CHAPTER 34: AUCTION BEGINS

The instant I revealed the Mana plant, an unfathomable presence suddenly filled the place.

Lady Minxx stumbled backward and nearly fell on her butt when she saw the Mana plant.

For me I had considered putting it up for sale because I didn’t think it would serve much use to me at the moment.

"Crimson Tide Reed?!" Lady Minxx exclaimed, clapping her hands to her wide-opened mouth.

"That’s among the basic combat skills magic items a mage can get."

"I heard it is highly ranked in their mage world."

"I’m starting to wish I had their kind of gift."

"Then, become rich and acquire it from the Auction house."

"I kept my mouth shut when big Lady stepped in. I wanted to shout how handsome he is," one of the girls whispered, not able to hide her emotions as she blushed.

The girls in the room gossiped and teased each other at the same time.

"Who are you?" Lady Minxx asked me, looking straight into my eyes.

Muna collected the Crimson Tide Reed from my hands, and, after staring at it for a while, began to speak.

"Who he is, is not important right now. What is important is that he has decided to sell this combat skill magic item at your Auction House," Muna paused, and examined the item again. "I’d say my brother is very generous."

After a moment of silence, Lady Minxx bowed two consecutive times, with her hands clamped on her thighs, trembling.

"Thank you! I would make sure this item is sold accordingly," Lady Minxx promised. "The value would be valued... trust this treasure at my hands."

The lady’s attitude had taken a sudden turn, all to the shock of both her workers and me.

I couldn’t help but look at Muna with wide eyes. She wasn’t ready to stop speaking.

"Great! But seeing how the hall must have been filled with buyers, we should take it back since we won’t be able to get a clear glance and early chance at a bargain during the auction," Muna continued.

Lady Minxx seemed not to worry at her words. She smiled and gestured for us to follow her.

"That’s why I had prepared a reservation for you in the VIP section of the audience."

...

Bright light from above shone on a beautiful young lady who appeared on the stage. She wore a dazzling smile and possessed a cheerful attitude.

To think that was the lady who was assaulted some hours ago sent chills down my body. Her attitude as she carried herself brightened the dull atmosphere.

"Hello, esteemed guests! Welcome to the Marketplace Auction House! I will be your main host today. My name is Esme!" she announced, still beaming with a smile.

"I would first of all, introduce you to the rules of this auction house. Especially, if this is your first time at an auction house," she continued, but those words felt like it was direct.

It hit like a dagger in the heart, knowing this was also my first time at an Auction House, but it didn’t make me ignorant of their rules.

"First of all, once you place a bid on an item, you cannot take back your words! Secondly, you must behave accordingly as a bidder. Remain in your seats, and don’t pressure others with your background!"

The moment she announced the second rule, murmurs filled the hall.

The VIPs sat in a segmented area of the hall, right before the general space occupied by the audience. The murmurs, other than that of the audience, were severe in this area.

Most of those seated at the VIP must think, "isn’t it our right?" Or, "it’s not our fault that we are rich enough."

That notwithstanding, Esme cleared her throat, and the noise died down almost immediately.

"Please! We must know that this is an auction house, not the streets! After one warning, you will be asked to give up your seat! On a final note, do not bid if you aren’t able to afford the item! You will be held back and imprisoned afterwards until the debt of your bid is completely paid!"

Once Esme was done announcing the rules, she clapped her hands. A moment later, another beautiful lady appeared on stage while pushing a cart covered by a thick cloth.

"What’s next is to reveal the first auction for today," Esme shouted, taking off the thick cloth used to cover the cart.

Everybody gasped in awe as some people even stood up to get a clearer look, before they sat down almost immediately.

Well, I, who viewed it clearly from my position, was a little bit disappointed.

It was a sword!

Everybody knew that swords aren’t meant to be acquired without getting it’s full permission. Taking such a risk had been rumored to cost lives.

Still, here we are, about to witness a live auction of swords.

"This is a Fire-grade blade, refined in the best mana-infused furnace you can find in the whole of Quad Town! You didn’t need to possess the skills of a swordsman to wield this item! It grants you these skills on a platter!"

As Esme announced the item, another murmur exploded in the hall.

Quad Town and its citizens are really something else. To think that even Mana items can be produced in a manaless city was something that could be found wanting if the Council of Mages were to be in charge of the town.

Fortunately, even members and mages alike benefit from this Marketplace, and so, they weren’t restricted in their activities. As far as it had nothing to do with the threat of Montana.

I sat quietly, looking inquisitively to see if any mage would want to acquire the sword, having known the normalities involved in having a sword.

Just then, a red-haired, average-aged mage sitting beside me uttered.

"This is a must-have item! I wouldn’t need a year of training to become a master of swords!"

My throat choked, as I almost laughed out, but held myself.

’Young Master, that sword will be useless against a Mage from the Fire Duchedom,’ Linda reported from my shadow.

"This will also grant me an additional magic affinity," another lady indicated interest from the other end of the VIP table.

Then I began to see hands raised from behind, among the audience.

Relieved that there were people interested in the sword, Esme continued.

"The starting price for the armor will be 1,000 Gold!" Esme announced.

"1,000 Gold?!" I muttered in shock after hearing the price, and it was just a starting price for the first item.

I wondered what could have been the case if I had decided to sell some demon cores. The auctioneers could have rejected it since it was not only of the low rank, but would also have a low value.

A wide smile tugged at my lips, knowing I had made the right decision.

’Young Master,’ Linda’s voice snapped me out of my daze. ’Just how much would the entrance forms cost?’

I only shook my head, knowing that after selling the Mana plants, it wouldn’t be a problem to acquire the forms.

"1,100 Gold!" The red-haired man stirred the motion for the bidding.

"1,500 Gold!"

"1,800 Gold!"

"1,850 Gold!

"1,950 Gold!"

The price went up by hundreds with each call, and within minutes, it rose to 2,500 Gold!

"2,500 Gold... is quite much for something which can bring repercussions in the future," I muttered, unluckily heard by the red-haired man.

"Bro, you must be facing hardships if you don’t recognize an opportunity when you see one," he said to me.

I didn’t respond.

"2,500 Gold going once... going twice... and sold!"

"Yes! I got it!"

The lady who had indicated interest from our VIP table clenched her right arm once the price was closed at her bid.

"We will keep the item for now. After the auction ends, the winners may retrieve the item after paying the debt," said Esme as she called for another assistant to go onto the stage.