535 A dark-golden glow! (1/2)

However, Sheyan was merely being a crafty bidder, and abstained from bidding further.

If that was a black or silver storyline grade cutlass that contestants could employ, Sheyan would definitely contest it. However, it appeared like an unappraised unique storyline equipment. To Sheyan who possessed his ‘Pirate Captain’ plundering ability, it wasn’t worth it at all.

Following that, Yurena ambled out once again. Before she could commence her speech, an attendant hastened towards her from outside before whispering several words to her. Yurena revealed an alarmed countenance as she hastily returned behind the scene to confirm several matters, before finally trudging back out.

Upon her return, Yurena held onto an oil-paper wrapped parcel that was shockingly dripping with fresh blood.

Yurena cleared her throat and announced.

”To reasons that everyone is aware of (referring to Norrington’s promotion), our Port Royal underground auction will have to lay low for a long period. Due to that, a veteran client of has rushed back here to auction off a priceless treasure! As everyone can see, it wasn’t a plain sailing process to obtain this article, where he definitely has offended countless others. As such, this client of ours would depart immediately after receiving his auctioned profits.”

”Our next auctioned article will be this newly inserted treasure. The voyage journal of a second-class noble, Jaime Gama, the portuguese captain who sailed three times to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mines of Japan in the east! A starting bid of 100,000 guineas, with each raising bid capped minimally at 10,000 guineas. Our trading company vouches for the authenticity of this article, and should any issues arise, we are willing to compensate by the ten folds of the price!”

Yurena unwrapped the blood stained oil-paper as she spoke, and revealed an archaic journal that wasn’t thick at all. Handwritings done by a goose feather brush was inscribed onto its cover. One could also notice starry speckles of inky bloodstains vandalizing the journal’s cover, portraying a ghastly sight to the viewers.

During an era without satellites or radars, where navigation relied solely on the compass, the upsurge of european expedition voyage were helmed by renowned figures like Christopher Columbus and Magellan. Despite this upsurge, nobody was willing to publish specific shipping routes pertaining to the fabled mysterious east. Speared by the immense profits of silk and tea leaves, shipping routes linked to the eastern sea territories were always soaked with blood, avarice and riches.

The only method of passing on voyage routes was dependant on the oral accounts of experienced captains! Naturally, due to the frailty of human life, navigators faced the inevitable threat of dying anytime at sea; of course, they would record their journeys within voyage journals.

This also indicated that if one could obtain such a voyage journal, one could grasp a safe and prosperous shipping route leading to the fertile east! Why wouldn’t this article stir up the hearts of bidders?

Of course, practically most contestants from the future would be roughly aware of how voyages from the caribbean sea to places like Hangzhou and Osaka would be. Yet knowledge wouldn’t represent that one could simply draft out a voyage journal to auction off.

The ancient and modern world had vast disparities. Citing a simple example – volume of freight, transportation capacity and capabilities were vastly inferior. For a merchant ship to convey supplies to another port in asia from an european port, port to port sailing was simply impossible. How many other ports would a ship require for stopovers, could a contestant directly be aware of those ports in this boundless sea?

Furthermore, kinetic energy of winds governed this sailing era. Would a contestant be aware of wind directions in different regions? Or the sea currents of the endless seas?

Even if those issues were to be resolved. Would a nameless unreputable contestant be trusted by others based on words alone?

A distant voyage would require an assembly of fleets as well as deliverable merchandise, such investments would surpass over 100,000 guineas. Unless the realm arranges one’s identity as a children of influential wealthy lords or officers, otherwise, nobody would undermine themselves and trust in barren speech.

Yet the most crucial aspect resides in the conventional practice of this era – whoever supplied a new shipping route, would definitely have to proceed along with the venturing ship! Otherwise, one would have to mimic the Sheffields Trading Company who was backed by the Governor’s Mansion, offering one’s prestige to guarantee a ten fold compensation!

Even so, a round trip to china would require minimally two years, and on the pretext of a smooth voyage. Ask any contestants, who could afford such luxury of time??

Individuals invited to this auction were all prominent or affluent figures. Despite the absurd starting bid of 100,000 gold guineas, this amount soared to 150,000 guineas in no time!!

Individuals who possessed shipping routes to the east desired to monopolize the market, and were naturally reluctant to offer up a share of the action; they similarly competed for the journal. Instead, the rest desired to foil their monopoly, attempting to seize it for themselves.

Although bidding for this may retard their velocity of attaining personal goals, this article remained a necessary procurement for several powerhouses.

As Sheyan spectated the mobs scrabbling madly, he noticed the gypsy profoundly calling bids before discarding her attempts; allowing him to affirm his judgement in his heart.

Then, he watched on as Fernandez directly raised the price to 200,000 gold guineas, throwing the other guests into hesitation. Instead, Bloodshark refused to barge as he slapped his desk and waved.

”210,000.”

At another moment, Wahabu surprisingly blurted out.

”250,000!”

Upon hearing such astronomical figures, Sheyan couldn’t refrain from becoming startled.

250,000 gold guineas.

That was an adequate amount to construct a fully armed 7-masted warship!! Warships of such a scale could be counted with one finger in the Royal British Navy. He hadn’t anticipated for an eastern shipping route to skyrocket to such figures.