Ark Volume 2

by Japtem

  Just the japtem in Ark's bag and what he had left with Sid totaled 50 Gold. Along with selling the 800 pearls at a 15% high price, the total was 418 Gold! It was more than the price of the trade goods Sid had brought while flinging himself around the Kingdom like crazy. Moreover, Ark's earnings had mostly no investment, so his margin reached 90%.

  He received more than half the money bag. But Ark still eyed Sid's money bag with greedy eyes. It was his silent pressure to be given the promised protection fee and reward.

  "Here you go. The 25 Gold I promised when I contracted Leo, and the 15 Gold special bonus." Sid handed over the money looking like he was going to cry.

  Ark quickly took it, packed it away, and laughed. "Thank you. Then I'll see you again next time."

  "Yes; well, I'm gonna be in Giran for a while, so if you need to see me just contact me."

  Ark parted with Sid for now. However, there were still things he had to do in Giran. Even after selling off that many items, there were still three or four items left in Snake's belly. They were items he couldn't sell to the store because they were unidentified.

  'Huhuhu, he said he was gonna be in Giran for a while, right? Then I should check all these items and get Sid to sell them. Sid's going to get EXP from selling them anyways. This is what they call a win-win situation. Knowing a Merchant makes a lot of things much more comfortable.'

  He'd really caught a sitting duck this time. Whether he liked it or not, he'd come to know Sid, so he had to use him to the max!

  Inside his bag, 650 gold coins jingled. Thanks to that, as Ark headed towards the item appraisal store, his steps were as light as air.

  "How much did you say it was?"

  "It's 184,700 Won (~$185)." The checkout clerk spat out terrifying words with a friendly voice.

  A sigh puffed out on its own. Buying a 4 kilogram sack of rice, some vegetables, toothpaste, and a toothbrush totaled to over a 180 thousand Won.

  It seemed prices had risen yet again, in short order, whereas workers' wages had been frozen for a year. The people's economy falling to ruin was like a textbook example. The electric, water, and gas fees also rose.

  It had already been 10 years since the privatization of public services. In the name of improving quality, the utility fees had risen fifteen times. As a result, even though he only kept one light on at night in his tiny room, the shivering Hyun Woo was charged a bill of over 150 thousand Won (~$150) every month.

  Though his mother was just lying in the hospital, having to pay a hospital bill of 3 million Won (~$3,000) a month was certainly an aftereffect of the privatization of health insurance.

  Since Hyun Woo was busy making a living, he had no interest in the workings of national bond companies or whatever. Whenever a policy came out, there was a part could not understand the people who rose up in arms like a swarm of bees. But after taking personal damage from the aftereffect, his thoughts changed.

  'Dammit, there's a reason why adults talk politics if they simply gather.'

  However, he couldn't live without eating and using water just because money was precious.

  'I'm jealous of Ark, who can use Survival Cooking.'

  Granted, even if Hyun Woo could use Survival Cooking, it wouldn't make much of a difference. In a city where it was hard to even see grass, there was no way he could get ingredients.

  In the end, although he valued them like his life, he handed over likenesses of Shin Saimdang (50,000 Won bill), Sejong the Great (10,000 Won), Yi I (5,000 Won), and Admiral Yi (100 Won) to the clerk.

  [T/N: Ark is referring to famous figures in Korean history who are printed onto the currency. It's like talking about giving someone a Lincoln ($5) or a George Washington.]

  Walking home with shopping bags, Hyun Woo's mind was busy calculating money.

  His mother's rehabilitation treatment started this month too, so it would take about 4,500,000 Won (~$4,500)... On top of that, the utility bill was roughly 450,000 Won (~$450), rent and food expenses were 500,000 Won, loan payment and interest were 1,000,000 Won. In conclusion, the total expenses was at least 6,500,000 Won (~$6,500) a month.

  With the 7,000,000 Won (~$7,000) he'd earned from selling items in the past and 3,000,000 Won (~$3,000) he received from Global Exos for two months, he had thought he could endure for at least another two months. However, now it would be tough to last a month and a half. It was dangerous if he couldn't step up his game.

  'Still, I can't skimp on mother's hospital fees.'

  After life became difficult, the biggest thing Hyun Woo realized was life wasn't so easy. Everything Hyun Woo had lived on and enjoyed for 17 years were not for granted. They were the result of his father earning with sweat and blood and his mother saving and saving again. They raised Hyun Woo with everything in a world with prices leaping like mad. He had to be grateful.

  However that was then, now his pocket swung emptily.

  Since he had to pay the hospital fee in advance, it immediately took a large sum. His loan payment date was also drawing very near. After thinking, Hyun Woo just shook his head.

  'No need to worry. I still have over 2,000,000 Won left. And if there's no other way...'

  There was still a final resort left to Hyun Woo. The 650 Gold he carefully kept in his bag!

  It was an emergency card he could convert to 6,500,000 Won of real currency at any time. But just as money was necessary to live life, gold was necessary inside the game, too. At least for an unforeseen circumstance, he didn't want to touch the gold if possible.

  'I still have time. Since I'm mostly set with my equipment, I'll put any worthwhile items I get on auction right away. Since my level went up too, there'll be more chances to get items worth money.'

  Hyun Woo roughly finished cleaning his house and accessed the auction site.

  Auction Complete. Reaper's Scythe : 600,000 Won (~$600)

  Auction Complete. Sharply Shining Sword : 350,000 Won (~$350)

  Auction Complete. Merciless Hammer of Destruction: 800,000 Won (~$800)

  Auction Complete. Spirit of Separation : 700,000 Won (~$700)

  'For now, I've scraped together 2,450,000 Won.'

  Leo and Hargen's equipment sold for a better price than expected. Since he'd made a tasty sum from the items he'd taken from them, he thought he could understand why players went the path of the PKer even while bearing enormous penalties.

  'But there's a limit to the money you can make PKing anyways. And if you keep making enemies like, there'll be a time when you won't be able to play the game at all. From a long-term perspective, it's actually no good. I have to make money my own way.'

  Hyun Woo got in the unit and connected to New World.

  "How much did you say it was?" Ark repeated exactly what Hyun Woo had said.

  "The Low-grade Protect cancellation is 5 Gold, Intermediate is 10 Gold, and Advanced is 15 gold. Since it is impossible to identify items with the Ultimate Protect, please use the item appraisal store of Bristania Kingdom's magic city, Hashui."

  After leaving Sid, Ark immediately sought out the item appraisal store, because among the items he'd got underwater, several of them were unidentified. Since he couldn't even sell them while unidentified, he had to get them identified. But hearing the prices made his jaw drop on its own.

  "W-why is it so expensive?"

  "We only charge the fee the Magic Society announces. If you find fault with it, you can leave." The appraisal NPC, named Doltorun, made an unpleasant expression as he replied bluntly.

  A sigh leaked from Ark's lips. The Identification skill only formed for people who observed many goods closely, so besides Magicians or manufacturers, it was nigh impossible to get.

  But Giran was a commerce city, and there were many Merchants and manufacturer players. There were also bound to be people with the Identification skill among them. If he found them and made a request, he would be able to get them identified for 1-2 Gold cheaper.

  However, he was reluctant to do so. He also didn't want to mix with ot
her players, because if it turns out to be a good item, he wouldn't be able to maintain his security. Even if his luck was really good and a Rare item came out, the info might leak to Chaotic players.

  'Although catching them and getting a bounty or an item wouldn't be bad either...'

  There was no guarantee he'd be able to win with luck all the time. Moreover, Giran was a place where all sorts of high-level players gathered.

  He wouldn't be able to handle facing two or three players around the level of Leo and Hargen. Now he knew scrolls such as 'Robbery' existed, he had to be even more careful.

  'I can't ask a player to identify it even while knowing of the danger to save 1-2 Gold.' In that respect, an item appraisal store run by an NPC was trustworthy. 'Can't be helped.'

  "Please check this first."

  Ark held back tears as he handed over the fee and requested the appraisal of a low-grade unidentified item. The only weapon among the unidentified items, it looked like some kind of tooth.

  "Please wait a moment."

  Doltorun inspected the item carefully and the identification was soon complete.

  Sharkman Fang Dagger

  Weapon Type

  Dagger

  Attack Damage

  4~6

  Durability

  10

  Weight

  5

  Usage Restriction

  None

  A dagger made from a sharp fang of a Sharkman; the Merpeople use it when collecting pearls. It does not rust in seawater, but it breaks easily and repair is impossible.

  Value: 15-20 Silver

  Marking the value was an additional service of item appraisal stores. Thanks to that friendly service, Ark instantly fell into shock.

  "20 Silver? W-what the hell? Then I can't even get the identification fee back?"

  "Can't be helped. Item appraisal has no guarantee of getting a good result."

  "What kind of irresponsibility...!"

  "I simply did as I was asked, and identified it. The results aren't my responsibility, isn't that right?" Doltorun replied insultingly.

  In the end it was like throwing away 4 gold and 80 silver on the street with one identification.

  This was the biggest negative point of an unidentified item. You could make a lot of profit if it came out as an item with a good result, but if japtem like this came out, then you just wasted the identification fee.

  'I'm gonna go crazy. What to do?'

  He'd been all puffed up with expectation when picking up the items. But now that he was about to get them identified, caution exceeded his expectation. Of the remaining items, two had Low-level Protect and one was Intermediate. A whopping 20 Gold! If they all turned out to be japtem, then 20 Gold went up into smoke.

  Even so, he couldn't just throw them away. An unidentified item had a drop rate as low as a Magic item. It means there was a high possibility an item as good as a Magic one could surface.

  It was a waste to throw them away, and identifying made him scared.

  'This is completely being stuck between a rock and a hard place.'

  This was Ark worrying about spending 20 gold when having 650 gold. While Ark was going back and forth about his decision Doltorun muttered angrily, "Won't you ponder outside please? Aren't you blocking the other customers?"

  "Ah, no. That is...."

  "Aaah! Just sell them at an auction and be done with it!"

  "Auction? But unidentified goods can't be put up for auction."

  Hearing Ark's reply, Doltorun pierced him with a look of derision. "You're driving me mad though I'm so busy I could die. Look here, customer! Giran doesn't have just one auction. Other than the normal auction, there are various types depending on nature. One of them is a place called the blind auction. As the name suggests it is an auction where one doesn't know what item they are getting. So, I mean it's a place where you auction unidentified items."

  "Unidentified items?"

  "It's a place where people like you who value the identification fee or can't even afford the fee get rid of unidentified items. Since both the seller and the buyer don't know what kind of good it is, whether they make a gain or a loss hangs on luck alone. I personally think it's just pathetic, but if you like it then go take a look. Next customer!" Doltorun fumed as he pushed Ark out.

  Ark opened his bag and stared at the unidentified items. They were items with shapes like clam shells--- items that strongly smelled like they wouldn't even make a few pennies if he identified them.

  'Still, I can't just throw them away, so let's try going to the blind auction for now. I'll be able to pick up a few Silvers at least if they sell.'

  The blind auction was in a corner of Giran, in the casino district. As soon as he entered the luxurious building the Auction NPC came up.

  "Are you here to register an unidentified item?"

  "Yes, I'm trying to register these three."

  "Please register the auction starting price and auction period."

  "10 Silver, 8 hours."

  "Thank you. Please find the office after 8 hours. Will you look around the auction while you wait? If good luck follows, you can even buy a valuable item for a ridiculously cheap price."

  Of course that was the plan. With the NPC's guidance, Ark entered the auction.

  In a wide space, there was an enormous number of items on display. There, the auction progressed by looking through the items and jotting down a price on the memo attached underneath the item you wanted to buy.

  Ark walked around looking at the items with interest. Weapons, armor, shields, even items like food ingredients and pottery were being auctioned. As expected, players looking to make a quick fortune were interested in the weapons or armor.

  A good weapon or armor was incomparably more expensive than other items. Plus, since even an average one could be sold at a relatively good price, you could also minimize the loss in case of auction failure. Of course those items got a high price at auction.

  No, it was too high.

  'The auction price of an unknown sword is 30 Gold? If you add the identification fee that's 35 Gold. 35 Gold is just thrown away if this is just an iron sword, but people are still trying to buy it.'

  While Ark was thinking, someone approached and raised the price to 31 Gold.

  It was a robed Magician wearing glasses. The name written on the memo was Vidus. He glanced at Ark, who was blankly staring at him as he put in the bid. Vidus raised the bid again to 35 Gold and laughed. It seemed he thought of Ark as a competitor.

  Ark couldn't understand his behavior.

  35 gold for an item when he don't know what will come out of it?

  If anything, wasn't it the same as gambling?

  However, that amount was nothing. After he looked around a bit, he saw that all the auction goods had eye-popping prices. There were numerous items with over 100 Gold as bids.

  'For people to pour their money like this, it must mean there's that much merit?'

  There was no way all the players were idiots. Participating in the auction while going as far as to pour in hundreds of Gold, there was no doubt it meant they could make a greater profit. The smell of money wafted into Ark's sensitive nose. He was just looking, but if there was money to be made, he couldn't just pass it up.

  'For now, I've got to figure out why people are going so crazy.'

  As Ark went around the auction, he started gathering info. And he came to learn a surprising truth.

  The info was this: just a few days ago, among the items sold in the blind auction, an Epic item appeared.

  No matter how low its stats were, an Epic was easily worth 10 million Won (~$10,000) at the very least; as its name suggested, it was a sensational item. Therefore, player interest was rapidly rising.

  That wasn't all. There was a rumor one player had gotten a Rare armor with just 50 Silver, and yet another player got a Rare skill book for 5 Gold.

  'This is an incredible place!' Ark was shocked into attention.

  Of cour
se, there was no way such good fortune would come into his hand so easily. But depending on the situation, he could raise the profit by hundreds with a small investment. Moreover, Ark was in an immediate need of money. There was no guarantee anywhere he'd be able to obtain a Rare item within ten days with just hunting.

  If he could obtain a Rare item here...?

  'This is an opportunity, I might be able to get money for this month if I use it well.'

  The problem was, he could accidentally suffer a huge loss.

  'Still, I can't just blindly buy auction goods. First, I have to learn the trick to it. There was nothing in the world that had no trick to it. After all, they say gambling is 60% skill and the rest was luck.'

  After that, Ark spent the next few hours observing the people wandering the auction.

  Be it gambling or anything else, the first and foremost way to make money was to follow the expert. Someone with expertise in this field would have their own know-how. For now, the urgent priority was to find an expert.

  After 3 hours, the person Ark found was the Magician wearing glasses he'd met not long ago, Vidus. Other people left after bidding on 1 or 2 items at most, but he went around bidding on scores of items in one go.

  'That guy isn't just doing this casually. He's a person who buys and sells auction goods as a profession.'

  Ark started to follow Vidus around.

  Vidus' work method was rational. He didn't just recklessly raise the auction price, and if he found a worthwhile item, he wrote down the expected price, auction start time, and auction period on a notebook. When the auction closing time drew near, he checked the latest price and bid within a safe range. Vidus successfully won most of the goods after a few minutes.

  'Is he checking the price before the auction closes and buying if it's lower than what he expected and forgoing if it's not? It's the trick to buying with minimal investment.'

  Ark decided to use Vidus's method. About 1 minute after Vidus bid, Ark quickly bid 1 Copper higher. After Vidus bid, Ark used the last few minutes before the auction ended.