Chapter 96: The Auction Is Coming

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Auction Is Coming

Victor slid a hand into his pocket and pulled out a faintly glowing white crystal, about the size of a walnut,

This was the beast bead from the Dire Lion Alpha.

He held it up between two fingers, and Rook’s face changed instantly. He lunged, hand outstretched. Victor pulled it back.

"Tell me honestly," Victor said, rolling it slowly across his knuckles. "What’s this worth?"

Rook’s eyes followed the stone like a cat tracking a fish. "Can I see it? Is that a real mana stone?"

Mana stone. That was the name here. Victor tossed it over.

Rook fumbled, but managed to catch it against his chest, and activated his appraisal skill. His breath caught.

"How is this possible?" he whispered. "It’s so pure."

Mana stones existed in this world, but they weren’t easy to find. Most came from blue or red Gates, and even there, the beasts guarded them ferociously. A mana stone could boost an armament’s power enormously. Many A-Rank and S-Rank Rankers carried gear set with expensive ones, and those pieces sold for millions upon millions of gil.

This one was low-grade, clearly. But the mana inside was clean, and clear, with no impurities at all. Normall, impurities spoiled a stone during forging of armaments. This one had none.

To be sure, Rook pulled a pendant from under his shirt and pressed it against the crystal. A bright light flared from the stone, and Rook burst into laughter.

"Yes! This is it! This is incredible! This is easily one million gil!"

He stopped. Coughed. "I mean... how about you let me have it. Two hundred, maybe three hundred thousand."

Victor smiled sideways. "You think I’m stupid? You were gloating about a million a second ago."

Rook felt his heart sink. ’Why do I always lose against this kid?’ "Fine. Eight hundred thousand."

"You know what? I’m feeling generous" Victor’s smile widened, "Two million."

Rook looked like his heart had cracked. "One point two."

So it can go over a million. He tried to cheat me again. "One point five."

Rook ground his teeth. "One point three. I’m not going higher."

"Done." Victor nodded. "And since you’re being so generous, take this too."

He tossed his awakened sword, Vigil. Then the second bead, the red one he’d taken from the Basalt Dragonic Lizard.

Rook went to his knees. "Where does a freshly awakened E-Ranker get things like this? Did you rob the government?"

Victor scratched the back of his head. Note to self: don’t sell everything to him at once. Next time I kill something over there, spread it out. He might go insane or come hunting me if he gets too tempted.

That last part was a valid point. A man could only hold their greed for so much.

"I want you to upgrade my Vigil with the red stone."

"Oh, you named it! Good, very good." Hook nodded.

Victor raised a brow.

Hook explained. "Haven’t you heard? Names are powerful. Naming an awakened weapon gives its life a certain direction for growth. It’s the reason those high Rankers always give exotic names to their weapons."

"Oh I see." This part, Victor had no knowledge of. But that was business for another time. Victor said. "How much?"

Rook looked at the red bead. It was as pure as the white one, but this one felt dark. It carried dark mana. Containing such a thing was far rarer than ordinary mana in a stone. His estimate of Victor shifted yet again.

"Honestly, this won’t be cheap. But many blacksmiths would do it for next to nothing, just for the chance to work with a stone this clean." He thought. "For you, five hundred thousand."

"One hundred thousand."

Rook gritted his teeth. "Two hundred fifty."

"Deal."

Rook sighed. At least he’d gotten some leverage this time, even if only a little. Victor laughed inwardly. He’d have paid five hundred without blinking. He was about to have plenty of cash. The thing was that Hook made playing with him fun every time.

"If I get armaments from raids or Gates," Victor said, "I can sell them to you, right?"

"Of course." Rook nodded fast. "Anything. In fact, if you want, we could sign a contract. A soul oath, or a blood oath, whichever. You’d bring everything to me first." I don’t want him slipping away to anyone else.

Victor only chuckled and turned to leave.

"Wait." Rook hurried after him. "The information you gave us last time was excellent. Anything else you’d like to... sell?"

The salesman’s eyes shone.

Victor paused and thought it He really did not want to out too much. After all, what use was regressing if he did not take advantage of the knowledge for himself.

Then again, there were a series of accidents that would happen that he won’t mind the Dark Guild infiltrating in.

But knowing too much could also end up biting him in the ass later.

He thought hard. Then it clicked. He could afford to give this one.

He leaned in and lowered his voice. "The gala Dungeon Conquest’s parent company is hosting will include a secret auction. That Auction will be Invitation only. It’s going to be entirely different from the one that will happen publicly in a few months. This one’s Invitation will only go to those of real power attending the gala."

Rook’s eyes sharpened. A secret auction with rules that strict. And hosted by a game company? There was a lot to suspect here. From Victor’s words, this auction was not to sell game wears. If not there was no reason to tell him.

Then again weren’t Auctions usually held by powerful guilds?

"What do you want for it?"

Victor smiled. "Take it for free. I trust the Dark Guild."

He turned to leave, but Rook rushed in front of him. "No. I don’t want to owe you. Especially since you gave it before asking payment. I don’t know why, but my instincts are telling me something is off."

He catches on too fast, Victor thought. "How about this. Since I know you plan on selling this information to nobles and powerful people. I want the Dark guild to pay for any three items I pick in the auction..."