Siren’s Cry [A LITRPG Adventure]-Ch. 24
The last place I wanted to go was an auction house for rare materials or gear from dungeons. Seeing as how I'm currently very rich by normal standards, I want to sell off the extra stuff that's currently just taking up space in my bag. And since I'm both running out of room in it and need more money, the auction house is the perfect place to offload some miscellaneous junk I have.
It doesn't take long to stumble across the auction house, the towering octagonal building dominating one side of the city square. Gleaming, polished black walls that look to be cast from obsidian, with the classic white marble at each corner and outlining each of the four floors. Gilded runes weave throughout the entire thing, so advanced that even my blessing fails to identify them properly, simply calling it a runic array.
Stepping through the massive double doors, I find myself in a waiting room of sorts, with two distinct groups seated across the room from each other. One wall is replaced with a set of ornate windows, almost like ticket booths, with receptionists at each. A rabbit woman with plush brown fur glances up at me with disinterest before plastering on a customer service smile and waving me over to the window she's manning. Waltzing over to her, I return the smile with a more natural one and she seems to relax a little bit at my friendly demeanor.
“Hello ma'am, and welcome to the Carata branch of the Bleakcrest Auction House. How may we help you today?”
“I'm looking to sell some equipment and materials I got from a dungeon.”
She glances down at a sheet on her desk and nods, pointing me over to the smaller of the two groups.
“If you'll have a seat over there please, our appraisers will be with you in just a few minutes to check the value of your goods.”
I thank her and join the crowd of other rough-looking people, most of them obviously adventurers like myself and outfitted in various sets of armour, but a few are dressed in much nicer clothes and are giving the adventurer's dirty looks. Choosing a seat as far from them as I can, I lean back against the wall and wait for my turn. At some point one of the nicer dressed men works up the courage to approach me, but a spiked tower shield conjured in his face diverts him swiftly. Thankfully, I'm called to a side door to meet the appraiser before any others get ideas.
Stepping into the sitting room, the appraiser greets me and gestures to a seat across from them. It's a wizened old man of some species I've yet to meet, having a pair of curling horns sprouting from his forehead and a second pair of arms just below the normal ones.
“I was informed you have wares you wish to sell? Please, set the first of them on the table and allow me to begin.”
Nodding, I pull the three consolidated bags of bone dust, the remaining three vials of corrupted blood and the two vials of blighted marrow and lay them out. His eyes light up with a golden glow as he inspects each one, muttering to himself and weighing the bags.
“Yes, these are rare, though not horribly hard to find. Hmmm… yes, if we were to sell them as a bundle at auction, they would easily fetch at least five gold for the alchemical properties alone, not even considering the ritual magic uses.”
“That sounds fine to me. Will you take them?”
“Yes. We can pay you three gold immediately, and then three quarters of what it sells for at auction. Is that agreeable?”
I take the deal without hesitation, and he packs the materials carefully into a small wooden box. The next item I bring out is the remaining enchanted weapon from the dungeon, the Rotsteel Saber. He takes much less time to look it over, throwing out the same offer as before but with five gold as the down payment. I agree easily, and it joins the ingredients off to the side. The class crystals are significantly more interesting to him, and he thinks about it for a few minutes before offering ten gold for the Bladedancer crystal.
“Unfortunately, the Defender style of class is in such low demand that it's simply not worth the time to auction it off. I would personally recommend keeping it for now and perhaps selling it to an adventurer looking for one.”
Makes sense that it would be a more common class.
The Runic Circlet is next to go, for a whopping twenty gold due to the sheer power it offers. I sell the Steelplate Driver as well, not having any use for a mechanical arm. I did have the foresight to cast a couple Purify spells on it before entering the auction house, so it at least wasn't covered in blood now. It was still a bit dented and scuffed, but the appraiser assured me that it wouldn't be a problem and gave me five gold for it, since prosthetics are valuable but not extremely difficult to get.
The last pair of items I wanted to get appraised was the weapons from the revenant Bladedancer and Royal Guard. The scimitars are up first, and I realize that I entirely forgot to identify them way back when I first got them, so I go ahead and do so.
-==÷==-
Eversharp Twinblades (Epic, Slashing)
A set of dual scimitars reinforced with numerous durability and sharpness enchantments. When both are wielded at the same time, the blades will never dull and can cut through most materials.
-==÷==-
Holy shit, I'm glad I killed that revenant before it could get close.
“Ten gold is my offer. This will fetch a very high price at auction, and probably eclipse that amount by a large margin.”
“Deal.”
Setting down the massive shield, I fire off another identify.
-==÷==-
Adaptive Tower Shield (Rare, Growth Shield)
A tower shield that can forge a bond with its wielder. The shield will adapt to suit the bonded creature.
If requirements are met, growth is possible.
-==÷==-
“Thirty gold.”
I almost accept instantly at the large amount, but stop myself. It's another growth item, like Nesuskape, which probably means it will become a named item when it bonds to someone.
I also still have the Defender crystal, so I think I'm going to keep this. I'll see if I can find someone to join my party that's willing to take up the pair.
“No deal,” I declare to the disappointed expression of the appraiser.
“Should have known you wouldn't accept, seeing as you have both a Defender crystal and this defensive growth item. Well, I tried at least. Is there anything else you would like me to have a look at?”
“No, this was the last item for now. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr…?”
“Ah, where are my manners! I am Ric'thias’alin, but please call me Rick.”
I shake one of his hands and take my leave, my purse significantly heavier than when I entered. Just before I step out the door, he calls to me.
“There is an auction starting in about an hour, should you wish to attend. Your own items will be in it as well.”
I give him a thumbs up and walk back out into the main hall. The next seller is sent back to talk with Rick, and I hurriedly make my way back to the Tilted Tankard. Keira is waiting for me at our usual table, and I explain my newfound wealth and the upcoming auction before making my offer.
“Want to come to the auction with me? I don't mean to rush you, but we only have an hour to get there before it starts.”
Keira agrees with a little hesitation.
“Sure… but aren't those auctions ridiculously expensive? I remember when I was little, my dad brought me to one, and some things sold for over five hundred gold…”
“Don't worry about it, I'm getting at least another fifty gold afterwards so money shouldn't be an issue for anything reasonable. Reasonable is the key word there. Please for the love of the gods don't bid on anything too absurd.”
“I feel like it should be me saying that…”
Choosing to ignore the whispered comment, I loop my arm through hers and drag her out into the busy streets.
.
!
Ch. 24
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