Mika 024 (Patreon)

“Three hundred,” Elder Yan’s voice cut through the air, and the audience quickly returned from their whispered conversations and tea drinking to watch.

“Four hundred.” Alte Tegro didn’t pay it much attention.

“One thousand.” 

The crowd gasped. A thousand was too much for a set of ten Low Grade gems. Tara could only smile her greedy grin at Elder Yan. ‘Uncle! You’re the best!’

Young Master Alte raised his brows, but didn’t glance at the Elder. “Very well, Elder. I will surrender these gems to you.”

“I don’t need you to surrender the items to me,” Elder said, glaring down at him. “If you believe you, a Tegro, can outbid me, then I welcome you to try it.”

All noted the tone of voice the Elder used against the Tegro family. 

“Does the Elder have an issue with the Tegro family?”

“I heard there was a commotion at their estate, was it because of the Elder?”

“There’s no need to be so rude, Elder Yan,” Young Master Alte said, staring up at the Elder. He couldn’t withdraw from such a provocation, especially not in front of his younger brother. 

“Haa? Which kitten meows my way? I fear that I may need a regeneration pill with how much your voice grates me.” The Elder continued to glare at the Tegro.

The other families watched in shock, intrigue, and delight. They had heard the rumours as well, but it seems the Elder was taking this further than they had expected. Since when did someone like Elder Yan go to war so publicly against such a large family?

“Come, bid for them,” Elder Yan said, leaning back and looking down at the Young Master even though they were fairly level.

“There’s no need. I have surrendered them already.” Young Master Tegro narrowed his eyes. There were other gems he could bid on.

“Let’s get to the next set of gems! Don’t be so shy!” Tara clapped her hands, and the next set was revealed. 

“A thousand,” Elder Yan bid. 

Tara looked at the dragon which sat on the upper level, wondering if perhaps he had been angered too much. 

The next set was brought, and once again, Elder Yan bid a thousand. The amount he was spending on the gems was far too much. Some believed him to be foolish, either due to his flagrant lack of disregard for his wealth, and for the face of the noble families which had intended to bid on the items. 

A guard appeared outside the barrier, and Elder Yan nodded towards him. The guard stepped forward and clasped his hands together. “This guard asks for your forgiveness, Elder. Young Mistress has a request of the good Elder.”

Elder Yan relaxed, nodding his head slowly. “What is the request?”

“She asks that you please allow her to save face by allowing the other families a chance for the gems, otherwise her name would come under shade.”

Elder Yan brushed his beard, feeling his cheeks flush. “Ehm. I suppose that I do have plenty of gems now. Please give the good niece my apologies.” He then raised a hand and summoned a small bottle of pills, offering them to the guard to take to the Young Mistress.

“Please accept my thanks, gracious Elder.” The guard slipped away.

Tara sighed, glad that the Elder had calmed down. “Now we have Middle Grade gems. There are another ten lot of these gems. We’ll start the bids at one thousand.”

Elder Yan looked to Mika. “Perhaps we should wait for the next lot?”

Mika nodded. They had only just pulled back, to snap in so quickly would bring the Young Mistress grief. There was no need to make an enemy of the woman, especially since it may tip her off against Mika’s plot against her. 

A few sets passed by before the Elder bid for five thousand gold on a lot. 

“The Elder seems to be greedy for gems.”

“You idiot, didn’t you see? He bought items which required gems.”

Young Mistress smiled, though there was a small nervous crack. She looked up at Elder Yan, who smiled at her reassuringly. 

“Five thousand gold to the Elder. This next lot will begin at a thousand again.” She decided not to look at Elder Yan, who remained silent.

“One thousand and five hundred,” Alte finally said.

“Play with him,” Mika whispered.

“Sixteen hundred,” Elder Yan said.

“Seventeen.”

“Eighteen.”

“Two thousand,” Patriarch Chen called out, and Elder Yan remained silent.

“I apologise, Patriarch Chen, but I must continue bidding against you.” Young Master Alte bowed his head slightly. “Twenty one.”

“Twenty two,” Elder Yan said.

“Twenty five,” Patriarch Chen said. 

Elder Yan remained silent, and Alte looked up at him. The Young Master clenched his fists, understanding the situation, and soon the others caught on.

“Is the Elder bidding to deny the Tegro family the gems?”

“Two thousand and five hundred to Patriarch Chen!” Tara sighed, though was keeping an eye on both Tegro and Starr.

“Is there such a need for this behaviour,” Young Master Alte asked.

Elder Yan turned up his nose. “My business is my own,” he said. “I do not need advice from such a poorly mannered junior, unless he wishes to place his forehead on the floor before me.”

Alte Tegro narrowed his eyes. “I won’t forget this slight.”

“I hope so.”

“Let us return to the auction,” Tara said, clapping her hands together. “A thousand for the gems.”

Elder Yan was about to bid, but he regained his composure. He waited to see if the Tegro would bid, remaining silent as he glared at the brat. The others bid against one another, though others thought deeply about the situation.

“It seems as though there is some animosity between the Elder and the Tegro family.” Patriarch Jones glanced between them. “Is there a need for mediation?” He wanted to see if he could gain some benefits from assisting the two.

“I have offered the chance for my honour to be returned, but you have seen it has been refused. There is no mediation in this matter, but this Elder thanks Patriarch Jones for his considerations.”

Alte turned to one of his guards, whispering something to them, before they left the auction. Mika noted it, but left it be.

The gems continued to be sold in lots, and Alte Tegro dared not to bid on any of them in order to save himself the embarrassment. He made it appear as though he was not bothered by the gems.

“Now we have the second to last item!” Tara said, trying to bring the mood back up. “This is a High Grade gem! They typically sell for ten thousand gold coins, but we will start the auction at five thousand.” Though she appeared to be doing them a favour, they knew that the gem wouldn’t go for so little.

The doors to the Auction Hall opened and in stepped Patriarch Tegro. He looked to the Young Mistress, who merely smiled at him. “You’re late, Patriarch Tegro.”

“I apologise for my tardiness. There were certain matters I needed to attend to before I could arrive. This Patriarch is willing to pay a hundred gold to make this right.”

“The late fee is only ten gold, Patriarch Tegro, but I thank you for the thought. I will continue the auction immediately. An High Grade gem, five thousand gold. Let’s begin the bid.”

Patriarch Tegro’s eyes flashed up to Elder Yan, but he made his way to his son, who visibly relaxed now that the Patriarch was here. With this, Elder Yan would need to be more careful.

“Twenty thousand,” Expert Alchemist Baex called out. “The Alchemists’ Guild would appreciate it if we are able to receive such an item in order to create some wonderful items.” She smiled politely. 

Twenty thousand wasn’t a loss for the Auction Hall, and truly they couldn’t complain, but Tara was hoping for an intense bidding war. Her eyes flashed to Elder Yan, and though she was about to plead to him, she saw the look in the Elder’s eyes.

“Fifty thousand,” Elder Yan said.

The audience stared up at the Elder. How could he blatantly bid on the item after Expert Baex bid for it with such a reason? Even Baex seemed surprised, staring at him. 

“What a wonderful idea, Expert Baex,” Yan said, grinning wide. “The gem would do wonderful powering the various items our Starr Alchemy has picked up in this auction. Though it may be a waste to spend it on such items, for it could do better powering the new equipment we will be buying to keep up with the demand of our newly released products.”

“Elder Yan, you should be careful expanding so quickly. Such an item is quite expensive, and it wouldn’t do to lose all your gold here before you’re able to fill your coffers again. Isn’t your guild too small to afford such expenses?”

“It’s not the size of the guild, but the quality of it.” 

Expert Baex clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes. She remained silent.

“Will there be no more bids?” Tara asked. She looked around. “Fifty thousand gold to Elder Yan!”

The Patriarchs all paid attention to the Elder Alchemist with deep pockets. He had outbid a major family and even their own city guild. He had painted a target on his back, but Mika was already planning against such plots.