Episode 97
The auction has begun.
The location is a secret space located in the corner of the underground market.
Other guests were unable to look inside because its existence was hidden by the structure and the structure.
In a not very spacious space, there are only six seats available.
Still, everything needed was prepared, from the podium to the emcee.
Sitting on a wooden chair in the corner next to Cheon Ga-ryeong, I looked at the object the host was pointing at with an exaggerated gesture and let out a yawn.
“As for this object, it is a porcelain that was presented to King Jin over 300 years ago…”
Explanations continued about how artistic it was and how it had historical value, but I wasn’t interested in the slightest.
It didn’t matter what kind of stolen goods were simply rare.
However, other guests seemed to have a different opinion than me.
They raised their hands and got excited about the competition.
The explanation that it was an item used by the royal family seemed to have caught my eye.
The first auction was successfully completed, and the next item was released.
This time it was an ornament.
It was a waist belt worn around the waist, and unlike the usual one, the decoration was quite extravagant.
“This object is actually not just a decoration. “It has significant artistic value, but its true value is something else.”
The host held the object in his hand and shook it vigorously with energy.
Then the belt came loose and turned into a long blade.
“Actually, this girdle is a soft sword made by Heukya Jang, a famous blacksmith of the Black Island. Due to the nature of the weapon, it is a bit difficult to use, but I don’t need to tell you how great it is, everyone knows.”
I let out a small exclamation and corrected my posture.
Unlike the items introduced earlier, I became interested.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something so elaborately made.
“You don’t have to worry that it will break easily just because it is thin. “Because it is made of cold steel, it is stronger than it looks.”
I glanced to the side.
Cheon Ga-ryeong was glaring at Yo-dae with eyes that looked like they were going to eat him.
It seemed like he was quite greedy.
“I’ll start with fifty gold coins.”
All the guests raised their hands.
Aside from its usefulness as a weapon, it was a great item just for its decorative value.
The fact that it is a weapon can be hidden if you want, and the fact that it is a work of art made by the master of darkness himself.
Anyone with an eye for things would covet it.
“Sixty-four nyang!”
“Sixty-seven nyang!”
As before, competition showed signs of heating up.
The host shouted loudly and encouraged them.
Because the space was cut off from the outside, there was no worry about noise leaking outside.
As I was quietly watching the situation, I slowly raised my hand.
“One hundred nyang.”
“Pear, a hundred nyang came out!”
The surprised guests all turned to look at me.
I crossed my arms as if ignoring them and just stared at the host.
“Is there anyone else you would like to call?”
Despite the host’s encouragement, the guests showed no particular reaction.
Eventually, the host nodded and announced the end of the auction.
“Congratulations! “This belt was sold to a customer wearing a fox mask for 100 gold coins!”
Cheon Ga-ryeong glanced at me from the corner of his eye and asked in a full voice.
-One hundred gold coins, isn’t that too much?
-It’s not that much of a burden.
-It would be nice to be rich.
-Please pick up that belt yourself later.
-Are you giving it as a gift?
-yes.
Although I paid the same price as when I had previously purchased the Somyeongdan (小明丹), I did not feel that it was a waste of money.
It was a valuable item, and he also calculated that there was no harm in winning Cheon Ga-ryeong’s favor at this point.
One hundred gold coins was certainly a lot of money, but compared to the bribe paid to Sohyeongeom, it was not such a huge expense.
“Now, the third item is this!”
After that, the auction continued.
There were a series of valuable items, but few caught my attention.
Sometimes, even if there was something I liked, I didn’t feel the need to get into a bloody competition with other customers, so I just poked around a bit and then walked away.
‘Whether it’s a famous sword or an armored weapon, it doesn’t mean much to me who already has Damro and Cheonjamboui.’
As we got to the latter part, imitations instead of the real ones came up on the stage one by one.
The host asked for understanding, saying that if the value of the item was too high, there was a risk that customers would have an accident, so it was necessary to show an elaborate fake.
An explanation followed that the genuine article was not here and that it would be delivered to the customer who made the successful bid separately at a later date.
It was exactly the same as what Cheon Ga-ryeong had said in advance.
How much time has passed like that?
Finally, the last auction item appeared on the podium.
A small bottle the size of two fingers.
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As the guests watched with their heads tilted, the host made a bombshell remark.
“This is an elixir. This is Gongcheong Petroleum discovered deep in the mountains by Sim Mani, who was in a relationship with Heuksi. Unfortunately, the quantity is not very large. If taken by an unmanned person, it is enough to gain approximately twenty years of stamina. However, it cannot be denied that this alone is an item of great value.”
I cheered in my heart.
I couldn’t contain my excitement and almost jumped out of my seat.
Gongcheong Petroleum.
A legendary elixir found only in caves with dense earth energy.
There is a popular belief that if the general public takes it, they will live long and disease-free, but it is just nonsense.
Although naturally occurring elixirs were effective, they often placed a great burden on the users.
If a criminal who had not learned martial arts took it, he could immediately fall into trouble.
“As you may have already noticed, the bottle here is just for illustrative purposes. The real Gongcheong Oil does not exist here.”
“······.”
“There is no need to waste time. We will start the auction right away. “Let’s set the minimum amount at 150 gold coins.”
The guests who participated in the auction looked at each other.
Gongcheong Oil was a treasure whose value was incomparable to anything that had come out so far.
A rare gem that any warrior would sell his soul to obtain.
‘Out of the six people, there are a total of four, including me and Cheon Ga-ryeong. However, the other two are also likely to enter the competition. Even if you don’t take it yourself, you can give it as a gift to your family or acquaintances.’
After thinking for a moment, I was the first to raise my hand and say.
“Three hundred nyang.”
A moan like ‘Gasp’ came out.
The price of the goods had doubled in an instant, so it must have been embarrassing.
However, the situation was different from when I won the bid for the belt earlier.
Naturally, the prices of Yeongeom and Gongcheong Petroleum, which were less popular, were bound to differ greatly.
“Three hundred and twenty nyang.”
One customer raised the price in a trembling voice.
After clearing my throat once, I raised my hand again.
“Four hundred nyang.”
I pretended to have a flat voice to hide my excitement.
Other guests would feel greater psychological pressure if they did not show emotional agitation.
Once again, someone raised the price, and I immediately silenced him by calling for 500 nyang.
The host made a shocked expression.
It seemed like he had not expected that the auction would be so one-sided.
He would not like the current situation.
As prices rise little by little, the spirit of competition among customers must be ignited, but if there is one person who openly pours cold water on them like this, it is bound to be difficult to cheer up the atmosphere.
‘Even if you pay a thousand dollars, you will definitely win the bid.’
Gongcheong Petroleum with 20 years worth of durability.
Due to the nature of the White Lightning God Technique, if I take it, its efficacy will be half of the original effect, but even taking that into account, I really wanted to get my hands on it.
A golden opportunity to replace time with money.
I didn’t know when an opportunity like this would come again.
A conversation I had with Dokgo Woojin in the past flashed through my mind.
[The inner energy accumulated through Baekrei Shingong has the property of attracting the surrounding energy. Therefore, as the total amount of internal energy increases, the accumulation efficiency also increases. If we compare it to the rate of interest in battlefields, the general method of internal engineering is calculated as simple interest, and in the case of white lightning magic, it is calculated as compound interest.]
[So, based on what I am now, roughly what is the efficiency of accumulating strength for the White Thunder Godkong?]
[Is it similar to or slightly worse than the Three Trials Act?]
[······Then, how much skill must be accumulated to show usable efficiency?]
[If you have approximately one level of inner strength, you will be able to show efficiency comparable to that of the Nine Great Schools or the Five Great Families.]
Currently, the total amount of energy contained in the Danjeon is a little over 50 years worth.
If you win the bid and take Gongcheong Petroleum here, you will finally reach the standard mentioned by Dokgo Woojin.
The efficiency of White Thunder God’s internal strength accumulation increases to the point where it is comparable to that of the Great Moon Sect or the Giant Sega.
“Is there anything else?”
The host tried his best to encourage the guests in a lively voice, but no one responded anymore.
The amount of 500 gold coins was burdensome, but what made them even more afraid was that I did not know how much more the price would be raised.
“······Then, with this, we will conclude the final auction.”
The host’s resigned voice finally penetrates my ear.
I stood up with Cheon Ga-ryeong and raised the corners of my mouth.
I felt like I was going to be blown away by receiving unexpected income.
It was a truly rewarding outing.
* * *
After finishing our errands in Heuksi, Cheon Ga-ryeong and I went back to the guesthouse and exchanged small talk.
-congratulations. In the end, the goal was achieved.
-You can’t be at ease because you haven’t received the item yet.
-Heuksang will never stab a customer in the back.
-I’m not particularly concerned about a situation where Heuksang doesn’t hand over the goods.
-then?
-There is someone who has been following me since I left the dark city.
-I guess there was no need to tell me.
-It looks like he was one of the guests who participated in the auction…
While I was wondering what to do, I arrived at a busy street.
-By the way, why haven’t you taken off that mask yet?
-What do you think would happen if a beautiful woman like me walked around with a bare face in today’s Honam?
-······It’s typical of Sojeo to say things like that so casually.
-Because it’s true.
I clicked my tongue and looked around.
Many of the pedestrians passing by on the main street were martial people.
Those are also young and energetic late exponents.
Men and women who were fully married gathered in one place, drawn to a large-scale event.
So what happens?
‘It’s obvious.’
It is said to be a jet meal rather than a memorial service.
There were probably quite a few people who participated in the festival to find a spouse in the first place.
It took a while to move through the crowd.
When I sensed that the figure following me was gradually getting further away, I sent a message to Cheon Ga-ryeong.
-Please go back first. I’ll take care of some business for a moment and then leave.
-huh. I will use your gift gratefully.
I jumped off the ground and climbed onto the roof of a nearby building.
‘It would be better not to leave any regrets behind.’
martial arts,
