Outbidding The Other Party

In the end, the infected dog (Dog Zombie) was sold for more than a million yen, and even though that was such a surprising amount, Kazuichi wasn't at all that surprised. He knew just how expensive something could blow up in the auction. There was even one time when a banana with tape was sold for a hundred and twenty thousand dollars even before the apocalypse.

That's right. Dollars. It wasn't even in yen.

Heaving a sigh, Kazuichi felt like this would be another tiring auction, but he didn't bother showing off his discomfort since he was there for a reason. Right now, they were waiting for the mysterious blood, and upon purchase, Kazuichi was determined to keep at least a vial and study it.

All this time, he could tell that Hinokami was actually looking at him weirdly, and it grossed him out a little bit. Then again, there was no reason to point it out, considering that he was only staring at him as a harmless gesture.

"Do you want me to punch his face for you?" Tris asked, leaning in towards Kazuichi since she too noticed what he was doing.

In response, Kazuichi shook his head and pointed at the auctioneer. "Just focus on the auction. You know he's still a Stronghold Leader, right? It wouldn't do us any good if we offend him. Let's leave him be for now, he's not doing anything by staring."

"Figures." Tris pouted.

The next item for auction was unsurprisingly another infected dog... but this one looked better than the first one. While the first one looked dead both inside and outside, this one still held a certain cuteness to it.

It was a pomeranian.

"This one here, is a pomeranian, a household pet if you will. His entire family fell by the hands of the virus, and they became wandering mindless infected." The auctioneer began. Inwardly, he prayed that this pomeranian would be sold as well. It wasn't exactly something he'd want to sell in an auction. Then again, it's not like he had the option to choose what was being presented.

"This one's not entirely a mindless infected, since the previous owner could talk to it." The auctioneer continued. "Once again, starting bid..."

Kazuichi immediately raised his hand, but the auctioneer didn't see it and addressed someone else first instead.

"Two hundred thousand."

"Five hundred thousand."

Kazuichi kept on raising his hand, and it didn't take long before the auctioneer saw him and he pointed at him.

"Five million."

A series of gasps erupted from the crowd, and all the hands went down the moment Kazuichi brought a big number to the table. What he had planned actually worked, and he was able to secure what he wanted thanks to the element of surprise... or so that's what he thought.

"A five million for this generous gentleman over here. Obviously, he really likes dogs, as stated by his price. Going once? Going twice? Going thri—"

*Raise hand*

"Another gentleman with a refined taste for dogs!" The auctioneer grinned from ear to ear. He wasn't expecting someone to bite on the price when it had already gone up five million. No matter what happens, his commission would be at an all-time high thanks to this infected pomeranian that he didn't want to sell at first.

"Six million."

The one who raised his hand was none other than Hinokami, who had been plotting something right from the get-go. With a brief glance in Kazuichi's direction, he flashed a smirk before he put down his hand, satisfied with stirring Kazuichi up after that incident a couple of moments ago.

"Did I hear a six million? Six million, six million? Anyone else?" The auctioneer waved his hand at the crowd who were already shaking their heads.

Granted, six million yen was a lot of money for an infected pomeranian who wasn't even worth keeping as a pet. Even the auctioneer believed that six million was a little bit over the top, and he was an auctioneer who was used to hearing ridiculous bid offers in the past few years.

However, Kazuichi wasn't backing down at all. He finally realized why Hinokami was eyeing him. He had intended to cause trouble right then and there. With a modicum of frustration, Kazuichi clicked his tongue and then he raised his hand to bid once again.

"Seven million."

"Nine million!" Hinokami voiced out before he even raised his hand.

It was a bidding war between Hinokami and Kazuichi. And as Hinokami had outrightly demonstrated, he wasn't backing down at all. He knew that Kazuichi badly wanted that pomeranian, and he was going to get it under his leg no matter what.

"Twelve million!"

"Fifteen million!

"Sixteen million!"

"Twenty million!"

Gasp!

Twenty million?! For an infected pomeranian?! The auctioneer's eyes were about to pop off his sockets at this point. His commission would be through the roof, and this was just the second item in the auction! Even if they were to cancel the entire auction altogether, he'd still earn a hefty sum and then some.

"Twenty million and one thousand."

"Twenty-five million."

Hinokami was sneering at this poit. Now he had a rough estimate of how rich Kazuichi was, and it made him laugh in his head. For a moment back there, he was hoping that Kazuichi would at least match him until the hundred million, but right now he was stopping at the twenty-five-million mark.

"Twenty five million and—" Before Kazuichi could say something, another hand was raised, and he realized that it was someone to his left. He was too focused on this bidding war that he totally overlooked the presence of his companions.

It was none other than Shig. Raising his hand, he took a quick glance at Hinokami who was clearly flaunting his money. And Shig knew that if there was something he could flaunt about, it's money. A lot of money.

"On behalf of my friend, Kazuichi right here, a hundred million." Shig simply stated before bringing his hand down.

"A HUNDRED MILLION! WE HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION ON THE TABLE!" The auctioneer screamed in glee. At this point, he just wanted to punch his fists in the air. "Going once! Going TWICE!"

However, before he could rush the formalities, Hinokami once again raised his hand, and a grin appeared on his face.

"Two hundred million." He snickered.