Mika 022 (Patreon)

[[WARNING - THERE ARE A LOT OF AUCTION CHAPTERS UPCOMING!]]

“Let us begin with our first item!” Tara said, clasping her hands together. A case was brought out and she opened it up to reveal a High Grade Iron sword. There was a light blue gem stuck in the hilt. “A High Grade Iron lightning sword.” She smiled. 

“How fortunate,” Mika said. “That would be a wonderful gift for forming ties with the Storm family, don’t you think?” Mika asked. “It would be too awkward for me to bring them such a weapon without arousing suspicions.”

“Let’s start the bid at one hundred gold,” Tara said, smiling. One gold was a hundred centurs.

“One hundred!” 

“One hundred and ten!”

“One hundred and twenty!”

Elder Yan raised his paddle. “One and eighty,” he said calmly.

“What?”

“The Alchemist Guild is offering so much for a High Grade Iron lightning sword?”

“What do they even need it for?”

“Elder Alchemist,” said a man from one of the minor noble families. He smiled politely, and though he was a Patriarch, he still showed respect to Elder Yan. “This weapon would suit my son.”

“What rank is your son?” Elder Yan asked.

“He’s Base Iron at twenty years old,” the Patriarch replied, revealing that his son was indeed a hard worker. 

“It’s unfortunate, but this Elder requires this item.” Elder Yan handed an item to Mika, who bowed his head and quickly took the item to the Patriarch. 

“One hundred and eighty gold to Elder Yan,” Tara said, clapping her hands. She assumed the Elder could deal with the fallout. 

The man took the box tentatively, opening it up to see the three pills. His eyes flashed in surprise, and then he closed the box. “I meant no offence, Elder Yan.” The box disappeared, and the man clasped his hands together in respect. The three pills which had been given to him were something which would require much effort to acquire.

The others were surprised to see the action, wondering what the Elder had given the man to have him retreat so quickly. It seemed he had come prepared to barter with the others he may have to face.

Elder Yan waved his hand. “It’s no issue at all.” 

The next item was a pill, though Elder Yan and Mika had no need for such an item. It was sold for ten gold, which was a pretty fair price. The items alternated from a weapon or armour to a pill or potion. It seemed no one wanted to go too crazy so early with their offers, but the day was long. 

Eventually a pair of items appeared. “This breastplate is not just engraved with Bronze Grade inscriptions, but there is also a Bronze Grade cape which comes with it. This is a set item, so let’s start the price at one thousand gold!” She smiled wide towards them all.

Mika glanced at it. It would assist them for a while if they could procure it. His sister would benefit from it for at least a year. The bidding was already up to one thousand and five hundred. 

“Elder, two thousand,” he whispered.

Elder Yan raised his paddle. “Two thousand,” he said. 

“Two thousand?”

“Really?”

“What does an Alchemist need with such an item?”

“Two thousand and one hundred,” called a voice. It was the City Lord, who remained focused on the item set.

“What a shame,” Mika said. “Let’s no go against the City Lord.”

“If I had known the City Lord was interested, I would not have bid.” Elder Yan bowed his head slightly.

“There’s no need for that, Elder Yan.” The City Lord shook his head. 

“Two thousand and one hundred gold to the City Lord!” Tara didn’t mind that the prices weren’t reaching the heavens as of yet.

The auction continued until a peculiar lot arrived. There were six ruined blades, each of which could be studied, though they were useless otherwise. 

Unless someone could reforge the blades.

“This lot is five gold pieces. If you’re interest in learning about runes, these items would be useful. We are sure that the six blades are worth it for the pursuit of knowledge.” Tara smiled warmly.

“Please,” Mika said to the Elder.

Elder Yan raised his paddle. “Five gold,” he called out. No one bid against him for such a useless item.

Mika hid his smile. The items, though useless for most others, were more than useful for him. Each one was worth more than a single gold piece to him. Even if he had to spend a hundred gold pieces, it was more than fine.

Next came out a pill, but not just any pill. It was a High Grade Steelforge pill. Such a pill would be useful for any of the clans. 

“Let’s start the price at one hundred gold pieces.” Tara’s smile was far more wicked this time. 

As if such a pill would go for so little. 

“Two hundred!”

“Three!”

“Four!”

“Five!”

“One thousand,” said one of the Patriarchs of a major noble family. The man wore long robes of red, like blood, and his hair was jet black. He seemed to appear like a classic villain, one with pale skin, and sharp features. He was roughly fifty years old, and was quite powerful.

“Twelve hundred,” called another Patriarch. He was a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. He appeared like the typical protagonist or knightly figure. “I apologise for bidding against you, Patriarch Chen, but this Patrirach will need to bid against you.”

“There is no need for your apology, Patriarch Jones. This item belongs to no one.” Patriarch Chen’s eyes flashed to the man. “Yet. Fifteen hundred.” 

From their exchange, Mika could see that they were often at odds with one another. “Since you wish for the pill so badly, this Patriarch will retreat.” He chuckled, bowing his head. 

“Fifteen hundred gold to Patriarch Chen!”

Patriarch Chen was buying up a number of items. He had bought a quarter of the pills and potions so far.

“It’s time for the second phase of the auction now!” Tara clapped her hands together. “There are only six items in this phase, so please don’t be shy with your wallets!” She licked her lips, and people could see that she was going to be far more ruthless.

She revealed the first item, a pair of gauntlets. They were Bronze Grade, one which was covered in inscriptions, and also slots for gems. “This item is a Bronze Grade pair of gauntlets. This item empowers one’s attacks for a short period of time. The activation requires a charge from a Low Grade gem. This item will start at five hundred gold!”

“Elder,” Mika said, “please.”

“Six hundred,” Patriarch Chen called out, increasing the bid instantly. 

“Seven hundred,” Elder Yan continued.

“Eight.”

“Nine.”

“One thousand.”

“Elven hundred,” Elder Yan said, smiling at the Patriarch. “I apologise, Patriarch Chen, but I must continue bidding.”

“There is no need to fret, Elder, these items are to be bid upon.” Patriarch Chen’s face was neutral at all times. “Fifteen hundred.”

“I thank the wise Patriarch for his assurance. Two thousand.”

Patriarch Chen’s eyes went from the item to the Elder. He wondered why an Alchemist wanted such items, glancing at Mika quickly, before then bowing his head. “It seems the Elder wishes for this item dearly. This Patriarch will surrender it.”

“I give you my thanks, kind Patriarch Chen.”

“Two thousand to Elder Yan!” Tara smiled wide, clapping her hands together. Finally, this was more like it. Two power houses bidding against one another, what could be more beautiful?

“The Elder really went into a bidding war with the Patriarch of the Viper Fist?”

“Over a gauntlet too.”

“This Elder…”

“How loaded is this Elder, going up against a Patriarch and winning.”

“Is the Chen family not in his sight?”

“I thought you said he was from a town?”

Yan sat up straight, frowning slightly. “I do hope we don’t make an enemy of the Chen family.” He wanted to rub his head, but showing any kind of weakness now could easily be preyed upon.

“We will definitely make it up to them,” Mika said, smiling. This pair of gauntlets was something he couldn’t give up on. His sister, Ami, could definitely use them to win the Rising Stars tournament. The Patriarch of the Viper Fist may have wanted them, but it was a shame he had to go against Mika of the Black Hand.

The next few items were quite stellar as well. Each was better than the last. A High Grade Bronze flaming sword, which Yan managed to win for two and a half thousand. There was a High Grade frost sword, which Yan won for two and half thousand again. Then there was another High Grade sword, but this time it was of the void element. Since so few families used the element, it was brought by Elder Yan for three thousand.

Mika couldn’t help but throw a glance towards the Elder. He didn’t even tell the Elder to go for them, but he took the initiative to fight. It seemed the comments from earlier had really irked him. The Elder’s face was a pleasant smile, but the aura which emanated from the room was daring any other to challenge him.