Villain transmigration: The doll maker.-Chapter 79:Black market.

The carriage trudged slowly down the mountain as occasional roars from nocturnal beasts filled the night’s air.

Seraph leaned against me fully asleep. We had already passed the two initial cities and were passing our last forest stretch before arriving at our destination.

The carriage ran over a stone again causing it to shake. I held Seraph firmly preventing her from moving around.

"Young master, there are two more carriage infront of us and they seem to be slowing down."

Donovan’s voice came. I looked out the window and indeed saw two carriages. One of them seemed to be having a problem.

"Can you bypass them?"

"No, we’ll have to stop."

Donovan said. I sighed. I had thought we would travel without incident, but it seems we weren’t in luck.

Donovan stoppedthe carriage and waited. Leaves crunched loudly as the foreign footsteps approached until they came to a stop.

"Sorry for blocking the road but could you help us our wheel has been broken and we unfortunately did not carry an extra one."

A foreign deep voice came.

"What happened to cause such extensive damage?"

Donovan asked.

"It’s just normal wear and tear. We were in a hurry to arrive at the black market and forgot to check it. Aren’t you also going to the market?"

The man said to Donovan in an overly familiar voice. Donovan’s chuckle echoed through the forest.

"I’ll have to ask my young master for his opinion first."

Donovan said. His heavy footsteps hit the ground as he jumped out of the driver’s seat and approached my window.

"The carriage in front of us is asking for help young master."

Donovan said in the most polite voice I have ever heard.

"Ooh really. How can they prove they are going to the black market, they might be swindlers or assassins sent by father."

I said in my cold noble voice.

"You’re right young master, I’ll remove the carriage from the side of the road."

"Please, let me talk to my master we mean no harm."

The man said the moment Donovan drew his sword. Only a fool would talk about something like the black market openly to a stranger they just met.

"Sure."

I agreed. Donovan followed the man. They both came back a few moments later.

"Our master would like to talk to you."

The man said politely.

"He wanted to personally come to the carriage ."

Donovan added. It seems Donovan had forbidden him.

"I just need proof thats all, I do not wish to speak to anyone without them proving their innocence. I have been attacked a lot during my travels and do not wish to help anyone anymore."

I said.

"Okay, young master."

The other man said and walked to the other carriage and came back a few moments later. He handed a small black envelope to me.

"Go help them."

I said to Donovan. He nodded and walked away with the other servant.

DARKNESS PAVILION.

At the corner of the black envelope was the name. Looking at the black candle wax seal, I couldn’t put a finger on where I had seen it.

It looked familiar but was both unfamiliar. I tore open the envelope to find a small invitation letter.

It didn’t have a name or anything. Just you have been allowed access to the darkness pavilion for the monthly auction.

"Do you want to go?"

Seraph’s sleepy voice came. I looked down to see her fully awake.

"I’m not really sure but it sounds interesting. "

I answered her.

"There is a map at the back."

She placed her head on my lap and looked up at me. I turned the paper around to see that there was indeed a map on it.

"It seems to be inside this forest."

"We should go, maybe we can find something interesting. "

Seraph said nonchalantly. My left hand went into her silky hair and started to run it through.

"But the schedule.."

I started but Seraph shook her head.

"You’re the only one trying to stick to the schedule, you’ve got to let loose a little bit."

Seraph said jokingly. I chuckled at that. I really wanted to reach Troll Town and talk to mother, since I had promised to inform her when I reached the border.

"Okay, let’s go to the black market then."

Seraph smiled brightly. This also made me smile.

Donovan’s heavy footsteps approached. He opened the small curtain and leaned against the window

"Young master we are done. Are you planning to go to this black market thing?"

I nodded.

"We’ll follow behind their carriage. I’ll be taking the invite as payment."

Donovan nodded and he walked away. He came back and noisily got onto the carriage.

"They say it’s okay."

Donovan said out loud and started to drive slowly forward. The moons shone down illuminating the road.

After a sand glass drive the carriage branched into a much smaller but smooth road in the forest.

It had been well hidden. If someone normal passed by, they would assume it was a forgotten trail with all the grass and weeds that were growing around the entrance before we came to the smooth road.

"This place is really well hidden."

Seraph said as she sat up and looked outside through my side of the window.

"Yes, there seemed to be another carriage that had entered after us. "

The moment our carriages had started to run on the smoother road, another carriage had also followed behind.

"I hope we won’t get disappointed."

Seraph said to herself as she looked out wistfully.

The carriage drove through the road for some time before light crystals hanging on trees welcomed us.

They illuminated the previously dark road giving us a full view of the place we were going.

People were walking beside the roads while looking at the entering carriages while others were just sitting on the forest floor talking amongst themselves.

"I think we’ve arrived."

The carriage slowed to a stop before a couple of footsteps approached. Three to be exact.

"Card."

A man wearing a black mask on his face extended his arm towards me. I placed the open invitation in his hand.

"Plus the two carriages behind me."

I added. He stopped checking and leaned against the door.

"The invitation can only bring five in."

He stamped the invite but didn’t give it back.

"How much do you want for the extra?"

I asked coldly. The man extended his arm further into the carriage.

"Ten gold each."

He said. I didn’t argue that it wasn’t too much money. I got the gold from my storage ring and passed it to him.

"Forty gold coins!" He exclaimed before he noticed his absurd reaction," here this will get you the best service you’ll just have to pay an extra thirty at the entrance if you want to get the best seats."

He passed me a small blue tag and waved our carriage in. I was probably a big fish just from his reaction.

Our carriage was directed to the back of the huge mansion where there were more luxurious carriages just like mine.

"Let’s go and see this auction thing."

I said to Seraph and got off the carriage. I held her hand as she came down the carriage.

The others also alighted while looking around curiously.

The mansion was more dystopian, it looked old but I could see the defensive spells all around it.

Around various carriages arrived as more people alighted and walked inside.

I noticed that they rarely talked to each other. Most of them just walked directly into the mansion.

"Are you sure we should go in there?"

Abeloin said. Everyone ignored him and walked into the mansion. I had expected to enter a large room just like how auction houses looked like but this was different.

There was a long hallway that seemed to lead to the main doorway. The hall was minimally decorated with only white painted walls and scattered light crystals to make the place less dull.

We followed the group down the brightly lit hallway and came to a stop at the end of the hallway.

Almost twenty guards were standing by the large door at the end of the hall.

The group in front of us moved fast as they entered the room beyond until it was my turn.

"Ticket?"

One of the guards asked. I gave him the blue ticket the other guard had given me. He took it with a smile on his face.

"Follow me, you remember what the other guard told you right?"

He whispered quietly to me.

"Yes, is there anything else I should know about?"

I asked. This auction was still vague and everything felt out of place.

"Have you decided who you’re going to bet on?"

The guard asked. I could see the excitement in his eyes. I frowned.

"Isn’t this an auction?"

The guard nodded.

"Ooh, you must be new."

"Yes, a friend sent me this invitation."

I lied. He led us upstairs to what looked like a secluded room. He opened the door while talking.

"Ooh, that must be the reason. We always start with fights before the auction. People like betting and if they win, they’ll use the money for the auction. Money stays inside at the end."

"So this is a gambling den?"

I asked. The guard moved back and gestured for us to enter.

"Yes."He admitted then added, " The additional payment for this room will be taken when you leave."