"600!"
"700!"
"800!"
"1000!"
The VIP guests, who had remained silent until now, engaged in a barrage of bids that left the gallery beneath flabbergasted.
They were nobility and yet, in this instance, they were like poor commoners who didn't belong.
Some felt ashamed, but the only thing they could do was clench their fists in defeat. If they could somehow get their hands on such fantastic weapons, their rankings would soar, but alas, reality was a cruel mistress.
"1200! Please give face to the Merchant's Association. We will owe you a favor"
"I knew you were here, old geezer! I don't need your favor because the Army Consortium is winning this one. 1400!"
"Oho… Old men trying to show their financial wealth… Have you forgotten about the Jewel Company? 1600!"
Everyone's faces paled. Nobody could clearly identify the voices, as they were distorted by magic, but if their claims were to be believed, it was terrifying.
These powerhouses were the pinnacle of Terra, with their influence in the city being only lower than its Official, with some even debating that fact.
They were also organizations that were established in multiple cities, where they all controlled their respective markets. One would have to be ignorant to not know who they were.
Meanwhile, Derrick was euphoric! This was way more than anticipated!
***
The young master was also frantically trying to outbid his competitors, but he gave up when the bid reached 2000.
Even though he was up against powerful organizations, he didn't seem fazed at all. After all, there were two more sets that could be even better than this one.
"Still no news of the bastard?!"
With an irritated tone, he questioned his attendant, who shook his head. It was highly unusual to lose contact like this, especially in such a closed environment.
"Fucking failures… I'll get one of those weapons and when I learn of his identity, I'll just crush him under my feet"
***
"2100!"
After the bid, nobody else spoke.
Even though the equipment was amazing, paying such an amount was nothing to scoff at, particularly for only one set.
The bid had been placed by the party claiming to represent the Army Consortium. Their ranks counted many talented soldiers, which was why it wasn't surprising they had disbursed a lot for the set.
Jacqueline spiritedly called the winner, happy about the enthusiasm being generated. She was surely going to get her bonus!
With a clap of her hands, the armed butler left the stage, with another one coming up.
This time, however, the well-dressed butler was equipped with two long swords. Just like the spear from before, they were also made of bones.
Their appearances were eerie and a faint aura of bloodlust could be felt. The blades, expertly carved and polished, seemed able to cut air itself, with the hilts having lions engraved into them.
The crowd was once again awed.
These were masterpieces they had never seen before and probably wouldn't again in their lifetimes.
The Empire always hid their strongest weapons, keeping them as trump cards. Of course, the Empire's armory was incomparable, but it was nice to have a glimpse of what it might contain.
Another magical screen appeared.
[Dual Sanguine Swords]
[Grade : Rare]
[Attack Power : 20]
[Ability : Madness (Allows its wielder to block all fear and emit strong bloodlust in a radius of 300 meters, hampering its enemies. Will last for a period of 6 hours) Cooldown Timer : 3 days]
[Description : Carved from the bones of a Red Locust]
The already stifling pressure increased.
The ones who had held out had been right. These weapons were even more amazing than the last. A zoning ability that could be useful against entire corps? Its usefulness was just mind-blowing.
Derrick's heart tightened a little when he saw the amount of interest his items generated, but it was something he had to do.
At first, he wanted to limit the strength of his future opponents, but he soon realized he had been naive.
If the Empire wanted to crush him right now, he wouldn't be able to do anything. His current strength was simply inconsequential when compared to the behemoth's.
Plus, he was the craftsman. His skill would continue to improve, and he would keep crafting gear for his most important soldiers and generals.
When the description came into view, the Army Consortium gritted its teeth. Not because they felt regret over their earlier purchase, but because the playing field would get even more ferocious going forward.
They represented a lower army branch of the Krakow Empire, meaning their resources, seemingly boundless, were in reality limited. They would have to pray for the others to fold before they did.
"I'll skip the pleasantries and announce the price right away! The starting bid is 600 gold coins. Begin!"
Jacqueline's pleasant voice resounded before another heated battle begun.
However, to the dismay of the hostess and Derrick, the ones bidding were the nobles located in the gallery.
What the hell was going on?
After a few minutes, the price had reached a meager 1400 gold coins, which was still an impressive amount to fork over for a 'lower' noble.
The VIPs had yet to bid, and when Jacqueline was about to call the winner, a thunderous voice broke her mid-sentence.
"2500!"
The bid shocked the audience, and they couldn't figure out why they had madly increased the price.
Some thought that it was to eliminate smaller players, and others, to test out their opponents' wallets.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter to Derrick and Jacqueline, who were both reinvigorated by the development.
The party who had broken the stalemate had been the Merchant's Association, with their bid instilling a second breath to the bidding war.
"2700!"
"2900!"
"3000!"
The price soared quickly, making Derrick's heartbeat frantic. His financial issues were being resolved in front of his very eyes!
After another minute, the price stagnated at 3500, with it being once again the Army Consortium's bid.
The tension was heavy, and the pressure emitted had steadily increased. No one would back down from this fight, but the set had apparently reached its maximum value.
Jacqueline announced the winner and the hall burst into another uproar. The sums that were being handed out were simply astronomical!
She clapped her hands again, causing the butler to leave the stage.
The crowd was now anxious.
Since it was the last set, the restraints would be off, making it sure to be an all-out brawl.
With a light snap of her fingers, a fully geared soldier began walking towards the stage.
To everyone's disappointment, the armor looked ordinary. It still looked great, but it lacked the 'wow' factor that had pleased everyone so far.
Seeing their reactions, Derrick snickered.
"Foolishness… Never judge a book by its cover"
Jacqueline also had a smirk on her face, and she pointed to the air above her, where another magical screen appeared.
[Trivial Armor]
[Grade : Unique]
[Attack Power : 1]
[Defense Power : 1]
[Ability : Once donned, its wielder's force will be increased by 10%. Cooldown Timer : None]
[Description : Unknown]
Derrick had hidden its description because he didn't want to reveal any clues regarding its crafting process.
But his chest again hurt in discomfort. Giving away such an amazing item was stupid, but he needed money more than anything right now.
The crowd was still confused after reading the small text. What did it mean by 'Force'?
Derrick had, of course, given an explication to Brigand, thus giving Jacqueline the opportunity to clarify its ability.
"Force means your everything, be it strength, agility, vitality, magic… Everything that is naturally part of you will be increased"
Wait… By vitality, did she mean life expectancy? Nah... It couldn't be... Right?
A painfully low voice asked what was on everyone's mind, and with a big smile, Jacqueline replied.
"Yes"