“Guest, as long as you’re willing to tell me how to awaken the Moon Shadow power inside the Moon Shadow Stone, everything is negotiable!”
Goren was making a huge sacrifice; he was willing to sell this Silver-rank magical core infected with abyssal aura at a rock-bottom price.
“No problem.”
This was exactly why Via had come to the underground black market.
“What exactly is the activation method?”
Goren carefully took out the small, treasured piece of Moon Shadow Stone from his pocket and looked at Via with eager expectation.
“To awaken the power of the Moon Shadow Stone, you need the help of the moon.”
“The moon?”
“Correct. Inject pure moonlight into the Moon Shadow Stone, and it will awaken.”
“…I once brought the Moon Shadow Stone under a full moon, but it showed no reaction at all.”
Goren frowned, clearly doubting Via’s words.
Since it was called Moon Shadow Stone, it naturally had to do with the moon—he had already tried something similar, yet as he said, it had no effect.
“One moon’s light is not enough to make the Moon Shadow Stone react. You need two moons.”
“Two moons? That’s impossible,” Goren immediately refuted. “There is only one moon in the sky; the situation you’re describing can never happen.”
“Yes, there is only one moon in the sky. That’s why we must find the second moon elsewhere.”
“What… do you mean?”
“The second moon can be found in water.”
“Oh?” Goren raised an eyebrow.
“On a clear, cloudless night of the full moon, find a tranquil and pure lake. Submerge the Moon Shadow Stone in it. Under the reflection of the moon in the sky and the moon in the water, the Moon Shadow Stone will be awakened from its slumber,” Via explained.
“This…”
After hearing her explanation, Goren was utterly shocked.
He stared at the Moon Shadow Stone and thought for a long time.
“I’m very interested in the information you provided and really want to try it, but I can’t be sure you’re not making it up.”
“You’re doubting me?”
“If you’re deceiving me, I’ll suffer a terrible loss. I need you to prove the truth of what you say,” Goren said cautiously.
“Fine.”
Via had expected this. No one would simply trust her with just a few words.
He was, after all, a veteran of the underground black market.
“Actually, you can test it right now and see if what I say is true.”
“How?”
“There should be moonlight tonight, right?”
“Oh, right!”
Goren suddenly remembered—tonight was clear and cloudless; the moon was out.
…
…
Via and Goren came together to the open space behind the shop.
“Will this do?”
Still half-doubting, Goren placed the Moon Shadow Stone into a transparent glass bottle and set it under the moonlight.
“Mm, just wait like this,” Via nodded.
“You’d better be telling the truth…”
Goren stared unblinkingly at the stone resting at the bottom, afraid to miss even the tiniest detail.
Time passed minute by minute.
He still saw no change in the Moon Shadow Stone and was beginning to suspect he was being played. Just as he turned his head, ready to explode in curses, Via’s voice rang out.
“Boss Goren, look closely.”
“Eh, this is?!”
Goren witnessed an unbelievable sight—the Moon Shadow Stone was actually glowing. Though extremely faint, the center of the stone had lit up.
His heart pounded wildly.
The Moon Shadow Stone was truly showing signs of awakening!
“Because tonight is not a full moon, and this is neither a tranquil nor pure lake, the conditions for full awakening are not met,” Via said leisurely. “Still, under these circumstances, getting even this small reaction is enough to prove my information is reliable, right?”
“Good, good, wonderful!!”
Goren was so happy he danced with joy.
As long as he followed Via’s instructions and fully awakened the Moon Shadow Stone, then spent a fortune to forge a transcendent weapon, the return on investment would be astronomical—no amount of initial cost would matter.
The way he looked at Via had completely changed—from suspicion to sincere admiration.
“Honored guest, your knowledge is truly profound. May I be so bold as to ask how you came to know this?”
“Nothing much, I just happened to hear it from a friend,” Via gave a casual excuse.
“Mm, mm.”
Goren was tactful and did not press further, lest he annoy her.
He believed this was a valuable contact worth making and had to show proper respect.
As agreed, he handed over the extremely valuable Silver-rank magical core.
“This is the core you need.”
“Good.”
Via accepted the magical core.
There’s no mistake—I can feel the abyssal aura inside. This is exactly what I need most right now.
Her heart stirred with excitement.
In my previous life, something like this wouldn’t even count as a snack, but for the current me, it is the crucial first step to reopening the path of the Demon King.
“Then, Boss Goren, here is the payment.”
Via was about to hand over the pouch of money when Goren refused it.
“No need, guest. I won’t take the money,” Goren said.
“You don’t want it?”
“Mm. Guest, if possible, instead of the money for the core, I would like your name—please allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Goren. I am a merchant in Doff City’s underground black market and have run this shop for over twenty years. I have many channels. If you ever need anything in the future, please come to me. My business is not limited to forbidden materials alone.”
Goren formally introduced himself.
His sharp instincts told him that although the person before him was short on money now, they would never remain poor. Making a connection now was the best opportunity.
Even if he earned nothing this time—and it did sting a little—this mysterious guest’s knowledge far surpassed ordinary people. Investing just a little in them now would surely yield enormous returns later.
“Boss Goren, I’ll accept your kindness. As for my name…”
Via sensed his desire to build a relationship. She also felt that having a contact with connections in the underground black market would be very beneficial for her future plans.
It wouldn’t do to keep being called “guest” forever.
She certainly couldn’t give her real name—imagine a saintess candidate from the Holy Land buying an abyssal-infected magical core. That would be far too explosive.
She would never abandon the name from her previous life. The terrifying Demon King Ville would once again take the stage—it simply wasn’t time yet.
After thinking it over, she settled on a perfectly suitable title.
“Then call me—W.”