobs, especially me, as with my small frame, it's quite easy.

How do you think we otherwise got the information and did grow up to a large group of pirates that can oppose even most of the kingdoms?

So yes, some of us do have an experience of being picky and sassy thieves. Some use their body or other ways to gather information.

That's why our tattoos are usually hidden, or temporarily made like mine." Arwin said while showing her tattoo and spitting at her hand before she started to rub it, slowly causing it to fade away.

"Hmm, I never did think that actually. But, now, when you say it like that, then it does make sense," Mark said as he watched the tattoo disappear entirely.

"Yeah, it's just a safety measure for us as you know we aren't that liked in this world," Arwin said while smiling mischievously at Mark before adding, "Aren't you interested if I have used my body to get information or not?" While waiting for Mark's reaction.

Mark again blushed, but this time, Arwin saw his blush and started to laugh loudly that made Mark even shyer.

"We are almost there, so let's focus on that," Mark replied instead as he smiled wryly.

Arwin laughed some more before saying,

"If you say so, you are such a big boy. Oh! I actually wonder how big you are with your oh so cute reactions and while being so shy.

Don't tell me?" Arwin suddenly asked with a gasped.

She then looked at Mark amusedly and asked, "That you are still a virgin? Haven't you pleasured many women to get your jobs done easier or get additional information?" She was clearly making fun of a Mark now who turned even more shy and blushed even more, but did not refuse or accept her statement.

"I'm sorry, Mark, that you have never had a chance to do it. Don't worry, let this big sister buy someone for you for tonight that you can at least die peacefully if something goes wrong with our job," Arwin said while smiling at Mark, who just wanted to turn away and hide somewhere.

Luckily for him, they had arrived at their destination. Mark knocked on a wall and after while a hatch opened while asking.

"What is the password, my friend?"

"The darkness is all around us and even closer than you think," Mark answered.

After a moment, the wall opened, and a man said, "Welcome to the black market. We have everything that you need here, and if we don't, we will get it for you without any questions. We will buy everything that's burning your pockets." Before letting them in.

The black markets existed everywhere, and everyone was aware that most cities had one, and even the nobles used them.

You didn't even need the password to get in, but it was mostly made a joke as what kind of a black market is an open black market?

So they had jokingly made random passwords, and if someone actually remembered the password, they would freely get in. Otherwise, you would have to pay a fee to get inside.

But no one dared to oppose the black market as everyone knew how much of an influence they really had at their disposal.

"Welcome to our city's black market. I'm sure that everything you need will be here. They also have their own blacksmith that will create items, of course, with a higher payment." Mark explained as he started to guide Arwin to the blacksmith's area.

"As you know, this has the basic layout that most of the black markets do have

So we also have four sections here, and in section one, there is everything about armor's, weapons, tools, etc.

Second has the herbs and healing, third has everything else, and at the section, fourth has the requests and missions." Mark continued.

Arwin just nodded her head as she knew these things already but wanted to confirm that this place hadn't changed their layout at all.