Auction

"That's ninety silver coins in total," the Potent Potions Expert said. "The blue potions that boost intelligence sold the worst. I suggest that you only make yellow, red, and cyan potions in the future. I can offer you ten silver coins per bottle."

After a pause, she asked, "Could you improve the effects of the yellow potions a little?"

After counting the silver coins, Gagnor asked, "How?"

"A customer told me that during the first few hours after taking it, the yellow potion made him 'extremely enduring and hard'... You understand what I mean, right?" A hint of feminine shyness colored the Potent Potions Expert's voice.

Gagnor was taken aback.

The Constitution Pseudo-Elixir has that effect too?

The Blood Magic Notes never mentioned it. Could it be caused by the physical differences between humans and Blood Elves?

"Do you think that effect would make it more marketable?" he asked.

"Mm." The Potent Potions Expert nodded. "You could try enhancing that effect while reducing the side effects."

Gagnor thought for a moment. "I can give it a try, but Cislon is a recipe from another race, and I haven't studied it deeply. I can't guarantee that I'll succeed."

"Good." The Potent Potions Expert took out a money pouch and a doll. "These hundred silver coins are a deposit for the next batch. This potion-testing doll is something I bought in Akes City. It's a little more useful than the one from the Apothecary Guild in South Sea Town, so I'll give it to you—as a memento of our pleasant cooperation."

"Thank you."

The two exchanged a few more words, and Gagnor soon left.

At that moment, a masked man approached from not far away. Gagnor looked over and realized that he was the stall owner of the General Goods Merchant's stall, which alternated use of the spot with the Potent Potions Expert.

The Potent Potions Expert asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"To attend the auction, of course," the General Goods Merchant said.

The Potent Potions Expert blinked. "Did the fortune-teller tell you about it?"

The General Goods Merchant nodded. Only after Gagnor had walked away did he say, "The fortune-teller said that at this Black Market auction, I shouldn't buy anything, and preferably shouldn't even place a bid. I'm curious what kind of auction item could produce such a divination result."

"What will happen if you buy something?"

"I don't know. The fortune-teller doesn't know either," the General Goods Merchant said. "The auction is about to begin. Let's go take a look. Maybe we'll know after we see it."

The Potent Potions Expert nodded and packed up her stall. She headed toward the auction house with the General Goods Merchant.

Gagnor also headed toward the auction house.

Having just obtained nearly two hundred silver coins, he felt richer than ever. He even wanted to enter the auctions he had never dared look at before and have a look around.

The auction house stood in the middle of the Black Gold Corridor. It was called the "Goblin Auction House," and its doors were wide open, allowing all sorts of guests to enter and take their seats under the welcome of two attendants, one male and one female.

Gagnor found a corner in the auction house and sat down, occasionally glancing around.

"Welcome, esteemed Lady Elusa!" an attendant called loudly from the entrance. Everyone in the auction house turned to look.

Gagnor followed their gazes and immediately widened his eyes.

A purple-haired beauty in a golden gown slowly entered the auction house. Wearing a polite smile, she took her seat with graceful poise amid the crowd's attention and escort.

Elusa, the queen of Joy Street.

Gagnor was surprised by Elusa's appearance. After all, the most widespread sort of street rumor in South Sea Town concerned this beautiful lady's romantic exploits.

Some of those rumors were quite bizarre.

Yet who would have thought that Queen Elusa would look so dignified and noble?

After a while.

Another voice came from the entrance. "Lord Loha, we're deeply honored by your arrival!"

Before the voice had even faded, a few murmurs arose in the auction house. "Loha and Elusa are both here. Could today's auction have something good?"

"Will the Crow come?"

"Probably not. I heard he almost never appears in places where crowds gather."

Gagnor turned to look again.

Loha was a middle-aged man who seemingly had dwarf blood. He was not tall, but extremely sturdy. His arms were thicker than Gagnor's thighs, and his thick beard made him look as though he had a scarf wrapped around his neck.

Upon seeing Elusa, this South Sea Town fist king and underground arena owner grinned. "Lady Elusa, are you here to buy something?"

Elusa still wore her dignified smile. "No, I'm here to sell something. What about you?"

"Hahahaha!" Loha laughed loudly. "I've been a little bored lately, so I came to take a look around!"

"Today's auction seems especially lively."

"That's right. I hope you get a good price for your item."

Elusa said casually, "I was a little bored too, so I thought I'd sell something for fun. Money is such a vulgar and boring thing, don't you agree?"

"Exactly, haha!" Loha said.

By then, all the seats were occupied. Yet when Loha approached one of them, the person sitting there immediately stood up tactfully and gave him an ingratiating smile.

A few minutes later.

The murmuring in the auction house suddenly quieted. The auctioneer had stepped onto the stage.

Looking at the auctioneer's brilliant smile, Gagnor finally understood why the auction house was called the "Goblin Auction House."

The auctioneer was a goblin!

Although the intelligence of most goblins was roughly equivalent to that of humans with intellectual disabilities, there were also some genius goblins who were exceptionally clever, even surpassing many humans.

From the auctioneer's proper manners and shrewd smile, it was not hard to tell that he was clearly one of them.

"I'm your old friend Rivigas. Thank you all for attending today's auction! May Mosa and every god willing to bless you be with you!" the goblin auctioneer shouted.

"Rivigas, what's today's grand finale? Don't tell me it's your ears?" someone teased.

Everyone laughed, and the auction house filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Rivigas also chuckled. "Of course not. My ears aren't worth that much—at least, they wouldn't fetch that much!"

After a few witty remarks, the goblin auctioneer's expression turned slightly serious. "Now, let's welcome today's appetizer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another goblin carried a small box onto the stage.

When the box was opened, it revealed a gleaming silver arrowhead engraved with several mysterious patterns.

Rivigas said, "An ancient Mithril Arrowhead from a tomb. Its engraved enchantment is 'Magic Break.' If anyone plans to take up the demon hunter's trade, I guarantee this is something you absolutely cannot do without!"

"The starting bid is one hundred silver coins!"

A wave of discussion rose from below the stage.

"A Mithril Arrowhead. That's a fair price."

"Too bad it has the useless 'Magic Break' enchantment, and the engraved enchantment can't be changed... When was the last time a demon appeared?"

"I bid one hundred silver coins." Amid the crowd's discussion, the first bid rang out.