"Hey all! I'm Helena! From Aporia!"
"And I'm Melia." Melia bowed politely, "We've come to lend our hand to the rebellion."
Azimuth stared at these two new additions to their roster, "...Roko?"
"Yeah?"
"How many more princesses do you know?"
"Like...two more?"
"TWO?!" Azimuth cried, "You know FIVE princesses?!"
"Would you believe me if I said I didn't know Melia was coming?"
"Also, I'm not a princess." Melia added, "Just the daughter of a rich merchant family."
"A female Sirius?!"
"Sirius?" Melia played with her hair thoughtfully, "Where have I heard that name before?"
"Hey, sorry about suddenly bringing Melia along." Helena grinned, "But we actually talked about it before and figured Melia could come along with us for one run. Didn't really have time to run it by you before so uhhh...is it cool?"
"Yeah sure." Roko shrugged, "I could probably use the help."
"Much obliged, Roko." Melia nodded, "I'll do my best to help in a hopefully more substantial manner than in our previous encounters."
"By the way, who are these two...knights?" Azimuth asked.
"My name is Roland. Sovereign Knight of Helena."
"When did you get the Sovereign part in your name?" Helena frowned.
"I'm Roswell." Melia knight bowed politely, "Me and Roland here are simply here to protect our respective charges. And help in the rebellion effort when needed."
"Are you as strong as Kajou?"
"Who?"
"Sorry, are you as strong as Momo?"
"No, they're not." Helena chuckled, "But they're stronger than your normal soldiers, I can guarantee that."
"Well, I suppose Momo is a pretty big bar to live up to." Azimuth shrugged, "But if you're strong enough to lead platoons then that's welcome too. We don't really have a lot of competent leaders at the moment."
"Roko included no doubt." Roland nodded.
"Huh?" Azimuth looked confused.
"Don't mind him, he and Roko don't get along." Helena chuckled.
"Huh. So he's like his rival?"
"I'm not his rival." Roland and Roko both replied at the same time.
"Roko's the smarter one and Roland's the stronger one." Melia grinned.
"Excuse me, I'm much smarter than Roko!" Roland objected.
"I don't think I've ever seen you studying." Roko scoffed.
"Yeah. Cause I'm TRAINING!"
"You've only proven my point."
"Keep talking. Soon everybody in the rebellion will be talking about how I'm that much better than you at everything." Roland said proudly.
"Unfortunately for you. there won't be much combat for a while."
"So you've said." Helena nodded, "You need me to source some new armor and weapons for the rebellion from the black market?"
"I almost feel bad about asking you." Roko admitted, "You've stated your intention to cull the influence of illegal activity in your own country but here I am asking you to use your expertise on them instead."
"Hey, it's no big deal." Helena smiled, "If even something like this could help out, I'd be glad to use it for something good for once."
"So we're actually going to make black market deals..." Azimuth held her head in her hands, "What has this rebellion come to?"
"Hey, it's not like we're looking for slaves or drugs or something." Momo said, "Just a few weapons to help out a good cause is probably the most innocent use of the black market you'll find."
"I mean, we're not even asking for enchanted armor and weapons." Helena added, "...We're not, right Roko?"
"No." Roko replied, "Just normal armor and weapons above a level of quality and in good numbers."
"Good." Helena nodded, "If there's anytime you actually need an armory of enchanted weapons, the black market would be your best place to get them but that much enchanted armaments are almost never ethically sourced."
"You mean like...graverobbing?" Momo frowned.
"If you want the top tier stuff yeah. But for normal enchanted weapons it's usually created by slave labor."
"Oh geez." Azimuth gulped.
"Yeah it's not pretty." Helena sighed, "I try not to go there all that often myself. It's pretty depressing for people with normal ethics like us."
"So when are heading out?" Azimuth asked.
"Well, I've got a few questions first." Helena said as she turned to Roko, "You don't really want to make that many return trips with the black market so just to make sure everything's in order in advance, do you have a place to store the new weapons?"
"We do." Roko nodded, "I acquired an entirely new fort where these weapons will be stored."
"And how much do you exactly need?"
"At a minimum, 50 sets of armor and weapons would be ideal."
"50 isn't a lot." Azimuth frowned, "The Earthbounds are way bigger than that."
"That's because the only ones who will get to use this new base are those willing to continue fighting." Roko scowled, "I know it's not the best look to segregate our forces like this but I can't be damned to go looking for cooperators every time I start an operation."
"Fair." Momo nodded, "We can let those who want piece stay underground while the rest of us carry on the rebellion."
"Man, I knew things were bad here but I didn't think they were THIS bad." Helena chuckled.
"Oh you don't know the half of it." Momo grinned, "Roko, have you met the rebellion's 'Planetary Stars'?"
"You mean the five strongest fighters in the rebellion?" Roko crossed his arms, "Yeah, I have. Needless to say they're all their own varying degree of useless. I'll take the mediocre soldiers over them."
"That's both flattering and stinging." Azimuth winced.
"They can't be THAT bad can they?" Helena smirked.
"I mean, Roko could probably salvage it." Momo smiled.
"Why should I when none of them even want to fight?" Roko scoffed.
"You need them for the actual Five Planetary Stars though don't you?" Helena asked.
"Maybe if one of them could hold off one of the Planetary Stars on their own." Roko shrugged.
"Can they not?"
"All five of them together can hold off Kajou." Azimuth explained.
"...And there's four more people who are as strong as Kajou?"
"Yeah."
"...Roko, are you sure we don't need anything more than some extra armaments?"
"Not like we can just hire some people who are as strong as Momo just anywhere."
"I mean, isn't that how Sirius found the Five Planetary Stars?" Momo chuckled, "Azimuth?"
"Dunno." Azimuth shrugged, "But I assume so."
"Look, all I'm saying is maybe we can pick up some mercenaries at the black market while we're at it." Helena said.
"A rebellion should be fought and won by the city's people." Roko stated, "Our presence here is already pushing it."
"I mean, that's cool and all but can we win like that?"
"There's more to war than just having the strongest units."
"Well, if you're sure." Helena shrugged, "Anything else we're looking for? Black market has a lot more than just weapons. You could pick up some other stuff. Yall want any forbidden spices?"
"Is that slang for drugs?" Azimuth frowned.
"Well..."
"Cause we could always use more medical supplies."
"Ah yeah, medical supplies. Yeah I could probably find some. Don't expect a lot though, the black market isn't usually the place for normal medicine."
"So weapons and medical supplies." Melia said as she wrote down their shopping list, "Anything else?"
"Can we get a sofa?" Azimuth asked.
"A sofa? Why?" Helena frowned.
"One of the rebellion members have been asking for a sofa for a while." Azimuth explained.
"You already ordered a sofa." Roko scowled, "And I already canceled that order."
"What?!" Azimuth cried, "But the Felis family have been asking for a sofa for forever!"
"And it's another example of wasteful spending that I will no longer tolerate." Roko growled, "That money will be going to getting these new weapons and armor!"
"Wait, you're not footing the bill?"
"Why should we?! It's YOUR war!"
"I mean, I just kinda figured..." Azimuth said sheepishly.
"If we brought the combined financial power of just the three of us in this room right now..." Melia made a few quick calculations, "We could probably oust Sirius with massive buyouts and economic manipulation."
"Wait, why don't we do that?" Azimuth asked.
"Aside from the fact that like Roko said, this rebellion should be won by their people? Who gets ownership of Mulapin and Muldingirmus after the fact? If even one of us contributes too heavily to this effort you open the door to just changing the leadership from one man to another country. If you're okay with being annexed to Aporia or Momokami, I can sketch up an economic plan to destabilize Sirius right now."
"I uhh...l-let's just stay the course for right now." Azimuth gulped.
"Wise decision." Melia nodded.
"It would probably take a few years to fully excise Sirius from this city if we're using financial power anyway." Helena shrugged, "Fighting's more efficient."
"And exciting." Momo grinned.
"Hell yeah!" Helena gave Momo a high five.
"Well if we're not getting a sofa then is there anything else we should get?"
"I think it's good for now." Roko sighed, "This is the black market after all, not a supermarket. Let's just get what we need and leave."
"Alright then, I guess we're all ready then." Helena pulled out her phone, "Then I'll make the call."
"Please do." Momo nodded.
Everyone waited with baited breath as Helena dialed in a number on her phone and held it up to her mouth. Before long the call connected and a robotic voice came over the speaker,
"Welcome to the Underground Market. How can I help you today?"
"I'd like to apply for a visit to the Warstorm Market."
"Acknowledged. Your location will be recorded at this moment. Would you like to apply for GPS Positioning?"
"Yes."
A quiet moment later the voice returned, "Location recorded in Mulapin, Hydrae. A door will be established near your location and a key shall be delivered shortly. May I know the number of people in your party?"
Helena glanced towards Roko who held up three fingers, "Three."
"Purpose of visit?"
"Weapons procurement."
A much longer moment passed before the voice returned, "Visit authorized. Please present your key at NGC 3314 within the next hour."
"Got it. Thank you."
The call cut off by itself shortly after.
"Phew." Helena sighed, "That's the first step done."
"We've prepared a caravan to carry the weapons." Roko nodded, "I'll go grab it and we can go."
"Oh, don't bother." Helena said, "Caravans are only invited inside if you're bringing in goods to sell. And even then your cargo will undergo inspection first. For small purchases like this, they'll provide their own caravan for you to borrow."
"Wow, how nice of them." Momo noted.
"It's more a security measure." Helena shrugged, "You can hide a lot in a caravan."
"'Small purchases' she says." Azimuth gulped, "The black market is a whole other world."
"That it is." Melia nodded.
"Wait, so who's going?" Roland asked, "There's going to be a party of three right?"
"Yep. Me, Melia and Roko."
"Not any of us?!" Roland cried, gesturing to himself and Roswell.
"It's just a little bit of shopping."
"At the BLACK MARKET."
"It's fine. Roko can protect us."
"What's Roko even going for?!"
"He has to ensure the quality of the weapons." Helena explained.
"And I am interested in observing this black market for myself." Roko admitted, "Though to be fair, I intended the third slot to be open to anybody you think we need."
"Melia's an experienced merchant. She can handle all the detailed paperwork stuff."
"Helena tends to blank out sometime while reading documents." Melia smiled.
"Hey, I can read books just fine!" Helena protested, "...If they're interesting..."
"So there was a black market all along at NGC 3314?" Azimuth gulped, "That's...interesting."
"Oh, no, the black market exists physically in a big underground network of caverns that's separated into specific markets and then spacially decoupled from reality. Not unlike Memoria Auspice. Entrance into these markets are then locked behind specific keys and a physical door near your location is then connected to the market space."
"I see..." Azimuth nodded, "...Should I be knowing this?"
"Well you can't get in without someone inviting you first so it's not like you'll be able to come and go as you please."
"Damn. Guess I'll just stay here and...uuhhh..."
"M83 needs some touch up renovations." Roko sighed, "You can lead that while we're gone."
"I can do that." Azimuth nodded.
"Then the three of us will be off!" Helena stretched her arms over her head, "To the black market!"
Melia and Roko followed Helena to a desolate part of Mulapin, finding a barely standing door to an utterly destroyed home with no one in or around it. Helena held up her phone to the door and after a moment, the door popped open slightly. Opening it fully and stepping through, even though they could see the dilapidated house past the broken wall on the other side of the door, they were suddenly warped into a dark hallway. The door they had opened went from a bare bones wooden one to a well crafted, carved door. Well made lanterns lit up along the cave ceiling but light was limited to an atmospheric dim. Several doors lined the cave wall including the door they came from. A few doors opened and a few strangers walked out, casually just walking down the dead end they were at in towards the main chamber.
"Come on Roko!" Helena called cheerfully, "No use standing around at the entrance. Let's go!"
And so Melia and Roko followed Helena into the main market.
If Roko were to describe the black market in simple terms it would be "Grand...but it's a cave". The ceiling was high and large spotlights were hung from it to provide light all over the market. No inch of the cave offered enough darkness for any shady dealings in back alleys. But the lights hung from very long strings, each at a variable length as they clung to large and long stalactites that obscured how truly tall this giant cavern was. The streets were rough but well worn enough to be at a more natural smoothness. Artificial gravel lined the most prominent pathways to guide people and provide easier terrain for them to move along.The walls were caved outwards, probably dug out this way to prevent people from climbing it and setting up cameras or other illicit equipment. There were small market stalls selling seemingly normal stuff and large tents that had plates of metal or wood or marble to serve as more proper flooring. Even in this place that seemed like had no end of artificial light, lanterns and torches were hung around most establishments, either to light up the shade of whatever roofs or covers they had or to set up an enticing atmosphere. It was a bazaar like any other but with a little more showmanship from the dealers and a clear intention that the only illegal dealings that would be tolerated would be those made in tents or at stalls.
"Have you been here before?" Roko asked Melia.
"Yes but only as a child." Melia replied, "It's sort of a necessity or a sort of baptism up for elite merchants. Getting exposed to the black market this early is not only a good learning experience but makes your presence aware to the shop owners, creating an early relationship with them and better qualifying you for any return visits."
"Same here!" Helena added, "I got taken here for a small trip when I was young. Haven't been back in a while but I've made a few purchases here sometimes. Completely innocent ones mind you."
"Dare I believe you?" Roko said.
"Whoops, looks like we're here!" Helena said, stopping in front of a black tent, "Let's go in and get our weapons."