This was a stage set by the royal family.
“I — It is possible. How would you like to present the items?”
“Shouldn’t we do it right now?”
“Right now? Well, there is a set order to things……”
“I can’t exactly put my items at the very end, can I? From what I know, the items coming out at the back are those presented directly by the royal family. I wouldn’t dare do such a thing, right?”
“T — That is true.”
“Exactly! We have to show our loyalty to the royal family! So, wouldn’t it be right to do mine first?”
“……I understand.”
This was a place where one earned money by selling their own goods and secured loyalty by identifying the buyers. It was a far more significant place than it appeared.
‘It will be fun to turn this important place into my own stage.’
The flow had already shifted toward me. Originally, the right to sell at the auction house was given to those loyal to the royal family. However, participating in this manner was another kind of fun.
The timing was perfect. This was the exact moment when the items from the Magic Tower and the items offered by the loyal nobles had ended. Normally, the most important items appeared toward the end of an auction. No one tried to stop me when I offered to put my items out early under the pretext of loyalty to the royal family.
— “What on earth is he planning?”
— “He certainly is something.”
— “Hmmm……..”
Though their expressions were hidden behind masks, everyone watched me with intrigued eyes. A loach had suddenly appeared in the auction house. They intended to watch and see what the man who broke all implicit rules, customs, and conventions was trying to do.
“Then, let us begin. But, what… what is this?”
“It is an iron ingot.”
“I — I know that, but……”
The auctioneer’s face turned red at the item I produced. He looked like he didn’t know how to handle it. However…
‘Those over there have already recognized it.’
There were those with a better eye than the auctioneer. They were the mages belonging to the Malexia Magic Tower, the kingdom’s main tower. Their eyes widened as they focused their gaze on the iron ingot.
“We… we have never sold something like this before.”
This auctioneer really lacked wit.
‘Why did the royal family entrust this to him?’
His hosting ability was a bit weak for such a large auction. But that only made me stand out more. I slightly raised my arm and spoke as if directing him.
“Just start for now.”
“Understood! An… an iron ingot has been presented!”
“Specifically, it is a Mana-infused Iron Ingot.”
The moment I added the explanation…
“Ooooh. Is that the rumored item?”
“A Mana-infused Iron Ingot! You can’t find those anywhere…… Could it be……?”
The murmuring grew louder.
‘As expected, they are quick on the uptake.’
Though they were masked, they were still nobles. Even a Merchant Guild Master would not be able to participate here if their guild was small. This meant they were perceptive. Therefore, the iron ingot alone was enough for them to deduce who I was.
— “It came from House Ofern.”
— “That Count’s House from the outskirts…… Hmmm…….”
— “Interesting.”
Everyone recognized my identity from a single iron ingot. I had no need for fools who couldn’t figure it out by now.
‘Because they are idiots.’
Various reactions emerged. Everyone began to gauge how to react and what to do.
“Are there no bids!?”
The murmuring was loud, but there was no response. Everyone coveted the iron ingot, but they didn’t want to add momentum to a situation where the flow was going entirely to me. So, no one bid.
However…
“10,000 gold coins!”
There were certainly fools who would call out 10,000 gold coins for just one iron ingot.
‘Got you.’
I had come here with information from the start. If I were just looking for the auction house, I wouldn’t have needed to bring Arne or pay her an information fee. The information I obtained from her was the participant list of the auction house.
I knew who would be attending this auction. Today wasn’t the only day. Auctions were held in various places throughout the royal capital on other days as well. But the reason I specifically came here…
“15,000 gold coins!”
“20,000 gold coins!”
…was to see those fools. They were the ones who all wore knots on their sleeves — mages from the Malexia Magic Tower. Originally, they would have come here to see who would buy the magic items they had put up. Not as buyers, but as sellers. But now, they had become more passionate buyers than anyone else.
“Dammit! I need this for my research! 25,000 gold coins!”
“What are you talking about? 30,000 gold coins!”
“30,000… 30,000 gold coins have been called!”
The price continued to soar. In an instant, it surpassed 30,000 and rose to 35,000 gold coins. It was only a few iron ingots. However…
‘There’s nothing else with this level of purity. I made sure to bring the best.’
At this moment, it was precious. It was so valuable that the mages were practically burning up with desire. After all, it was top-grade iron even from the refinery in my Spiritual Land! An iron ingot that didn’t just contain mana but emitted it on its own was a rare treasure. A treasure that even dwarves rarely brought out!
‘And I created that artificially. Heh.’
Arne, who had subtly taken a seat next to me, looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Is it possible to produce something like that?”
“Well…… yes?”
“How!?”
“Heh. Pay the information fee first.”
When I held out my hand, she snapped her head away. She wanted the information, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask for it.
‘How could she know it was made because I personally poured my Neigong into the refining process?’
When refining iron, supplying the maximum amount of Neigong through spirits results in mana of even higher purity. A precious metal is thus completed.
‘The technique is what’s important. It might be possible for a Spiritist…… but given their personalities, they probably wouldn’t do it.’
It was made by pouring in internal energy that was close to the energy of nature, but no one knew that fact.
“40,000 gold coins!”
“45,000!”
“50,000!”
“50,000… 50,000 has been called!”
The price, which had shot up in an instant, finally hit 50,000.
“Is there anyone else!? It is 50,000. 50,000!”
No one called out a higher price at the auctioneer’s words.
“……Damn it……”
“Who knows what else might come out? Still, I want that……”
“Hahaha! No matter what else comes out, this is enough!”
Someone rejoiced, someone was discouraged, and someone else was surprised again by the enormous price. Who would have thought that a few iron ingots, not even magic equipment, would fetch 50,000 gold coins?
‘This is why rarity is important.’
This is what happens when you create something that doesn’t exist and release just a little bit of it. The effect of it being a first-time reveal must have played a significant role as well.
“Sold!”
“Give it here! Hehehe!”
A man who was clearly a mage despite the mask handed over 50,000 gold coins and immediately took the iron ingots.
“Ehehehe.”
Though he looked undignified, many mages envied him. Among the mages, there was absolutely not even one person who thought he had spent too much money.
‘Anyway, mages have money to burn.’
The group with the most money in this world, and a group that would do anything for magic experiments — those were the mages.
‘They are the producers of magic equipment……’
And at the same time, mages were massive consumers. They would lose their minds and pour out money for any rare material. Just like now!
“I-Is that the end of your items?”
“There are no more iron ingots. Unfortunately, they don’t come out that often. You’ll have to wait at least one more month for more. Of course, I have no intention of selling any more for the time being.”
“Ahhh…….”
“Darn it!”
They began to fall into despair at the news that there were no more. Now, here was the twist.
“However, this time, I have something made by improving those iron ingots!”
*Whoosh—*
What I pulled out of the magic pouch was a staff made of high-purity mana-infused iron.
“Ooooh.”
“Oh. You made that by melting those down!? Insane! What about the loss rate!?”
The reaction was beyond good; it was heated. The inside of the mana-infused iron was filled with crystals. The spot at the very top was filled with an Intermediate Mana Stone that I had personally obtained.
‘I was lucky.’
It was a mana crystal obtained from a troll I happened to catch while moving to assassinate Marquis Owen. I had set aside the troll’s blood for Healing Potion research and used the mana crystal first to make this. It was an item that didn’t come easily.
“Anyone is welcome to come and hold it. Your magic will change completely. I named it the Iron Staff.”
This was an item even I found difficult to make.
‘I worked quite hard.’
It was a product created by pouring a great deal of Soulforce into it while melting and crafting the mana-infused iron enhanced by internal energy. It wasn’t something that could be produced easily.
“I must buy that!”
“Crazy. What’s the budget!? Bring it all right now!”
If the sword was for the Knight, then the staff was for the mage. Staffs made of iron were common, but there were none infused with mana.
‘And unlike gems, iron allows for magic circles to be drawn easily.’
The Iron Staff was highly efficient. If held by a mage, it was a treasure that would increase their power just like a Knight’s masterwork sword. It was not something that could be compared to the ornaments used by kings that usually appeared at the end. The atmosphere grew overheated.
— “That……”
— “Hmmm…… In that case, I have no choice.”
Even the nobles who had been quietly observing the situation began to grow restless. They knew what kind of effect it would bring if they or their vassals used it. In this world, power was authority — it was everything. It was only natural for things to heat up when a treasure that could strengthen that power appeared!
“W-We will begin the bidding immediately.”
“Ohhh! Hurry!”
“50,000 gold coins! Start from 50,000 gold coins!”
Even before it started, the atmosphere was on an upward curve. To this…
‘Let’s raise it more. To the maximum.’
I quickly pulled out another item I had prepared in my pocket.
“W-What is that?”
The auctioneer, fully tense from the surging heat, asked. What I pulled from my pocket was a small object. The design was crude. Though made by a master, only its functionality had been maximized.
“It’s an earring. For reference, it has been linked with the staff.”
“By ‘linked,’ you mean……”
Link. Originally, it was Tier 1 magic where mages only shared a portion of their mana with each other.
‘The story is different when it comes to enchanting.’
It was different during production. Although it was Tier 1 magic, a highly advanced secret technique was used to allow magic items to share mana with each other.
“It increases efficiency even further. I split an Intermediate Mana Stone to connect them.”
“This is the item that will be in the next auction.”
“……T-That is…….”
On its own, it was just a somewhat great item that contributed to an increase in power. But when the two were combined… they became a treasure sufficient to make everyone’s jaw drop in surprise. I spoke after pausing for effect.
“So…… how about we start the bidding at 100,000 gold coins?”
“Starting the bidding for the Iron Staff at 100,000 gold coins!”
“120,000!”
“130,000!”
“150,000!”
The price shot up in an instant. Even though the earring was still to come, the rising price was beyond imagination.
“200,000! 200,000 has been called!”
Everyone shouted frantically, filled with excitement. Tremendous inflation! During the Letman Riot, I earned 300,000 gold coins by catching monsters, and now 200,000 was being called here.
‘This is why trading luxury goods is a scam. Especially since a competition has started.’
The slush funds the nobles had hidden away began to be emptied out.
“210,000! Are there any more bids!?”
I grinned as I watched them overheat.
‘Now it’s just the beginning.’
What I had prepared was more than enough.