Chapter 101 Underground World
Amelia had sent the message days ago: "Got any fresh mugwort?" Now, finally, it was marked as read.
The user with the black avatar and a cryptic name replied simply, "Yes." The message was timestamped fifteen minutes ago, and the person was currently online.
They really said they had it.
Amelia leaned back in her chair, narrowing her eyes. Mugwort was an extinct, highly toxic plant. For someone to claim they had fresh mugwort, there were only two possibilities: either they were a scammer looking to make a quick buck, or they were the thief who stole her divine medicine, Pearl.
Proving which was the case would be simple enough.
"I'll take however much you have. Name your price. But I have one condition—I want to meet in person," she typed.
"If you agree to meet in person, I'll double your asking price and transfer it to you when we meet."
Black market deals usually involved illegal goods, so transactions were typically handled online and shipped. Amelia's request for a face-to-face meeting could easily come off as a police sting operation, and the seller might just ghost her. Alternatively, the seller might agree but send someone else to the meeting, take the money, and disappear.
But Amelia didn't have a better plan. The seller's black market profile was a blank slate, and shipping would expose her own information without revealing theirs. Meeting in person was a better option. If they refused, she'd figure something else out.
To her surprise, the seller replied almost instantly and agreed without hesitation.
"Sure, let's meet in person."
"I have as much mugwort as you want."
So eager to agree? And as much mugwort as she wanted?
Amelia rubbed her right ring finger, a habit of hers, feeling a strange anticipation from the other side.
"Okay. I'm in River City. Which city are you in?" she asked.
"What a coincidence, I'm in River City too. Let's meet tomorrow night. I'll send you the time and place shortly," came the reply.
A minute later, the seller sent an address. Amelia glanced at it. The location was a well-known, high-end, members-only bar on the outskirts of River City called THE DEEP. It was rumored to be more of a club, with a minimum spending requirement of ten thousand dollars for non-members and a strict membership screening process.
"Tomorrow at 8 PM. I'll be waiting for you at THE DEEP. When you arrive, just tell the security you're the rabbit that doesn't eat carrots, and they'll bring you to me."
The seller then went offline. This made Amelia even more suspicious. Was this person not at all worried about her being a cop?
Most girls her age would be terrified to go to an unfamiliar bar alone to meet a black market seller of toxic herbs, but not Amelia.
What happened at the piano competition today had garnered Amelia countless admirers, both in person and online, and had significantly boosted her confidence. She could take someone out with just a thought, though she had no intention of doing anything like that.
The next day.
After school at Prestige High School, Amelia made an excuse to leave alone. She had dinner at a local restaurant and then hailed a cab to THE DEEP.
As soon as she told the driver her destination, he slammed on the brakes.
The driver turned around, taking a deep breath. "Young lady, did you say you're going to THE DEEP?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?" Amelia replied.
The driver tried to dissuade her. "That bar is no place for kids. I often see people being carried out on stretchers, covered in blood. Who knows what goes on in there."
Seeing her school uniform, he added, "You're still in high school, right? Listen to me, you're too young and pretty to be going to a place like that. What if something happens to you?"
People being carried out covered in blood? So it wasn't just any bar.
Amelia appreciated the driver's concern. "Thanks, but I'm just meeting a friend. I'll leave right after. I'll be fine."
The driver, somewhat reassured, started the car again.
By the time she reached THE DEEP, it was completely dark. The bar looked like a black castle, shrouded in the night. It was indeed high-end, with luxury cars worth millions parked outside.
The bar's interior was hidden from view, with four tall men in suits guarding the entrance. As soon as Amelia approached, one of them stopped her.
The guard, Milo, looked her up and down with a blank expression before saying coldly, "Sorry, we don't allow minors."
Amelia stood her ground. "I'm here to see someone."
Milo frowned. "Who are you looking for?"
"He told me to tell you I'm the rabbit that doesn't eat carrots. You'd take me to him," Amelia said.
To her surprise, the four guards' eyes widened in shock.
"You said you're the rabbit that doesn't eat carrots?" Milo asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Is there a problem?" Amelia asked, puzzled.
Milo took a deep breath, giving her a complex look. "No problem. Follow me."
Inside, the bar looked like any other, with people drinking and dancing. But Amelia's instincts told her there was more to it.
Sure enough, Milo led her through the crowd to a wall lined with liquor cabinets. He deftly pulled out the third bottle from the top row. With a soft click, the wall split open, revealing a dimly lit staircase leading underground.
The hidden door was soundproofed. Once it opened, the sounds of cheering and shouting from below became audible. Amelia even caught a faint whiff of blood.
The staircase seemed to descend endlessly, hinting at the danger of the underground world below.
Milo glanced at her with a hint of sympathy. "If you're ready, follow me."