Lu Li feigned confusion as he looked at Ekaterina, then complained with some distaste, "What's so special about Linmu City? It's just a third-tier city, even worse than Qingmu City."
"Since you don't know, then I'll take you to get a deeper understanding." After Ekaterina finished speaking, she opened the car door and got back in.
"Get in the car."
Lu Li was just about to sit in the back seat when he discovered that the back door was locked.
"I think you should sit in the passenger seat," Ekaterina reminded him softly.
Lu Li: "..."
Lu Li dejectedly sat in the passenger seat.
"You really don't know about Linmu City?" Ekaterina continued to ask.
"Really, I don't know."
Lu Li replied, pretending to be helpless.
Ekaterina didn't probe Lu Li any further. Instead, she joked with a smile, "Linmu City has the seventh-largest black market in the southern region of Kyushu. How can a commoner like you not know about it? I remember Linmu City should be right next to Qingfeng City, where you live, right?"
"Now I'm curious, why do you, a member of the Outer Alliance, know more about Linmu City than I do?" Lu Li looked at Ekaterina curiously.
"Marco, the one you defeated yesterday, is my cousin. Although the family relation is a bit distant, his father is the mayor of Qingyun City," Ekaterina said casually.
Lu Li: "..."
Lu Li did his best to play the part of a naive and clueless youth, then pretended to be indignant and questioned, "Then why hasn't this black market been shut down yet?"
"Because that black market has a background."
"What background? Is it even bigger than the Alliance?"
Lu Li, pretending to be hot-blooded, looked indignant.
"The one behind that black market is Yu Zhonggang, who is also your current sponsor." After Ekaterina finished speaking, she gave Lu Li a meaningful look, her eyes full of amusement.
Lu Li: "..."
Ekaterina already knew about this, so the mayor of Qingyun City must also know. If the mayor of Qingyun City knows, then the Asian Alliance must also know.
So...
This world is really damn dark!
He originally thought Ekaterina wouldn't know about this.
Seeing Lu Li's shocked appearance, Ekaterina, believing she had seized an opportunity, comforted him, "Unless there's a factional struggle, the higher-ups usually turn a blind eye to this kind of thing. It's the same in any alliance."
Lu Li didn't continue the conversation in the direction she wanted, but instead asked, "So what are you going there for?"
"To broaden your horizons and let you know the darkness of your Kyushu region."
Hearing this, Lu Li felt speechless.
Does this young master need you to take me to understand the darkness of this world?
Lu Li chose to remain silent.
Ekaterina also stopped talking, as if to allow Lu Li to properly digest the news he had just received.
The red car soon arrived in the western suburbs of Linmu City without a word.
Almost unimpeded, without even any identity verification or inspection in the middle, the two quickly arrived at the so-called black market.
The vast majority here are trainers who adventure in the wild, exchanging goods for goods. At least on the surface, it looks pretty clean here.
"Stop looking. This is for newbies who don't know anything. The real black market is underground," Ekaterina said, then led Lu Li to a bar called the Flame House.
Walking to the bar, Ekaterina said coldly, "Two glasses of Black Flame."
The bartender looked at Ekaterina with some surprise. Although this was the seventh-largest black market in the southern region, it was rare to see faces from the Outer Alliance here.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
The bartender pushed two glasses of red wine over, with two red cards soaked in the glasses.
The bartender respectfully wished, "I wish you two distinguished guests a good time."
After receiving the identity cards, Ekaterina led Lu Li to a restroom marked with the symbol for the third gender.
This so-called restroom was actually an elevator. After swiping the card for verification, the elevator began to descend.
Lu Li, who was visiting the black market for the first time, asked nervously, "Don't we need to cover our faces or something?"
After all, that's how it's written in novels. Whether it's the protagonist or the supporting characters, they all hide their identities when they go to the black market.
"Can you find materials that can isolate the prying of psychic-type Pokémon?" Ekaterina looked at Lu Li in surprise.
Lu Li honestly shook his head.
"Then what are you going to use to cover your face? Or do you have a Ditto?"
Lu Li: "..."
"No."
Lu Li shook his head, feeling speechless.
"That's right, the black market officials prepare the most Psychic-type Pokémon, and everyone who sets up a stall here has at least one Psychic-type Pokémon. Even if you wear ten masks, it's useless," Ekaterina complained.
The elevator soon stopped.
Ekaterina stepped out of the elevator first, and Lu Li followed closely behind.
"This is the black market?"
Lu Li looked at the prosperity before him in surprise.
All kinds of pedestrians coming and going, and a wide variety of vendors.
No wonder this is the seventh-largest black market in the southern region of Kyushu.
"The black market is the best place to find bargains because most of the people who set up stalls here are self-taught trainers who haven't received formal education.
Their knowledge reserves are insufficient and they can't distinguish the value of certain precious items at all. If you're interested, you can browse around more. Maybe you, as a breeder, can find a great bargain," Ekaterina encouraged from the side.
Lu Li nodded.
Even if Ekaterina didn't say it, he would do the same.
After all, it's not easy to come to the black market, and if he doesn't make good use of it, then he would be too sorry for this opportunity.
Lu Li quietly formed hand seals, and the Spirit Vision Eye was quietly activated.
Lu Li, single-mindedly thinking about finding bargains, constantly scanned the surrounding stalls.
Most of the stall vendors seem to know the value of the things they are selling, and some even have prices that are slightly higher.
Seeing this scene, Lu Li felt speechless.
For example, a Fire Stone.
The market price for this thing is about 100,000, but here it costs 110,000.
If someone really needs a Fire Stone, wouldn't they know to go to a regular store to buy it?
"Why are the prices here a bit inflated?" Lu Li complained speechlessly.
"The lower prices are over there."
Ekaterina pointed to the darker area.
"Those with higher prices have no problems with their origins. If you want to pursue cost-effectiveness, you can only go there. The things there are all of dubious origin. Although the prices are cheaper, buying them back may bring disaster," Ekaterina explained from the side.
Lu Li nodded, then curiously headed towards the dark area.
Watching Lu Li's back, the corners of Ekaterina's mouth slightly curved upwards, and then she took out a special instrument from her pocket.
Looking at the energy fluctuations displayed on the instrument, with a core red alert, Ekaterina's face was full of excitement.
"It really is... Arceus is really blessing me too much," Ekaterina muttered excitedly.
