Auction (2)
-Number 112 bids 1.2 million! Do I hear more?
The auctioneer's question was met with silence from every participant. Senior had just bid 2.5 times the starting price.
It was a mad scene if you thought about it. Who the hell just slams down more than double right off the bat? Normally, you'd inch the price up bit by bit until you hit a fair value and stop. Even the most precious item has its limits.
But Ruina Lindel was no ordinary person—she operated far outside common sense—and she genuinely believed the amount she'd called was the item's true worth.
Yin-Yang Grass to bidder 112 for 1.2 million gold!
The auctioneer bellowed triumphantly. That made 14 out of the 30 auctions so far fall into our laps. As time dragged on, more and more people who couldn't fully enjoy the event shot glares our way.
"Uh... does your senior even know what an auction is?"
Evan finally piped up under the mounting pressure of those stares. Senior fixed him with an emotionless glare.
"I do. Bid the highest, and you get it. And don't call me that."
With that curt reply, she turned her focus back to the auction. This time, she bid 1.5 times the starting price.
"Bro... that lady's got a weird sense of money..."
"Don't bother trying to understand."
Senior raked in billions annually from alchemy alone. Of course her spending was off-kilter; it was hard for a commoner like Evan to wrap his head around it.
In any case, no one could stop Senior's rampage. She only went for alchemy-related items and materials. Nobles chased art pieces, while adventurers, knights, and mages focused on gear to boost their combat power.
Competition wasn't entirely absent, of course. The hall was full of all sorts, and plenty of items overlapped in appeal. Five bidders at minimum, up to ten at most. They clung on stubbornly, clearly desperate to win.
112 bids 500,000 gold! 256 follows at 550,000! 672 pushes to 600,000!
As soon as Senior opened the bidding, they swarmed in, nipping at her heels and jacking up the price.
But Ruina Lindel wasn't one to sit idle for such petty games.
"Annoying."
Click.
Senior punched numbers into the auction magic tool with an irritated expression.
Unbelievable! 112 bids 1 million gold!!!
"......"
"......"
Silence blanketed the auction hall. Four times the starting price. The item was rare, sure, but not that rare.
No wonder the hush fell. Even I felt the same. Three times might've been understandable, but four? That was pushing it a bit.
I asked in a concerned tone.
"Isn't that a bit high?"
"Yeah. But they're bothering me."
"Can't be helped, then."
Why endure the hassle of incremental bids when you could drop a fat stack and end it? Who was I to argue? It was her money, not mine. She might listen if her apprentice spoke up, but I wasn't about to meddle.
112 wins for 1 million gold!
Ruina Senior wore a satisfied look as she declared,
"Got 'em all."
"Nothing left you want?"
"Yeah. Don't need the rest."
She set the catalog aside and summoned a staff member to order cake.
"This. One whole thing."
"Not a slice, but a whole one?"
"Yeah. The entire thing."
"Ah, got it."
The staffer left in a fluster—clearly shocked by "whole thing."
I eyed Senior. Despite a satisfying haul, she looked off. The nonstop auctions must've stressed her out. As I'd mentioned before, she wasn't one for going out much. She'd spent over half the past week holed up in the hotel.
"How about a break? There's a sofa right there."
"Yeah... okay..."
Her tired eyes led her straight to the sofa. Rana followed, offering,
"Ruina Senior, want a lap pillow?"
"Yeah..."
"Here you go!"
Rana patted her thigh, and Senior laid her head down. Rana beamed, delighted.
"Hehe."
With their cozy vibe, I turned back to the auction. The items I wanted clustered in the mid-to-late half, and the early phase had just wrapped.
My turn now.
"How much are you planning to buy, bro?"
I recalled the catalog and answered Evan's question.
"About... 30?"
"......You're crazy too."
Evan turned away, faced with our vastly different worlds.
"What's with the shock? You gotta spend when you need to. We're in the Free City—gotta grab that much at least."
The Free City's auction happened once a year. Stock up while you're here. Plus, a few were for the protagonist—you—anyway. What an oblivious punk. If he acted up later, I'd rewire his brain.
"Time to focus on the auction."
That's when my eyes met Barto Bennet's from across the VIP rooms. Time for his help to ensure smooth sailing.
I gripped the auction tool and joined in.
Bidder 112 takes the final item, the Blessed Barrier Stone, closing this year's auction. Thank you to our esteemed guests...
The auction wrapped up. The auctioneer gave closing remarks and basic instructions—nothing special. Just pay for your wins and claim your lots.
I'd snagged everything I wanted. Senior's early dominance plus Barto Bennet's assistance made it a breeze.
I stood.
"Rana, let's go. Senior, time to wake up."
I gently roused the now-snoozing Senior.
"Sleepy..."
"We still have work. Can you hang in a bit longer?"
"Yeah, got it..."
At my plea, she dragged herself up with bleary eyes. Rana stretched and whined,
"Ughhh... four hours is too long!"
"Can't help it in the Free City. Almost done—just bear with it."
"Okay, Kyle!"
Evan chimed in,
"But bro, isn't the auction over? You said something about—"
"Quiet. Hush."
I clamped his mouth shut quick. Guy had a knack for blabbing at the worst times.
"I'll explain later. Follow for now."
First, collect our lots. It didn't take long. Down on the first floor, we verified wins, paid up, and opted for hotel delivery over carrying them out.
Same for Senior's stuff. Then I handed a black invitation to the freshly paid staffer.
He bowed deeply.
"Please wait in the lobby; we'll guide you shortly."
I nodded and waited as instructed. Soon, another staffer arrived.
"This way, please."
We followed him underground, past rooms, dozens of locks and security measures, down dim corridors, to a secluded chamber overflowing with splendor—like our VIP room, but isolated.
Everything was prepped inside, one wall glassed for a clear view of a different auction stage.
"Call if you need anything."
The staffer bowed out.
"Whew, finally here."
"Bro, can you spill now?"
"Yeah."
This was the private room. Unlike the VIP lounge, it was fully soundproof—no leaks.
"What's this place for?"
"The 'back side,' as they call it. Illegal auctions go down here."
The Free City's auctions split two ways. The front— what we'd just done—was legal, with tame items, fair prices, big crowds.
The back? Invite-only by the house. If front was legit, back peddled the illicit: drugs, mass-murder magic or tools, tamed monsters, slaves. That sort.
"So the elf's...?"
"Yeah, she's here."
Slaves were mostly human, but other races popped up sometimes. They mostly stuck to the Holy Kingdom, so enslavement was rare—but cases like this happened.
The elf was likely in the holding area.
"Then shouldn't we hurry and buy her?"
"Hold up. Not that simple."
Security was tight for illicit stuff. Lots guarded heavily.
Though we're prepared.
As per our deal, Barto Bennet had set things up. He had stakes in the auction house, like the casino.
"So we just follow the plan."
"Got it."
"You got it, Kyle!"
"......"
Senior said nothing. Asleep again.
"Senior? Senior?"
"Huh, yeah...?"
"You good?"
"Yeah... I can do it."
"Wipe the sleep from your eyes first."
I magicked water onto my hand and cleaned her face.
"All awake now?"
"Yeah, wide awake."
Good—she perked up fast.
Right then—
Esteemed guests, the auction begins. Quietly and softly.
Flicker-flicker.
Lights only on the auction stage—rest dark to prevent info leaks.
Seven boys and seven girls—perfect for experiments or slavery. Pure body and mind, no defects. Starting bid: 5 million gold. Increments: 100,000 gold.
Bids skyrocketed instantly.
"Time to get ready."
The back auction was on. Our move.
I stepped out, fury boiling deep inside.
"Fucking bastards."