"Good morning, everyone! My name is Eresh and I will be your speaker for today's auction...
...Before we start the auction for the Monster-Cores, please be informed that the food and drinks will be continually served on your table so you won't be hungry in this long hours event...
...And be reminded that taking photos of the auction items is prohibited and will result in your disqualification in today's auction...
...In a few minutes, the Battle of Wits and Money will begin!"
It's another weirdo!
I thought the speaker on the stage would be Mr. Henri, but it's a weird lady wearing a half-face mask.
But somehow, that speaker is super weird. Every time I look at her my attention will always be focused on her mask and there's this slight irritation that I'm feeling every time I hear her voice.
Anyway, that's probably nothing important. Free foods are being served at our table by the Auction House staff so it's better to eat than worry about unsure things.
"Vier, Mifumi-sama, this meat is good."
"Really, Felin? Then let me have some..."
...CLICK!...
...SHUTTER!...
"What?... Mifumi-sama! What are you doing? They're already bringing out the first item, please stop taking photos already."
"It's the last one. Just let me take a photo of the speaker."
"You need permission and consent, Mifumi-sama."
"Felin is right! Don't take photos without the person's permission and consent."
"Okay, then I'm going in front to ask her."
"Wait! That's not what we mean, Mifumi-sama!"
Sheesh... I can't believe that Mifumi-sama ran in front of the stage to ask for the speaker's photo. And I can't believe that the speaker allowed Mifumi-sama to take her photo.
After Mifumi-sama came back to our table, the first item was brought onto the stage then the half-mask lady speaker finally began her preparation to start the auction.
"The first item is the Rank-2 Fire-Lizard. We're aiming for that so be ready to bet, Vier-chan."
"I know, Mifumi-sama."
"Remember the strategy, Vier. Raise the price slowly."
"Mhm!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, for the opening act! Let's start with a surprise! What's written in the catalog is a Rank-2 Fire-Lizard but that is a mistake due to the seller's misjudgment of his item...
...He set the price much lower than the actual market price, but I hope all of our honored guests will raise it to the price it rightfully deserves!...
...Introducing! The Rank-3 Molten-Lizard Monster-Core!"
Every guest was left stunned by the sudden appearance of that item which is not on the auction catalog. After all...
"Mifumi-sama! It's a Monster-Core with a Combine-Class Magic!"
"We have to get that, Vier-chan."
"Mhm!"
The speaker then continues giving information about the auction item.
"This Rank-3 Molten-Lizard Monster-Core has the base Element of both Flame and Ground which results in a Combine-Class Lava-Magic!...
...The passive-skill includes both Flame-Control skill and Lava-Control skill! It doesn't have any defensive-skill but in exchange for that it offers two offensive-skill! The Flame-Arrow skill and Lava-Ball skill!...
...Ladies and Gentlemen! You don't need to stand! You don't need to speak! Just raise your card and I will voice out your bet! Let's begin the first round with the starting price of 1L Gold coin!"
Upon the speaker's declaration of the beginning of the auction, the guests started betting on the auction item.
"+1S! from E.... +2S! from D... ^5S! from N... ^1L!... The gentleman of group B raised it with a 1L Gold coin! Our current price is at 2L Gold coins! Anymore higher offers from the other guests?... x2!... The lady of group V just doubled the price... Our current price is at 4L Gold coins!"
"Vier-chan! What happens to slowly raise the price strategy?"
"Vier already forgot the strategy, Mifumi-sama."
"Why did you suddenly double the price, Vier-chan?"
"We need to act aggressively, Mifumi-sama! We need to use the Magic of Surprise-Element!"
"Ehh?... There's no Magic like that! What are you saying, Vier-chan?"
"Any higher offers from the guests?... No more? Is the lady of group V the one who will take this rare Rank-3 Molten-Lizard Monster-Core that has a Combine-Class of Lava-Magic?"
Grrr!!!... You, weird half-mask lady!... Don't antagonize the other guests! Just say we already won!
"^5S!... From group N! I guess we still don't have the winner for the first round!"
"It's the shameless brat."
"That shameless brat! Is she trying to get in our way?"
"She's not a shameless brat, Felin-chan, Vier-chan. Stop being rude to Ms. Nerna."
"^1L... Another fearless move from the lady of group V! She just raised the price by another 1L Gold coin!... Our current price is now at 5L Gold coins!... Any higher offers?... Do we have our first winner? I'm counting down in 5... 4... ^5S!... Another raise from the lady of group N! She's still not willing to give up! The fight is still going on!... Are we gonna see another raise or maybe a double perhaps?"
Grrr!... That shameless brat, Nerna!!!!
"Vier-chan! We are already beyond the budget for this. Maybe we should give up and try to get another Monster-Core."
"Not yet, Mifumi-sama. We're getting this one!"
"^1L!... Another raise from the lady of group V! She's determined to get this one!... Our current price is now at 6L Gold coins!... Any higher offers?.... Is this the price that the Rank-3 Molten-Lizard, Combine-Class, Flame-Magic, and Lava-Magic, truly deserved?"
Come on!!!... Weird half-mask lady!!!... Do you have to say that like you're trying to lure and tempt the other guest? Please start counting already! Ms. Viscount might decide to raise the price again!
"I'm counting down in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0!... We have our first winner! Please give a round of applause for the ladies of group V!"
...CLAP!!!...
"We'll take a short break before the next item. Please enjoy the food and drinks while waiting, everyone."
Sigh!... Thankfully, my plan works. We're able to get that Rank-3 Molten-Lizard Monster-Core.
"We went over the budget for this, Vier-chan."
"This is a rare find, Mifumi-sama. You know that Combine-Class usually appears in Rank-5 or higher monsters."
"I know, Vier-chan. It's a good opportunity to be able to have a Combine-Class Magic at Rank-3."
"Adventurers that were able to find this kind of Monster-Core always keep this for themselves so it doesn't always appear in the market. And the Rank-5 and higher Monster-Core are ten times more expensive than this, so normal Copper-Rank adventurers like us can't afford that."
"But if this is a rare find, why don't the others aim for this? Only our group and Ms. Nerna are competing for this Monster-Core, Vier-chan."
"I already told you. It's the Magic of Surprise-Element!"
"Vier, what Magic is that?"
"There's no Magic like that, Felin-chan. So what is that Surprise-Element, Vier-chan?"
"Think about this, Felin, Mifumi-sama. If what's written in the catalog is Rank-3 Molten-Lizard instead of Rank-2 Fire-Lizard, the other guests should have the time to prioritize this and include this in their budget."
"Okay. I understand you there, Vier-chan.
"Mhm, I understand too!"
"So when the speaker suddenly gives them a surprise, they need time to analyze their budget to see if they can spend additional money that won't compromise their budget for getting their priorities."
"I see, so you need to raise the price faster before they can decide."
"That's right, Mifumi-sama!"
"You're so smart, Vier!"
"Fufufu... Thanks, Felin. But another possible reason why no other guest bet for this is because you need to have both Attributes of Flame-Element and Ground-Element to use this. The other guests probably don't have acquaintances with those requirements."
"That's a more acceptable reason than the first one. Anyway, with those expenses, we only have 6L Gold coins left in our budget. If this is how things go, even if we combine it with my own money we only have a total of 12L Gold coins, we probably can only afford just one more Rank-3 Monster-Core."
"Well, we never expected this kind of price. So which one would you like to aim for, Mifumi-sama?"
"Let's aim for the Rank-3 Lake-Hunter. We'll just have to find Ground-Element base Monster-Core in the Adventurers Guild or the Merchants Association."
"Let's try the open market again, Vier, Mifumi-sama."
"If we spend all our money, then we have no choice but to go back to the open market like Felin said."
After winning our first item in the auction, we just enjoyed the food and drinks while waiting for the auction of Rank-3 Lake-Hunter Monster-Core.
...munch...munch...munch...
"Still not betting, Vier, Mifumi-sama?"
"Our target will be the next one, let's just keep eating while we wait, Felin."
"Aren't the two of you eating too much, Felin-chan, Vier-chan?"
"The food is delicious, Mifumi-sama!"
"We paid 5S Gold coins for the ticket, so let's eat that much food, Mifumi-sama."
"We can't eat that much! It will be like eating one week's worth of food in just one sitting."
"Then let's eat until our limit, right Felin?"
"Let's do that, Vier!"
"Please don't do that! You'll upset your tummy if you do that!"
While we're eating, the auction for the current item is still going on.
"Our current price is at 10L Gold coin!... Any higher offers?... Is the High-Level Rank-3 Steel-Hawk that has Wind-Control skill, Wind-Blade skill, Wind-Barrier skill, Dash-Sprint skill, and the offensive and defensive Wind-Cyclone skill only worth this much?"
"I can't believe that the price of the Rank-3 Steel-Hawk Monster-Core is already this high, right Felin-chan, Vier-chan?"
"Mhm! It's only 1L Gold coin at the open market."
"Well, It's a secondhand Monster-Core and only has 30 percent durability but we're still lucky to find that one."
"But don't the other guests spend too much for that? I thought it was only worth at least 6L Gold coins."
"You can blame that weird half-mask lady for that, Mifumi-sama."
"What do you mean, Vier-chan?"
"I think she's speaking in a way that would antagonize the other guests to continue to compete for the item. She always reminds the other guests how tempting the High-Level Monster-Core is every time the price is raised.
"I see, the masked lady is clever."
"That is right, Felin. Clever and irritating."
"Huh?... What do you mean, Vier-chan?"
"I don't know, Mifumi-sama. But somehow, I'm feeling irritated with her."
"^1L!... Another raise from the gentleman of group C!... Our current price is 11L Gold coins!... Should I start counting down?... Any higher offers?... Do we have a winner for the High-Level Rank-3 Steel-Hawk Monster-Core?...
...^1L!... Another raise from the gentleman of group F!... Their group is not ready to let go of this!... Any higher offers from the other guests?... Our current price is at 12L Gold coins!... I'm counting down okay!... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1.... 0!...
...We have the winner for the High-Level Rank-3 Steel-Hawk Monster-Core! Please give them a round of applause for the group F!"
...CLAP!!!...
After the Rank-3 Steel-Hawk, the next item to be auctioned is the item we're aiming for.
"The next one is the Rank-3 Lake-Hunter Monster-Core, Vier-chan"
"Don't forget the strategy, Vier."
"Mhm! We don't have the magic of the Surprise-Element this time so let's do this slowly."
"Do you think we can win this, Vier-chan?"
"It's the only Water-Element base Monster-Core included in this auction. So other guests might also be aiming for it."
"We have to fight for this one!"
"Felin-chan is right! We're getting this one!"
"Leave it to me, Felin, Mifumi-sama."
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We're already halfway through our event! So to liven up everyone, it's time to present something special!...
...For the introduction, let me tell everyone about the characteristics of the Lake-Hunter monster. This crocodile-like monster that has a 10-meter span and 2000 kilogram weight is found in Lake-type Dungeons and other large water environments...
...It can swim fast in water by using the Water-Control skill. It can fight in range distance using the Water-Sphere skill. And it can defend itself using the Water-Barrier skill...
...But since this is a special item, it won't be enough if it's only on the degree of a High-Level Lake-Hunter!... So The Auction House proudly presents!... The highest of all the High-Level Lake-Hunter monster!... Presenting!... The Rank-4 Deep-Lake-Hunter Monster-Core."
...WHOA!!!...
Every other guest was amazed and probably felt delighted by that surprise. While I on the other hand...
Agrhh!!!!!!... You, half-mask lair!!!!!...
"What kind of Auction House would write a different item in their catalog?! Are you saying that is another misjudgment from the seller?... Nope!... I know you intentionally do that!"
"Did they lie, Mifumi-sama, Vier?
"Ummm... No, they didn't Felin-chan. Technically speaking, the Deep-Lake-Hunter monster is the same race as the Lake-Hunter monster. The only difference is that it is much bigger and much more powerful so it was ranked as Rank-4."
"But that's still a different one, Mifumi-sama! What's written in the catalog is a Rank-3 Lake-Hunter... Huh?... Grrr!!!... It was only written as Lake-Hunter after all. They intentionally didn't write the word Rank-3 in the catalog!"
While I'm getting angry about that about the auction house... No... I'm actually angry not at the auction house but at the speaker, that half-mask lair continues her introduction about the auction item.
"This Rank-4 Deep-Lake-Hunter is much stronger than any Rank-3 Lake-Hunter!... It not only offers one more offensive-skill called Water-Blast but also offers one more support-skill called Water-Boost and one more regeneration-skill which is Water-Regen!"
"This is bad, Vier-chan. I'm sure the other guests would aim for this one. Water-Blast is a powerful offensive-skill and the regeneration effect of the Water-Regen skill is much better than the regeneration-skill of the Slime-Watch Mana-Tech. There's also the support-skill Water-Boost that can be used to support yourself and your teammates."
"Grrrr!!!..."
"Ladies and Gentlemen!... For today's special item!... Let the Battle of Wits and Money Begin!...
...Our starting price is 5L Gold coins!... +2S!.. From B... ^5S!.. From N... x2!... From the lady of group V!... She just trampled the first wave of offers from the other guests and doubled our current existing price!... Our current price is now at 10L Gold coin!"
"Vier-chan!, what are you doing?"
"Don't worry, Mifumi-sama. Even if I have to add my savings, I'm going to win that Rank-4 Deep-Lake-Hunter Monster-Core for you!"
"I don't need that! My Sorceress-Staff can only use Rank-3 Monster-Core!"
"Give up, Vier! Let's just look again in the open market."
"Since we reached the threshold of 10L Gold coins! If anyone raises the No.1, No.2, and No.3 cards together with the No.4 card, your raise of an S Gold coin will become an L Gold coin!...
...If all our honored guests understand, let the second wave of offers begin!...
...+1L!... From A... +1L!... From E... +1L!... From A again... ^5L!... From Group D... Our current price is now at 15L Gold coins!... Any higher offers?... Come on Ladies and Gentlemen! I need someone to trample and crush this second wave of offers!"
"Arghh!!!!.... Then take this weird half-mask lady!"
"x2!... That's what I'm looking for! The fearless lady of group V trampled and crushed the second wave of offers by raising the price by double! Our current price is now at 30L Gold coins!"
"Vier-chan, stop! You can't spend that much!"
"Don't worry, Mifumi-sama! I'm going to win this one!"
"Felin-chan! Hold Vier-chan's hands so she can't raise them anymore!"
"I'm on it, Mifumi-sama."
"Arghhh!!... Please let go of me Felin! I'm going to show that weird half-mask lady that we can win this one!"
"You're acting weird, Vier. Stop now!"
"You can't spend that much money for a single Monster-Core, Vier-chan!"
"We can just earn it again, Mifumi-sama, Felin... Arghh!!!... If I can't raise the card then I just have to shout my bet..."
"Cover Vier's mouth, Mifumi-sama."
"Okay, Felin-chan."
"Humm!...humm!...humm...!!!"
"Sheesh! Please shut up already, Vier-chan!"