Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 281: Meeting the Mastermind [2]

The woman continued walking at a steady pace, her posture radiating authority despite the slight blush still lingering on her cheeks. Adrian stayed close beside her, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. He could feel the guards' eyes on him, but he didn't let it deter him. Instead, he focused on the woman, waiting for her next move.

After a few moments, she finally spoke, her voice composed once more, though there was a hint of something softer beneath the surface. "You seem awfully interested in my affairs," she remarked, her eyes flicking to him briefly before returning to the path ahead.

Adrian shrugged nonchalantly, his expression playful. "It's not every day I run into someone as intriguing as you," he replied, deliberately keeping his tone light. "Besides, I'm just naturally curious. It's in my nature."

The woman's lips twitched, almost as if she wanted to smile but was holding back. "Curiosity can be dangerous," she said, her voice carrying a warning, though it lacked the sharpness Adrian had expected.

"I'll take my chances," Adrian quipped, his grin widening. "Besides, I've been in enough danger lately to know how to handle myself."

She didn't respond immediately, and Adrian could tell she was contemplating something. Finally, she let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "You're persistent, I'll give you that," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"It's as they say, you can't beat the person who never gives up." Adrian took that as a small victory and decided to press on. "So, are you going to tell me what brings you to this lovely place, or do I have to keep guessing?" he asked, his tone teasing.

The woman cast him a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. "You really want to know?"

Adrian nodded, meeting her gaze with steady confidence. "If you're willing to share, I'm willing to listen."

She hesitated for a moment before looking ahead again. "I'm here for information," she said quietly, her voice almost lost in the noise of the market.

'Information? So, her source was the black market after all...'

Adrian's curiosity piqued further, but he kept his expression neutral. "And this information can only be found here?" he asked, gesturing vaguely to the bustling Black Market around them.

"Yes," she replied simply. "The Black Market is full of secrets, some more valuable than gold. But it's also full of deception and lies. Finding the truth here is like searching for a needle in a haystack."

Adrian nodded thoughtfully. "Should I help you then? I know a few good places; I can give them myself if you want as well."

The woman ignored his offer, her expression returning to one of distant authority. "You can leave now," she said coolly, her tone dismissive.

Adrian sensed that she was trying to distance herself from him, perhaps to get rid of him in a polite way. But he wasn't about to let the conversation end just yet. He hadn't gotten anything useful out of her.

Leaning in slightly, he whispered, "What about those stalkers?"

The woman sighed, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "They're not stalkers," she replied, her voice exasperated. "They're my guards."

Adrian blinked in surprise, then quickly acted dumbfounded, stuttering a bit for effect. "Oh… I-I see. I didn't realize…"

She regarded him with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Thank you for your concern," she said, her tone softening just a fraction.

Adrian watched as she prepared to walk away, feeling that their encounter was about to end. But he couldn't let her leave without at least one more question. "Wait," he called out, causing her to pause and look back at him.

"Where could I find you again?" Adrian asked, his voice more earnest than before.

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The woman raised an eyebrow, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "What, have you fallen in love with me?" she teased, her tone light but with a trace of genuine curiosity.

Adrian quickly shook his hands, trying to dispel the misunderstanding. "No, no, it's not that! I... I just think you have a great mind for business, that's all."

Her smile widened slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Business, you say?" she asked, her tone a bit more serious now. "Are you a businessman?"

Adrian scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit sheepish under her scrutinizing gaze. "You could say that," he replied, not wanting to give away too much.

She was silent for a moment, studying him with an unreadable expression. Then, almost as if she had made up her mind, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen. With swift, elegant movements, she wrote something down before handing it to him.

"Here," she said, her voice carrying a note of finality. "See you next time."

Adrian accepted the paper, glancing at the elegant script that adorned it. Before he could say anything else, the woman gave him a nod, then turned and walked away, her guards falling into step behind her. Within moments, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Adrian standing alone in the bustling market.

He looked down at the paper again, a mix of excitement and curiosity bubbling up inside him. 'Well, that went better than expected,' he thought, pocketing the note. This wouldn't be the last time their paths would cross, but it might be the most peaceful one.

'Well, since I lost her already, let's do a 'small shopping' before leaving.' Adrian strolled the market for another 5 or 6 minutes and slowly made his way toward the exit.

After those brief moments of waiting, Adrian finally approached the exit, where the thick curtain of shadows obscured the way out. It was an ingenious design, ensuring that no one could easily identify those who entered or left the market. The two-minute wait also served another purpose: to let any potential tail lose track of their target.

As Adrian waited his turn, he couldn't help but glance at the small slip of paper tucked securely in his pocket. 'I wonder if I can trust this info...'

The curtain parted, signaling that it was his turn. Adrian stepped through, feeling the cool air rush against his face as he emerged from the suffocating atmosphere of the Black Market.

The noise of the bustling streets of the city returned, a sharp contrast to the clandestine whispers and shadowy dealings he'd just left behind.

'Let's change back and return to the academy...'