24 Acution House
Moving forward, Alex's destination was clear: the auction house. But before that...
He realized he needed to acquire some new clothes. His current attire, a set of beginner's garments, had seen better days, with the left arm particularly worse for wear, now tattered from battle.
After inquiring around, Alex discovered a clothing store conveniently located near the auction house. Inside, he selected a new outfit: a simple black T-shirt and loose-fitting pants. Despite the 2 silver price, they added a bonus of a free hand band sweetened the deal a little. Alex recognized the importance of making a good impression among the elites and avoiding confrontation from bullies. Additionally, this new attire would grant him an advantage, as individuals seeking to confront him would likely conduct background checks before making a move, especially considering the significance of auctioning a monster's essence. This speculation would buy Alex valuable time to prepare or change his approach as needed.
Now Alex was ready, walking down to the auction house he could not help but break out a smile.
(Image here)
Arriving at the auction house, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over him. However, he maintained a composed demeanor, not letting his emotions show on his face. The auction house stood tall and magnificent, adorned with intricate carvings and elegant pillars that demanded attention from both passersby and patrons alike. The imposing silver double doors, leading inside, were adorned with detailed carvings depicting heroes locked in combat with monstrous foes, their grandeur captivating all who beheld them.
Stepping through those doors, Alex was greeted by a grand entrance hall that seemed to stretch out endlessly before him. The interior of the auction house was nothing short of breathtaking. High above, chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow, illuminating the hall in a mesmerizing light. Elaborate tapestries, showcasing scenes of heroic battles and mythical creatures, adorned the walls, adding to the sense of grandeur and wonder.
This auction house belonged to the Duke of the Kingdom, and in the city of Hido, which was under the Duke's rule, such grandeur was expected. Though Alex was struck with awe, he maintained a neutral expression, concealing his emotions as best he could. Moving through the hall, where items were displayed for bidding or submission, Alex veered towards the right corner where an elderly man, clad in the auction house uniform, stood with an air of dignity and pride. People seemed to steer clear of him, recognizing him as a significant figure in the establishment, reserved only for VIPs.
Approaching the old man, Alex caught his attention. The man raised an intrigued eyebrow, which soon furrowed in suspicion. Before he could speak, Alex placed the essence of the monster on the counter beside him, obscuring it from the view of the crowd. Only the old man could fully see it, prompting him to close his eyes momentarily before turning away, gesturing for Alex to follow him.
Following the old man through a discreet doorway, Alex found himself in a quieter, more secluded area of the auction house. The atmosphere here was noticeably different, devoid of the bustling activity of the main hall.
The old man turned to face Alex, his expression unreadable as he regarded the item placed before him. "You've caught my attention, young man," he remarked in a voice that carried the weight of years of experience in the trade. "So how should we proceed?"
The old man questioned, his voice amused and calm, the old man sat down and gestured for Alex to do the same, The room was cozy and elegant, with rich mahogany walls and a soft carpet underfoot. A round sofa surrounded a low table, creating an intimate setting for conversation. The maid entered quietly, placing a cup of tea on the table before disappearing.
Seated comfortably, the old man motioned for Alex to take a load off. "Alright, let's get down to business," he said with a casual air, his voice carrying the wisdom of years spent in the trade. "So, how do you reckon we should play this?"
"It's simple, a small game with the elites," Alex replied, placing the Monster's essence on the table. The old man picked it up without hesitation, inspecting it carefully. After setting it down, he fixed Alex with a solemn expression.
"Tomorrow, there will be a grand auction. It's a pity you came in at this time," the old man lamented, his tone tinged with regret. "If you had arrived a month earlier, you could have auctioned this in the Supreme setting and earned at least 10,000 gold."
Alex maintained a confident posture throughout, but his expression betrayed a hint of bitterness at the old man's words. 'How am I supposed to go to the Supreme setting when the game just started a day ago?' he muttered to himself, feeling the sting of unobtainable opportunity.
Nevertheless, there was still potential to capitalize on. "But fear not, we'll make the most of the opportunity at hand," the old man reassured Alex, his tone now infused with confidence and pride. "Now let's begin and not waste time" The old man's atmosphere changed and became solemn and confident.
"I will take 15% and also cover your existence as much as possible, after all this item is not something that can just be found anywhere," the old man proposed, causing Alex to bristle slightly at the mention of the commission. However, as he listened to the rest of the old man's plan, a grin slowly spread across his face, much to the old man's surprise.
"Unfortunately, I can't," the old man started to explain, but Alex's calm interruption caught him off guard. The old man had expected Alex to be as cooperative and reasonable as he was, but it seemed Alex had other ideas.
"I will sell this to you for 10,000 gold coins. After all, you're the one who oversees transactions in this auction house, even if it's only for a select few," Alex countered, implying that the old man had more power and influence than he let on. The old man's eyes narrowed as he realized the implication.
Breaking into a smile, the old man continued, "Then I can sell it for even more in the Supreme setting by advertising it early. I get huge profits and you don't get targeted. Am I on point?" His expression was jolly, a grin stretching across his weathered face. Alex simply nodded in agreement.
The old man rose from his seat and left to fetch the gold. This transaction could serve as leverage for his promotion and enhance his standing among the elites. After all, he could spin the story to his advantage, portraying himself as a savvy businessman who seized an opportunity presented by a young upstart.
A few minutes passed, and the old man returned with a small bag and a gleaming golden card.
"This pouch contains a total of 10 gold coins and 100 silver coins," the old man explained, handing it over to Alex. "The remaining are stored on this card. It's exclusive to VIPs of the auction house, allowing you to withdraw any amount at any time."
He continued, his tone earnest. "I'm entrusting you with this because I see potential in you. I hope we can conduct more business together in the future."
Grateful for the gesture, Alex accepted the bag and card with a nod of appreciation. It was a promising start to their partnership, and he looked forward to what the future held.
Alex left the auction house and moved towards Dezmur's shop. he opened up the system notification and looked pleased.
[Generated Quests
Sell the Monster essence on the auction house
Reward: A space ring, access to inventory(Only loot) 10,000 SP
Completed.
]
Checking his inventory, Alex found a space ring with sufficient capacity to store extra armor, weapons, and other necessities. He noted that food wasn't necessary in the VR world, thanks to the nutrition injection function of the VR pods.
Entering the shop, Alex found himself facing Dezmur, who was engrossed in polishing a reddish-black sword. The Smiths spared only a glance at Alex before resuming their work. Taking a seat beside the counter, Alex waited patiently.
"So, what do you want me to make?" Dezmur finally spoke up, still focused on cleaning the sword. "The armor's left guard is gone, the sword is chipped, and the arrow is unusable. It seems like you've been through the dungeon and are much stronger than I estimated."
Alex placed 10 gold coins on the counter, catching Dezmur off guard. "Give me the best you've got for now," he stated, "and craft me something even better, worth a few thousand gold coins. I'll pay upfront when the armor and weapons are done." He flashed the golden card, causing Dezmur's eyes to widen in surprise.
"I have a meeting today and other tasks to attend to. I'll return at 7 in the morning. Provide me with whatever you have. I need to be prepared for the 15th floor or even deeper," Alex explained, meeting Dezmur's gaze.
With a nod of understanding, Alex left the shop, leaving a stunned Dezmur behind. Later, Dezmur burst into boisterous laughter, amused by the turn of events.
Exiting the shop, Alex logged out of the VR world. Disengaging from the pod, he stretched his limbs and made his way to the kitchen. There, he intended to heat some prepared food and make a few toppings for flavor.
As Alex stood in the kitchen, he couldn't help but ponder the curious case of Aisa's cooking mishaps. Despite her good intentions, her culinary experiments often ended in chaos. From accidentally setting off smoke alarms to creating dishes that seemed harmless but were actually toxic, Aisa's kitchen adventures never failed to surprise.
Despite the amusement he felt at her culinary misadventures, Alex couldn't shake off the underlying concern for Aisa's well-being. Her eagerness to try new recipes and techniques sometimes led to dangerous outcomes, leaving him with a mix of amusement and worry.
But as he stood there, stirring his own pot on the stove, Alex couldn't help but appreciate the sense of adventure that came with being in Aisa's kitchen. Cooking with her was never dull, and even the disasters became cherished memories in their own right.
With a smile on his face, Alex shook his head, letting go of his worries for now. Today, he would focus on making a meal that was both safe and delicious.
As he approached Aisa's bedroom with the meal in hand, Alex couldn't resist indulging in the amusing notion of Aisa attempting to cook something from Earth and inadvertently causing yet another kitchen disaster.
The door to Aisa's room stood open as usual, and as Alex entered, he was greeted by the sight of his little sister snuggled up in her blankets, sleeping peacefully. Her innocence and carefree demeanor never failed to bring a smile to his face.
