Episode 314 – Interesting
After leaving the training grounds, we headed back to the mansion.
The Golden Mask approached naturally, even without having to call him, and handed the catalog.
Today marked the third day since the Dark Sales opened.
I opened the newly updated edition for the day.
“Will you be participating in Dark Sales again today?”
“Of course.”
Over the past three days, I hadn’t just been reading the catalog—I’d actively participated in the auctions as well.
Nodding, I confird my na listed under the VIP title on the first page, then flipped through the catalog quickly.
Flap—
All transactions in Dark Sales were conducted through the catalog in front of .
If a listed item had a lump-sum price, it could be purchased imdiately with enough money.
If not, one had to win a priority negotiation right via auction to even qualify to negotiate with the seller.
Auction prices for these negotiation rights were updated daily.
I first checked the items that had already been sold over the past three days.
“Still the only sucker, huh?”
For items sold via lump-sum, the catalog listed [Sold] next to the item number, and the entry itself was deleted.
Even after three days, only two items had been sold via lump-sum:
Fist of the Cursed Giant Tribe
Soul Orb of Simitas
Both were the items I had bought outright.
Since they had been sold on the very first day, the other VIPs were probably dying to know who had purchased them.
They probably already know.
In Aintrier, there were no eternal secrets if you had enough money.
So VIPs had likely acquired that information already and were wondering why I paid such a high price for those items.
A pointless question.
Those items were extrely important to , but to others, they wouldn’t seem worth it at all.
As I flipped the pages, I searched for sothing with a similar feel—An item soone desperately wanted, but that others might find completely uninteresting.
Just as I thought, the price went up.
[Mana-Luminous Spider, Cricket]
It had been in my wishlist since the first day.
Fifteen live Crickets were listed as a single lot, and I knew exactly who was desperate for this item.
The Spider Queen, Azolett. She’s more aggressive than expected.
Cricket was a creature she longed to possess.
The magical web used by scavengers was produced by these spiders, and Azolett only processed the web after receiving it.
In other words, the source of the mana-web was the scavengers, while the technique to refine it was Azolett’s.
Current highest bid for priority negotiation: [5,000,000G]
I had raised the bid to 4 million gold yesterday, and in a day, it had risen by another 1 million.
From a starting bid of 500,000 gold on day one, I had been increasing it by 1 million each day, and it had now reached 5 million.
Would she keep following if I raised it again?
I hesitated briefly.
For the record, that 5 million gold wasn’t going to the seller—it was the fee Aintrier collected as an interdiary.
Which ant no one could buy auction participation data with money.
Even if you caused a ruckus, anonymity was guaranteed.
Driving up prices actually benefited Aintrier.
If I were Azolett, I’d want to find the madman who kept raising the price and rip him apart.
Of course, I had no intention of buying the Crickets.
They’ll appear again anyway.
I even knew who the seller was.
Richard Volpent.
The only scavenger who knew the Cricket’s habitat. Well—not the only one anymore.
There was one more…
Kal Blazer, the regressor.
The regressed Kal also knew the Cricket’s habitat.
What Azolett really wanted wasn’t the Crickets themselves, but the habitat—specifically, the Queen of the Crickets.
To reach that goal, she needed the live Crickets—so much so that she was willing to spend 5 million gold just for the negotiation rights.
If I were her, how far would I go to obtain it by “legitimate” ans?
Looking at the Golden Mask, I said,
“Raise the bid for the Cricket negotiation rights to 5.5 million gold.”
I narrowed the increase to just 500,000 gold. It had already reached 5 million in just three days. The price was rising too quickly.
It was ti to slow down.
If the price kept rising too fast, she might give up on the auction and look for other ans.
Azolett ca from Pri Root.
The villains of Pri Root lived by a single motto: “There’s always an optimal path to achieving your desires.”
That’s what Pri Route ans—the optimal path.
They had no law, no morals, no conscience.
To fulfill their desires quickly, they would use any ans necessary—and if sothing couldn’t be done alone, they would collaborate.
That was the origin of Pri Root, the Black Stars.
If money didn’t solve it, they would find other ways.
So it was smarter to open the path a little here.
Confronting Pri Root now would be a foolish move.
Just stopping the auction won’t stop the disaster...
Once Azolett finds the Cricket’s habitat, a new catastrophe will begin.
Even knowing how it starts, it’s impossible to prevent.
Special Investigator Richard, the Black Stars... I should be eliminating them now, but that’s not realistic.
For the World Tree Union, Demtor cos first.
Whether through division or collapse, that problem had to be resolved before moving on.
As I flipped through the pages, my hand paused.
The mont my eyes landed on one particular item, I felt the Golden Mask’s gaze shift.
[Exclusive Distribution Rights for World Tree Leaves]
Highest current bid for priority negotiation: [OG]
He must’ve realized that I was the one selling this item and was gauging my reaction.
Still no one’s bidding...?
Even if the first day was a ga of nerves, for three full days to pass with zero bidders was unheard of.
In fact, this was the only listing in the catalog with an [OG] bid.
Even Weapon Break, the item obtained by killing Harkman Oleve, had reached 500,000 gold.
I let out a quiet chuckle.
Interesting.
The intent was crystal clear.
“Azonne must’ve spread the word that he’s already claid the distribution rights.”
The host of Dark Sales is forbidden from participating in auctions.
Lord Azonne was the richest person in Hell Gri.
If he joined the bidding, who could possibly compete?
That’s why Azonne publicly declared he wouldn’t participate.
However, just like what I was seeing now, he could still manipulate things in underhanded ways.
“This is mine—don’t touch it.”
If he implied that, who in Aintrier would risk angering Azonne to compete for the negotiation rights?
I expected this, but it still feels disgusting.
At this rate, even after a full month, it would likely remain [OG].
This was the reason Azonne had acted so relaxed during our first eting.
He intended to quietly corner for a month, until I had no choice but to negotiate with him.
That was Azonne’s negotiation style.
He doesn’t think I’ll give up the deal entirely.
Naturally, I had no intention of giving it up either.
I hadn’t gone around spreading rumors about the leaves or perford that miracle-like con in front of a crowd for nothing.
It was all to raise the value of the leaves and sell high.
If I could sell to Azonne, I would.
But I’d sell it for the highest possible price.
You think you’re the only one who can play gas?
One month was plenty of ti.
I planned to play the sa ga against him.
This would be my last big score off Azonne.
Because next ti, we’ll be enemies.
The power of the leaf was fake.
The real power ca from , through my Enchant ability.
Even after selling the exclusive rights, I could control the supply for a while—but eventually, it would be discovered that the leaves themselves were worthless.
It’s only a matter of ti before my power is exposed.
Sacred Power drew too much attention.
Factions with fast intelligence networks would catch on quickly.
That’s why I had to maximize my profits now, while I still could.
Once exposed, I’d beco a definite enemy.
In the end, power must counter power. So who can stand against Azonne?
To ignite a bidding war for the exclusive rights, I needed a powerful competitor.
The first one who ca to mind was Italus of the Lenon Workshop.
But convincing him wouldn’t be easy.
For Aintrier’s second most powerful figure to challenge its first?
He knew Azonne’s power better than anyone.
That card would be my last resort—only to be used if I found no other alternative.
I still had ti before the month ended, so scouting out other factions with the intel I had might be a good move.
“Hmm?”
As I turned the page absentmindedly, one item jumped out at .
[Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll]
Highest bid for priority negotiation: [10,000,000]
Ten million gold?
After only three days, and the price was this high?
For that doll?
I recognized the doll.
It helped synchronize the body and soul, aiding greatly in awakening—but only up to 4-star.
A 3-star could use Kunta’s doll to ascend to 4-star.
There had been a story about great noble houses buying the doll to raise their successors' levels.
But—
“This price is absurd.”
Not for the doll itself, but for the negotiation rights to already reach 10 million gold? That was excessive.
This didn’t match the information I knew from the novel.
Narrowing my eyes, I asked the Golden Mask,
“What was the starting bid for this one?”
“Five million gold.”
“Five million? Is that the highest auction price right now?”
“Yes. It currently holds the top bid across all items.”
I rubbed my chin and thought for a mont, then ca to a conclusion.
Soone else must be doing what I’m doing.
Just like I was driving up the price of Crickets to ss with Azolett, soone was doing the sa with this doll to ss with the one who really wanted it.
“Who could it be?”
If I could pay to learn who was participating in the auction, I’d pay any amount.
But buyer info in auctions was strictly anonymous.
Only one person would know.
Lord Azonne.
When I arrived at the mansion, I handed the catalog back to the Golden Mask.
“I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“Call anyti you need.”
“I plan to leave the castle today. How can I receive the catalog after that?”
“I’ll bring it to you personally.”
Receiving the catalog throughout the Dark Sales from the Golden Mask himself...
It was clear Azonne was curious about my every move.
My words, expressions, even my interest in Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll—all of it would reach his ears.
I nodded and sent the Golden Mask on his way.
Once he left, I entered the mansion.
Karl, sprawled on the sofa, jumped up happily when he saw us.
“Where’ve you been wandering since morning?”
“You’re here early.”
“Got everything ready.”
Seeing the confidence on Karl’s face, I nodded and held out my hand.
A mont later, a thick book landed in my hand.
Inside was information on slave traders currently in Aintrier who were capturing and profiting from other races.
It was ti to pay them a visit.
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