Chapter 530 - Seating (1/2)
”This place...” What Nik expected of an orthodox auction already turned out to be a strange but welcoming one. Instead of any employee greeting him, Nik found himself standing in a light grey room. Neatly adorned, suggesting a great taste of the host in charge of setting up the location of the Host. In front of him, a metallic, raised podium with the top of the podium showing various options. Not holographic, as Nik had been already used to, but the interface suggested interaction with the screen. Touch screen pad, in layman's term. Gazing at the welcoming screen, Nik touched the tab— Next. The screen changed by the flowing blue background remained. What followed the welcome was an in-depth knowledge of the auction that clearly marked the moments where a host could interact with the auction to place items to sell.
'Hmm, that's quite... interesting. Items lower than purple grade are not allowed to be sold in public auctions. The first day is only allotted to the Public Auction, but what differentiates the qualifications to continue with the rest of the event is actually based on the seating I chose. The fact that I cannot accommodate others shows that everyone is probably on their own. Especially, the higher tier rooms that allow a host to join the barter auction and finally... the 'Invincible' arc of the auction...'
Looking at the seating arrangements, Nik smiled bitterly. He wouldn't have any use of the Spirit Origin after this event, probably, but as selfish he had been, losing wealth over something as meager as getting a better seat still pinched Nik's heart figuratively. But, the first part of the auction itself is to understand one's aim, and knowing that his goals can never be achieved by interacting with lower levels, Nik decided to choose the lowest qualified seat for the next events, too.
[Public Seat
Price: 10,000 SO
Functions: Allows the Host to place a bid using the controls on the seat and provide concise information on the item to the host.
Number: 1925/20000 Left.]
[Rank Room
Price: 100,000 SO
Functions: Aside from having a separate room, a view to public auction, and having the same function as a Public Seat, the Rank Room allows the host to enter the auction for the entirety of three days.
Number: 93/2000 Left.]
[Throne Room
Price: 1,000,000 SO
Functions: With the benefits of all the previous rooms, the functions of the rooms and the eligibility to rent this room is starting from Rank 6.
Requirements not met.]
Brooding, Nik looked at his funds. A sum total of 296,153 SO. Snickering, Nik muttered to himself helplessly, ”Their loss then... I would have easily spend a million SO...” Selecting the Rank Room, Nik finally saw a door appearing to the left wall of the door. Another set of words emerged on the screen directing that the door present within the room would bring him to the rented room. With nothing else worth noting within the room, Nik made his way to the door and placed his hand over the small box that replaced the knob. With a soft mechanical whirl, Nik's gaze was greeted by a small room. A covered window right in front of him, a large couch already making Nik comfortably was placed in the middle and the floor itself was covered with a soft, elegant brown mattress. As Nik stepped in, he realized that taking off his sandals might be a better option and so he did. Finally sighing in pleasure and comfort, Nik walked over to the sofa and jumped onto a sitting landing. His left leg already over his right thigh as he looked at the similar podium in front of him.
Various functions were already inlaid into the tab, but Nik could even input the function. Increasing the brightness of the room slightly and adding the function of making the interior of the room hidden from outsiders, Nik contacted his trusted allies... well, the infernal duo. He couldn't reach them, making him furrow his brows a little. 'Contacting them and coordinating our bids could have been far profitable... well, I guess, the host of the auction also knew the fact, barring any communication but being able to cut off the communication handled by the function of the Transmigration Paradise suggests that... the damn Paradise is involved itself. Damn, this is savage...' Nik commented internally. Taking off the covers, Nik could finally gaze at the mind-boggling size of the public auction. Instead of a large stage, there remained a raised, circular platform with all the seats surrounding it. Many of the seats already filled, but with the edges covered in darkness, Nik couldn't observe everything. Not to mention the form of misty energy that was actively blocking the benefits of heightened senses.
”Ray and Brian are nowhere to be found... at least, not by my vision. I can assume that they also selected the Rank Room...” muttering, Nik looked at the layer of Rank Rooms. Many already dark to the n.a.k.e.d eye but a few of the hosts presented themselves to the public. Well, from glaring beauties and quite intriguing creatures, Nik found nothing else worth his notice.