Hedan, towering at the top of Ahwulo Cliff, the gray and mottled Withered Wood Monastery stands on the mountaintop. The long years of wind and rain have bestowed upon the monastery an air of solitude and decay, seemingly unrelated to the prosperity of Hedan.

True to its name, it is as if this place is cursed with desolation.

Inside the monastery, the occasional sight of aging nuns can be seen, heads bowed, faces devoid of expression.

A woman in a gray linen robe, exuding a graceful aura with her bare jade feet, is praying quietly before the statue of Saint Mary. Even in simple attire, her ethereal demeanor cannot be concealed. Above her, the resplendent dome is the only remnant of the monastery’s past glory, with the Twelve Zodiac Star Disc shining brightly.

The second disciple of Abbess Alasha, Sister Jialan.

The heavy door slowly opens, and Abbess Alasha walks in. Jialan rises, "Master."

Alasha gazes at Jialan’s delicate and beautiful face, with a hint of sadness in her calm eyes, "There are a little over two years left; you don’t have to stay here all the time."

Jialan’s eyes are clear, and she smiles slightly, "I’m afraid I might become like Senior Sister."

"That too is fate, at least that was her own choice," said Abbess Alasha.

Jialan smiles slightly and shakes her head, "Master, the responsibility of the monastery shouldn’t rest solely on you. If I don’t leave, I won’t have inner demons."

Abbess Alasha looks at the statue of the Saint, her emotions like stagnant water: "I am a cursed remnant; this is my fate."

"Master, this is also my fate."

"Silly child, you’ve already entered the Star Disc, which means this isn’t your fate. You’re also one of the contrary lights, and the curse of Withered Wood Monastery has hope of ending with you," Alasha said with relief.

"And Senior Sister?"

"Since she chose the Song of Hell, she must have her reasons. That’s the path she decided to take. In the end period of the Sixth Epoch, anything could happen. If it’s a choice she made, there’s no right or wrong, only the acceptance of results and the price paid," said Abbess Alasha.

"Did Junior Sister go to Dragon Capital?"

Alasha nods, "The powerful path will naturally generate attraction, drawing the paths that come close. Because of this, after entering the Star Disc, her destiny trajectory gradually changed, ultimately evading certain doom, but the road ahead for her is now unclear and cannot be observed."

Jialan’s bright eyes widen, "Is this a new path?"

"Perhaps, new paths are always vibrant, full of hope, but often they’re dead ends without a future," Alasha said calmly.

"Master, was Saint Mary the controller of the Star Disc back then?" Jialan asked softly.

Alasha didn’t answer, kneeling quietly before the Saint, hands folded on her chest, "Saint Mary was one of the contrary lights. I’m not clear on the details, but she personally ended the Fifth Epoch, sacrificing herself. All that was left was the Twelve Zodiac Star Disc. When the law of epochs loosens, the Star Disc will operate and continually attract the contrary lights."

Withered Wood Monastery believes in the Saint who completely ended the papal era of the Fifth Epoch. But the truth is buried in history, leaving only the people of Withered Wood Monastery to inherit the former glory and curse.

"Master, what are the contrary lights?"

Alasha gently shakes her head, looking at Jialan, "This is a secret that only the contrary lights themselves know."

Jialan frowns, "I don’t feel anything special about myself."

"Perhaps you haven’t awakened, or maybe you’ve already forgotten. In the sacred canon of the monastery, there is a verse," Alasha looks at Jialan, "The soul that doesn’t belong to this world walks against the light."

Jialan is taken aback, lowers her head, and joins her hands in prayer.

Dragon Capital.

The once peaceful secret world has become lively, with calculations and games constantly being played in the Black Market, all within the established rules among the various organizations. As for some scattered secret individuals’ attacks on each other, no one cares, and the external world generally doesn’t affect the Black Market. After all, it’s kept within the circle because of the Five Great Sanctuaries overseeing things.

Suddenly, a notice posted by the Night Patrol stirred up waves in this deep and muddy water, making many people question their own eyes.

The rules of the Black Market have never changed; not just in Dragon Capital, but in all countries. Neither the Church Court nor the King would have any thoughts of interfering with the Black Market. Its existence dates back to an old epoch, rumored to have existed as far back as the Fourth Epoch, evolving through various forms and once participating in humanity’s struggle for Divine Power and inheritance; existing through the Sixth Epoch still as a Black Market, untouched even during the powerful papal era.

It’s not that the Church wasn’t strong, but nobody was willing to do something where the cost and benefit didn’t match.

Could it be that the Night Patrol actually wants to collect a management fee in the Black Market?

This so-called management fee is basically a protection fee. Does this require the Night Patrol?

To most, this announcement seemed like a joke, but the Adventurer Association and Gourmet Association confirmed this announcement—it’s real, and the first collection will be at the end of this month.

The announcement details the reasons and collection specifics, even providing an explanation for "not retroactive."

In the eyes of ordinary people, the Night Patrol is mysterious and powerful, but in the Black Market, they’re not taken seriously at all. Even during Governor Luthor’s era, where the Night Patrol governed the night, the Black Market was beyond its jurisdiction.

Has the Night Patrol produced a big shot? Or does the Moon God’s Court want to make a big move?

This has thrown the Black Market, originally centered on transactions, into all sorts of speculations, with numerous secret organizations responding to the swirling rumors.

Is it a lot of money?

It’s nothing to them, but what does the Night Patrol amount to? Not to mention the Silver Market, even organizations in the Copper Market have deeper roots than the Night Patrol.

Pay?

Not a single coin. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

If the Night Patrol came begging at their doors, they might at least recognize the dirty, hard work the Night Patrol does daily, and charity wouldn’t be out of the question. But such a management fee? No way.

This is the near-unanimous stance across virtually all secret organizations.

Even in the Copper Market, no one wants to pay. Paying the Hundred Martial Hall can bring many conveniences across Dragon Capital and even the entire Li Long Kingdom—it’s a transaction.

What does paying the Night Patrol achieve? They’re just a bunch of plebeians protecting civilians.

Many even speculate this is the Night Patrol challenging the authority of the Hundred Martial Hall.

Other organizations aren’t rushing to make a statement, while the Hundred Martial Hall faces pressure.

The shares for the Church Court and Cabinet have already been collectively paid by the Black Market. The Hundred Martial Hall, as the local powerhouse, took its share, similar to practices in other countries. Now with another claim, the Hundred Martial Hall will have to give an explanation.

If the Hundred Martial Hall fails to provide an explanation, then its interests in the Black Market should be taken over by the Night Patrol.

Both involved parties, the Night Patrol and the Hundred Martial Hall, remain conspicuously silent.