“6000 Hazaroth gold coins!”
“7000 gold coins!”
The voices from the floor were overlapping now, the numbers being tossed toward the stage with an increasing sense of desperation. The momentum for the final lot was already far higher than anything that had come before it during the evening. The air in the auction hall felt thick, charged with the collective greed and ambition of Yargan’s elite.
“7300!” “7600!” “7800!” “8000!”
The rapid-fire escalation was enough to make even a seasoned merchant dizzy. The shouting from the floor participants was constant, each bid trying to bury the previous one before the announcer could even draw breath.
“Whoa! It went straight to the whole 8,000 Hazaroth gold coins!” Savir, the announcer, exclaimed. His voice, which had been sounding quite tired and shaky only moments ago, was suddenly infused with a new wave of adrenaline. It was clear that the bidding was far too fervent for him to remain passive or professional in a quiet way. He leaned over his podium, his eyes wide as he scanned the hall. “We will surely see some truly ridiculous amounts of money changing hands today! And wait—there is a fresh bid coming in from the upper levels! It is Room 3! They are bidding 10,000 Hazaroth gold coins at once! Let’s see how much higher this can rise!”
The sudden jump caused a momentary lull on the floor as the common participants looked up at the private rooms. I watched the scene from my own suite, my fingers tapping against the armrest of my plush chair. I had noticed that the VIPs did not participate regularly throughout the night. Generally, they either showed interest in specific, incredibly rare items or waited with predatory patience to bid at the very end of the proceedings to crush the competition. This time was no different; Room 3 clearly had a desperate desire for the equipment set I had enchanted.
“10,500!” “11,000!” “11,200!”
When the VIP in Room 3 joined the fray, most of the crowd on the floor settled down, their confidence shaken by the display of wealth. However, there were still a few stubborn merchants and high-ranking warriors who insisted on continuing the battle, their hands rising slowly as the price entered the realm of platinum.
“11,500!” “12,000!” “12,500!”
“The bidding is continuing at a breathtaking pace!” Savir shouted, his hand hovering over the vibrating tablet on his stand. “Now, Room 7 is participating! They are bidding 14,000 Hazaroth gold coins! Is there any—Oh! Room 3 is bidding again immediately! They have countered with 16,000 Hazaroth gold coins. I can only wonder how much further this will continue to rise before someone yields!”
The hall fell into a brief, heavy silence. The numbers were becoming difficult to comprehend for the average person in the city.
“16,500!”
“... 17,000!”
“...”
“... 17,500!”
“...”
After the second VIP room joined the bidding battle, the remaining bidders on the floor nearly stopped entirely. A few offered reluctant increases, their voices thin and lacking the previous fire. It was clear to everyone in the building that they were getting dangerously close to their absolute limits.
“It seems like we are finally about to reach the end of this epic struggle!” Savir called out, his eyes darting between the private rooms. “Is there anyone left who wants to bid a higher amount for this one-of-a-kind set?... There it is! Room 3 is bidding for a whopping 20,000 Hazaroth gold coins! It seems they are intended to end this competition with a single, decisive blow!”
The auction hall turned silent for several heartbeats. Everyone in the general seating must have thought that the final lot would eventually go to someone on the floor, but Room 3 had shattered that illusion with a bid equivalent to 200 platinum coins.
“...”
There were no words or movements from the crowd for at least three seconds. The tension was palpable.
“... It seems like this is truly the end,” Savir said, beginning to raise his hammer. “Let me ask one last time. Is there any—Oh! Wait! It looks like Room 7 is not down yet! They are bidding 20,500 Hazaroth gold coins! What will be the answer of Room 3 to this challenge?”
Savir had been about to conclude the auction, but the sudden interruption from Room 7 seemed to spark a new energy in him. The strange thing I noticed was that he had never tried to intentionally start a direct competition between specific bidders earlier in the evening. But now, whether it was because this was the final lot or because of some other hidden factor, he was actively lighting the fire of competition between the two rooms.
“... And here comes the response from Room 3!” Savir shouted. He had only waited a few seconds before the tablet in his hand vibrated again. “They are bidding 21,000 Hazaroth gold coins!”
He didn't even look at the floor anymore, his focus entirely on the two private boxes. “I am sure Room 7 would want to increase that bid! I cannot believe they would stop after coming this far... Ah, here it is! Room 7 is bidding 22,000 Hazaroth gold coins! What is supposed to come now is the bid from Room 3!”
He continued to push, trying to goad the VIPs into bidding even more. He was no longer just an announcer; he was a conductor of a financial orchestra.
“... Will there be a new bid that Room 3 will make? Let’s see… Yes! There it is! They are bidding 22,500 Hazaroth gold coins! Room 7, are you willing to go any higher?...”
He did not even wait for the tablet to vibrate this time; he just stared at the screen until the new numbers manifested. When Room 3’s bid arrived, he read it out to the hall immediately.
“... Room 7? Or perhaps any other bidder? Is there anyone else in this great hall who wants to bid more? It does not seem like it. Then, the winner of today’s great final lot is… Room 3! Thank you all, and congratulations to our buyer!”
Savir waited a few more seconds for a counter from Room 7, looking around the gallery. Seeing that there was no further movement, he finally brought the hammer down, announcing the winner.
The buyer was the person hidden inside Room 3. I didn't know their identity, but I assumed they must be incredibly wealthy and possessed a deep interest in high-tier armory. Regardless of who they were, I had successfully managed to sell my enchanted items at a price that far exceeded my expectations. 22,500 gold coins, or 225 platinum coins. It was a staggering sum, several times the total amount of wealth I had gained in my entire life since arriving in this world.
I knew there was a standard 15% commission for the auction house, but I had made a special agreement with the auction owner to include the advertisement for my enchantment business. Because of that, I had agreed to give 20% of the total sale amount to the house. That left me with a net profit of 180 platinum coins. It must have been a very good night for the auction house as well, securing 45 platinum coins just from the sale of my single lot.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
But in the end, I realized it was also thanks to the prestige of this specific auction that I managed to secure such a high price. Orzhan and I had estimated that the set would sell for around 150 platinum coins at most. This result had clearly surpassed even our most optimistic imaginations. From that perspective, the auction house had truly earned the commission they claimed.
“With this, our auction has finally come to its conclusion,” Savir said, his voice returning to a respectful, measured tone. “Thank you all for participating, dear customers. We hope you are satisfied with your acquisitions. However, even though we are supposed to finish the event here, our auction owner has a special announcement he would like to make. We would be extremely grateful if you would be so kind as to wait just a bit longer and hear what he has to say.”
Just as the people on the floor were beginning to stand up, thinking the event was over and preparing to leave, the announcer’s words stopped them. The auction had ended, but the event itself was continuing. I could see the curiosity on the faces of the merchants below; that must have been exactly what they were thinking.
After the announcement, Savir and the female attendant standing beside him offered a deep, synchronized bow to the crowd and exited the stage. As soon as they disappeared, a tall, thin man emerged from the wings and walked toward the center of the stage.
He was dressed in very formal attire, consisting of a crisp black jacket over a white blouse, tailored black silk trousers, and a pair of highly polished black shoes. He moved across the stage with the measured, confident stride of an experienced butler, the two long ends of his mustache swaying slightly with every step. However, the sheer quality of his clothing and his commanding demeanor suggested he was far more than a servant; he looked like an elegant merchant or perhaps a high-ranking noble.
Tak, tak, tak, Tud!
He walked until he reached the exact spot in the middle of the stage where Savir had spent the evening. He stopped abruptly, his heels clicking together with a sharp thud that echoed through the silent hall.
“... Welcome, honorable visitors of our famous auction,” he began. He bowed with a grace that far surpassed Savir’s. His voice was slow and resonated with authority. “I would like to offer my apologies first, as I realize I am taking up your precious time without having informed you of this address in advance.”
He straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the floor and the private rooms. “Since I do not wish to delay you further with a long speech, I shall get straight to the point. Considering your enthusiastic reactions today and the significant amount of the final bid, I can see that you are highly satisfied with our final lot. I am glad that the quality of the set met your expectations.”
He spoke with a familiarity that made it seem as if he were personally acquainted with most of the people in the room. Unlike Savir, who had been extremely polite and deferential, this man did not even try to project affection or gratitude. Despite this lack of fawning, he did not appear rude in the slightest. If anything, he exuded an aura of natural superiority and seniority. My curiosity got the better of me, and I focused my vision to use my ‘Identify’ skill on him.
***
Berzan Temir
Race: Human
Sex: Male
Status: Normal
Equipment:
Bastion Dagger ?
Mithril Amulet ? ?
Golden Ring ?
Job: Great Merchant Lvl 7
***
His name was Berzan Temir. The equipment he carried was quite good, but the most eye-catching detail was his occupation. He possessed a job called ‘Great Merchant.’ It was my first time seeing such a high-tier merchant job.
“That was indeed a fine set of equipment,” Berzan continued, his voice steady. “As we all know, the process of enchanting is a gamble. Managing to create a single item with three successfully implemented skill crystals is an achievement that is very hard to come by. It makes high-tier enchantment incredibly rare. But as many of you know from painful experience, the most dreadful thing about enchantment is that it usually results in a total loss. When you fail even once, the equipment is destroyed.”
He spoke with the precision of a master salesman, setting the stage and building the tension before presenting the real product. He was truly a Great Merchant, living up to the title of his occupation.
“This is why I have stepped onto this stage,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “I am here to present you with a brand-new method of enhancement. While the base enchantment chance remains the same as it has always been, the enchanter responsible for our final lot guarantees that even if you fail to enhance your equipment, the item itself will not be destroyed.”
And with those words, he dropped the bomb.
“...”
The crowd did not respond at first. A heavy silence hung over the hall for a heartbeat, perhaps because they didn't fully grasp the magnitude of what he had just said. But then, the room went absolutely crazy.
“W-what did you just say?”
“Is that really possible?”
“Can this person be trusted?”
“I would have thought this was a ridiculous joke or a scam if it weren't coming from the auction owner himself!”
The people on the floor showed a wide variety of reactions. Some turned to speak feverishly to those sitting right beside them, while others started to loudly question the credibility of the claim. Many simply wanted to confirm what they had heard. However, despite the skepticism, not a single person in the hall dared to call Berzan Temir a liar to his face.
“... Everyone! Please!” Berzan raised his hands, his voice cutting through the noise. “I know you are surprised, but let me finish. We believe the method is real. The biggest proof we have is the lot we just sold. Yes, the individual who placed that set of equipment on our auction block is the same person who offers this service. He has stated that he managed to create every piece of that set using this very method.”
He waited a few seconds for the focus of the room to return to him before continuing his explanation.
“It is a claim that can easily be proven false if it were a lie, so there is no harm in believing the possibility for now. Of course, there are some special conditions if you intend to commission him for an enhancement. The base price is the same as the current market rate: five gold coins for the first skill crystal, ten for the second, and fifteen for the third.”
He allowed the crowd to settle before delivering the catch.
“The difference is this… You must provide two of the specific skill crystals you want implemented in your equipment instead of just one. For example, if you wish to add a mantis skill crystal to a sword that already possesses one crystal, you must bring ten gold coins and two mantis skill crystals to the table. It may sound like a steep requirement, but the benefit is absolute: if the enhancement were to fail, you will receive your equipment back intact, along with five gold coins from your initial payment.”
He explained the details carefully, then paused to let the people digest the information.
The participants began to discuss the terms among themselves again. They weren't as boisterous as they had been a moment ago; instead, they were talking with the calculated focus of the merchants they were. They had stopped being a shocked audience and had turned back into profit-oriented money counters, weighing the cost of a second crystal against the safety of their high-value gear.
“... Well then,” Berzan said, his voice projecting a finality to the night. “If you wish to contact the enchanter for a commission, you may inquire with Merchant Orzhan within our auction house. He is acting as the official middleman for the enchanter. I hope you will be pleased with the results. Thank you all for participating in our auction. I wish you all a good night.”
With that final word, the auction owner turned on his heel and disappeared backstage.
The crowd began to dwindle as people made their way toward the exits, but I noticed that several figures in the private rooms surrounding the hall stayed exactly where they were. Through the glass of my own room, I could see shadows moving as orders were being given. They were sending their subordinates to look for Merchant Orzhan and to gather intelligence on the mysterious enchanter he represented.
Some were simply curious, while others were already planning to make a deal. There were even those who looked as though they seriously intended to find and meet the man who could produce a set like the final lot. They were all influential figures of Yargan, the movers and shakers of the city. Whatever moves they decided to take following this announcement would likely affect the lives of many people in the days to come. I sat back in my chair, watching the fallout of my "Innovation" with a quiet sense of triumph. My new business was officially born.
[Edited]
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Heroes:
NaTaS
