Black Market

Black Market (闇市) is a location in Mass for the Dead.

Background
The Black Market in E-Rantel was formed as a result of more people congregating in the city. Due to the increasing population, there are many things that cannot be obtained through normal distribution channels. Several miners from the quarry near the city, contribute to the market wares, selling products and crystals that they pilfered which the city's toll taxes ignore. Thus the goods found in the market place are relatively cheap.

The Black Market has become a valuable source of supplies for needy refugees. If it disappears, those who cannot survive on the distribution system of the city will commit crimes and riots. Therefore, both the Re-Estize Kingdom and city tolerate the Black Market, as there are other more serious crimes to contend with.

Mass for the Dead Arc
Sebas Tian's fellow quarry workers wanting to show their gratitude to him for all the hard work he did for them was invited to a surprise banquet at of the food stall in the market. Afterwards his comrades paid for a session at a brothel, where he met a prostitute named Tuare. Solution Epsilon at the market spotted Sebas Tian exiting the establishment. This followed by many appearances in the Black Market convinced her that Sebas Tian had gone rouge and betrayed Nazarick. After she reported this to Momonga and Albedo, they ordered Solution to inform the protagonist and Slimeko to conduct an investigation on Sebas's activities in the market.

Layout
A vibrant underground market located in the back alleys of E-Rantel where ugly buildings stand out.

Black Honeymooner
A brothel that poses as an inn located in the back of the market that was owned and managed by Isabella and Cocco Doll. The brothel was one of the first establishments that formed around the same time as the Black Market. In truth the brothel is a slave trafficking operation that sold desperate souls. Faced with the desperate situation of the world after the appearances of the Cracks and Chaos Beasts, these people were too scared to try to escape.

Trivia

 * In the Light Novel, Eight Fingers was heavily invested in the black markets.
 * According to Sebas Tian the King is most likely paying for the toll taxes. Once the goods pass out of the city, the prices will no doubt be placed with high taxes. The loosening of the crackdown of the market is in fact for the benefit of the people though its possible it might cause discord in the future.
 * In order for shops to do business here in this area, a protection fee is required to be paid to the Black Market Boss and his collectors.