Amulet of Fire: A Legendary Relic that Enhances and Amplifies Magical Power, Hastening the Casting Speed of Fire-Related Spells.
As Augustus gazed upon the parchment, an illustration of the item captivated his attention, accompanied by a brief description.
Curiously, the absence of numerical figures disappointed Augustus. He had hoped to find detailed statistics indicating the extent of power enhancement and amplification percentage. The only numeric detail provided was the enticing starting price.
"Starting price: 150k gold coins? Legendary? Yep, they're just making up the description," pondered Augustus, his curiosity piqued.
Augustus flipped to the next few pages, discovering the items he gave to the receptionist was displayed among the premier lots.
The One-Handed Death Sword, the Pair of Bloody Claws, and the Death Bow—all started on an astounding starting price of 10k gold, far surpassing Augustus's initial expectations.
The Staff of Frost: an enchanted magic weapon, an artifact infused with Blizzard Magic, augmenting the potency of Ice-Related Spells.
Starting Bid: 500k gold coins.
Among the multitude of entries, equipment dominated the listings, this shows their rarity and worth in Exonia.
His eyes then fixated on an intriguing piece of equipment, the "Ring of Regeneration."
The description made it sound highly useful to him, but with a base price of 50k gold coins, it was destined to fetch a much higher sum. Unfortunately, Augustus did not possess enough gold to afford it.
The next item that caught his attention was a class change book for the "Templar Knight." However, as he glanced at the starting price once more, he was taken aback. The base cost of the book staggered at a daunting one million gold coins.
People in this realm certainly possess an immeasurable abundance of wealth...
But where does this gold originate? Do they mine and mint it themselves?
Augustus has yet to witness monsters dropping bronze or silver, let alone dropping gold coins.
Curious, Augustus turned to Arielle, hoping she might know the answer to his question.
Augustus leaned closer to Arielle, speaking in a hushed whisper, "Psst, hey." The breath tickled her elven ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine.
Arielle was startled, and her immediate reaction was to scream. However, she swiftly covered her mouth with her hand to avoid drawing attention. "Never... never do that again!" Arielle scolded Augustus, speaking in a low voice.
"Sorry, did I startle you?" Augustus's voice was filled with surprise. He hadn't anticipated Arielle's extraordinary sensitivity towards her delicate ears.
In his previous life, he had never come across a real elf, only hearing tales of their existence.
"Hmm? What?" Arielle pouted, her boredom palpable within the bustling auction hall. Nothing had caught her interest, and even if it had, she lacked the means to make a purchase. 'Well, enduring boredom is certainly preferable to being besieged by monsters.'
Curiosity sparked in Augustus's eyes as he posed a question. "Where does all the copper, silver, and gold come from? I mean, when something is sold for a million gold coins, do they just magically create a million of them? Is gold unlimited in Exonia?"
Arielle fixed her gaze on him and explained, "Oh, the currency we use? It originates from the goddess herself. Each major city has a sacred Goddess Shrine where people can offer various items like goblin ears or other treasures from dungeons. When these offerings are presented to the goddess, she transforms them into the currency we use."
Augustus furrowed his brow, grappling with the concept. "So, gold coins merely circulate within the realm, accumulating without any decline in value?"
Arielle's smile widened as she continued to share her knowledge. "Not quite. The goddess enables us to engage in barter, offering a wide range of goods in exchange. Even commoners can trade with the goddess, receiving a handful of bronze coins in return for a humble loaf of bread."
"The goddess also possesses remarkable artifacts and powerful equipment, which can be valued at millions of gold coins or even more."
The method of maintaining the economic system fascinated Augustus, as it bore a striking resemblance to the games he had played on Earth.
Arielle's eyes gleamed with a sudden realization. "Now that I think about it, we've never told you to visit the Goddess Shrine. There's one here in Oakwood, if you wanted to visit it."
"Sure, we'll go see it after the auction," Augustus agreed, filled with curiosity about the goddess and whether he could communicate with her like the other Exonians.
Arielle's mind reveled in triumph as a thought whispered silently within. "More time to stay bored!"
"Alright, time's up! We're now moving on to the main event. The highest bidder for the scrolls will be announced later, once the auction is finished," proclaimed the host, the sound resounding through the auction hall. The event transitioned to its highly anticipated main spectacle.
"Hey, William, are you planning to place any bids?" Augustus inquired, eyeing the auction catalog. "They're all incredibly expensive. I don't think I can afford any of them."
William smirked slyly. "Well, it's not about buying for me. I want to ensure our items fetch higher prices. I possess information about the most prestigious guests attending this auction. If they bid on my item, I'll outbid them and drive up the price."
Augustus raised an eyebrow, impressed by William's cunning tactics. 'That's a new side of an honorable knight I haven't seen before. But hey, if it works, why not give it a shot?'
Colluding in a strategic partnership, Augustus and William engaged in a charade of dummy bidding. As their items graced the auction stage, they began their calculated bidding game.
Because of this, both of them decided to split up, taking separate seats to create the illusion that two extra guests were engaged in a bidding war.
Augustus discreetly signaled to William through hand gestures, silently asking if they should increase the bid. William's gesture signaled otherwise.
"Sold for 4k gold coins to guest 115!" boomed the host's announcement.
William erupted in celebration, having successfully sold an item originally valued at 1k for an astounding 4k.
As they continued the Dummy Bidding tactic, some of them actually failed as they got greedy.
This plan does include a setback because they had to pay 20% commission fee imposed by the auction house.
"Don't worry, we still made a hefty profit. Besides, we can resell them next week," William consoled himself, undeterred by the failed attempts at dummy bidding.
"Don't worry, we still made a hefty profit. Besides, we can resell them next week," William consoled himself, undeterred by the failed attempts at dummy bidding.
In the end, the Death Sword commanded a final bid of 25k gold coins, the Pair of Bloody Claws fetched 24k gold coins, and the Death Bow soared to an impressive 80k gold coins.
The bidding for the Death Bow had been intense, starting at a mere 10k and rapidly escalating to a heart-stopping 75k. William's insider knowledge had proven invaluable as he recognized the guest who outbid them.
A family with a son renowned for his exceptional archery skills. Their unwavering desire for the Death Bow had driven the price skyward.
Impressed by William's extensive network of connections, Augustus couldn't help but draw a parallel to the legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes. "How do you manage to know so many people?"
William modestly shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing extraordinary. We maintain a list of these corrupt noblemen who align themselves with the Irregulars. The Imperial Guards provide me with the information, and I've committed it to memory."
"I see," Augustus mused, acknowledging the prevalence of corruption even in this realm. "Corruption exists everywhere, even here."
"Now, as the main event concludes, we have a surprise in store!" the host announced, his voice tinged with mystery. "Behold, the slave auction! We have a selection of exclusive slaves available for bidding."
Augustus momentarily forgot about the slave auction, torn between his reluctance to witness such a spectacle and his undeniable curiosity about the slaves.
William turned to Augustus, inquiring, "Do you want to stay and observe?"
Arielle and Vera, also eager to gauge Augustus' decision, fixed their gazes upon him.
"We've stayed until the end; we might as well see what unfolds," Augustus replied, offering a feeble justification for his choice.
"Sure," William agreed, unperturbed. However, Arielle and Vera regarded Augustus with perplexed expressions.
"What?" Augustus retorted, perplexed by their reactions.
"Nothing," Arielle and Vera quickly dismissed their puzzling expressions, concealing their true thoughts.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Behold, our first exclusive slave, a captivating half-elf!" The announcer's voice boomed through the auction hall, filled with anticipation. "As you can see, her beauty is simply unparalleled, with lustrous white hair, a trait exclusive to pure-blooded elves. And don't let her delicate appearance fool you. This exceptional specimen possesses incredible strength, boasting a level 37 as a Moonshadow Assassin—an exceedingly rare and coveted class. We commence the bidding at a staggering 10 million Gold!"
Augustus's mind buzzed with intrigue. 'Level 37? That's impressive, coupled with her unique class. How did such a formidable individual find herself in the clutches of slavery?'
Turning to William, who was well-versed in the inner workings of this world, Augustus sought answers. "How can someone of her caliber be reduced to a mere slave?"
William scratched his chin, uncertainty shadowing his face. "It's hard to say for certain. It's possible she was abducted by the notorious Irregulars or suffered some unfortunate circumstance."
"The auction has concluded, with a final bid of 75 million gold," the host proclaimed, his voice resonating throughout the hall, while the crowd remained silent, awe-struck by the exorbitant price.
Augustus sighed inwardly, acknowledging the final price. His meager wealth paled in comparison to the expanse required to buy a slave.
Moving forward, the subsequent slaves, though not as exorbitantly priced as the first half-elf, still commanded sums exceeding a million gold coins each.
Behind the curtains, a hushed conversation ensued between the announcer and the manager, shrouded in uncertainty. "Are you certain we can sell her?"
"We have to give it a shot," the manager replied, a hint of doubt tainting his voice. Desperation fueled his determination to salvage some profit from the aforementioned slave.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, behold our next slave—a truly extraordinary being," the announcer declared, his voice quivering with anticipation. "Directly from the enigmatic Darklands, we present to you a captivating half-orc, half-human hybrid. This extraordinary creature emanates an untamed spirit, yet we assure you that she can be controlled under the slave contract."
Two hulking men struggled to subdue the girl, wrestling with her uncontrollable strength. The clinking of chains filled the air as they strained to maintain their grip, their struggle highlighting the wildness within her.
Despite the tumultuous display, the announcer strived to maintain composure. "Although she has just reached adulthood and possesses a modest level of 1, her potential for greatness is undeniable. With proper training, she could blossom into a formidable warrior. We commence the bidding at a humble sum of 1 million gold."
A heavy silence hung in the air as no one stepped forward to place a bid, even at such a low starting price.
"Would anyone offer 750k?" The announcer's plea reverberated through the hall, but once again, it was met with an eerie silence.
Curiosity gnawed at Augustus, compelling him to seek answers from William. "Why is no one bidding for her?"
William leaned in closer, his voice tinged with knowledge. "She hails from the treacherous Darklands, a realm infested with demons. Her half-demon lineage, combined with her untamed nature and the inclusion of her half-orc heritage, it's normal that's no bidder."
"There have been numerous instances where demons, even under the slave contract, have turned against their owners. It's understandable why people are hesitant to bid."
"Will anyone bid 500k?" The host's voice quivered with desperation, his tone riddled with disappointment. Yet, the room remained eerily void of any takers. "250K?"
"Very well, let us proceed to the next item. I offer my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused," the host announced, attempting to salvage the atmosphere of the auction hall.
At the moment, the half-orc girl was punched and kicked in the stomach, subduing her movements so that she can't struggle any longer.
Meanwhile, Augustus was secretly examining her stats with his system.
[Urga]
Level: 1
Class: Barbarian (Rare Class)
Unique Talent: Ferocious Endurance (Rare Talent), Brutal Strength (Rare Talent), Tough Skin (Rare Talent)
STR: 40 CONS: 25
AGI: 25 DEF: 35
INT: 5 MAG: 1
Intriguingly, despite being a half-orc, she seemed to possess a significant number of orcish traits.
BANG
A deafening explosion erupted on the stage as a figure gracefully leaped onto it. "What's up, guys? Your main character has arrived!"
Upon catching sight of the individual who had taken the stage, a wave of panic swept through the auction house, prompting many attendees to hastily flee.