I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

Shi An had never been to the black market.

However, I do know something about the black market in Baijiang City.

He overheard the ghosts and the dreamers in the safe zone chatting about it.

I've also seen it in the materials provided by the Countermeasures Bureau.

It is worth mentioning that after he officially joined the Newcomer Department, his authority in the Countermeasures Bureau was promoted by one level.

They possess genuine Level 1 privileges, equivalent to ordinary Dreamers within the bureau.

During the previous training period, and for many of the clerks who were officially employed, they only had secondary authority.

The characteristic of Level 1 access is that you can directly enter the Countermeasures Bureau headquarters by scanning your face.

However, unless there are special circumstances, there's no reason for an ordinary person like Shi An to make a special trip to headquarters, even though headquarters is also in Anping District.

But if we're going to the black market, this is on the way, so that's a valid reason.

As staff members in the newcomer guidance center, they also need to have a deeper understanding of the lives and daily routines of those who have experienced dream-induced delusions in order to better explain and guide them.

Shi An was still very curious about the black market and wanted to see it for himself.

Perhaps it can also provide some reference for managing one's own safe zone.

"But can ordinary people like us go to a place like the black market?"

"I'm an intern," Jiang Yilu asked timidly.

She was both curious and afraid.

She was also a relatively new employee in the Countermeasures Bureau, having joined only a month earlier than Shi An. She didn't know much about the Dreamers and her mindset hadn't changed yet.

Lao Song said, "Ordinary people certainly can't go there, nor can they find the place. But we are, after all, personnel from the Countermeasures Bureau. As long as we show the special card provided by the bureau, it will be enough for us to enter."

"In fact, a black market like this isn't entirely populated by Dreamers; there are also quite a few ordinary people."

The daily management of the black market, the transportation of goods, the inventory of goods...

These are things that are mostly done by ordinary people.

After all, those who suffer from nightmares risk falling into them periodically. In such cases, a few individuals who "know about nightmares but are rejected by them and won't be haunted by them" become highly sought-after talents.

They are high-quality cattle and horses with a much lower loss rate.

……

The Wanmeng City Black Market is located below the underground parking garage of the Wanmeng City shopping mall.

For an ordinary person like Shi An who has never been to the black market, it's quite possible that he might not be able to find his way if he comes here for the first time without someone familiar with the area to guide him.

Lao Song was clearly a regular customer, and Li Hao from the group also seemed to know the place well, having been there many times before.

After wandering around for a while, the group didn't go directly to the underground parking garage, but instead ended up in a secluded corridor on the first floor of the mall.

Although it's described as remote, you can still hear the bustling noise of the shopping mall, and the elevators and restrooms are just a dozen meters away.

At this rarely visited corner, there is also an elevator shaft, which looks like a freight elevator.

Several people walked inside.

Lao Song took out a card and scanned it at the sensor.

Shi An also has this card; it's one of the items he's provided with when he started working. In addition, there are two sets of uniforms that he basically doesn't wear, a countermeasures bureau ID, a group employee ID for external use, a special communicator, and so on.

After unlocking the access card, Lao Song pressed the button for the second basement level.

The elevator is going down.

The final location displayed was not the second basement level, but the third basement level. The Wanmeng City Black Market was located here, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.

Who would have thought that such a secretive group as the Dreamers would be active in the bustling city?

But when Shi An thought about how those who fall into dreams need an "anchor point," it made sense.

"There might be another reason: black markets located in busy urban areas are more likely to gain the trust of ordinary dream sufferers."

If the black market were located in the middle of nowhere, even the weak and pitiful ordinary dreamers would be afraid to go there.

Besides, the journey is long.

Just like shopping malls need to be located in prime locations, so too do black markets.

Shi An understood.

The elevator doors opened, and then Jiang Yilu, as if remembering something, timidly raised her hand and said, "Everyone, are we just going into the black market like this? Don't we need to do anything like disguise?"

"That's right, I almost forgot."

As he spoke, Lao Song took out a stack of masks from his backpack and gave one to each of them.

When several people wear it together, its main features become obscured.

Shi An: "..."

Is this what seniority is?

On the surface, Lao Song seems to be a master of slacking off, but in reality, he is always fully prepared before even stepping out of the house.

Shi An underestimated Song.

He still needs to learn this steady spirit.

However, Shi An was being a bit too bold this time, since he had contained two cursed objects and could directly unleash their powerful energy.

An invisible corridor, a pair of pitch-black shoe covers.

The latter, after being contained, eliminated the obvious footsteps when used again. Not only could it conceal its form, but it also increased its speed considerably, making it a rather practical escape-type artifact.

And the invisible corridor...

It can control, trap, and suppress.

This was also the basis for his direct suggestion to check out the black market. Shi An knew that this black market was quite safe, and that he could help if they encountered any danger.

As long as his identity as the store manager of the safe zone is not exposed, revealing that he is a Dream Faller is not a problem.

Of course, it's best to be a quiet, ordinary person who can slack off.

Ordinary social animals.

Staff of the Countermeasures Bureau.

A master of the Fallen Dreams.

Store manager of the safe zone.

Shi An currently has four identities.

After the group put on masks, the ordeal wasn't over yet. Lao Song then led them, familiar with the area, to a small stall outside the black market.

The items sold at this stall are very ordinary.

Masks, sunglasses, baseball caps, face shields.

So the group put on baseball caps again.

Li Hao exclaimed in surprise, "You...you're so good at business?"

Shi An: "But the things we're selling are exactly what passersby desperately need."

The stall owner smiled and nodded at them.

Shi An suddenly realized that this stall owner might be someone arranged by the Countermeasures Bureau to monitor the black market.

……

After getting dressed up, the group of six officially entered the black market.

The black market is more ordinary than I imagined.

It's like a small neighborhood inside a shopping mall, only not as lively.

Along the way, Shi An also saw many people dressed similarly to them. Many of them were clearly covered in a cold aura and had gloomy faces, making them undoubtedly Dream Fallers.

A few people are very outspoken and make no attempt to hide their true feelings.

Lao Song said, "What's sold here are mostly items related to those who have fallen into the dream world, and most of them were unearthed from the nightmare world. However, since it's a black market, the goods are not guaranteed, so there are quite a few fakes. Just take a look."

He was mainly reminding Little K.

Among the group, Xiao Zhou was the wealthiest, but also the youngest and least experienced.

Shi An looked around.

There are relatively few permanent stalls here; most are small stalls, each displaying unique items.

Shi An arrived at one of the stalls.

The shop owner was a man wearing a Pigsy mask. "Look, this is a spiritual fruit I risked my life to pick in the Nightmare World. Eating it will strengthen your body and prevent all diseases. How about it? Take it for 50,000 yuan, no bargaining."

They're treating him like a complete novice and trying to fool him.

Although Shi An was indeed a novice, he wasn't completely clueless.

The black market typically only trades low-end goods with real currency; higher-value items are usually priced in Dream Dust or traded as barter.

Moreover, precious medicines are among the most valuable items.

Seeing that Shi An remained silent, the stall owner continued, "Thirty thousand, no, twenty thousand is fine too, but I can't go any lower."

But Shi An only looked at another item, an antique-looking sheepskin scroll.

He could sense a strong, chilling aura emanating from this parchment.

From the outside world, Shi An could not see the information.

But he recognized these kinds of items.

"This is a team-up item, right?"