Palia Underground Affairs quest requires you to meet Zeki in the Underground Market, which is accessible through the General Store. Then you need to get some spy work done on Zeki after completing some tasks, and finally return to Subira to finish the quest.
You might have received the quest and you are not sure about the next steps, or you might have found the entrance, but can’t figure out how to convince Zeki. Well, you are not the only one who is facing these issues. I was too trapped in it.
Underground Affairs is like various other quests in Palia, such as Silver Winging It & Proof of Magic. This whole underground business feels like a fever dream the first time you attempt it. Zeki mentions his “underground affairs” but conveniently forgets to mention that his market is hidden behind a wall that looks exactly like every other wall in the mines.
Backstory of the Quest: Underground Affairs in Palia
Subira from The Order has assigned you to investigate Zeki’s underground operations and gather evidence of his illegal activities. What starts as simple surveillance quickly becomes you getting recruited into his black market network.
The quest involves proving your worth to Zeki by obtaining an illegal Enchancing Draught from Tamala, delivering it without getting caught by Eshe, and ultimately gaining access to the underground trading network that operates beneath Kilima Village.
This quest connects directly to multiple other storylines, including the One Step Behind quest about tracking Tamala, and sets up the Search and Seizure subplot if things go wrong with Eshe.
Prerequisites for Underground Affairs
These are the kind of requirements for this quest; without these, you won’t get the quest. So make sure that you have achieved each one of these:
- Subira’s trust and previous Order quests
- Friendship progresses with both Zeki and Tamala
- Completed main story quests involving The Order
How to Complete the Palia Underground Affairs Quest
So, the quest begins when you receive a letter from Subira. As soon as you read the letter, the quest will be added to your journal. Once you have got it, here are the next steps:
Receive Orders from Subira
The quest begins when Subira assigns you to investigate Zeki’s suspicious activities and gather evidence of underground trading.
Once you have the quest, talk to Subira about The Order’s concerns regarding illegal activities. Receive instructions to investigate underground operations. Understand the mission – gather evidence without arousing suspicion. Prepare for undercover work in Zeki’s network
Subira’s quite serious about this investigation, which tells you just how significant Zeki’s operations have become.
Meet Zeki in the Underground Market
The Underground Market can be accessed through the back of the General Store counter. Once you’ve accessed the underground area, you need to locate Zeki and convince him to let you join his operation.
Find Zeki among the various underground vendors and stalls. He’ll be suspicious of your presence initially. Convince him you’re interested in joining his network. Regardless of dialogue choices, Zeki will test your commitment.
The underground market is quite extensive, with multiple vendors and trading areas that show the scope of Zeki’s operation.
Get Assignment to Retrieve Tamala’s Potion
Zeki will ask you to prove your worth by obtaining a special potion from Tamala as your initiation task.
Zeki’s test:
- He requests an Enchancing Draught from Tamala
- This potion is illegal – explains why it’s a test of trustworthiness
- You must gather ingredients and have Tamala brew it
- Delivery must be discreet to avoid Order detection
This is where the quest gets properly dangerous – you’re now actively participating in illegal activities.
Gather Ingredients for the Enchancing Draught
Before Tamala can brew the potion, you need to collect four specific ingredients scattered around Palia.
Required ingredients:
- Brightshroom – found in cave areas and dark spaces
- Enchanted Pupfish – requires fishing in specific locations
- Heat Root – gathered from desert-like areas in Bahari Bay
- Lunar Fairy Moth – caught during nighttime in specific zones
Ingredient gathering tips:
- Brightshrooms grow in Pavel Mines and other cave systems
- Enchanted Pupfish require higher fishing levels and specific bait
- Heat Root is found near hot springs and volcanic areas in Bahari
- Lunar Fairy Moths only appear at night – timing is crucial
This ingredient collection phase can take quite a while, especially if you’re not prepared with the right tools and knowledge of spawn locations.
Visit Tamala for Potion Brewing
Once you’ve gathered all four ingredients, head to Tamala to have her brew the illegal Enchancing Draught.
Find her at the stables or her usual locations. Present all four ingredients for the potion, and she’ll brew the Enchancing Draught using your materials. Receive the completed potion. Now you’re carrying illegal goods.
Tamala’s quite casual about brewing illegal potions, which gives you insight into how widespread these underground activities actually are.
Deliver the Potion to Zeki (Avoiding Eshe)
This is the most nerve-wracking part of the entire quest. You must deliver the illegal potion to Zeki without getting caught by Eshe.
Do not talk to Eshe while carrying the Enchancing Draught. Avoid areas where Eshe commonly patrols and head directly to the underground market entrance. If caught by Eshe, it triggers the Search and Seizure subquest.
Speaking to Eshe at any point while carrying the Enchancing Draught will cause her to confiscate it, and the subquest Search and Seizure will begin.
After successfully delivering the potion to Zeki, you’ll gain full access to his underground trading network.
Market integration:
- Zeki accepts your delivery and proof of reliability
- Underground vendor access becomes permanently available
- New trading opportunities open up
- Connection to other illegal activities and quest lines
Report Back to Subira
The final step involves returning to Subira with evidence of Zeki’s underground operations.
Find Subira to report your findings. Provide evidence gathered during your undercover work. Complete the investigation successfully and receive rewards for your undercover work.
What Underground Affairs Unlocks
Completing this quest gives you permanent access to Zeki’s black market network, which connects to several other quest lines involving Reth, smuggling operations, and underground commerce.
You’ll also unlock new vendors and trading opportunities that aren’t available through regular Kilima Village merchants.
FAQs
Where exactly is the underground market entrance?
You can get access to it from multiple locations, one of them is hidden behind the general store counter. There is a back entrance that takes you to the underground black market.
What friendship level do I need with Zeki?
You need decent friendship progress and completion of relevant main story quests first.
Can I bring friends to the underground market?
The quest itself is solo, but friends might be able to help you find the entrance location.
Final Thoughts
Palia Underground Affairs quest is way more complex than it first appears, involving illegal potion brewing, undercover investigation work, and serious consequences if you mess up the delivery.
The ingredient collection for Tamala’s potion, avoiding Eshe during delivery, proving yourself to Zeki – it’s like a proper spy thriller hidden within a cosy farming game. Completing this quest opens up the underground economy and connects you to several major storylines involving The Order, illegal activities, and the hidden power structures operating beneath Kilima Village’s peaceful surface.
Adam is a gaming guides writer at GamersPlan. His love for gaming has led to become a writer to show off his years of expertise in RPG and Action games. He has used almost all of the consoles, from NES to PlayStation 5. There is no console that he has not played on. Some of his favorite games include Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, and Baldur's Gate 3.