Last Gun Alchemist

"Young man!"

A sketchy-looking old man stood in front of his shop, waving both hands toward the stream of people passing through the underground marketplace.

His rough beard had long since turned gray, while the wrinkles on his face made him appear even more suspicious than the loud voice he was using to attract customers. His patched coat hung loosely over his thin body, and the crafty smile resting on his lips only made him resemble the stereotypical dealer one would expect to meet inside a Black Market.

Of course...

He wasn’t the only one.

Nearly every merchant lining both sides of the street looked just as suspicious in one way or another.

Some wore masks that concealed everything except their eyes.

Others hid beneath thick hooded cloaks.

Several covered the lower halves of their faces with scarves, while a few openly displayed scars that stretched across their cheeks and necks.

Despite their different appearances...

They all shared the same purpose.

To convince passing customers to spend their money.

"Young Master!"

"I have genuine military-grade Alchemy materials!"

"Rare Beast meat! Freshly arrived!"

"Looking for forbidden books?"

"Top-quality firearm parts!"

The lively voices blended together until they became one continuous wave of noise that echoed throughout the enormous underground market.

Lucy couldn’t stop looking around.

Every few steps, something new caught her attention.

Her eyes wandered from one stall to another as merchants proudly displayed strange weapons, colorful stones, preserved monster organs, unusual plants sealed inside glass containers, and countless other goods she had never imagined would be openly sold in one place.

Even after they had stopped by the bookstore where Ezra purchased the historical records about Andraver, her curiosity hadn’t lessened in the slightest.

Instead...

It had only grown stronger.

"I can practically smell mysteries and illegal dealings mixed together in this place."

She smiled as she looked toward Ezra.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"This is exactly how I imagined a Black Market would feel."

Ezra didn’t answer.

He simply continued walking straight ahead with his usual calm expression, completely ignoring the overly excited maid walking beside him.

His attention remained focused on the layout of the marketplace instead.

Every section had been carefully organized.

Although the atmosphere appeared chaotic at first glance, there was actually a hidden order governing everything.

Weapons occupied one district.

Alchemy materials another.

Books...

Medicines...

Foreign Artifacts...

Every category had gradually become separated as they ventured deeper into the marketplace.

After quietly studying the surroundings for several more moments...

Ezra finally stopped.

"We should be there now."

He raised one hand pointing towards the distance.

Lucy’s gaze followed the direction of his finger.

Standing several streets ahead...

Was an enormous shopping complex.

Compared to every shop they had passed so far...

The difference couldn’t have been any greater.

The surrounding stores consisted mostly of worn stone buildings, old wooden structures, and small stalls squeezed tightly together.

This building...

Looked completely different.

Several floors rose high above the surrounding marketplace.

Large crystal windows reflected the warm glow of countless lamps.

Elegant decorations lined the exterior walls, while polished metal pillars supported a broad entrance that looked more fitting for an upper-class shopping district than somewhere hidden inside Britannia’s largest Black Market.

The only thing preventing it from looking completely out of place...

Was its location.

Surrounded by old alleys and suspicious merchants...

Its luxury almost felt unnatural.

Lucy blinked several times.

"...That’s it?"

She tilted her head.

"I honestly expected something much creepier."

She scratched her cheek.

"The deeper we came into the Black Market...The more I imagined the buildings would become darker and more suspicious."

Instead...

She looked toward the luxurious structure once again.

"It looks like somewhere rich nobles would casually go shopping."

Ezra calmly observed the building.

"I think this is even more obvious."

His voice remained flat.

"If someone wanted to hide the rarest goods...They wouldn’t make the place difficult to find. Plus, this makes it easier in terms of security."

Lucy thought about his words.

A few seconds later...

She slowly nodded.

"That actually makes sense."

Even so...

She couldn’t hide the slight disappointment on her face.

"This feels so different from the novels."

She quietly muttered to herself.

Ezra had already begun walking again.

"Let’s go."

He spoke without looking back.

"Wait for me!"

Lucy hurried after him.

The two crossed the wide stone street before eventually arriving at the entrance of the massive shopping complex.

Two security guards in black suite lazily watched over the doorway.

One sat comfortably on a chair with a cigarette resting between his fingers.

Thin trails of smoke drifted upward as he occasionally took another puff.

The other leaned against the stone wall with both arms folded across his chest, while his eyes remained closed.

Anyone unfamiliar with him would probably assume he had fallen asleep while standing.

However...

The moment Ezra and Lucy stepped within several meters of the entrance...

Both guards’ eyes landed simultaneously on them.

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Lucy instinctively felt it.

Her body subtly became more alert.

She leaned slightly closer toward Ezra.

"Master..."

She lowered her voice.

"They’re Meister-ranked Alchemists."

Ezra calmly looked at the two men, his black eyes remaining completely emotionless.

"I know."

He answered plainly.

The smoking guard stood up from his chair.

He casually tossed the unfinished cigarette onto the ground before crushing it beneath his boot.

Several cracks echoed from his neck and shoulders as he stretched his body.

"Who the hell are these little looking punks?"

He walked toward them with slow, heavy steps.

Each footstep carried a faint sense of pressure that naturally spread through the surrounding area.

Meanwhile...

The second guard never moved from the wall.

He merely opened one eye.

His gaze slowly swept across Ezra and Lucy.

After several seconds...

He spoke.

"Both are Novice-ranked Alchemists."

His tone remained calm.

Unlike his companion...

He didn’t seem interested in intimidation.

Ezra stepped forward.

His expression didn’t even change in the slightest with the intimidating pressure the two guards displayed.

"Is this the place that sells the rarest goods?"

He asked plainly.

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his voice.

Nor could fear be found inside his eyes.

He simply looked directly at the two Meister-ranked guards as though they were ordinary employees doing their jobs.

The smoking guard stopped walking.

"...Huh?"

He lowered his head slightly until he was looking directly into Ezra’s eyes.

"I’m sure you’re just a kid..."

He stared at him with an intimidating expression.

Lucy immediately stepped forward.

She quietly positioned herself between Ezra and the guard.

Not aggressively...

But protectively.

Her eyes never left the man’s face.

"Does that matter?"

Ezra replied.

His calm voice interrupted the brief silence that had settled between them.

The guard narrowed his eyes.

He remained silent for several moments.

Because...

Ezra wasn’t wrong.

Whether he was young or old...

It had nothing to do with whether he possessed enough money to shop inside.

Finally...

The second guard spoke again.

"Let them in."

His voice carried the same calmness as before.

The smoking guard clicked his tongue.

"I was going to."

He casually waved one hand before stepping aside.

Picking up another cigarette, he placed it between his lips before lighting it with a lighter he also took out from his black trouser pocket.

A cloud of smoke escaped through both his mouth and nose.

"You can enter."

He lazily pointed his thumb toward the large metal doors behind him.

Then...

His relaxed expression slowly disappeared.

Only seriousness remained.

"But remember one thing."

His deep voice echoed across the entrance.

"Only people with money belong inside this place."

His gaze settled firmly upon Ezra.

"If you walk in there...And try buying something you can’t afford..."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"You’ll find yourself in serious trouble."

His cold tone alone would have been enough to make many ordinary people lose their nerve.

Yet...

Neither Ezra nor Lucy reacted.

Their expressions remained exactly the same.

Seeing no reason to continue the conversation...

Ezra simply walked forward and Lucy followed closely behind him.

Without another word...

The second guard finally pushed one hand against the enormous steel door.

Faint streams of Cognis flowed across the engraved Alchemy Circles hidden beneath the metal surface.

A deep mechanical sound echoed.

Clank...

The massive door slowly opened inward.

Warm light spilled out from inside the building.

Ezra quietly noticed the Cognis flowing through the guard’s arm into the mechanism.

So...

Even the entrance itself requires Alchemy authorization.

He thought to himself plainly.

Without hesitation...

Both master and maid stepped inside.

The moment they stepped inside...

The interior was exactly what one would expect after seeing the magnificent exterior.

Well...

At least that was the case for Ezra.

Lucy, on the other hand, couldn’t stop looking around.

The luxurious appearance of the shopping complex continued seamlessly inside. Bright crystal lamps illuminated every corner of the spacious hall, while polished marble floors reflected the warm light above. Elegant wooden displays lined both sides of the wide walkways, and nearly every valuable item rested safely behind thick glass cases.

Unlike the ordinary market outside...

Everything here was displayed with refinement.

Each shop had beautifully crafted signboards hanging above their entrances, their names engraved in elegant lettering. Some even had small holographic advertisements floating before their stores, showcasing their rarest merchandise to passing customers.

Near the center of the complex stood a massive holographic directory.

The translucent blue screen floated several meters above the ground, displaying every shop inside the building, the categories of goods they sold, and the exact locations where they could be found.

Ezra calmly lifted his eyes toward it.

His gaze rapidly swept across the countless names.

Weapons...

Alchemy Materials...

Foreign Goods...

Medicines...

Rare Plants...

Ores...

His eyes continued moving without stopping.

In less than a second...

He found exactly what he was looking for.

Without another word, he turned and calmly began walking toward one of the eastern corridors.

Lucy quickly followed behind him.

The shopping complex was just as crowded as the streets outside.

People moved from one store to another carrying neatly wrapped packages while attendants politely welcomed every customer who entered.

Almost everyone concealed their identity.

Since this was still the Black Market...

Remaining anonymous was considered common sense.

Many people wore hooded cloaks that concealed most of their faces.

Others covered themselves with scarves.

Several wore elaborate masks made from metal or polished wood, completely hiding their appearances.

Some even altered their voices while speaking.

There could easily be a high-ranking noble casually walking among the crowd...

Or perhaps a wanted criminal.

No one knew.

More importantly...

No one cared.

As already stated...Inside the Black Market, protecting another person’s identity wasn’t simply courtesy.

It was one of the unwritten rules everyone naturally followed.

After walking through several sections of the enormous complex...

Ezra and Lucy finally arrived at the district dedicated entirely to ores.

The moment they entered...

Lucy quietly looked around once again.

One shop specialized in refined metal ores.

Another displayed rare crystal minerals resting inside reinforced glass cases.

Several stores sold unusual stones with mysterious properties used for Alchemy and technology development.

There was even an entire shop dedicated to high tier foreign ores imported from distant nations beyond Britannia.

Beside it...

Another merchant displayed countless gemstones arranged neatly according to their rarity and quality.

Compared to the ordinary ore markets found throughout Britannia...

This place looked more like an exhibition.

Ezra’s attention never wandered.

His objective had been clear from the beginning.

He calmly entered one of the largest shops specializing in metal ores.

A pleasant chime echoed softly as the door opened.

"Welcome, valued customers."

A young man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties immediately approached them.

He wore a neat black suit with white gloves, making him resemble a professional attendant from one of Britannia’s upper-class businesses rather than an employee working inside the Black Market.

A courteous smile rested naturally on his face as he rubbed his hands together.

"I hope we have something that interests you."

Several other customers quietly browsed the displays throughout the shop.

Some carefully examined different ores while attendants stood nearby explaining their properties.

The atmosphere remained peaceful with no one speaking loudly.

"What are you interested in purchasing today?"

The young attendant politely handed them a beautifully printed pamphlet.

Inside was a detailed catalogue listing every ordinary ore, manufactured ore, and refined metal currently available in the store.

Lucy accepted it before glancing around the elegant interior once more.

"For a Black-Market shop..."

She smiled sarcastically.

"You people are surprisingly fancy."

She looked back toward the attendant.

"Someone could easily mistake this place for a completely legal business."

The young man chuckled softly.

"Our owner happens to be someone with rather elegant tastes."

His smile remained polite.

"We simply follow the standard they’ve established."

Ezra quietly listened without interrupting.

With this level of management...

It’s obvious most of these shop owners are Nobles or backed by them.

The thought naturally crossed his mind.

Only someone with significant influence and wealth could maintain such a high standard inside a place like the Black Market.

Lucy unfolded the pamphlet across the display counter.

Ezra leaned slightly closer.

The two calmly scanned through the long catalogue together.

There were dozens of ordinary ores.

Several manufactured alloys.

Countless refined metals.

Even materials Ezra had only encountered inside Ashcraft’s Research and Development Facility appeared on the list.

Finally...

His finger stopped.

"This one."

Ezra pointed calmly.

The attendant lowered his gaze toward the catalogue before nodding once.

"Of course, Sir. This way, please."

He politely led them deeper into the shop.

Ezra and Lucy followed behind him until they arrived before a reinforced glass display.

Inside...

Three bronze-gold metal bars rested neatly upon a velvet cushion beneath carefully arranged lights.

The warm glow reflected beautifully across their metallic surfaces.

Orichalcum.

Even without touching it...

Ezra could immediately tell the quality was excellent.

His gaze shifted downward.

Resting beside the display...

Was the price tag.

20,000,000 Gold Coins

Lucy froze.

Her eyes immediately widened.

The attendant noticed her reaction and smiled apologetically.

"We only have the manufactured version available at the moment."

He gently gestured toward the bars.

"The raw ore sold out several days ago. We have regular customers who purchase it almost every time we receive a new shipment. So, our stock rarely lasts very long."

Ezra quietly nodded.

"I’m fine with the manufactured version."

The attendant smiled.

"Excellent choice."

Lucy finally looked away from the price tag.

"Twenty million gold coins..."

She blinked twice.

"For only three bars?"

Her voice carried genuine disbelief.

The attendant maintained his professional smile.

"That’s simply how valuable Orichalcum is, Miss."

He spoke calmly.

"Even obtaining manufactured bars requires special permissions outside the Black Market."

Lucy slowly nodded.

She finally understood why Ezra had insisted on traveling all the way to Velcryon.

This wasn’t something they could have purchased anywhere else or even find to buy.

Ezra calmly removed his Finance Card.

"I’ll buy six bars."

The attendant’s smile widened slightly.

"Certainly, Sir."

He respectfully bowed.

"Please follow me."

He led Ezra toward one of the private transaction rooms located behind the main showroom.

Lucy quietly followed.

The payment process itself remained smooth.

After verifying Ezra’s Finance Card and completing the Skynet transaction...

The attendant personally returned carrying a neatly wrapped black package.

Inside...

Six carefully manufactured bars of Orichalcum had been securely packed to prevent damage during transportation.

The attendant respectfully handed the package to Ezra with both hands.

"Thank you for your purchase."

Ezra carefully placed the neatly wrapped package containing the six manufactured Orichalcum bars into his Space Bag.

Once he confirmed everything had been stored properly, he turned around, intending to leave the shop immediately.

However...

His footsteps suddenly came to a stop.

Something resting inside another display case quietly caught his attention.

Ezra slowly turned his head.

Behind a thick sheet of reinforced glass...

A single bar of Umbrium rested on a dark velvet cushion.

Unlike the warm bronze glow of Orichalcum...

Umbrium possessed an entirely different beauty.

Its surface was a deep, flawless black that seemed to swallow the surrounding light. Even with the bright crystal lamps illuminating the display, almost no reflection escaped from its surface, making the metal appear as though it contained a patch of darkness within itself.

Ezra’s calm eyes quietly studied it.

Umbrium.

A rare metal ore famous throughout Britannia for its exceptional ability to absorb both heat and light.

Its unique properties made it invaluable when manufacturing stealth equipment, specialized defensive shields, and the exterior armor plating of military vehicles. Because of its remarkable resistance to heat-based attacks, it was often incorporated into advanced military projects where fire resistance and concealment were equally important.

Among the great noble families...

The Ashenlocke Family possessed one of the largest ownership rights over Umbrium.

For that reason...

The metal rarely appeared outside the family’s industries.

Alchemists couldn’t simply purchase it whenever they pleased.

In truth...

Umbrium wasn’t particularly popular among most Alchemists.

Only certain high-ranking Illusionary Alchemists occasionally sought it out because its light-absorbing properties worked exceptionally well with many concealment techniques.

Compared to highly sought-after ores like Orichalcum...

Its demand appeared much lower.

Yet...

Something didn’t make sense.

Ezra quietly looked across the surrounding display shelves.

Most of the other rare metals had three...

Four...

Sometimes even five manufactured bars displayed inside their cases.

Umbrium...

Had only one.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"Someone must be buying this metal rather frequently."

He spoke in his usual calm tone while looking toward the young attendant.

The young man smiled politely.

"I’m afraid I can’t reveal information regarding our customers."

His answer sounded perfectly professional, but in his mind...

He was a bit surprised that the person in front of him could observe something like this without any given information.

Then...

He casually stepped a little closer.

A different smile slowly appeared on his face.

This one looked far less professional.

His thumb and index finger quietly rubbed against each other.

The familiar gesture immediately revealed what he meant.

"But..."

He lowered his voice slightly.

"If you happen to offer me a little something..."

His greedy smile widened.

"I might accidentally remember a few details."

He whispered with a playful expression.

Ezra quietly looked at him.

His blank black eyes remained completely unreadable.

For several seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

Then...

Without another word...

Ezra simply turned around and walked toward the exit as though the conversation had never happened.

The attendant remained standing where he was.

His greedy smile gradually disappeared before he let out a quiet sigh.

"...Worth a try."

He muttered to himself before returning to his usual welcoming expression as another customer entered the shop.

Lucy had been wandering around the nearby displays while Ezra spoke with the attendant.

After taking one final look at several unfamiliar ores displayed beneath the crystal lights, she quickly caught up with him.

She looked thoroughly satisfied.

Although they had only purchased Orichalcum...

Simply seeing so many rare materials gathered in one place had already made the trip worthwhile in her eyes.

The two quietly left the shop and returned to the bustling corridors of the shopping complex.

"So..."

Lucy clasped both hands behind her back as she walked beside Ezra.

"We’re heading home tomorrow?"

She turned slightly to look at him.

Her voice carried a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

Ezra nodded once.

"Yeah."

His answer remained short and straightforward.

Everything they had come here to obtain had already been acquired.

There was no longer any reason to remain in Velcryon.

At least...

That had been the plan.

Neither Ezra...

Nor Lucy...

Could have imagined that before they even had the chance to leave the city...

An unexpected incident would force both of them to remain in Velcryon far longer than either of them had anticipated.