Helkrim Auction House (3)

Logan blinked at me, his eyes wide.

"Uh... how much are you thinking?"

He'd turned the question back on me. Guess my follow-up had given him a chilly vibe.

"Don't need anything else. This should do it."

I showed Logan the catalog.

Thunderclap... Quite the hefty starting bid, huh?"

"Yeah, well. That's how it is."

Thud! Logan snapped the catalog shut.

Then, with a faint smile, he replied, "What's my job? Sponsoring you all is what I do. I'll do my best to snag it."

Ah, what a straightforward guy. You can tell from the start who's going places. Logan's definitely one of them.

"I'll go with this one!"

"...I'll pass for now."

April picked out some armor. Kethar, not seeing anything he liked, put it off till next time.

* * *

A little later, the auction house ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠started filling up, and the auctioneer took the stage.

The weapon I wanted was tenth in line. April's armor was fifth.

"Oh, check that out. Isn't the finish just exquisite?"

"Whoa, those curves are killer."

"Ahem... that's a problem for me. Breaks my heart, but I gotta pass on that one."

Logan gushed admiration every time gear came up. Kinda ambiguous whether he was talking about the equipment or not, though.

The refined Logan crumbled a bit in front of the gear.

Anyway, things moved fast. The first four weren't all that useful, so some lots passed without bids.

"Next up, this beauty!"

April's pick appeared: Mana Recovery Aviation Jumper.

A fur-lined flight jacket, Hero-grade armor with Mana Coating and Mana Recovery options.

The standout is probably Casting Speed.

Tacked on at the end: Casting Speed +20%.

"Five million."

"......"

"......"

Starting bid was five million babel. Logan called five million right away, silencing the room.

Ah, this is what money power looks like. No wonder VVIPs get the perks.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

April's item was hers in no time.

Now just mine left.

And it didn't take long.

"Ooh..."

"Looks heavy. Extra-large two-hander..."

"Not just anyone could wield that."

"No problem for us Helkrim warriors! I'm buying it now!"

My choice: an extra-large two-handed sword. Blade width 30cm, thickness 3cm. Length? No need to mention. Truly extra-large. Could double as a club.

Like they say, not for just anyone. Maybe Kethar in golem form.

I'd be fine too. Wasn't planning to swing it myself anyway.

"Starting bid..."

"One hundred fifty million."

"......"

"......"

Logan flexed his money power again. A few Helkrim warriors just stared blankly at him.

Warriors who'd buy no matter what went quiet. Makes sense—I'd do the same. Looked like he'd outbid them several times over if they tried.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that, April's armor and my weapon were secured.

After the auction, the items were delivered. Options matched the catalog exactly.

Just as planned, I got a weapon with Lightning attribute. And not just that—the options included a Lightning Bolt skill.

A skill that spins a spherical orb around, leaking lightning everywhere. Perfect for mob farming.

With this, I can spread Bleed, Lightning, and Fire attributes.

Three attributes for the party. More gear means more attributes.

As attributes pile up, April's Transfer and Injection Explosion will shine even brighter.

"Hey, nothing for me?"

I was thrilled with the haul when the barbarian ruined the mood.

...Right, gotta sort him out too.

"Nothing for me, man!"

The guy grabbed Kethar's collar.

This punk's got some nerve. How long's it been since we met, and he's already demanding his share.

Time to give him a lesson.

"Step outside with me a sec?"

"What? You ain't an NPC? Haha, this guy's total player vibes."

He sneered and followed.

* * *

I took him to a spot these types love. Empty. Quiet. Secluded.

Sure enough, he struck a pose like he owned the place—shoved me against the wall, hand on it, leg kicking idly.

"So, what's your deal with me? Huh?"

Doesn't he check levels? Even a thug should know from mine that he's outclassed.

Whatever. Punch first, talk later.

Whoosh!Thwack!

"Guh, ack!"

I slammed my fist into his gut. He floated up a bit, then crumpled.

Hm? What's this? Barbarian warrior build should have decent HP and strength...

Drops in one hit?

Wait, come to think of it...

Forgot for a sec. Even at the same level, I'm different.

My stats...

Ah, that explains it. Strength already at +85. That's near 40+ level territory.

Weapon Summoner really is broken.

While others wield one or two weapons, I handle multiples. And get all their options.

So my punches pack a real wallop.

"Grr, ugh... y-you bastard... What the hell. Wh-why does it hurt so much?! Die, you...!"

Thwack!Crash!

He tried getting up, so I kicked him. Body lifted, slammed into the wall.

"Blegh!"

He puked right away.

But this guy's not the type to wise up that easy.

Thud!Thud thud thud thud!

I beat him. Thud!Thud thud! Beat him more.

Soon bones cracked. Body a bloody mess. Trembled at the sight of my foot.

"Ugh... uh..."

No energy left to speak, naturally.

My eyes shifted from him to his axes.

How the hell has this guy been surviving?

I touched his double-bladed axes and peered into their memories.

* * *

-Huh? Who're you? Move it?

Then a guy appeared before him. An Orion employee.

For some reason, tilting his head repeatedly.

-You a player?

-Huh? You too? Nice, bro!

-Hmm... The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠employee hesitated.

Normally, he'd grab this punk for experiments or force him into something.

-Take care. The Orion guy just left.

Looked hopeless, so abandoned.

-What a lame dude.

Dismissed the first player he met coolly.

Then hunted occasionally for EXP, hit on girls, drank, slept, fought. Lived like a total game NPC, naturally.

Thuggish behavior, but nothing major beyond the sleaziness...

A straight-up thug. But noteworthy: rare glimpses during hunts.

Eyes change. From ditzy girl-chaser to killer's glare.

And decent with dual-wield. Stance. Swing power. Timing.

Attack speed slow, but hit precise spots.

Usable.

Need another capable hand ASAP. If I can humanize him, slot him into 2nd Platoon.

If I can...

Let's try. Worst case, hand to Titan Guard for jail.

Memory ended.

Beat him some more.

They say enough beatings make a human.

* * *

Next day, back to Brockton.

Resting before Executioner quest. Leaving today.

Brought the Ekra-possessed guy. More like dragged.

Beat unconscious by me, slept the whole way.

Kethar took responsibility, watching his state today.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Knock knock.

Someone at the door.

"S-sir... please come to the lobby."

Hotel staff. Something tricky, needs me in lobby.

But...

"B-boss...!"

A shout echoes.

That why they called? But third floor—how's lobby yell reaching here?

Went down quick.

"Boss! Ekra's here! Booooss!!!!!"

"......"

Why's this guy like that?

Ekra in lobby, barely covering privates, bellowing.

Barbarian lungs are no joke.

"Huh? Boss! Boss!!!!!"

Locked eyes as I descended stairs.

Started "Boss! Boss!" then prostrated.

"Boss! I finally got enlightenment! Your kicks cleared my mind!!!"

Huh? What?

"Accept me! This Ekra pledges his life to you!!!"

"......"

Wait. No way he got my intent. Memory showed no such cunning.

So...

He's for real.

Then Kethar approached, troubled.

"...Woke up looking for you."

"Me?"

"...Said had to apologize to our boss."

"...Hm."

Guy still headbutting floor. Crowd gathering. Can't leave like this.

"Get up."

"Yes! Boss!"

"Hands in front."

"Yes! Boss!"

Arms behind back, barely-covered privates distracting. Barbarian indeed.

Ahem. Seems genuine, but watch him for now.

"Car's ready."

Driver waiting at entrance.

"Oh, bro got a little bro? Congrats! Wish I had a sturdy one like that. Bet he'd listen good. Hehe."

"I'll serve Sis with all I got! Ekra here! Sis!"

This punk mafia-bowing, arms nearly dragging.

"Ain't that Helkrim folk? Thought they were tough, prideful..."

"Yeah. Super fierce? But totally owned by that guy!"

"Wait, ain't he the Brockton savior?"

"R-right! Yeah!"

Murmurs. As expected, amazing... all sorts of praise.

Of course, whispering.

Ah, this...

Too embarrassing to hear.

"One request."

"Yes! Boss! Anything!"

"No yelling when talking to me. I hear whispers fine."

"Yes.... Got it.... Boss."

Somehow got a barbarian bro. One more player teammate.