When Serena hurried back to the jewelry store, she found all the windows covered with heavy curtains, signaling the end of business for the day. 

They always closed up once the day’s sales ended, and it seemed likely that the commission Serena had placed had earned them several days’ worth of profit, so they had closed early.

She carefully searched the roadside on her way back, but she still couldn’t find the bracelet. That meant the bracelet was most likely inside the jewelry store, where she had spent the most time. 

Or at least, she needed to believe that. Holding onto hope, Serena knocked on the locked door.

She knocked several times, wishing the staff hadn’t already gone home. She heard someone moving inside, and the door opened a crack.

“I’m sorry, but we’re already closed for the day.”

It wasn’t the clerk who had greeted Serena earlier, but a stranger. The clerk seemed to mistake her for a customer coming to browse and tried to shut the door again with a curt response. Serena quickly wedged her hand into the gap and stubbornly held the door.

“I’m not here to shop. I’m looking for a bracelet I lost. Could I come in and take a quick look?”

“A… bracelet? We don’t sell bracelets here.”

“I know. I’m not trying to buy a bracelet. I’m looking for a lost black bracelet.”

“Oh, are you talking about the ‘lost black thread bracelet’?”

“Yes!”

Serena’s face brightened instantly. Since the clerk recognized her bracelet, it must have been lost here. Feeling relieved, Serena let out a sigh. The clerk, too, dropped his earlier stiffness and stepped aside with a polite, businesslike smile.

“Is this your first visit to our store?”

“…Well, yes, it is.”

“Ah, I see. In that case, let me guide you properly.”

She expected the clerk to return her bracelet right away, but instead, he led her with a courteous smile past the reception room and into a more secretive area in the back. 

Serena sensed something odd, but the clerk’s strictly professional demeanor and the word “guide” made her hide her suspicion and follow him.

He pulled aside a thick curtain, revealing a staircase leading down to the basement. This place was already a secret market that only select people could enter, but now it seemed there was another hidden space within the shop.

Serena quietly clenched her fist and followed the clerk in silence.

‘Whether it’s good or bad, unknown information always has value one way or another.’

Soon, the urge to simply retrieve her bracelet faded, replaced by a spark of curiosity for whatever new knowledge she might find here. The flow of her thoughts felt strangely natural, almost like someone had guided her.

The clerk handed her a mask to wear, and Serena descended the spiraling staircase. A new underground space appeared, much larger than expected, spanning what seemed like the basements of two or three combined buildings.

What surprised her most was that, despite being underground, this space was decorated far more lavishly than the shop above. It looked less like a store and more like the lobby of an upscale hotel, and Serena’s face filled with awe.

“If this is your first time here, is it also your first time using the devices?”

After she sat on a plush sofa as instructed, the clerk brought over an unfamiliar chart and began asking questions, much like a jeweler consulting a client. 

Judging from the questions, he was definitely trying to sell her something, but no matter how much he explained, Serena couldn’t guess what the product was.

“If this is your first time with everything, hmm, then you’re a complete beginner. Have you ever tried it alone before?”

“No.”

Since she had no idea what was going on, Serena decided it was better to play the part of a complete novice than to pretend she knew anything. She shook her head slightly.

The clerk seemed to come up with some suitable items and stood up. He said he would go get some recommended products, and only after he left did Serena quietly let out the breath she’d been holding.

A thought struck her—maybe this place was selling illegal drugs. In the Empire, any drugs causing hallucinations or addiction were strictly regulated, and private transactions were banned. If such a large-scale illegal operation existed here, it would be a serious problem.

‘If something like this happened in Azure, it would affect the deals with the Duke. That would be a huge problem.’

What the Bluebell family needed was the Duke’s exclusive, fast trade routes through Azure. 

However, if the Imperial family started monitoring every trade in Azure, it would almost certainly slow things down and create supply issues.

‘Maybe it would be better to give up the deal and report this place, then negotiate directly with the Imperial family.’

Since the Bluebells had a good relationship with the Imperial family, taking the initiative might actually work to their advantage.

Serena checked to make sure no one was around and stood up. She was in what looked like a lobby, and a long hallway stretched in the opposite direction from where the clerk had gone.

‘If the clerk went to get merchandise, what’s on the other side?’

The layout resembled a hotel corridor. Serena walked down the hallway, inspecting the closed doors, when a faint, thin cry from inside one of the rooms made her stop abruptly.

The door to the room wasn’t fully closed, just slightly ajar. Strange voices kept leaking through the narrow gap.

“Mmm! Ngh, ha…”

Serena froze, staring blankly at the open door. She didn’t dare peek inside, so she just glared at the flickering traces of light coming from within, along with the moans.

Just as she resolved to reach for the doorknob, the door quietly closed with a soft click.

“Oh dear, the door wasn’t completely shut. The guest inside must have been in a hurry.”

The clerk appeared beside Serena with a gentle smile, though she hadn’t noticed him approach. Still stunned and unable to process what she’d just heard, Serena let the clerk escort her back to the sofa, almost dragging her along.

“That room just now, what was—”

“Ah! Before making a purchase, our customers are welcome to try out any of the products as much as they like. We also offer a variety of other experiences, so just let us know if you’re interested.”

Products? Test? Serena’s eyes moved to the box the clerk placed on the table. On the outside, it looked like a luxurious gift box made of velvet—nothing suspicious at all.

Wearing white gloves, the clerk deftly opened the box and took out the item inside. Serena, still dazed by shock, finally focused her gaze.

“Wait a second. Isn’t this a magic stone from the Twen mine?”

“Oh, you know your stuff! This is a new product we just got in. The hardness of the magic stone changes with temperature, so you can experience a variety of sensations with just one device. Plus, it’s as clear and sparkly as a diamond, which makes it even more popular.”

The clerk continued his explanation, clearly prepared for this moment. 

The mysterious cylindrical object, about the size to fit snugly in one hand, sparkled like a gem, its surface faceted in many different ways. 

The end of the object was rounded, but aside from its pretty, glittering appearance, Serena couldn’t guess its use.

“If it’s a Twen mine magic stone, it must be top grade. Those aren’t easy to get…”

“That’s why this item is limited edition. The owner believes it’s best for beginners to have a single device that offers a variety of pleasures, so that’s the philosophy behind this product.”

With a proud wink, the clerk handed the item to Serena, inviting her to examine it more closely.

Serena fiddled with the strange, pillar-shaped object. It wasn’t completely soft, but the surface felt slightly yielding. As her warm skin touched it, it slowly began to harden. When she ran her palm over the cylinder, she could feel dozens of small, uneven faces, cut at different angles, though none were sharp.

Wondering if this might be connected to illegal drugs, Serena examined it carefully and noticed a faint magical circle. She frowned slightly. The type of circle was unfamiliar, and the formula inside it used a unique arrangement not found in academic texts.

“Do you have more items like this?”

“We have quite a few beginner devices. Each has its own features, so please take your time and choose whichever you like.”

Serena inspected each item the clerk brought out, her expression stiff. Despite herself, she let out a short sound of admiration. Except for a couple of items, every single one had a different magical circle inscribed on it.