"Welcome everyone to our auction. I'm the auctioneer who will accompany you through the exciting bids tonight. I wish you could get any item you take interest in here…"
The opening remarks from the man officially opened the event. People around only nodded perfunctory as a simple manner to greet him. Without anymore pleasantries, the auctioneer then didn't waste time and started to take out the first item. The surrounding guests soon focused themselves to look for the auction. Their hands were ready to put out the bid whenever they showed an interesting look.
"I'm very sure you can't wait anymore. Since everyone is ready, then let's just start it…" the auctioneer commented, "The first item is here…"
The female attendants then bought the beautiful jewelry, full of ruby and sapphire. The great design quickly caught many women's attention on the guest's seat. It might not worthy since it was the first item,
but it should be enough to fulfill their vanities. To announce their status, the women sometimes needed to show off their wealth. With this thing, it fitted to their taste.
"The necklace of Magnolia. This jewelry is quite a treasure for the royalty. Even though it's very old, but it has amazing history of being used by the queen. The necklace is also believed to bring fortunate event for
the woman who wears it."
Baston didn't know whether the information told was fabricated or not, but the auctioneer successfully piqued many interests for
women here. As long as people were intrigued, the man had a probability to sell
this first item. Just when he opened the first bid, several women quickly followed through.
"6000 pounds…"
"6500 pounds…"
"7000 pounds…"
The bids were getting higher until it stopped completely. One middle-aged woman finally came out as the winner. She smiled triumphantly while glancing at other women. This gesture didn't make men disturbed, but it was deemed as hateful for women around. It indicated that the necklace could only
be wore by her and not anyone else. Baston simply shoved it off because it didn't interest him, even though there was already an ongoing cold war between the women.
The auctioneer was quite smart to invoke everyone's desire here. If the item was popular, he didn't need to do anything at all. But if the item had less attention, he could do provocation on one or two guests here,
making everyone slowly became infatuated with it. The man would then convince the bidden item to be exquisite in design plus the originality that could make the price went higher if someone could it maintain for several years. Because of the push, more people would join the bidding wars until someone came out as the winner.
Rembrant also joined, yet he was still lost in the end. It wasn't because he lacked money, but he felt it wasn't worthy if the price went
higher than the budget. Unlike nobles, he as the merchant would like to sell the item if he had opportunity. If he had more channels, he could get more money from the difference. Too bad that it already surpassed his counting so he just shook his head and let it go. As for Baston, he was just a spectator here since he didn't have any ability to buy it in the end.
"The next item is far from the best, but I believe everyone can see the value of it."
The auctioneer made everyone curious, but some people had a hunch about the next one. When the attendants brought a small box to the podium, all the merchants halted their breaths. Including Rembrant, Baston
could see many people were really eager this time. The female attendants in front slowly took out the emblem inside to display it. Everyone could see and all of them wanted to quickly bid it in order to get this thing, excluding the nobles.
"This is the emblem for dinner party at certain noble residence. Many of you perhaps only know a little of description from the catalog, but I assure you that this emblem is priceless. Most of people want to
have it, but unfortunately, it's very rare since it will be only issued every year with small quantity. With this emblem, you will have the ability to participate at several noble events. Not only that, there will be an opportunity to make a connection with the nobles. The most important is you might have a chance to change your status to become a noble."
"Yes, it will be mine…"
"I already prepare enough money. It should be good to bid recklessly today…"
"I must get that emblem…"
The auctioned item made a commotion this time. Many merchants already prepared a sum of money for it. All they could hope for now was that the money would be enough or no one would implicate the bid to go higher than before. Baston looked at Rembrant who displayed the same expression as others. Just an opportunity to make some connections with the noble was already very lucrative, not to mention became a noble himself.
"Everyone seems very preoccupied with this emblem," Baston whispered to Panto.
"Of course, with this thing, everyone can have an opportunity to make some connections with the nobles. For merchant like us, it means there will be a new business to do. Most nobles like to flaunt so every
time they buy something, they will purchase it in great fanfare. Either the price is very expensive or the amount they buy will be in a bulk. One thing for sure is they hardly haggle about it because they will think it will lower their status in the public."
Baston nodded thoughtfully because the reason was true. Unlike commoner and merchant, the nobles were used to just buy without bargaining. The word of discount was uncommon for them so they would likely
just pay for the normal price. Only in huge amount that could make them think about the price, but even though so, the money earned by this transaction would be awesome. This was why the merchants would like to establish such a business
relationship with the nobles.
"The bid will start from 10,000 pounds…" the auctioneer continued before he was quickly interrupted.
"12,000 pounds…"
"15,000 pounds…"
"20,000 pounds…"
"30,000 pounds…"
"40,000 pounds…"
Rembrant gritted his teeth and quickly gave a new bid, "50,000 pounds…"
Before he could sigh, there was another bid, "60,000 pounds…"
"Damn it…" Rembrant cursed inside his heart.
The bidding went fiercer as time passed on. The increasing fight earlier slowly turned into slower until it began to stop. As soon as it
reached the staggering amount of 100,000 pounds, everyone treaded the path carefully. The opponents were getting smaller, but the amount almost reached budget. They didn't want to bid, but couldn't pay it in the end. It would be very embarrassing and humiliating. Their painstaking effort of reputation building would be crumbled in the blink of eye.
"143,000 pounds…" Rembrant said the last word.
"150,000 pounds…" another bid soon followed.
The old man shook his head. He knew this amount of money was already his limit, so unfortunately, he had to give up this time. Anyway, there was still another year in the future so in the meantime, he needed to build his business diligently without error. The bid was getting sparser until it stopped
at 165,000 pounds. Just for the simple emblem, someone dared to dig deep into
their wallet. Clearly, having a connection with the nobles was very enticing.
Baston wondered if the women outside knew the huge amount plus the bidder, they would soon launch their attacks. He was sure money could blind them perfectly. Whether to act as passionate lady or naughty whore, the fat boy believed they had these capabilities. With the end of the emblem
auctioning, the event was getting near to the end. Baston waited for his ice bead to appear in this auction. He wanted to know what would be the final bid for this item.
"Finally, we reach our last item in this auction. Everyone, please look at the finest item we have here…"
Few attendants then carefully bought the ice bead to the front of people. Inside the jewelry box, there was a beautiful white and blue
bead. It exuded the icy feeling whoever stared at it. The frosty aura surrounded it, making it appeared magical at the moment. Baston was surprised because when he brought it here, it never looked fantastic like now. Even when he took a closer look, it was kind of dull without any magical properties. The auctioneer really could make a different feeling with a new box as its compartment. It
exuded amazing display so as to attract everyone here.
"This is the ice bead, our last amazing item from far. You can see the bead has great capability of ice element. It has amazing properties and can benefit much for the ice wizard. Not only that, there's also a rumor
that whoever has contact with it, they could simply have the ice element on their magic. Whether it's true or not, only the highest bidder can prove this…"
Baston nodded happily. Such a good statement even though the last one was questionable. The ice bead supposedly couldn't make the person to become ice wizard, but he wouldn't correct it by the way. It was simply just an advertisement and several people might already know the truth. The auctioneer then started the bid confidently.
"Alright, everyone. The bid for the ice bead starts from 50,000 pounds…"
"150,000 pounds…" a woman voice was heard suddenly.
Everyone was flabbergasted. The high increase of 100,000 pounds directly shocked them. No one ever played like this because usually, the increment only ranged between 1000 to 10,000 pounds. Judging from this, the person was determined to get the ice bead. There was a pause at the moment
before the auctioneer continued.
"150,000 pounds… Is there anyone who will bid higher?"
"160,000 pounds…"
"300,000 pounds…" the same voice reverberated along the venue.
The higher bid already made everyone to give up. They knew they couldn't fight with this woman unless they had enormous wealth. If anyone dared to bid more, the said person would just simply bid higher than before. The problem was the increasing bid was just too high for each of them. The
amount of 300,000 pounds was already the highest one this year, but the auctioneer still asked for everyone else if there would be another bid.
"300,000 pounds going once. Is there anyone who want to bid the ice bead?"
"310,000 pounds…" a robust man's voice came to bid.
There was a slight pause from the women before she finally made a counter, "400,000 pounds…"
"410,000 pounds…" the same voice of robust man came again, but there was a playful tone in it.
"500,000 pounds…"
"Ha… ha… ha… It seems you're determined to buy the ice bead. I wonder if I keep bidding, will you still follow it?" the robust man spoke.
"You can try, but be careful that somehow, we might not follow the bid again…" the woman replied.
The voice came from the upstairs, so they should be the VIP tonight. Different from downstairs, the people up there should have amazing status. Baston himself concluded that they were a noble at least. Only this
kind of class that had rights to get the best viewing area. Supposedly right now, two people from different noble families had dispute regarding the auction. Just listening to their conversation, Baston clearly found both of them had bitterness in their relationship.
At this time, people around didn't have any impulse to join the auction. In the last item, they rather watched a good show presented in front of them. The man seemed overbearing while the woman looked cold. Baston guessed they had their own bitter history, yet he didn't care too much. What
his priority at present was how much the final bid for his ice bead? He hoped it could increase again from 500,000 pounds so once he got the money minus the fee, he would be a rich man. At that time, he might strike any restaurant he could see on his way. Imagining it, he acted nonchalantly while the bidding war was about to begin.