Chapter 31: The Bidding Wars Begin
The room fell into a hushed anticipation as the lights dimmed and the auctioneer stepped onto the stage. With a dignified nod, he signaled for the first items to be displayed. Several attendants entered, carrying elegant cases filled with sparkling jewelry, each piece glistening under the lights and crafted with incredible artistry. The auctioneer began his descriptions, listing off the precious gems and intricate designs, hinting at the jewelry's popularity among noblewomen for its beauty and exclusivity.
Immediately, the bidding began with a fervor. Nobles in the audience—especially the noblewomen—raised their bidding paddles, sparking a fierce competition. They pushed the prices higher and higher, each one determined to secure these symbols of wealth and status. Reyn watched in fascination as the numbers climbed, surprised at the immense amounts of money the nobles seemed willing to part with.
"Look at them," Garret muttered beside him, shaking his head in amusement. "All that gold for a few baubles."
Reyn nodded, barely able to hide his surprise. Though he had little interest in these items himself, seeing the nobles throw around such sums was eye-opening.
Once the jewelry was sold, the next round brought out a collection of intricate paintings and sculptures, each one a testament to the skill of its artist. A few noblemen took particular interest, driving up the prices with casual bids. Reyn noticed that while the artworks weren't as popular as the jewelry, they still commanded impressive sums. He couldn't help but marvel at how much gold these nobles seemed to have on hand.
Then came an impressive suit of jewel-encrusted, enchanted armor, its surface shimmering with powerful magic. The auctioneer described its properties, boasting of enhanced strength, agility, and a defensive enchantment said to ward off spells. As soon as the bidding began, Count Malstron's paddle went up, his face set with determination. His interest was clear—this was no simple bauble; this was a valuable, enchanted piece.
Across the room, several elves eyed the armor with keen interest. After a quick exchange of nods, one of them raised his own paddle, countering Malstron's bid with a casual raise.
"Fascinating," Garret whispered, smirking. "Looks like the Count's in for a bit of a battle."
Reyn glanced between the Count and the elves, intrigued by the escalating bids. The price quickly climbed higher and higher as Malstron and the elves went back and forth, neither side willing to back down. The atmosphere grew tense, with murmurs from the audience as the two sides continued their duel of wealth.
Finally, when the price soared beyond what most nobles would dare to spend, the elves exchanged looks and slowly lowered their paddles. A few smug glances passed between them, clearly satisfied at having pushed the price up to a steep level before bowing out. Count Malstron, on the other hand, looked displeased, realizing he had paid far more than he'd intended, all thanks to the elves' clever bidding.
"Serves him right," Garret chuckled under his breath. "Bet he won't forget that."
Reyn simply nodded, his gaze following the Count as he begrudgingly accepted his costly prize. While he hadn't cared for any of the items so far, the spectacle of the bidding wars was unexpectedly entertaining, showing him just how much influence wealth and status wielded here.
After a short break, the next item was brought out—a small, unassuming scroll. The auctioneer announced it as a rare martial manual from the beastmen, its contents supposedly offering valuable techniques for those willing to pay the price. The scroll wasn't particularly ornate or impressive-looking, but Reyn's interest was piqued by its practical value.
The auctioneer set the starting bid at 150 gold, and Reyn noticed a flicker of interest among a few nobles who were keen on acquiring rare skills to bolster their training.
One noble raised his paddle immediately, calling out, "200 gold!"
The beastmen in their booth watched intently, clearly hoping the manual would bring in more than just the minimum. Another noble quickly joined in, raising the bid to 250 gold. Reyn leaned forward, intrigued by the bidding. Unlike the previous items, this manual was practical—a tool for training and improving one's abilities. He could understand why someone would pay for that.
"Thinkin' of bidding?" Garret teased, nudging him lightly. "Could be a good investment."Reyn smirked. "It might be worth it. Techniques are harder to come by than fancy armor or jewels. I could learn a lot from this manual."
After a moment's hesitation, he raised his hand and called out, "300 gold!"
A few nobles in the crowd turned, surprised to see a new bidder. Reyn, disguised and keeping a low profile, gave nothing away in his expression, but he could feel the slight tension in the room as his bid prompted a few whispers.
Another noble, clearly annoyed by this unexpected competition, quickly raised his paddle. "350!"
Reyn didn't back down, lifting his hand again. "400."
The auctioneer looked delighted as the bid continued to climb. "We have 400 gold for the beastmen's martial manual! Any further bids?"
The rival noble gave Reyn a long look before raising his paddle one last time. "450."
Reyn considered it for a moment, knowing he still had enough funds for both the manual and the dwarven sword he wanted to study. He lifted his hand once more, his voice steady as he called, "500 gold."
The noble who had been bidding against him scowled but didn't raise his paddle again, and after a few moments, the auctioneer struck his gavel. "Sold! To our distinguished guest in the VIP booth for 500 gold!"
Reyn felt a wave of satisfaction. Garret gave him a grin, clapping him on the back. "Look at you, splurging a bit. Bet that manual's got some secrets worth the gold."
Reyn nodded. "I think it will. Besides, with everything we've seen here in the capital, learning new techniques might be more useful than I thought."
As the manual was carefully wrapped and prepared for him, Reyn settled back in his seat, eagerly awaiting the next item—one of his own creations.