Chapter 21
The streets were filled with haphazardly built wooden buildings, and all sorts of people roamed around wearing leather armor, chainmail, and wielding axes, spears, swords, daggers—each armed in their own unique way.
All kinds of goods were being traded openly, and even at a glance, many of them seemed suspicious in origin. Yet, no one was interrogating or stopping the vendors.
"Most of the people you see here are criminals on the run. Isn’t it fascinating? They’re strutting around in broad daylight, and no one’s even trying to arrest them."
Sancho, visibly excited, chattered away to me in a voice full of energy.
Bearstown was a sort of city for criminals, a gathering place for all the bad guys from across the West Continent.
Even a small-time peddler from the far side of the continent would have heard of it. Oddly enough, no one ever tried to subjugate it.
"They played it smart, you know? They hand off a share of their loot money to those in power and get them to turn a blind eye."
The trafficking in Bearstown was not governed by imperial law but strictly protected and managed under the town’s own rules.
As a result, not only stolen goods but all sorts of unofficial items from across the continent were traded here.
Because of that, many nobles secretly traded in Bearstown as well. They, too, had plenty of items they didn’t want to deal with in public.
Thus, Bearstown, a den of criminals, had become a place where illegality was implicitly accepted.
"Bearstown Rule No. 1: No fights are allowed within the town without the Council’s permission. If you want a legitimate duel, you have to get approval from the Town Council. Isn’t that ridiculous? Even peasants brawl in taverns all the time, and here criminals are talking about ‘legitimate duels.’ Unreal."
Sancho's frivolous tone was irritating, sure, but what he said wasn’t wrong.
"Are you certain it's here?"
"It has to be. If it's that rare of an item, there's no other place it could be sold."
Nodding, I surveyed my surroundings, taking in Bearstown on my first visit.
"Let’s split up and reconvene later."
"Understood. Oh, and just so you know—don’t draw your weapon in Bearstown. Ever."
I ignored Sancho’s advice and started walking past the crowd. There was one thing I had to do upon entering a new town.
"One cold beer, please."
The tavern owner, who had run his bar in Bearstown for thirty years, glanced at me briefly, then turned away.
"A new face."
"Because it’s my first time here."
At my short reply, the tavern keeper nodded.
"Judging by your appearance, you look like a Free Knight. Don’t stir up trouble here. This town is tangled in all kinds of power and interest. Even knight orders keep their swords sheathed here."
There was a strange sense of pride in the tavern keeper’s voice.
"Do you know anything about a woman who recently came in with stolen goods?"
"Plenty of people like that come through here every day. I wouldn’t know."
"I’ll pay generously if you can tell me who came through in the last five days."
The tavern keeper looked at me curiously.
"What’s your goal? You know you can’t fight in this town."
"I just have a few questions."
"In that case... I might be able to find something out."
I placed a gold coin on the shelf.
"One gold as advance. If the information’s worth it, I’ll pay four more."
One gold coin just for providing information—quite a generous offer for something so simple.
"Got a place to stay?"
"Not yet."
"There’s a vacant room upstairs."
"Then I’ll be in your care for a while."
The tavern keeper, pleased with the big customer he’d just caught, poured me another beer on the house.
"My own brew. Around here, ‘Uncle Tom’s Beer’ is pretty famous."
I gave a big nod. However he had stored it, it was relatively cold and tasted fine. It even had a decent amount of carbonation.
"This is excellent. I’ll count on you until I leave."
I smiled in satisfaction, placed a few silvers on the counter, and looked again at the wooden mug.
"One beer, please."
Just then, a woman casually sat beside me and placed an order.
"No luck again today?"
"Yeah, it’s tough."
"Take your time. It’s not like you’re in some countryside. Finding someone here isn’t easy."
"I guess… Did you hear anything new?"
"Not yet. Dark skin, long curly hair, loud mouth... That’s detailed enough for anyone to recognize, but since nothing’s come in, I’d say he hasn’t come back here yet."
"Maybe you're right…"
The woman took a few gulps of beer and shook her head, clearly frustrated. While draining my second mug, I realized that the person she was looking for was Sancho.
"Why are you looking for that dark-skinned man?"
"Hmm? I’ve never seen you before."
"Because it’s my first time here."
The same exchange repeated.
"I’m Angelica. And you?"
"Karl. I’m a Free Knight."
Angelica gave me a strange look as I introduced myself as a Free Knight in this den of criminals.
She slowly took another look at me—well-defined features, a trained physique, and armor that wasn’t just for show.
Even at a glance, I didn’t seem like an ordinary man. Why would someone like me be in Bearstown?
"Why did you ask that earlier? You seemed like you knew the guy I’m looking for."
"I thought I might."
"Hmm…?"
Ignoring her suspicious gaze, I continued.
"Tell me why you're looking for him first."
"There’s something I’m trying to retrieve. I think he has it."
"He has something you’re looking for?"
"Yes. I think he stole it."
Her story led me to an unpleasant conclusion.
‘So that bastard Sancho tricked me.’
Sancho had told me that the woman had stolen the real item. But here she was, searching for Sancho in Bearstown.
One of them was clearly lying. This woman seemed well-acquainted with the tavern keeper and had been searching for Sancho for several days already.
If she had truly stolen the item, there would be no reason for her to still be looking for him here.
Perhaps I had let my guard down after receiving the Ring of the First Holy Knight Commander. Sancho was clearly trying to shake me off while he looked for a place to fence the item.
It was frustrating enough to make me laugh, but at least I realized it before it was too late.
"You both seem to know this place well, don’t you?"
"Of course."
"Naturally."
"I need to catch a rat. I think we can help each other."
"Let’s hear it."
I briefly explained my situation with Sancho, and we agreed to cooperate. During that, I also learned that a few weeks ago, Sancho had approached Angelica with a proposal to work together.
Despite what he had told me, it turned out that Sancho had been the one to plan everything. He gathered thieves, laid out the plan, and once the job was done, he fled with the goods—leaving Angelica and the rest behind. She and her five comrades barely escaped with their lives, scattered and running.
"We have to move now. I think I know where that bastard went."
Angelica jumped to her feet, and I followed. Soon, we arrived at the town’s most secretive black market.
From the outside, the building looked shabby. When we opened the door and stepped inside, an old woman sitting in a chair stared at us.
"Bishop Angelica."
Angelica pulled out a necklace from around her neck and showed it to the old woman, who then silently pointed to the back.
Clack-clack-clack.
The sound of machinery echoed as a wall, seemingly ordinary, slid open to reveal a stairway descending below.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
Even after everything I’d experienced in this world, this sight amazed me.
If it were magic, I could believe it—but this kind of mechanism? I’d never seen anything like it in this world.
[You have discovered a Hidden Location. Bonuses granted: Intelligence and Luck increased.]
[You have discovered Bearstown's Vecher. Your Favorability with Bearstown has increased. Favorability with cities grants access to special city functions.]
Just as I thought the place was special, the system confirmed it.
"Amazing."
"Right? I thought the same thing when I first came here. I’m still getting used to it, so it still surprises me sometimes."
"You mentioned ‘Bishop’ earlier. Is that some kind of rank?"
"Mm... Well, since you’re already this far in, I’ll tell you. In Bearstown, there’s a hierarchy based on chess pieces. No one knows who the King is, but under him are the Queen, Knight, Bishop, Rook, and Pawn."
"And what does the rank determine?"
"Which areas of the black market you can access. Even in this underground space, there are areas I can’t go. Anyone who’s tried to force their way in despite the rules... hasn’t made it out alive."
I was intrigued by this completely new information.
"If someone accompanies you, can they go wherever a Bishop can?"
"That’s right. I can bring one person with me."
"So where are we headed now?"
"The shipment back then was heading from Viscount Julio’s domain to Count Calido’s. It likely belonged to Count Calido."
"Makes sense."
"When it’s a noble’s item—especially a high noble’s—it has to go through a public auction."
"Public auction?"
"Yes. Everyone knows it’s stolen, so they just auction it off openly. That way, the original owner has a chance to buy it back."
It was laughable—but in a way, ingenious.
This world was a jumble of medieval barbarism and random romanticism. Nothing was truly off-limits.
The thief profited from the sale. Bearstown took its cut. The original owner, though it might sting, still had a chance to reclaim the item.
If someone else won the auction, the original owner might even track them down outside of Bearstown later.
"Sancho came rushing in with you today, so it’s almost certain the auction is happening now."
Things were quickly getting more complicated.
"Do you know what the item is?"
"Not exactly. But from what I gathered, it’s a dagger used in ritualistic ceremonies."
"A dagger... for rituals?"
That was unexpected. Why would Count Calido want a dagger for occult ceremonies?
"Are you sure it was meant for Count Calido?"
"Come on. You think there was some kind of paperwork? All I know is that Viscount Julio was trying to move the item toward the border with Count Calido’s domain."
Nothing about this was normal.
"Anyway, let’s get to where the auction is happening."
"It’s just about to start. This way."
Angelica moved quickly and led me to a large hall.
The room was full of tough-looking individuals clearly stationed for security.
They must have been hired using the auction's profits to enforce order here.
Soon, the auctioneer appeared on stage, and the participants—who filled the open space—received number paddles and took their seats.
Interestingly, many of them wore masks. Apparently, no one cared if you wanted to hide your identity here.
"We’ll now begin the auction. The first item—"
The auctioneer began introducing items, and after quite a while, one particular item wrapped in cloth was wheeled up onto the stage.