130 The Auction 3 (1/2)
”Very well, who will be the first to bid for this item? Do we have 17 million platinum coins...? Come on! Don't be shy! We all know that a sword is very practical and one of the most commonly practised weapons! This would be a steal even at 30 million platinum! How about it? Do I--Yes! We have our first bid!”
Aquino's professional hype speech kept up a buzzing atmosphere in the underground auction hall, especially with festive but tasteful and soft orchestra music filling their surroundings.
In some ways, this auction reminded Lars of a carnival or fun fair from back home, except that the focus here was not a performance but a host touting his wares... And that he had never been to such a posh event before.
Even his conferment as the youngest Legendary Mage and Hero of the War of Worlds had not been as grand, given the fact that the world had still been reeling from the damage of the war as well as the austerity practised by the military.
He had been halfway about to input his bid into the keypad - which only had the numbers 1 until 9 with a red ”0” button sitting below the 3 by 3 grid of keys. Beside the red ”0” button was a simple square that read, ”BID”.
At the side there was also a note that reiterated the explanation - as the minimum increment was in multiples of 100,000 platinum coins, any number input would be multiplied by a hundred thousand times i.e. if a user input 100, that would be 100 times 100,000 = 10 million platinum coins or 10 MP.
Lars had a wry look on his face as he saw the veritable essay printed as a ”short note” beside the bidding control panel and wondered if the writer were being paid by wordcount... Perhaps it was true, as the note was already slightly bigger than the keypad itself!
He was halfway inputting his bid of 17 MP when he heard the host announce - there had already been a bid before his.
”Thank you to our first bidder... And it is not just so simple as the first bid, no! On behalf of the organisers, we would like to thank you deeply for your great show of generosity!” Host Aquino bowed deeply at his waist, forming a right-angle of 90 degrees as he bent his body.
”I'm sure you're dying to know the amount, right? Be amazed! We have received a phenomenal opening bid of 50 MP! What a marvellous bid!” Aquino clapped his hands enthusiastically and the music accompaniment grew louder to help cover the fact that not a single person joined him in applause.
On the contrary, Lars and the other bidders began to grumble at the irritating person who went right ahead to grossly inflate the prices! What a boor and a worthless show-off! Even if you were filthy rich, there was no reason to flaunt it right...?
As there were many arrivals just in time for the Gorun City Auction this morning, there were many nobles, royal entourages and other important guests arriving under the cover of anonymity here to browse the wares that would be displayed.
And from the rumours milling about, the turnout this year was very encouraging despite the devil invasion. Some said that this was a sign of the quality of the ”secret” items that would be auctioned today!
Aquino then completed his overly enthusiastic applause and then continued to speak, ”Esteemed guest! Just to preserve your anonymity while also confirming we have accepted your bid, your screen should have lit up GREEN. This will indicate that you are indeed the one whose bid has been accepted first, just in case there was someone else who tried to input the same bid amount simultaneously. If there is a dispute, whoever's screen lights up will be the rightful first bidder whose bid is accepted! I hope you are pleased with our auction's services!” He once more bowed deeply and was about to continue when a loud voice answered him, coming from a room above Lars.
The voice boomed out, resounding through the entire auction hall as the unseen speaker made himself heard with an announcement to everyone present.
”Most courteous host, you have my gratitude for your kind show of hospitality in keeping my identity confidential... However, there is no need to do so! For I am not so weak nor poor that I fear anyone knowing that I, indeed am the purchase! Yes, I, Duke Moron of the Wiarno Kingdom am proud to announce my arrival as the representative of King Soron! Hahahaha! Fellow guests! Feel free to outbid me, do not fear! I am not petty nor one who takes revenge.... Please, please outbid me! That is, if you can! Hahahahaha!”
The laughing speaker continued chuckling as he apparently had said what he came to say. And despite many seething bidders and members of the audience who resented such an abrasive and outright abusive personality, they could do nothing to refute him!
After all, they were definitely poorer than the representative of an entire kingdom, especially a Grade 3 kingdom like the Wiarno Kingdom ruled by the tyrant King Soron! In addition, as a titled duke, even if his name was incredibly stupid, he was also at least a beginning Legendary powerhouse - someone not to be trifled with...
And that was not even including his likely repertoire of mighty artefacts, runes, weapons, seals and plethora of things that only the incredibly rich could even dream of having!
Charley at Lars' side sighed and pursed his lips in discouragement. Lars looked at him with raised brows.
”Yo, what's up? Isn't he just a spendthrift splurging his money uselessly? It's just the first item anyway... And it's not really that valuable, certainly not worth 50 MP.”
Charley sighed once more and shook his head with a smile as if though he were a wise old man disappointed in a young'un. At least he had that look on until Lars' fist began to rise up, ready to rap him on the head for being such a stuck-up smart-ass.
Then Charley grinned sheepishly and sucked in a deep breath before he explained.
”Bro... Everyone is like, super upset right now at that Duke Moron the... The moron over there. But at the same time, there is a name for people like these... Whales!”
”Whales...? What do you mean...?”
”You see, what happens is that in every community, you would think that for the organisers, the more customers they have the better, right...?”