With the chaos-filled auction completed, Alex looks around, still seeing hundreds of players talking with each other, others laughing wildly.
I guess it was... memorable.
Still, within a few minutes, most players leave.
The group stands up and approaches Softspark at the back of the hall.
"That was awesome!" Tereza says, grinning. "I didn't think you could do that."
"I appreciate it as well," Alex adds. "Though I fear that won't play well with your reputation...."
"They had it coming," Benezia states. "She did a good job, without a doubt. She withstood and dealt with their schemes appropriately. The big guilds can easily afford to overpay 100,000 FC per [Seastone (Small)]. In fact, I'd say this is beneficial for their reputation."
"Thank you, I hope the auction turned out to your satisfaction. As for my reputation... I believe I acted perfectly in line with the Union's reputation. That leaves you with three [Seastone (Small)] to keep for your own needs. As well as the [Red Stones], your two weapons with the pricy effect, which you said I wasn't allowed to auction, as well as the [Hades Hammer] and the two pieces of [Lava-Lizard Skin]," Softspark summarizes, looking neither disappointed nor satisfied.
"Yes, hand them over to Benezia, thank you!" Alex says, looking more than satisfied, before slowly asking, "So... the total amount?"
"Let's start with you, player Tereza," Softspark says, speaking formally and beginning to calculate. "Your items sold for a total of 320,000 FC. Minus the Union's cut, that leaves you with 288,000 FC."
"Thank you," Tereza says, smiling widely.
I'm feeling a little guilty. I gave her quite a few items already, but I guess she kept a lot? It looks like only I got the truly valuable items, and I guess I earned them... after all, I had two Supporters and Jewel with me. Of course, I'll get more loot that way. I also have to constantly invest in my pet and my supporters. It costs a whole lot just to bring them with me.
Softspark then begins a new calculation, needing way longer as she frantically types numbers into her system screen, murmuring softly.
"Total sales of 6,981,000 FC. Minus the Union's cut, your total takeaway is 6,282,900 FC," she concludes.
"The fuck?! So much? Incredible," Alex remarks, trying to keep his voice low, suddenly feeling weirdly conscious, like he's about to be robbed.
I'm really rich! Also, we still have a couple of things left. That's great!
Soulmate should buy Princess Jewel a special chicken to celebrate.
I guess you worked quite hard as well. You surely deserve one. I'll ask Menchi about it later.
❤️
"The seastones were an unexpected gain," Benezia points out. "This outcome is slightly above expectations."
"No shit..." Alex mutters. "That was the best mission ever. This feels almost criminal. The Realm economy is seriously busted! Items granting Innate skills are so overpriced that it's almost comical. Light Purple items are selling for more than Gold quality equipment; how is that balanced?"
"The players are the ones deciding the prices. The Realm may appear to be biased, but that isn't the case. I am not allowed to give you detailed information, but if you ask me, you should trust the system's rating a little more," Softspark argues, being unexpectedly forthcoming.
Really? I mean... I guess? What does she know?
"In any case," she continues. "We're rearranging the hall. Please take a seat in front of the stage; you'll be facing the people who want to sell you items directly. We'll be placing chairs for you to sit on, as well as a table in front of you. Players may present you with their offering, and should you find something to your liking, you may negotiate as you wish. However, it's common courtesy not to argue and continue into perpetuity, as there are probably more players waiting."
"A final warning," she adds. "According to my experience, you'll be presented with items that will be extremely useful to you specifically. Those offering know a lot of information about you. They are specifically targeting you, trying to tempt you with exactly what you may desire. In my experience, it can be a trap. With a lot of FC at your disposal, you may end up spending most of your earnings on items worth only a fraction of the price they're offered at. If you really need the items, it isn't a problem, but I'd still like to warn you not to get taken advantage of."
I guess... she is kinda right.
"Thank you," Alex thanks her earnestly. "I guess that makes sense. I'll make the final decision, but Benezia, you'll be giving me advice, right?"
"Indeed," Benezia replies. "I'll provide you with my insights."
"Just wait a minute... my attendants will make sure anyone lining up has at least something of value to trade," Softspark informs them. "Otherwise, people may just line up to hear your conversations."
"Can't we do it in private?" Alex asks. "Obviously, I don't want to negotiate openly."
"You could, but as the representative of the Goblin Union, we don't do it that way. There are proper rules and etiquette. It's been long established that the hosts of an auction openly negotiate. We can't make an exception for you—that would be bending the rules too far. So be mindful of what you reveal about yourself. Of course, you could also ask them to negotiate privately, but many might refuse you."
Stupid... no choice then.
"Fine, I guess," Alex relents.
Just as instructed, Alex, Benezia, Menchi, and Tereza sit down on a few auction chairs that have been placed directly in front of the stage. A mid-sized table is present as well.
As they sit down, they see the goblins aiding Softspark, guiding a few players towards them and politely urging them to line up.
Alex counts a total of 6 players, then a seventh one wearing a hooded robe enters from the entrance.
Six... no seven, huh? Not too many... but also not too few. I mean, let's just see what they've got, right?
67 ❤️
Please... stop it with that. If that's becoming a habit, I'll try to swap you with the pigeon.
Soulmate shouldn't even joke about this!
"Honored players, are you ready to entertain a few offers from the visitors?" one goblin asks Alex.
"Yeah, sure. Wouldn't want to waste anyone's time. Please go ahead," Alex responds swiftly, nodding towards the players.
The first player, a man seemingly in his forties, steps forward.
"I have rare meat to sell. I've been told your Supporter appreciates it and is in dire need of more variety," he says. "I'm a skilled Hunter."
"Let me take a look," Menchi says, excitedly, and the player swiftly presents various items through his system to Alex and Menchi.
Alex quickly scans through the list, but doesn't recognize anything. Random parts of Gray, White, and a few rare Green Quality animals. Some animals, despite their size are presented as a whole.
He glances towards Menchi and sees a tiny frown on her face.
Still, she asks for a price, and the player requests between 3,000 FC and 100,000 FC for various corpses and cuts.
"I have a skill that lets me loot entire corpses and not just parts. That way, the quality of my meat is guaranteed. So which ones do you want?"
"Not interested," Menchi states coldly. "The highest quality meat is just Green Quality? Sorry, you're wasting my time—and the time of those behind you. Next!"
"Hey... wait, surely we can come to an agreeme—" the player argues, but Menchi, again, this time even louder, yells, "Next!"
The goblins swiftly grab the protesting player, who shows no sign of leaving, and forcefully expel him from the site, using their sticks.
A few players clap, while others silently smirk. The single player with a hood at the very back shows no reaction at all.
"Good job. That asshole was wasting my time," the next player in line says—a tall, tanned, muscular man with platinum blond hair. "You won't be denying my offer, hehe."
"Oh? Why is that?" Alex asks, somehow feeling triggered by the man's arrogance and rude attitude.
I don't like this guy....
"Hehe, you love your little pair of Supporters, don't you? Trust me, I know your kind. A man like me has more women than he could ever know what to do with, and I quickly discard anyone who bores me. You are obviously not like me in more ways than you can imagine. I can see that you truly treasure your little companions. That's quite weak, bro."
Immediately triggered again, Alex's face tightens into a frown as he tries to remain calm.
Do not insult him... do not insult him...
yet.
Of course, Soulmate treasures Princess Jewel, how dare this Peasant suggest otherwise?! Soulmate should immediately expel him.
Let's just see what he's got....
"Show me what you've got... or don't. Trash-talking isn't really useful to either one of us, right?" Alex suggests, staying relatively calm.
"Take a look then," the player says, presenting his item.
[Supporter Upgrade Token (Purple)]
World: Fantasy Realm
Quality: Deep Purple
Effect: Raises the Rarity of a Supporter by one small grade. Limited to Purple Quality Supporters and below.
Note: Upgrades the very being of a Supporter.
... shit. As I feared... I actually need it. I want it!
Pass, Soulmate doesn't need it.
Jewel, shut up, you are not being helpful.
"Yeah... that's a good one, I could use it, but it's not a priority," Alex replies, perfectly calm, not showing any exaggerated interest. "But since I have some FC to throw around, what do you want for it?"
"Heh... Hehe," the man laughs. "You're not bad. You didn't show any sign of greed, but I still know that you want it. I haven't even seen a Gold Quality Supporter yet, and this allows you to power up your Supporters to the highest realistic rarity, which is Deep Purple. Surely you want it?!"
"Yes," Alex replies. "It could come in handy, though it doesn't affect skills... it just slightly improves their overall performance, mostly combat. However, since I already have one combat Supporter at the Deep Purple rank, this isn't something I desperately want or need."
"You... you lie..." the man says, now shocked, staring at Benezia. "But... Benezia is ranked that high? Menchi is just your cooking servant, then? Fine... then I'll back off."
"I didn't say I didn't want it," Alex clarifies carefully. "It still could be useful to upgrade Menchi's rank by one small grade. I just said it isn't high up on my priority list. So how much do you want?"
"Three Million FC!" the man says, smirking.
Alex sighs. "Denied. Fuck off."
"Two Million FC," he says, now looking a little more serious.
"Guards..." Alex says in a loud voice.
"Hey, okay, okay. Calm down, will you?" the man says, now visibly nervous.
"One point five..." he says. "Don't trick me. I know it's worth that much!"
"It isn't," Benezia intervenes. "It costs 500,000 FC to buy a contract allowing the sale of a Supporter. Purple Quality Supporters get traded infrequently, but I've still learned that the cost varies between one and five million. Demanding one point five million for a simple small-grade upgrade is frankly silly, when the same sum could potentially buy a contract and a Supporter."
"Yeah, I can buy another Supporter for that much. Look, I admit I want it, but I'm not paying that much for a Deep Purple item. Seriously, don't scam me. I'm not stupid. How about 500k?" Alex suggests, acting annoyed.
"Now who is scamming who?!" the player asks.
"I don't need it, Alex," Menchi intervenes, completely serious. "I can cook just fine. This grade thing doesn't interest me at all."
"Let's meet in the middle," Alex suggests. "600k!"
"Where the fuck is your middle? In the middle of your asscheeks, maybe?! I don't feel like going there, bro, I don't swing that way," the player argues, pissed off.
"In the middle of my first offer and a reasonable price," Alex states, tightening his fists under the table.
Motherfucker....
Princess Jewel is willing to go anywhere for Soulmate.
Jewel, I fucking swear, I'll fucking lock you in the attic for one week, stop it.
"Fuck off. 1.2 million!" the player counters.
Five minutes of petty insults later, Alex successfully manages to acquire the item for 850,000 FC, making the other players lined up almost cheer, their eyes filled with hope and greed.
"Hehehe," the player laughs, feeling satisfied with the deal.
You have received Supporter Upgrade Token (Purple)
I don't care... I need this! I'm more than fine with this deal.
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