535 A dark-golden glow! (2/2)
Instead, Sheyan was further shocked. As though no deliberations were made, Fernandez bluntly called out.
”300,000 guineas!”
The crowd instantly turned mute. Yet to their horror, Bloodshark actually squeezed out a bid from his stammering lips.
”310,000 guineas.”
Skrtel was one who had given up after placing several bids during the 200,000 guineas interval. At this instant, he observed this scene and sighed.
”Cursed the stringent smuggling prohibitions of Norrington. Even a veteran pirate like Bloodshark harbours notions of retirement, intending to purchase this shipping route and convert to an armed merchant ship. Forget it, I shall acquiesce this opportunity to him.”
Even though Bloodshark’s 310,000 gold guineas appeared to be his final attempt, Fernandez maintained his expression and instead ceased to bid further; allowing this expensive journal to be sold off.
After auctioning off this massive article, Yurena sensibly ordered the attendants to serve coffee to their guests; easing up the tense atmosphere, and console the dejected hearts of those failed bidders.
She then reconciled the guests’ mood.
”Gentlemen, please refrain from feeling anxious. This is merely the beginning of our auction, the climax has yet to arrive.”
Sheyan continued enjoying the auction. The next article was an antique Jingdezhen porcelain from china, probably a stolen booty. Marred by only its dodgy source, this porcelain naturally fetched an exorbitant price; ultimately auctioned off for 10,000 guineas. Through this, one could realize the degree of popularity antique china porcelain had in europe. No wonder its valuation could rival gold.
(TL: Jingdezhen porcelain is porcelain that is produced in Jingdezhen, a prefecture-level city, well known for its pottery)
Obviously a porcelain wouldn’t incite Sheyan’s interest, as he sat there leisurely while sipping his coffee. The following auctioned articles was a dazzling line-up of antique china, silk, tea leaves and many others. Unexpectedly, a store deed in Tortuga was even auctioned off!
This sufficed to illustrate that Norrington’s increasing attempts to eradicate smuggling had similarly affected the prosperous Tortuga; merchants no longer held faith as they resorted to auctioning off a deed, equivalent to one’s livelihood.
Sheyan continued enjoying the auction, observing that the worn out Yurena from her hosting had returned to the back stage to rest, while a substitute replaced her.
From then on, several fascinating objects of bizarre applications took to the stage; objects that could only captivate individuals related to it.
For example, there was a spyglass. Yet it contained special medical effects that could treat rottened nether regions. Putting it to present day context, it referred to male’s scrotum eczema.
Sailors and pirates labored out at sea for prolonged periods, where hygiene beneath the waist was poorly maintained; leading to such illness that wasn’t convenient to treat. This spyglass could converge sunlight towards affected regions and disinfect the area. Naturally, it had been tested a hundred times without discrepancy. Hence, this spyglass was competed ferociously over, and was auctioned off at a high price of 10,000 guineas.
Next, a lemon was auctioned off. This lemon was enchanted with witchcraft, allowing its juice to be squeezed out daily which could prevent the crew from scorbutus.
Apart from those, there was an endless canteen which could store nearly four barrels of rum, and a pistol that wouldn’t kill.
This pistol wasn’t loaded with bullets, but would release a barbaric sound upon triggering it. Its usage was to prevent crew members from the melodious allurement of mermaids.
Just when Sheyan was about to be bored stiff, yet another few tanned slaves strained themselves to heave a chest over.
When Sheyan casually shifted his gaze onto it, his gaze could no longer be retrieved.
That was because within the gaps of this carelessly crafted crate, Sheyan shockingly caught a glimpse of a dull golden radiation!
In this instant, he kneaded his eyes with disbelief at what he was observing. Yet after carefully scrutinizing for several times, he could finally affirm. ”It’s true! That is truly a dull golden glow!”
In this instance, Sheyan became mentally prepared for an all out expenditure.
With a swing of her foot, the hostess kicked open the chest lid.
”A precious article obtained through the ten thousand miles expedition venture of The April’s Bloom. Rumoured to have been discovered on a barren island, blood was shed to retrieve this article. A starting bid of 1,000 guineas, with each raising bid capped minimally at 500 guineas.”
Evidently, the auction hostess felt that this object wasn’t particularly precious, and her attitude and introduction of it was dealt with hastily. Naturally, her standards of professionalism was unsatisfactory; failing to perceive the importance of flattery and arousal of emotions.