"Pah, at least make an effort to hide your jealousy at my win."
"The next item will be a potion of clear mind. After consumption, the user will enter a mysterious state wherein all issues of comprehension will become much more clear. This potion is ideal for important breakthroughs, bottlenecks, or processes that require high concentration. The bidding will begin at 20'000 with a minimum increase of 1000 each time."
"Parta dogs! You tricked me!"
The old geezer finally understood why the old lady had allowed him to win the bid after going through so much trouble to provoke him. She had been trying to decrease his spending power on this item!
If the divine physique cleansing potion was used in conjunction with the potion of clear mind the birth of an oracle was very likely to occur. However, if one had to choose between the two potions the second one clearly had a higher chance of producing an oracle.
"40'000 gold coins!"
The old geezer seemed incredibly stressed out and immediately doubled the starting price. Since everyone chose to carry their spending money with them a quick look into the old geezer's spacial pouch revealed his spending capacity to me.
150'000 gold coins couldn't be looked down upon but they also weren't enough to back up his previous attitude. He'd already spent 75'000 so he only had 75'000 left and I had heard him promise to help Leonard obtain the last item. Placing a bid of 40'000 now was already pushing his limits. And the old lady seemed to know that.
"50'000 and the item is mine."
"Not so fast. Parta may have triumphed over Eclesias but the mage association also has a say in this. 60'000!"
"Sigh, I should have known that you would make a move. 70'000!"
"And we have prepared sufficient funds to win this auction. 80'000 gold coins!"
"You can have it."
The mage association was, much like the priests, far more interested in the potion of clear mind than the epic grade gauntlets. To them, a breakthrough could unlock new, unseen, and unheard of knowledge. This knowledge could be shared with other mages and elevate the overall power of multiple individuals.
The rulers present on the other hand desired power that they could confine to one individual so that they could cement their rule. To them, the epic grade gauntlets held the highest priority.
"The potion of clear mind goes to hegemon booth 5 for 80'000 gold coins. We will now proceed to the last item in today's auction."
For special effects, Aurelia used magic to let the pair of gauntlets float down from above the stage and levitate over a prepared pedestal. The golden splendor of the scales made the gauntlets look like a shining star in the slightly darkened room.
"These are the golden star fists, a pair of epic grade gauntlets. They allow the user to create two giant phantom copies of the gauntlets that follow his movements. The phantom gauntlets can be regenerated if broken but the real gauntlets must be treated with great care since they influence the state of the phantoms.
"Would you like a demonstration?"
While saying this Arahnia raised her gaze upward. The question wasn't meant for the common participants. Only someone with a chance to win the bid had the right to ask for a demonstration. A minute of silence followed.
"I believe everyone here is in agreement when I say that we do not doubt the authenticity or power you just described. Please proceed with the auction."
After a while, king Leonard spoke for everyone. The question was more of a formality anyway. Who in their right mind would ask for a demonstration of an item he intended to use as a trump card? Regardless, the formalities were taken care of and now it was time to announce the new rules.
"The starting bid will be 1000 platinum coins. The minimum increase will be 100 platinum coins. We use platinum coins in order to keep the bids more comprehensive. Additionally, precious items can be used to increase the bid but the estimation of their worth will be made by us and isn't a matter that can be discussed."
At first, no one called a bid. One platinum coin had the same value as 100 gold coins. That number alone seemed intimidating enough to make everyone hesitate. Finally, Leonard couldn't take it anymore.
"2000 platinum coins!"
"3000 platinum coins!"
Well, that escalated quickly. No sooner had Leonard placed his bid when Adrian 1000-uped him. All that money was about to be ours. But it wasn't even over yet!
"3100 platinum coins!"
"4000 platinum coins!"
Leonard had made an attempt to slow down the increase per bid but Adrian just kept advancing.
"4500 platinum coins!"
"5000 platinum coins!"
Leonard was frowning hard. Saital kingdom wasn't rich enough to compete with the kingdom that was backing Adrian. Aurelia turned to me and we exchanged a long look.
"Should we help him? If he doesn't win the bid the kingdom will be invaded and that is bad for business."
"I guess there's something we could do..."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Aurelia, how would you feel about your merchant guild being exempted from taxes permanently?"
"You are a flipping genius! How much should we say it's worth?"
"5000 will do, alright?"
"Go ahead."
I concentrated on Leonard and sneakily entered his mind. I blocked out his thoughts and planted the idea of tax exemption in the far reaches of his mind. Before he had any chance to notice my existence I retreat from his mind.
A few brief moments later Leonard called out.
"I want to offer a permanent tax exemption for the traveling silver coin merchant guild."
We were both in Arahnia's mind so she was able to immediately react.
"We estimate the value of that as 5000 platinum coins bringing your bid up to 10'000 platinum coins."
"That's unfair! You can't do that! How can you let a tax exemption be used to increase a bid!"