"600 thousand gold"
"700 thousand gold!"
All the bids are made directly to the auctioneer, and she announces them to the public. It would be chaotic if the bidders shouted their prices, creating grudges within the auction house. The method is quite simple, as long as Lawrence sends his intention through the number he holds in his hand, the auctioneer will immediately know his number and the amount offered by him.
"Number 47 bids 1 million gold."
"Oh my, 1 million 400 thousand gold! Number 32!"
Until now, Lawrence has not made a bid, he can predict that the final amount is still not close, but this delay is generating an unexpected event behind him. The item owners are divided between those who are entertained by the actions of a mere intermediary, yet hide their true thoughts with a smile on their faces. Meanwhile, others look at him with pity, internally saying that he should not humiliate himself in this way, that he should remember whom he is representing.
But none of them are so foolish as to establish a grudge with someone who is still neutral, so they only watch him from a distance.
"2 million gold!"
It is then that Lawrence makes his move.
"2 million 500 thousand gold! Number 40!"
Number 40, that is the number Lawrence holds. Considering he is a newcomer, being below the line of 50 is a great achievement, an achievement that does not belong to him. If it weren't for Sky Petal's pills, let alone number 100, he would have obtained a number higher than 500, and this only if he proved to have the necessary capital to be here.
Without him knowing, the item owners behind him are surprised. A mere intermediary owns 2 million gold? They have never seen Lawrence, they have always seen the refiner he represents, but never him as a person, as a human being. To them, he was nothing more than a means to reach the refiner Bearer of Light.
So, why? Why does he have such an amount of money?
If they managed to contain their curiosity, it was only because the item he is bidding on is none other than a recipe. The refiner must have given him that amount in case he found an item of interest, only for that reason.
"2 million 900 thousand-- 3 million 200 thousand gold, number 40, wow!"
As soon as the auctioneer announces the amount, Lawrence was about to discover what was happening behind him when one of the bidders on the first floor stands up and begins to shout.
"Number 40!"
This was a woman with a huge hat that hides much of her face. "I am willing to yield this recipe to you, but you must not interfere with the following pages!"
From the beginning, that was Lawrence's objective, so he is not afraid to reveal his identity and raise his voice.
"I have no intention of doing that. As long as I have a copy, it's enough."
When the woman hears Lawrence's voice, she directs her gaze toward him but swallows hard upon realizing where he is. She snorts and returns to her seat, from that interruption onward, no one dares to bid again for the elixir recipe.
There are still 9 copies left, if that guy doesn't interfere again, they can get them at a lower price. Everyone wins.
"Congratulations number 40, the elixir recipe is yours!"
Lawrence sighs and unconsciously turns around, frowning at the looks directed at him. Some raise their glasses in his direction, and others simply nod, he interprets this as a congratulation for acquiring the elixir recipe.
He thought this should be enough, that these people would understand that money is something he does not lack, that he is not the simple intermediary of a famous refiner... but later on, something unexpected appears.
"20 Green Wolf pups, the high-longevity demonic beast!"
In appearance, these pups are similar to an ordinary wolf. Their fur varies from gray to white, the only
"The peculiarity of these beasts lies in their care for nature, they can turn a desert into a dense forest! And despite being wolves, they are herbivores!"
The auctioneer would continue explaining and trying to sell these pups at the highest possible price, but none of her words reached Lawrence's ears. He was already determined to buy them.
‘I need them for my personal dimension. If they are in my possession, there can be a radical change in the ecosystem! They won't harm other living beings and will cultivate more than they eat, they must be mine!’
The reason why them and not ask Sky Petal to look through the plants for this demonic beast in the wild is simple. These pups show an animosity toward humans lower than average, they won't attack unless they feel threatened!
"Bids start at 2 million gold."
The bidders would quickly raise the amount to 3 million gold, and Lawrence couldn't keep waiting. "Number 40, 3 million 500 thousand gold!"
His action immediately attracts the attention of the item owners behind him.
Wait, wasn't that money from the refiner? You mean the previous bid was made with his own money? Similar thoughts occupy each of their minds as they see how Lawrence doesn't give up even when the bids rise to 4 million gold.
Lawrence grits his teeth and was about to bid again when a woman lightly taps his shoulder.
"Mr. Lawrence, my lady says there's no need for you to continue bidding for those pups. If you are willing, she can offer them to you at a lower price."
"By lady, you mean--"
"Yes, my lady is Reigning Myrias. The owner of those pups on stage."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
When he searches for her with his eyes, her snake eyes were already watching him. Reigning Myrias, the lizard woman, raises her hand and greets him with a smile on her face. He, in turn, smiles courteously and then nods.
"I would like to do business."
"That's good to hear. Is it alright if we meet in a private room after the auction?"
He holds his breath for a moment, but after recomposing himself, he responds: "Of course."
"Great. I'll leave now, see you later."
"See you."
Because he spoke directly with Eminent Greed, he thought the same would happen with Reigning Myrias, but it didn't.
His thoughts were cut off for a moment upon realizing that the person he will meet is none other than her subordinate, the woman he just said goodbye to. If he thinks about it, it's natural. No faction leader would meet with a newcomer, only that fox woman is the exception.
Now more than ever, he wants to get information about her, and it wouldn't take long to find the opportunity.
"Mr. Demontre Sagul..."
The conversations among the item owners come to life after Demontre Sagul enters the room. He greets them indifferently, with the sole purpose of getting rid of them, and then walks directly to his target, the elderly man Gate of Torment.
It is impossible to know the content of their conversation, neither their voice nor the movement of their lips are perceptible to any of those present. Something similar happened when Lawrence spoke with Eminent Greed, that is the preferential treatment faction leaders have.
He doesn't pay attention to this and instead gestures to the item owners. They all recognize his intention, and those interested approach to talk to him once again.
"This is something known by everyone, I don't think it would cause harm to tell you."
After asking about Eminent Greed, the owners belonging to other factions easily loosen their tongues, without fear of deepening this enmity.
"She has strange tastes."
Lawrence is surprised by the term used.
"Strange?"
Normally he would overlook the stupidities of these merchants with egos of nobility, but not in this case. According to them, Eminent Greed is strange because she doesn't flaunt her wealth, doesn't try to fight with other factions, doesn't care if a subordinate betrays her, because once she talks to someone, she never talks to them again.
"She only bids on strange items, is not interested in interpersonal relationships, and we have all, including me, talked to her at some point. Strange, right? Why would a woman of her nobility do that?"
This deepens his distrust towards that woman even more, but there is only one question he has not yet gotten an answer to.
"How does she do business with the other factions?"
"She doesn't, her subordinates do."
He furrows his brow. If what these people say is true, then why does that woman want to meet with him? Lawrence continues talking to these people, this time with the intention of obtaining information about Gate of Torment, but he doesn't get the desired answers.
"Not much is known about him."
What he previously heard about him is simply all that is known about him. He didn't get any new information.
Later on, three medicinal pills appear on stage.
"Everyone must have heard of them..."
When the auctioneer presents these pills, the item owners smile at Lawrence and remain silent, waiting for the auctioneer's next words.
"...This is the fertility pill, effective up to level 800 and up to level 900 if you are willing to use an elixir!"
"Bids start at three million gold!"
They happily chat while the bidders bid to be the owner of one of these pills. Last time only one fertility pill was auctioned, but this time there are three. Lawrence expects to get a good price for each of them.
The auctioneer's voice has never sounded so beautiful as it does now, he can't contain his smile as he sees the price of the first pill rise to 7 million gold before getting an owner.
"The bids for the second pill start now, same rules!"
Then the second pill is auctioned, with the final bid being 6 million 400 thousand gold.
"The last of the three pills... We don't know when we'll get one of these again, it's now or never!"
Lawrence thanks this auctioneer for trying to squeeze every last gold coin from these big shots. It's so amusing to see how they fight over a pill that won't make them immortal nor develop their Way, it will only allow them to have a child.
"Sold to number 14 for 6 million 800 thousand gold, congratulations on your successful purchase!"
At the same time, Lawrence is congratulated by the item owners. If before they thought he was just an intermediary, this time they try to get closer to him as a person.
Later, the auction house's servants enter the room and hand out everyone's acquired goods and earnings for the night. This includes Lawrence.
‘14 million 140 thousand gold, although the house kept 30%, it's an impressive profit considering that Sky Petal was able to successfully replicate the procedure to grow the materials for this pill in our garden.’
And not just that...
‘Inconstant Dogma’
The magic artifact that hides the truths and lies of its bearer. With it in his possession, truths will be lies, and lies will be truths!
"Mr. Lawrence, are you ready?"
The one who brings him back to his senses is the subordinate of Reigning Myrias.
It's time to negotiate for the Green Wolf puppies.