Despite Ery's desire to obtain the powerful artifact, he knew that his current budget was not enough to compete with the growing bids. Prepared to concede, Ery was taken by surprise when Klea decided to intervene.
"8,100,000 spirit stones!" Klea confidently declared.
However, the Croft brothers, not easily deterred, countered with a swift response, raising the stakes to "9,000,000 spirit stones!"
Maintaining her composure, Klea calmly upped the bid once again. "9,100,000 spirit stones."
Ery, sensing the rising tension and the increasing spirit stone value, couldn't help but express his concern. "It's too much, Klea. We don't have that many spirit stones."
Klea, with a sly wink, responded, "I know. I am just ssing with these guys."
The Egyptian queen's strategic bidding not only kept the Croft brothers on edge but also managed to irritate them. With her keen ability to read the situation, Klea craftily ceased her bidding, leaving the Croft brothers to secure the coveted tier 6 artifact at a staggering 11,000,000 spirit stones—twice its estimated value. Despite their victory, a visible sense of regret lingered on the faces of the Croft brothers as they realized the inflated cost of their prized acquisition.
The auction continued with the unveiling of more items, and Ery's attention was caught by a set of apothecary items—a box containing three radiant jade pills known as [Heaven Defying Pills]. These high-grade Tier 7 pills had the potential to significantly increase the likelihood of a successful magus breakthrough by 30%, especially when combined with an awakening scroll.
As the auctioneer showcased the products, a hushed murmur swept through the crowd. The gleaming jade pills emanated an aura of profound energy, and the auction hall buzzed with anticipation.
Ery, though having no personal use for the pills, saw an opportunity to support Tatyana and Andrei, who had achieved the formation of their ninth pillars. The prospect of enhancing the chances of their breakthroughs into the magus realm intrigued him. However, the demand for these pills quickly surpassed his expectations.
Multiple enthusiastic bidders raised their hands, sparking a bidding war that escalated the price to an astonishing 3,000,000 spirit stones. Gerri leaned over, offering Ery so insight into the fierce competition for these pills. He explained that such coveted items were always in high demand among middle-grade factions, eager to secure the success of their successors in their magus breakthroughs.
Facing a competitive environnt and the escalating bid, Ery found himself at a crossroads. Turning to him, Klea asked, "Do you want them?"
Ery, despite having the necessary spirit stones to join the bidding war for the coveted [Heaven Defying Pills], chose to shake his head in decline. The exorbitant price of the pills stirred a determination within him to delve deeper into his apothecary skills. mories of his experiences on Vanyar planet and the vast array of rare ingredients stored within his spatial space fueled his confidence.
The auction continued, showcasing more high-tier apothecary items that only served to reinforce Ery's resolution to delve deeper into the world of apothecary. He envisioned a future where his proficiency in this field would not only be a source of inco but also provide substantial benefits to his friends and the people on Earth.
"Alright, let's go," Ery declared, deciding to exit the auction hall. Turning to him, Klea asked, "So where do you want to go next?"
Ery, eager to return and comnce the construction of the Khao gate, found his thoughts interrupted by lingering questions about apothecary. Opting to seek answers, he decided to visit Cedric's apothecary shop in Golden City.
As Ery approached, he couldn't help but notice that there weren't too many custors in the shop. The sweet aroma of various herbs and ingredients wafted through the air, creating an intoxicating blend that hinted at the apothecary wonders within.
Upon entering the store, Ery was greeted by the sight of Cedric behind the counter, busily attending to the needs of the custors. The man lit up with genuine delight when he spotted Ery.
"Is that you!? My famous junior! It's so good to see you," Cedric, having successfully achieved his dream of attaining the rank 6 title of senior artisan, decided to venture into the world of entrepreneurship by opening his apothecary shop. With Master Grom temporarily absent from Golden City due to his commitnt to apothecary research, Cedric seized the opportunity to realize his ambition.
In a quiet corner of his apothecary shop, with Ery's interest, Cedric shared his rationale behind establishing a physical store. He explained that, despite the convenience of the virtual shop on the apothecary center, having an actual storefront with ready-to-purchase items could attract ten tis more custors. However, the endeavor ca with its own set of challenges, including monthly rent and operational costs amounting to approximately 2 million spirit stones.
To successfully open the shop, Ery also needed to have at least a senior artisan capable of running the day-to-day operations and a master apothecarist willing to serve as a guarantor. Unfortunately for Ery, despite earning recognition as a master apothecary within the elves community, he was still at the rank 5, junior artisan level. This ant that to et the necessary requirents, he would have to undertake another exam and advance to the senior artisan rank.
With the apothecary exam taking place every month, Ery realized he had no need to rush into the process. There were nurous tasks on his agenda that needed attention before he could devote ti to the examination. Preparation of high-quality items for sale and securing an apothecary master as a guarantor were crucial steps in this endeavor.
Observing Ery's contemplation, Cedric shared a piece of uplifting news. He inford Ery that although Master Grom was on an indefinite leave, there was another excellent candidate to serve as a guarantor—none other than the genius apothecary, Karin. Cedric bead with pride as he revealed that Karin had recently passed the master exam, joining the ranks of accomplished apothecaries.
Elated by the success of both his apothecary friends, Cedric jovially remarked, "Of course, if we don't succeed, no one would believe that we are the genius friends." The camaraderie between them added a sense of joy to their conversation.
In the midst of this pleasant exchange, the artificial lifeform interjected with a surprising ssage, stating,
[Terra City has received a group of visitors, and they are looking for you].
The revelation that they were from the Kronos faction prompted Ery to leave abruptly, the urgency evident in his departure.
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