The Archangel of Death - Chapter 51

51: Auction (2) 51: Auction (2) Chapter 51 There’s a rule to doing business.

Be hot and cold.

In other words, be cooperative but also show a bit of an attitude.

And I have been cooperative until now.

Now it is time to show an attitude like a moody girlfriend.

“Then you’re welcome to forget about this deal.” I simply replied, extending my palm, and asked for my potion back.

Rosenberg, the old lady was taken aback at my reply.

She never expected me to be so straightforward but I do business for a living.

She’s a thousand years too young to go against me.

“Miss Rosenberg didn’t mean it like that,” Talisa, the younger girl spoke and added, “She is simply expressing the question that every customer might have when we tell them of a treasure that has never been seen before.” Her tone was gentle and her demeanor suggested that she didn’t want me to be angry but she also showed her stance through that statement.

She was asking for a guarantee.

In other words, my identity, to see whether I can be trusted or not.

Well, I would do exactly the same in such a situation but that is the case if I’m not the dominant party.

Seeing as they are all here, I am the dominant party.

Still, like I said, hot and cold.

So let’s be hot for a little while.

“Very well.

As long as an appropriate price is paid, you can test it yourself.” I replied as I pulled another out of the inventory.

Now they were seriously exchanging glances.

My action meant not only that I was willing to let them test it, but it also showed them that I had more than one.

So either I obtained more than one somehow, or I have a method of making them indefinitely.

A recipe in other words.

Still, they were quick to collect themselves, and Talisa, in her gentle demeanor, tried to make it about me, “His Lordship must have misunderstood, we never said we don’t trust you.

We were simply expressing concerns that any customer might have.

Of course, if you are willing to go this far, we will also have to reciprocate your trust.” My image of them aside, their way of doing business is actually very good.

I mean, the old man is here to act as the image of this company, the old woman is the quirky partner who plays the role of the bad cop.

The man in the back who, since he has arrived is sizing me up with his eyes the entire time to put pressure on me and the young woman, who acts as the one who diffuses any situation.

A classic strategy of hot and cold.

What they didn’t expect is that two could play at this game.

“Well, if you are willing to trust me this far, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind auctioning my product at fifteen percent less than your usual thirty,” I spoke with a smile.

Their expression hardened when I gave my simple and sweet suggestion.

[Suggestion?] Well, more like a condition but like she said, we trust each other.

Shouldn’t I also give my suggestions in this trusty relationship?

And they knew the hidden meaning behind my words too since they didn’t stupidly ask, ‘What do you mean to say?’ The reason I know that all of them have certain roles but are good at business is precisely because of this, none of them erupted.

The profit was clear.

Something like this would be sold at a sky-high price.

The question was, whether they would leave the fifteen percent or leave all of it.

They knew that with a product like this, I could easily take my business somewhere else and could easily get my desired price so after a little staring and nodding, Talisa spoke, “Well, of course.

Why not?

We trust each other after all.” They consented.

Of course, now was their turn to make a demand.

“But, I’m sure His Lordship knows as well that long-term business relationships are also necessary for such trust.” Ha!

“Very well.

I have no problem with that.

Of course, I don’t have to remind you that my identity remains unknown so how would we solve the issue of confidentiality?” Another demand but this time, it was a mutual one.

Although I don’t like people like these, I have done business with worse.

After all, as Allison said, I of all people should know the best how the world works.

“Of course,” this time, the old lady, Rosenberg spoke, “This issue can easily be solved.

Obviously, as long as young master keeps doing business with us.” From His Lordship to Young Master, she sure is trying to be friendly.

[Or asserting your new relationship] ‘Don’t use the word relationship with her.’ Even the thought makes me shiver.

“Of course.” I simply replied.

Our talk was quite long but the auction still hadn’t started yet.

The reason, they had decided to change the highlight of today’s event.

====== “Ladies and gentlemen, so sorry for the delay but at the last minute, a very interesting product came which forced the housemasters to rethink their choice of today’s highlight.

Of course, since it is new, you won’t find it in the catalog before you.

So be sure to look forward to it, it will blow your mind away.” The host started his speech by apologizing and hyping up the audience.

The auction house seemed to have a good amount of influence since even though the guests were royalties and high-ranking nobles, no one expressed their displeasure.

“Then without further delay, let us begin with our first product.” He began and a pedestal was dragged on the stage and the auction officially began.

===== Many things crossed my view.

Artifacts, monster carcasses, rare monster parts, and even a mana crystal which was a surprise since these things are never on the market.

But what surprised the rest of the audience was that such a crystal wasn’t the highlight of today’s event.

A few slaves passed as well that were sold at quite a bit of price.

And finally, the product I was waiting for, came up.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, our last product of the night before we introduce the special item, we have this rare artifact that was although found in only a B-rank dungeon, shows potential far more greater than that.

I present you, the whip of Thanatos!” He loudly announced.

Moving on, he started to describe the effects of the whip which were quite good.

And I was saying good which actually meant something because this whip was so compatible with Laura that there wasn’t even such a weapon in the shop.

He then said the price of the whip, “The bidding starts at 50,000 gold with an increment of 5,000 each.

So ladies and gentlemen, let the bidding begin!” As soon as he finished speaking, bids started to pour in.

“55,000.”, “60,000.”, “65,000.” And on and on and soon, the price started to slow down at 125,000.

By then, there were only two competitors left.

Both were from VIP rooms so I had no idea who they were.

Still, it seemed like that was the final price.

“150,000.” So I began to place my bid as well.

“150!

The gentleman in the third booth decided to take part in this battle.

Can I get a 155?” He asked and waited, and immediately, the owner of the VIP room next to me increased the bid again.

I wonder who it was since bids aren’t placed with voices but these crystals that operate somehow.

Since all the rooms are tinted, the host automatically calls whoever is in here as ‘gentlemen’.

For all I know, it could be a woman since it is a ladies’ weapon.

Funny though.

The name of the weapon itself is weird.

Whip is a weapon for women but Thanatos was a male in Greek mythology.

But what is even more stranger is that Thanatos’s main weapons are his hands, sword, or a scythe.

There is no mention of a whip.

“155!

Can I get a 160?” the host declared to which I replied by placing my bid at 170.

“170!

Can I get a 175?” and immediately, the owner in the next room raised the price.

“180!”, mine.

“185!”, the next room’s.

“200” Again mine which this time, procured no more reaction.

Phew, since I only had 5000 more coins left.

I wasn’t expecting the price to be raised so much.

The whip was being sold at four times its original price.  “Sold!

To the gentleman in booth three.

Congratulations!” the host announced before the whip was moved away.

My objective in coming here was now done so I relaxed and waited for my item to be displayed.

“Up next, ladies and gentlemen is a very peculiar and unique item that was procured from a dungeon.

Now, unfortunately, due to the condition of the seller, we cannot disclose what rank of dungeon but what we can confirm is the authenticity of the product.” Another pedestal was rolled to the stage only this time the glass container was covered with a red cloth.

“Be prepared ladies and gentlemen, for what I am about to show you is never before seen in history.

A magical fluid that can increase your strength by double for an hour.

That’s right.

Doubles your strength for an entire hour.” As soon as he finished speaking, there was unrest in the audience below.  What the host was presenting is impossible to achieve as even a master support can only give a buff for a few minutes and the effect is mostly ten percent or at most twenty.

I mean, Alicia can buff someone by thirty percent and she is a saint.

Of course, considering the supply of the product, the potion wouldn’t be more important than a buff master but it can be a powerful trump card so I had no doubt that it would sell for a lot.

“The set price is 50,000 gold, with an increment of 10,000.

So with that ladies and gentlemen, let the bidding begin!” The host declared the beginning of the bidding and immediately, mayhem erupted.

At thrice the speed, the price reached the 200,000 mark and it kept on increasing.

One thing is for sure, I have found a surefire way to make money.

The host, during the bidding war, glanced in my direction a few times hoping that I would also take part in it but he wasn’t aware that I was the supplier in the first place.

Finally, the potion was sold at 280,000 gold coins.

Although there was a very fast speed until 200, it then started to decrease since not many had that kind of funds and the higher rank nobles were considering something else.

[They’re trying to lower the price] If it is here, then there must be more of them that would soon start showing up.

If I had to guess, then this would be their theory.

Too bad, not only was that potion not from a dungeon, but there wouldn’t be any more of them showing up unless I wanted.

The host also became aware of the problem at the crux but he had no choice but to place the winner at 280.

He then said, “Please excuse me for a moment as the housemasters have a message for me.” He left the stage and almost at the same time, there was a knock on my door, and the knocker entered before I could reply.

However, before the guest, also known as Talisa could speak, I spoke before her, “Don’t sell it.

Tell them this exactly…..” The price of the second potion would be about the same as well but that wasn’t what I was concerned with.

These potions only cost me about 1000 coins from the shop each.

Their ingredients weren’t so rare and could even be found in this world with only some of them missing.

To me, this price was already enough but I didn’t quite like the strategy used by these nobles so I’m going to create a little wedge in their unspoken tacit understanding.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Bad_Wolf_7811 Have some idea about my story?

Comment it and let me know.