Chapter Fifty-Seven: Arrival and Arrangements

It took them a day and a half to arrive. Ye Hai and his companions finally reached the Platty Black Market.

The Platty Black Market was perched atop a towering mountain range. From midway up the slope, the winding path carved out by human hands divided the mountain into four equal parts, starting from the halfway point. Looking down from above, the summit appeared as if someone had drawn a large X across it with a marker.

The summit was the smallest area, yet it commanded the highest vantage point. Should conflict ever erupt within the black market, those at the summit would undoubtedly hold the advantage. This area was held by the Corpse Collectors.

Stretching down to the mountainside, the mountain was further divided into four territories aligned with the cardinal directions: to the east, it belonged to “Firearm” Lakan; to the south, to “Viper” Hukong; to the north, to “Glutton” Bell; and the west, to “Black Hand” Zera, who had claimed the seat by eliminating his predecessor.

On the mountainside, the domains of these four forbidden figures were mostly hidden within the mountain itself, save for a few scattered structures on the surface. Years of excavation had created a tangled network of tunnels within. For first-time visitors, it was easy to lose their way in this maze-like labyrinth, a design originally intended to fend off attacks from mutants in the early days. The tunnels had been planned with tight entrances that gradually expanded into more spacious corridors deeper inside. Only the exclusive tunnels used by the forbidden figures themselves were built with wide entrances and heavy alloy doors to allow vehicles through and facilitate the transport of goods.

Each forbidden figure had carved out only two entrances from the outside, both guarded by their subordinates. Of all the factions, only the Corpse Collectors had the boldness to erect their buildings openly on the surface. Yet, the forbidden figures, in silent agreement, had never acted against them. After all, the Corpse Collectors, numbering in the thousands, made up the largest consumer base in the Platty Black Market, and there was no conflict of interest in trade. These factors combined to grant the Corpse Collectors a unique standing in the black market.

Riding in a hover car, they made their way toward the summit. The flashy Star Tail 7 instantly drew a wave of attention. Both Liana and Javier, visiting the black market for the first time, gazed out the window with curiosity. Many people, scantily clad and gaunt, trudged along the dirt road toward the entrance of the inner tunnels. Most were survivors from the nearby settlements.

The black market was located neither too near nor too far from the irradiated lands. High-level mutants had almost all flooded into the irradiated zone after the nuclear leak, leaving only a handful of low-level mutants wandering the nearby wastelands. This had prompted many small and medium-sized survivor camps to cluster at the foot of the mountain, gradually forming a small town centered around the Platty Black Market.

Over years of development, the area had grown to a population of more than twenty thousand, making it a renowned gathering place in the region. The large population meant a greater abundance of goods for trade. It was no small feat for alien merchants to visit—they risked their lives every time they landed on the Zombie Star. Each landing was a gamble for fortune or death. Therefore, every visit required maximizing the flow of goods. Naturally, the densely populated Platty Black Market became their primary trading site. Other factions seeking trade had to brave the wilderness, evading roving mutants, and make their way to the black market.

Over time, the Platty Black Market developed into the most famous foreign trade hub within a hundred miles. Such a vast market inevitably aroused envy from other powers. Over the years, the market had witnessed dozens of violent clashes, with a few, like Zera, successfully usurping a forbidden figure’s seat, while many more ended up as bones bleaching in the dust. Yet, with these examples set before them, the Platty Black Market became one of the rare “dreamlands” on the Zombie Star.

The reverence for the forbidden figures was tangible. From the moment Ye Hai, Zera, and the others stepped out of the vehicle, Liana and Javier could feel it deeply. Most people would stop and bow respectfully as Ye Hai, Joe, and Zera passed, some even prostrating themselves. In one exaggerated display, someone even crawled to Zera’s feet to kiss his mud-caked boots.

Zera’s subordinates, seeing their boss return, hurried up and kicked aside the man kissing Zera’s boots.
“Boss, you’re back!”
“That’s great. Bell, Lakan, and Hukong have all sent people to look for you...”
Zera waved his hand coldly, “I already know.”
“Take me to the slave warehouse!”

Their first stop at Zera’s territory was to bring Liana’s relatives up to the summit. Seeing Liana looking at him plaintively, Ye Hai sighed and said,

“You and Javier are both new here. Go with Zera and look around. Joe and I will wait for you at the summit... Before dinner, follow Mr. Zera to the Corpse Collectors’ domain. We’ll meet the other forbidden figures together. None of them are easy characters—certainly not ones that can be compared to Mr. Zera, who only seized power a few months ago. I’ll also introduce you as our sixth and seventh corpse officers. That way, if anyone is foolish enough to provoke you, they’ll think twice. I’d hate for the hard-won population gathered around the black market to be wiped out in your wrath!”

He paused, then turned to Javier, “As for your brother-in-law, I’ll have my people make inquiries. If he’s come to the black market, there’s bound to be news—those standard-issue uniforms and weapons you carry draw attention here. If they enter the black market, word will spread quickly.”

Since Javier had ordered Kant and his men to retreat from the irradiated lands, they had lost contact not long afterward, leaving Javier uneasy. Hearing Ye Hai’s words, he could only nod helplessly.

Before they parted ways, Ye Hai quietly pulled Liana aside and whispered, “Remember what I told you when we set out. Don’t forget my words the moment you see your family. Even though I don’t know what those spider-like things are, ever since we entered the black market, I’ve seen dozens of people take out communication devices—something I’ve never seen before. It’s not right. Spread the derivative virus from underground as a precaution. Also, have your eighth-stage mutants stay hidden; don’t stir up trouble before the enemy acts. If they act out of turn, I won’t be able to tell if it’s the enemy’s doing.”

Liana nodded solemnly. “Mr. Ye Hai, please rest assured. I will never let anyone hurt my family again!”