Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Storage Auction (8)
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After hanging up the phone, I punched the auction location into my navigation.
It was fifteen minutes away.
'Should be doable on my own. Just follow what Bill taught me.'
Would beginner's luck pull through for me again this time?
The parking lot at the U-Store-It warehouse was already packed with vehicles.
Pickup trucks, vans, even a U-Haul. Looked like the pros had shown up in force.
I finished registering at the office and headed to the auction site.
About twenty people had gathered in the long corridor lined with storage units.
A few faces I recognized from last time.
"Hey, aren't you the kid who came with Bill last time?"
Frank, the bald white guy running a used furniture shop, spotted me.
"Yeah, that's me. Came solo today."
"Where's Bill?"
"Store stuff came up."
The auctioneer grabbed the mic.
It was Marcus, the big Black guy.
"Alright, seven units today. You know the rules: five minutes to look, no entering."
The first unit opened.
Furniture and electronics, all neatly arranged.
"Clean unit."
"That Samsung fridge is a newer model."
The dealers murmured.
"Starting bid, two hundred dollars!"
"Two-fifty!"
"Three hundred!"
The price shot up fast.
It went for $2,750 in the end.
Second unit: packed with tools.
Sold for $1,500.
Third: baby stuff.
$320.
'Way out of my budget from the start.'
I checked my wallet.
Only three hundred bucks to spend.
Fourth unit opened.
Everyone stepped back at once.
"Ugh, total hoarder unit!"
"Mountain of trash!"
It was exactly that.
Boxes piled to the ceiling, heaps of newspapers, bags, broken furniture, rotten mattress.
The musty stench of a long-neglected unit hit like a punch.
"No one touches a unit like that, even if they paid you. Dump fees alone would run five hundred bucks."
One dealer said, pinching his nose with a handkerchief.
"Yeah. Rent a truck, hire laborers, round trip to the dump... takes a full day minimum."
"Bought one like it last year. Spent forever clearing it and stepped on a rusty nail—ended up in the hospital."
The others chimed in agreement.
Everyone shaking their heads, turning away.
Marcus looked awkward too.
"Alright... pass. Moving to the next unit."
But right then,
I saw something different.
'This... could work.'
Honestly, snagging a decent unit within my three-hundred-dollar budget looked tough.
This auction was bigger than last time, way more pros.
'Might as well bet on one no one else wants.'
Sure, it could be pure garbage.
But if—just maybe—there was some overlooked treasure hidden in there...
'I can find it for sure.'
Plus, Bill's words came back to me.
'To make it in this game, you can't just hustle on foot. Info's key. Auctioneers, dealers, appraisers... connections are cash.'
Marcus's troubled face right now? Perfect chance to build some of those.
Clearing that junk unit would cost hundreds. If someone took it off his hands... he'd be grateful.
"Hold up."
I raised my hand as Marcus started moving on, looking relieved.
He gave me a puzzled glance.
"Something wrong? You bidding?"
"Yeah, I kinda like this unit...?"
He glanced between me and the other dealers heading off, then back.
"Hey, buddy. This one's passed. You serious?"
"Dead serious. I'll take it for a dollar."
"A dollar?"
Relief washed over Marcus's face. But I didn't stop there.
"In exchange..."
I pulled out a business-card-sized notepad and started jotting my contact info.
Then, slowly, calmly, no rush, I handed it over.
This next line was key.
"Next time there's an auction, if a good unit pops up, could you give me a call?"
Marcus's expression shifted subtly.
Oh, this guy's sharp.
I could see the reevaluation in his eyes.
"I'll show up every auction. And I'll bring others too."
Not a lie.
More bidders mean higher prices. Good for Marcus, good for the company.
His eyes lit up.
"For real? You'll really take that unit for a buck?"
"I'll clear it out spotless. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Marcus took my info with a grin.
"If you take it, I'm saved. Lifesaver."
"No biggie."
I played it modest.
"Just hook me up with good unit tips."
"You got it!"
Marcus beamed.
"Glad a guy like you's into this. These days, kids just wanna film YouTube vids."
He glanced around, then lowered his voice.
"I'll call before the next one. Especially good units—I'll tip you off early. Our secret, though."
Then Frank approached from the front.
Our long chat had piqued his curiosity.
He sized me up and down.
"Hey, you serious? You could lose big clearing that."
More curiosity than warning in his tone.
He was dying to know why I'd buy a trash unit.
"Just a dollar, so it's practice."
I shrugged casually.
"Plus, investing in the future."
"Investing?"
"Newbie's gotta hustle harder. Build connections, get info... Bill says that's key, right?"
Frank grinned, catching on.
"Smart kid."
He uncrossed his arms.
"I've dealt with Marcus over ten years—get early tips sometimes. Everyone does it."
He leaned in, whispering.
"One tip: good stuff often gets claimed before it even hits auction. Build those bonds, keep your eyes open."
"Thanks for the advice."
Frank handed me his card.
"Frank Miller. Furniture shop in Austin. Furniture lots come up, hit me up. Good price."
"Appreciate it!"
Another connection made.
Marcus finished the paperwork.
"Sign here. And this."
He gave me his card.
Thick stock, gold-embossed.
[Marcus Johnson - Senior Auction Manager, U-Store-It]
"My direct line."
He pointed to the handwritten cell number on back.
"Next auction's two weeks. Come. Got some solid units lined up."
"Wouldn't miss it. Thanks."
"Nah, thank you."
Marcus bumped my fist.
"Clearing that would've cost at least four hundred. You saved the company that much."
Then, quieter:
"And my bonus. Too many passes hurts my numbers. You're my hero."
'Nailed it.'
My hunch was spot on.
Marcus wasn't just worried about cleanup costs—his performance too.
"Anyway, I'll make it up next time."
He winked.
The auction rolled on.
Fifth unit: $850.
Sixth: $1,200.
Seventh: a whopping $3,500.
I tuned it out.
Marcus's card was in my pocket. Frank's too.
For a dollar today, I bought more than a unit.
Trust and connections money couldn't buy.
Auction over, I stood before my unit.
Acting tough to buy it was easy. Facing the cleanup? Daunting.
'Uh... now what?'
Massive pile. To the ceiling. Fit in the truck?
No regrets, though.
'Just start.'
Masked up, gloved, I dove in.
First box: moldy clothes.
"Ugh..."
Musty hit even through the mask.
Second: shattered dishes. Junk.
Third: rotted newspapers. Trash.
One hour in, barely cleared the entrance.
Sweat trickling down my back.
'This'll take all day.'
A dealer from the next unit over approached.
"Still at it?"
Pity in his eyes.
"Quit while you're ahead? That'll eat a whole day."
"Gonna push a bit more."
I replied firmly.
Couldn't bail. Promised Marcus.
"Dump run's an hour round trip. Plus fees..."
"Taking it home to sort slow."
"Home? All this trash?"
Incredulous look.
"Yeah. Big yard."
Trailer park's tiny patch, technically.
He shook his head, walking off.
"Young guy's in for it. Good luck."
Back to it.
Box by box to the truck.
Heavier than expected. Newspaper stacks were killers.
Kept going, no breaks.
Marcus's card fueled me.
'One day's grind for chances at thousands down the line. Worth it.'
Spotted some maybes midway.
Those taped boxes in the corner.
'Something in there maybe...'
Four hours later, unit empty.
Truck bed crammed with junk.
Sweat-soaked, filthy head to toe. Rough shape.
'Damn, shower first thing home.'
On the drive, worries nagged.
'How to dump this? What if it's all trash?'
No choice now.
See it through.
Pulled into the trailer park past seven.
"Jake!"
Nancy ran out, then froze.
"Eww! Stinky!"
"Sorry, sorry. Warehouse cleanup..."
Dorothy emerged at the commotion.
"Oh my god, what happened? Truck's full of garbage..."
"Haha... bought a unit at auction for a dollar. Total junk."
"A dollar?"
Sam came out too.
"Lord, Jake... you okay?"
Was I that bad?
Explained, and they all stared in disbelief.
"Even for a dollar, why buy that?"
Dorothy asked, worried.
"Felt like something might be there. And just a buck..."
"How you gonna handle all this trash?"
"Sort as I go. Might find something..."
Sam sighed.
"Fine. I'll help. Shower first."
Showered, changed.
Spread a tarp in the yard, set up lights.
"Treasure hunt time!"
Nancy cheered, slipping on kid gloves that dangled loose.
"More like trash hunt..."
I muttered.
Dorothy overheard, smirked, passed out masks.
"Still, doing it together? Kinda fun. Reminds me of yard sales with roommates in LA."
Sam stretched.
"These auctions were hot when I was young. Friend once found Gold Rush coins in a five-hundred-dollar unit."
"Real coins? Gold?"
Nancy's eyes sparkled.
"Yup. Sparked a craze for hidden treasures. Most were duds, though."