by Japtem
It was an auction that only dealt with items users put up, so there was no way the auction goods would be submitted infinitely.
'Is it about time to leave this place?'
Ark was torn. Although there wasn't a single worthwhile item left, one thing bugged him-- the auction item currently in front of him.
It was a sooty sword blade without a handle. On the surface it looked to be trash; but, if inspected closely, there was a peculiar aura emanating from the blade. The problem was, the feeling he sensed from it didn't feel like it would make money.
'No matter how you look at it, this doesn't seem like it's going to make big bucks; although it feels like there's something there.'
Normally, he probably would have just bought it; but, the circumstances was a bit different this time.
'Just who is this guy named Danil?"
The item's starting bid was just 10 Gold. Even so, nobody bid on the item for the next few hours. It just showed how shabby the item looked. That was why Ark thought he could get it easily and bid 10 Gold and 1 Copper. But the moment he took his eyes off, a player named Danil raised the bid to 15 Gold.
Because of him, Ark's competitive spirit was aroused and he kept raising the price. Before he knew it, the price had rose to a whopping 40 Gold.
'What the hell? Why is this Danil guy so obsessed with this item? I haven't seen his name in the auction before...'
Seeing the price higher than he imagined, Ark placed a bid for 40 Gold and 1 Copper as a test. Perhaps because Danil's competitive spirit was flaring up, he bid a whole 100 gold. One could only think he was crazy.
'If that guy isn't crazy, there's something about this. This is too extreme to be fishing.'
After Ark used the method of inflating prices in the auction house, there were players who used similar methods. Such a method, which he called fishing, was used with discretion to the situation. If he raised the bid to 100 Gold in one go, what kind of madman would get hooked?
This was the reason why Ark was concerned. It looked like he was fishing too obviously. It made him think he wasn't actually fishing. In addition, Danil was a name Ark hadn't seen in the auction house. 100 Gold wasn't an amount that an auction noob would recklessly put out without any certainty.
'But to spend as much as 100 Gold... It's too ridiculous.' It was rare for even a flashy-looking sword or armor to go up by 50 Gold.
'What to do? Should I think of it as my last go, close my eyes tight, and bet on it?'
Even after recovering his loss, he had still earned 250 Gold. Including the Gold he sold to pay for hospital bills, that was a total of 550 Gold! However, for Ark, 100 Gold was not small change.
To invest the money he had earned, running around the auction house like crazy for half a month, it was not a decision he could make lightly.
'Fine then, since I've learned the Discerning Eye skill you can't even get with money here, I've made a huge gain anyways. I've earned all I can from the auction house. Now, as a commemoration of finishing up my life in the auction house, let's trust my eye! Whether it's a success or a failure, I'll part with the auction with this!'
Just when Ark made a big decision and stretched out his hand to the bidding memo, another hand approached at the same time and flinched as it stopped. It was unthinkable for there to be another player who was going to bid higher than 100 Gold on an item like this.
With a surprised expression, Ark stared at a Merchant player he'd never seen before. The player looked at Ark and frowned slightly.
"Are you perhaps Ark-nim?"
"Then you're Danil?"
The Merchant nodded and said, "I don't know why you're trying to win this item, but I absolutely need this item. Won't you please yield?"
'This guy must be a beginner.'
Ark's eyes flashed for an instant. The auction is a battlefield. A battlefield where victory is won with wits and timing rather than swords and shields!
For Danil to show his feelings like this, in such a place...
After Ark saw Danil's response, he perceived that the sum Danil had bid wasn't just fishing. With his fidgety appearance, it was clear there was some reason he had to win this auction no matter what. In other words, this was an item that was guaranteed to have a profit worth the amount he had bid!
'I'd be an idiot to lose such an item in the auction.'
Without saying a word, Ark raised the bid to 110 Gold.
Danil flew into a rage and bid 120 Gold. However, without even batting an eye, Ark raised the price several times. Danil's face soon paled. When the price finally exceeded 200 Gold, Danil complained with an exasperated expression.
"You're too much."
"It wasn't too much. The auction house has always been such a place. If there's something you want, you don't ask your enemy to yield-- you do whatever it takes to crush your opponent. Don't you know asking him to yield was your mistake from the start? If you don't have enough money to bid, get out of the way."
At that moment, another person approached and said what Ark had wanted to say. The person was none other than Vidus, who had been in the auction house for the longest time.
Vidus glared at Danil with disparaging eyes. Danil made an enraged expression, but he walked away as if he had nothing to say.
Then, Vidus' gaze settled on Ark.
"Are you also set on this?"
"There isn't any other worthwhile item."
"Hmm, you seemed to be buying up quite a lot of items. It only takes a rough calculation; you must've made a few hundred Gold."
"I wasn't following you, Vidus-nim."
"I know that much. I saw you buying even items I gave up on early." Vidus studied Ark with fresh eyes. "But this is truly amazing, just how did you learn how to judge items properly in a few days? I may have given you a hint, but it shouldn't have been easy. What's more, looking at the bids you've made, your eye for judging an item's maximum price seems more precise than mine. To be able to judge an item not by Silver but down to the Coppers... Is there some sort of method I'm unaware of?"
It was the result of his tenacity to save even a single Copper.
"I didn't know it then, but my eyes are somewhat high quality." As Ark answered while grinning, Vidus nodded.
"So your high quality eyes have set their sights on this item? Then, I too can't just yield it to you. Since my income isn't the same as before because of your unruly meddling, I'll make up for it with this chance."
"Are you saying you want a bidding war?"
"That's right."
Vidus laughed as if amused by the bellicose Ark. "However, since that fellow has dropped out thanks to you, there's no need to raise the price too much, right? It's ridiculous for professionals like you and I to senselessly raise the price like crazy. It's not good to shed each other's blood. Therefore, I'll make a proposal."
"Please continue."
"There isn't much time left before the auction closes, so there is no need to drag this on. We'll write down the max we are willing to go. And the one who writes the higher amount gets the item. How's that?"
"Sounds good." Ark answered without hesitation.
After all, if they had a price war there was no way Ark would win. Vidus, who had been earning money at the auction for a long time, would have many times more capital than Ark.
In fact, Ark was certain Vidus was the player who had bought the Epic item, wandering around the auction house. There was no way he could win with money against such a well-endowed player. Even if he did win, he couldn't hope to recover his losses after raising the price even more in a battle of pride.
'Alright, how much should I write down? How much will Vidus call?'
Now that the match had started, he found it quite difficult. Ark agonized for a moment, thought of something, and quickly wrote down a price.
"Now, at the count of three, we'll both reveal them."
At the same time, they both showed their prices.
Vidus had written 220 Gold. After checking the pric
e, a triumphant smile spread on Ark's face.
"It's my victory."
"...Dammit, how did you know how much I was going write?"
"I remembered the time I spent following you. Vidus-nim, you have a habit of betting exactly 10% higher when you are bidding decisively."
Vidus winced, then let out a sigh and shook his head.
"I lost. I completely lost."
"Then I will take this item."
Ark wrote 220 Gold and 1 Copper on the item's memo. As soon as Ark wrote it down, the sound ending the auction rang and the NPC managing the auction came to collect the item. Once he went to the management office and paid the price, it'd be his farewell with the blind auction.
"I'm leaving this place today. So don't worry and keep making lots of money."
"Look who's talking-- you cleaned out all the profitable ones in just half a month, you scary bastard." Watching Ark run off with his backpack jingling, Vidus stuck his tongue out.
Raising the price by 10% at a time was a habit he'd picked up while managing auctions in real life. But who would have thought a rookie would pick up on the habit he himself had forgotten all about.
"With an eye of that level, it'd be fine to leave him the entire auction house. Should I have asked where he lived? Seeing how fast he picked it up, he's probably working in the field already. Shame."
Just as Vidus was turning while smacking his lips, someone ran in helter-skelter and rejoiced when they saw the item had disappeared.
"The auction finally ended!"
Vidus stopped walking and turned around. It was a young player wearing a set of black leather armor. Next to the player was Danil, sporting a helpless expression-- he looked around and tearfully made an excuse with an apologetic face.
"I'm sorry, Shambala-nim. Because another user bid more than 200 gold, I wasn't able to win the item. Since it went past the agreed upon amount the contract was invalidated... I will return the money entrusted to me."
"Wh-what did you say? What are you talking about? 200 gold should have been enough..."
As Danil returned the money pouch, the user named Shambala's face twisted.
The player who had actually wanted the item was not Danil but Shambala. Because of an urgent quest, he had promised payment and had entrusted the auction to a Merchant instead.
Vidus grasped the gist of the situation and tutted, "Tsk, tsk, you had a proxy contract with that fellow?"
"Ye-yes, so what?"
"It's a shame, but the item you wanted was taken by someone else."
"Wh-who was it? Just who was it?"
"His name is Ark, and he took it for 220 Gold and 1 Copper. That guy is very tenacious, so if you want to buy it, you'll probably have to add at least 100 Gold on top of that price. If you still want to buy it, you should hurry and follow him. He's probably going to the appraisal shop right now."
Before Vidus even finished talking, Shambala ran out of the auction house.
"That rascal Ark, he surely took his share to the very end."
Unfortunately, while Shambala was running towards the appraisal shop, Ark was strolling to the Trade district. The item had low-level Protect; since he had the Discerning Eye skill, Ark didn't really need to go to the appraisal shop.
"Well, shall we see the result? Discerning Eye!"
With a cheerful sound, the item's information window popped up.
Black Frost Blade (Ancient Relic)
It is an abnormal blade made of iron. There is a mysterious ancient rune engraved on the surface, inscribed in a forgotten holy language of magic.
However, the chill emanating from the blade is like a grim aura that has drank much blood. The holy ancient rune seems to have been engraved to restrain the evil aura. There is currently no way to find out where it was used, but it likely wasn't used for good.
Value: ---
Bonus for learning about the Ancient Relic -- Black Frost Blade:
Knowledge of Ancient Relics +10, Intelligence +5, Fame +5.
"Wh-what?" Ark burst out in confusion.
Though the description on the item was good, the problem was the value: '-'. That meant it couldn't be sold in a store! An item he had invested 220 Gold and 1 Copper on was just a DECORATION!?
For the first time in a while, Ark felt dizzy.
'Damn it, as the old saying goes, there is no such thing as a successful gambler... Just when I thought I'd saved up some money, I waste it all in the end!'
Ark was about to throw the blade into the canal in anger, but he soon changed his mind. After reading the item description, it seemed like there was something to the item. If he was lucky, as he had been with the Mysterious Slate, it could also lead to a good quest, or turn into something useful if combined with another item.
'If I acquired a hilt or a sheath, for example, it could become a useable sword...'
The chance of that was very low, but it would be better to hold on to it and hope for the best rather than throwing it away.
Until now, all the ancient relics he had obtained from the auction only raised Knowledge of Ancient Relics by 1. But the Black Frost Blade raised it by 10! The stat had risen by that much when he found the hidden ancient ruin.
If only because of that, it couldn't be called an average item.
'Well, I'll pack it away for now.'
"Snake, stone fragment."
Snake, who was dozing off, snapped awake and spat out the stone fragment. He had failed to make profit, but he did raise his Knowledge of Ancient Relics by 10. He had gained 8 Knowledge of Ancient Relics from the auction house. Thanks to that, his Knowledge of Ancient Relics stat was now 53.
'At least now I can check this item.'
As soon as Ark held the stone fragment, it vibrated as an information window popped up.
- With the Knowledge of Ancient Relics, you have confirmed the Stone Fragment Infused with Ancient Power.
Stone Fragment Infused with Ancient Power (Star Fragment)
This stone is a part of a very mysterious and awesome power. It was created by the power of darkness, but it possesses light properties.
Knowledge of Ancient Relics has confirmed this to be one of the Three Marvels of Hero Maban from the Dark Century, long ago. Hero Maban left a part of his own power in this marvel for future generations. If a Truthseeker comes into possession of this marvel, they can acquire a part of Hero Maban's knowledge.
* The penalty imposed upon the owner has disappeared.
*The owner of the Star Fragment can utilize Hero Maban's techniques.
Experience +30,000. Knowledge of Ancient Relics +15, Intelligence +10, Fame +20.
You have learned a new profession exclusive skill.
Gift of Darkness (Passive): All Dark Walker abilities unfurled in the dark will increase slightly. Stats will receive a 30% increased growth. Duration of 'Stealth' has been increased to 15 minutes. However, it is impossible to level up this skill.
You have learned a new profession exclusive skill.
Bladestorm (Active, Beginner): The first of Hero Maban's secret skills; it shatters the sword to make a maelstrom of shards that violently tears the enemy apart. The used sword is completely destroyed.
Mana Cost: 400
Wasn't it said that there is pleasure at the end of suffering?
He wasted all the money he worked to death on for half a month, but thanks to that, he was able to check the Mysterious Stone Fragment. And as he'd expected, the stone fragment was one of Hero Maban's Three Marvels. A legendary item sealing a part of Hero Maban's power, a Star Fragment!
The rewards from it were enormous. It was hard to say anything about Bladestorm since he hadn't used it yet, but Gift of Darkness was better than leveling up a couple of times.
However, the greatest success of all was that his goal as a Dark Walker was now clear. He needed to find Hero Maban's Three Marvels. If he knew what his goal was, he knew what he must do. Because of this, Ark was able to take a step forward as a true Truthseeker of Hero Maban.
>
'I'm certain a Dark Walker gets skills whenever they find a marvel.'
Most professions were able to learn 5-6 exclusive attack skills when they were done with the job-change. On the other hand, Ark had only received 2 skills, and Summon Demon wasn't an attack skill he could use directly.
Dark Blade was quite a useful skill, but he had felt that having just one attack skill was lacking.
'Bladestorm, huh... it drains Mana like crazy. If I don't raise my Mana more, there'll be almost no chance to use it with the Familiars out. And the fact that it destroys the sword bothers me. It would be nice if the damage was as great as the penalty...'
In any case, it seemed he'd received the reward for investing 220 Gold and 1 Copper.
"Alright, if the result is good, all is good."
Ark made a pleased expression. He went in and out of shops to prepare his bags for a departure from Giran, when--
*FSSSHH!* *FLASH!* *BOOM!*
The sky suddenly darkened, then a flash of light flew in from afar. The light crossed Giran and smashed into the top of a tower high in the sky. Sparks flew as the whole tower swayed. It was Giran's Magic Institute Tower.
The Magic Institute Towers built in several cities resonated with each other. When there was a need to send a widespread dispatch, it was transmitted and received through magic by the towers just like now. He'd read about this on the Jackson Castle forum, but it was his first time actually seeing it the dispatch being received.
Alarmed, the other users were also staring transfixed at the Magic Institute Tower. Not long after, a Magician hurriedly ran out of the tower and casted loudspeaker magic.
"Urgent message! A few hours ago, an unknown Dark Army launched a surprise attack on Jackson Castle. Because of their attack, Jackson Castle has suffered enormous damage and its people are shivering in fear. The Lord of Jackson is still resisting with his forces, but the Dark Army is stronger than expected, so the future is uncertain."