Mika 027 (Patreon)

“How fortunate that this potion has appeared,” Patriarch Tegro said. “This Perfect Grade Cultivation potion is great for you, Elder Yan. This Patriarch will spend the five hundred thousand gold to buy it for you, if it means peace between us.” 

It seemed he knew how to add two and two together, though it would depend on Elder Yan’s response. “If you had a purple paddle, I’m sure you could. However, it seems you are unable to, and I have no need for such a potion.”

Patriarch Tegro’s veins bulged on his forehead. “Then it seems my charity was unneeded.”

“My guild is not so poor that we need charity from the likes of the Tegro family. Again you shame me and my name, but it seems I’ll have to get used to it in this city.”

“Patriarch Tegro,” Tara began. “Since our Auction Hall is not within your sight, I must ask you kindly to leave.” Her lips may have been a smile, but her eyes were a deathly glare. 

Patriarch Tegro grit his teeth, but he stood up. He bowed his head and then left with the rest of his family, ignoring Elder Yan as they left. Since Elder Yan refused to toast, he’d naturally have to taste defeat.

“I apologise for the inconvenience,” Tara said. “Let’s continue. One hundred and fifty thousand, yes? Let’s begin!” 

“Five hundred thousand,” the City Lord called out, getting right to the meat of it. 

“Five hundred and fifty!” Patriarch Leone called out, smiling wide. 

“Six hundred thousand,” Baex said. “I will certainly bring the potion to the Elder in order to assist the city with its capabilities.”

The City Lord seemed to be in a bad spot. She had stated her intentions last time, but this time it was far more overt. It seemed she was desperate, and he couldn’t act against the city’s future. 

“Six hundred and fifty,” Patriarch Chen said, letting the City Lord breathe. 

Baex looked to Patriarch Chen, sweating slightly. Elder Yan most likely made some kind of deal, but this was something which she needed to win for the guild. “Seven hundred thousand!” 

Patriarch Chen stared at her for a long moment. “Seven and fifty,” he finally said. 

Baex sighed, bowing her head in defeat. “Since Patriarch Chen seems intent on having it, I will surrender.”

“Eight,” City Lord said, seeing that Baex had already dropped out. 

Patriarch Chen eyed up the City Lord. He had won the last potion, and so he decided to bow his head, relenting to the City Lord. “I will surrender it to you, City Lord.”

The City Lord turned to look at Patriarch Leone, who shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t expect it to go so high. I should continue bidding, but I’m not sure if the Matriarch will forgive me…” He waved his hand. “I surrender.”

“Eight hundred thousand!” Tara almost drooled. “It seems we’ve set a new record for our Auction Hall. I don’t believe any other potion has ever reached such a height. I hope that you haven’t emptied your coffers for us, otherwise you won’t be able to enjoy the rest of the days.” She smiled wide, still a greedy dragon wanting for more gold. 

The various Patriarchs seemed to be in a much better mood. It was rare they could see such a treasure, especially in their own city. Usually one would have to go to the region capital. They had also seen such powerful displays of wealth, which always fired them up to do much better. Even for someone like the City Lord and Patriarch Chen, throwing around eight hundred thousand gold was no small amount. 

Yet Mika would make sure it was worth it to them. They had been spurred on by Starr Alchemy, so it was the least he could do. 

The cut from the Auction Hall was roughly twenty percent of the total, quite high, but they often times gave great treatment to those who would return, including heavy discounts on many of their items, as well as complimentary items they required. It was quite costly to have so many guards and many Experts across different fields to make sure they didn’t get scammed. 

As they walked to Tara, Yan bowed his head to her. “I ask for forgiveness, dear niece. You’ve been so kind to us and we’ve stirred up trouble for you.”

The gold coins falling out of her eyes showed that she was more than eager to wave away such trifles. “It’s alright, uncle Yan. Patriarch Tegro was behaving as though our Auction Hall was his own home. I can see that you were being treated quite poorly by him. If you have any issues, please come to me.” She smiled. “I will be reducing the fee this time since there was such a big issue,” she said, looking to Mika. “I hope ten percent would be fine?”

Elder Yan was surprised by her offer, but bowed his head. “If niece feels that is appropriate.”

Mika cleared his throat. “Elder, didn’t you say that you would reward those who assist Starr Alchemy?” Though he had already done so, Mika wanted to create slightly deeper ties with the Auction Hall. It would be difficult to kill Tara, so befriending her seemed more appropriate.

“You’re right, my disciple. Let’s keep the typical fee, and discuss what I will be contributing on the third day of the auction?” 

“If that’s what uncle insists, I’ll have to accept!” She quickly led them away to a private room. 

“Let’s deal with the money first, and then I will need to speak with the City Lord and Patriarch Chen.” Elder Yan threw a look to Mika, who understood. This would be difficult to navigate. “Dear niece, do you by any chance have any mind rings?”

“We have a few. Does uncle need a pair?”

“If you would be willing to sell them, I would like to buy a pair.”

“Please, uncle. With how much you have made our Auction House, allow me to gift them to you.”

Yan bowed his head. “If you insist.”

She left them some tea and went to get them their money. Mika estimated their total profit to be somewhere around three hundred thousand gold coins. Considering that most Bronze Experts would make roughly a thousand or two, this was definitely a great gain for them. Spending so much money would be difficult.

Tara soon returned, handed over the gold coins to the Elder as well as the pair of rings. “Here you are.” She had given the Elder coins in all manner of currency, from bars, to coins, and even normal gems, which could be used as legal tender. “If you would prefer the currency in any other way, please tell me. I’ll sort the issue out, no problem.”

“This is fine, dear niece. Thank you for your hard work.”

“I have some matters to attend to, but would you like me to ask the City Lord and Patriarch Chen to wait as a nearby booth?”

“If you would be so kind.”

She left them to speak alone, whistling as she left. No doubt gold was weighing down her thoughts.

“How are we going to deal with this?” Yan asked. 

“It’s simple,” Mika said. “We need to make them an offer which is both worthwhile and easy for us to do. If we ask them to provide us with a few rare herbs, we can make the pair some potions that they request. Let’s make some High Grade potions. If we gift them the same potions they had bought, they might feel as though they’ve been conned.”

Elder Yan nodded, stroking his beard. “So we should offer them more potions? Perhaps a few which are simple to make but we have yet to reveal?”

“It might do well for us to hand over a few of the Long Boost potions, the potions which last a little longer than the typical Boost potion. They probably suspect you made all the potions that were in the fourth phase since you didn’t seem too interested.” Mika thought for a moment. 

“Don’t let them bully you,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Let them know that you had made an exclusive deal with someone else for the rights to them and you are unwilling to break it. They also won’t want you to break such a good relationship since they could eventually try to gain some benefits from this mystery person too.”

“This should smooth things over,” Yan said, nodding his head. 

“We need to spread the fact that Starr Alchemy remembers those who have assisted them, and that you would like to establish a fruitful relationship with the two families. If we’re able to gain some ties with them, it would go a long way in establishing our guild as a force to be reckoned with. If you have to reveal it, tell them that I am on track to become an Expert within five years or so.”

“You want to reveal that?” 

“That I’m a genius? They should already know that.” He recalled how Chen was pretty quick on the uptake. 

“Should we go meet with them?”

“…” Mika continued to think. “Make a deal with them where they pay in Low Grade gems. I need a lot of them. A few hundred Low Grade gems, even Middle Grade gems, for a set of potions and pills that you’ll send monthly. I don’t mind if you give them a small discount on the items.” Mika shrugged his shoulders. 

Alchemists were usually busy, so if they ran out of stock, the families were out of luck. With Mika’s refining technique, and some of the formulas he had introduced into the guild, the speed at which they could create the various products had increased by leaps and bounds. If needed, he could always increase it temporarily by assisting in refining various materials. A few thousand pills and potions an hour were nothing to him. He wondered if Yan would have a heart attack if he knew the true extent of his abilities.