Chapter 141: How Could Others Take It?
The dragonman youngster received a warm welcome when he came into the Bandage Mercenary Corps’ room.
The Bandage Mercenary Corps had naturally come to the auction with ample cash, and both sides exchanged money for goods.
“These blades are adequate.”
“Fortunately, we joined hands and were able to win these.”
“This was a good plan, and if there are more chances, I’d want to collaborate more!” Commander Beng Dai was very happy and felt that getting to know the dragonman youngster was the correct decision.
Zong Ge too was satisfied.
He had 25 blades, more than enough for the Quick Knife Battle Squad.
News that the Dragon Lion and Bandage Mercenary Corps had worked together swiftly spread from those who were smart enough to realize to the rest of the audience.
They expressed their admiration.
“Both the Dragon Lion and Bandage Mercenary Corps did well.”
“That’s right, they suppressed that arrogant room 21!”
“That room really has been too arrogant for too long.”
“That is an interesting collaboration, two corps wanted those things for themselves, and even though it was at a large premium, by sharing the cost the price isn’t too high.”
The guests’ eyes shined, and they seemed to discover a new method.
In room 21, Zi Di and Cang Xu smiled.
They worked together again.
The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps not only obtained the ring swords, but they also obtained the good will of the other buyers and opened a cooperation with the Bandage Mercenary Corps. Although it was at a high premium, the Bandage Mercenary Corps also paid a portion of the bill.
The survivors had two groups, one positive, one negative. One in the light, one in the dark. They managed to purchase the things they wanted, being bombastic in a low key manner and were able to expand the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ contacts.
It could be predicted that after this auction, the layered identity of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would become even more useful!
When Hun Tong heard about this, he expressed his admiration for the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, “There are capable people in that corps.”
He was pleased to see this happen.
Room 21 was too oppressive, and he looked forward to these two mercenary corps working together more.
As far as he was concerned, the higher the auction price, the better!
Hun Tong then began muttering to himself.
The next item was a piece of gold level equipment.
It was a defensive tool, one that could trigger another upsurge of bidding.
“But now…it would be better to make some adjustments to encourage the trend of cooperation against room 21.”
Thus, the item up next was swapped for a pile of belts.
The auction master presented them, “Honored guests, these are famous seaweed survival belts. Although they are just bronze level, they are very practical.”
“As long as they are imbued with energy, they can inflate with air in seawater and form a life buoy, allowing those tossed overboard to float in the ocean.”
“We can also use this belt if we are stranded on a barren island without food; the inflated kelp buoy can be eaten.”
“As of this time, it has already become standard imperial naval equipment.”
According to naval battle data, those allocated with this equipment would usually be able to save many more wounded that were cast into the sea after the battle. If a fleet lacks supplies, a large amount of these seaweed survival belts can provide crucial emergency provisions!”
Everyone listened carefully, and many eyes began to brighten.
Regardless of whether it was pirate groups, patrol fleet, mercenary corps, or merchant alliance fleets, all of them were very interested in these belts.
Voyages were full of hazards, no one knew what tomorrow would bring.
Having these belts would undoubtably improve their safety floor.
They seemed unremarkable, but every old sailor understood how precious they were.
Even lone figures like Hong Zhu and Shi Fa also thought that wearing this belt would be the dependable choice.
The seaweed survival belt was not expensive.
All parties acted one after the other.
“Honored guests, if an accident happens in the future, and you need food urgent, will you regret it if you don’t have a belt?”
“I stake my reputation on this my friends, this is the only auction of seaweed survival belts here.”
The auction master continued to liven the mood.
In the wake of an intensifying bidding war, the lone figures had no choice but to withdraw from it.
They only wanted one belt, while a batch of them were undoubtedly catered more towards mercenary corps and private groups.
When the bids for the belts rose above market price, the auction had come to an end.
There were still five parties bidding for it.
Among them was the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps and room 21: Zi Di and Cang Xu.
The dragonman youngster was about to repeated the same trick and contact other bidders when there was a knock at his room’s door.
The door was opened, and the dragonman youngster received One Eye’s envoy.
One Eye was Two Eyes Island’s patrol fleet leader and was responsible for buying equipment for his fleet at the auction.
Especially after Hun Tong explicitly told him this post beast tide defense battle: Soon, Two Eyes Island’s patrol fleet will be expanded and the waters it protected would also increase several folds.
The envoy gave One Eye’s request for cooperation.
One Eye’s intent was very clear cut, he wanted to copy how the Dragon Lion and Bandage Mercenary Corps worked together.
“They learn quickly!” The dragonman youngster sighed to himself as he agreed to this request.
One Eye was not the only one who contacted the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, there was also a merchant alliance representative.
The three parties worked together to compete against the other two.
The fourth party sensed something was amiss and immediately withdrew from the bidding.
After bidding three times, the fifth party, Zi Di, was “forced” to retreat in defeat.
“Room 21 was beaten again.”
“If they didn’t work together, how would they be able to win those belts?”
The delivery to the three parties was swiftly completed.
This news spread, encouraging morale.
Everyone at the auction had finally found a way to deal with room 21.
In room 21, after Zi Di learned of the aftermath, she faintly narrowed her eyes and surmised, “One Eye must have obtained Hun Tong’s directions, and taken the initiative to contact the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.”
“If I am not mistaken, this will happen in the following auctions too.”
“One Eye represents Hun Tong, bringing us closer to all organizations here. Even pirates are no exception.”
He was the tyrant here, and his relationship with merchant alliances and pirate groups is very deep. He also knows far more about them too, advantages we don’t have.”
Sure enough, just as Zi Di had guessed, the next few auctions were all batches of alchemy items that were convenient for parties working together to divide up afterwards.
Zi Di willingly conformed and in each bidding war, was “defeated”.
In every auction, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps gained something, sometimes small, sometimes big.
Hun Tong intentionally showed consideration for the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, roping in the dragonman youngster every time. His intent was very clear, he wanted to build a closer relationship between them so that in the future, these arms smugglers would choose to sell their munitions on Two Eyes Island.
After several auctions of this type, room 21 had been subdued by a lot.
“They have received sufficient guidance.”
“There is still strength in numbers!”
“But is that really good? Isn’t it unfair for buyers to team up with each other, doesn’t that run counter to the principle of fairness?”
Some were delighted while others questioned the practice.
Some buyers or organizations with bad interpersonal relationships were disgusted at how people were bidding together.
Hun Tong understood the problems with this better than most.
He had been prepared for this.
The next item was a set of Golden Silk Chainmail.
When the buyers saw this chain armor, their minds shook.
“Gold level armor!”
Many low level cultivators began to drool when they saw it, understanding it would never be theirs.
Faces changed in every room on floor two, including Song Shou, Hun Tong, Qi You, as well as the smoker in room 2, anticipation stirred.
It had to be said that Hun Tong was a business genius. He had planned the auction order, and the appearance of this gold level armor not only pleasantly surprised the audience, but it also constrained the general mood of cooperation in the auction and would undoubtedly trigger a surge of bidding.
For a moment, the price bids rose and fell in succession, never ceasing.
Armor was usually more expensive than weapons.
Life was treasured above all else, and no one would shun one’s own protection.
Assuming enough money and battle qi, fighters would usually wear as much armor and protective gear as possible to secure their safety.
This practice was customarily known as “armor layering”.
In this unusual path, there were many famous figures.
For example, one the navy’s three admirals, Yi Gui, liked to collect all kinds of extraordinary apparel. Every time he went out into the field, he would cover himself in them to improve his defenses.
The fierce competition soon reached its end.
“Room 21, 3,800 gold going once.”
“Room 21, 3,800 gold going twice.”
“Room 21, 3,800 gold going three times.”
Bang.
The auction master’s small hammer fell, “Congratulations to room 21 on winning this gold level armor!”
The auction welcomed its victor.
The buyers were forced to.
Gold level armor could not be partitioned up.
It would be very difficult to join hands in this instance.
Room 21 had revitalized its dynamism in the auction when they succeeded in winning the Golden Silk Chainmail.
“After this armor is disguised, we’ll give it to the commander.” Zi Di happily planned.
“That’s right.” Cang Xu nodded his clear endorsement.
Obviously giving it to Zong Ge would raise their group’s strength more, but to these two, the dragonman youngster was the most important person.
How could the half beastman compare?
After the Golden Silk Chainmail there was 12 sets of external glass armor.
This type of armor was very peculiar. Normally they would shrink into the form of a bracelet and be worn around a person’s wrist.
When a battle broke out, the spirit would activate it, instantly adorning them with a set of weak glass armor.
This thin layer of weak armor couldn’t stop sword attacks.
But it was good at withstanding energy type attacks and conventional types of magic and divine spells to a remarkable effect.
According to some gossip, this external armor was the Ten Touch Pirates’ spoils of war, looted from an imperial supply ship.
Because the external armor was too singular and its niche too extreme, it was only given to imperial special forces.
Therefore, the final price of this external armor was not that high.
It was still won by Zi Di though.
After that, the next item was a set of mushroom tights, silver level undergarments that combined both healing and defense and was suited for both genders. This garnered the interest of the lone figures and was wrested away by Zi Di at a high price.
After those tights there was three sets of sacred plate armor, all iron level and auctioned in succession.
This sacred plate armor was classified as heavy armor and quite special, for it had been excavated from some seafloor ruins.
According to research, they should have been the equipment of some dead god’s templar knights.
The plate armor had remnants of divine spells and divine power on them, giving the sacred plate armor some unusual abilities.
Under the irate gaze of everyone, the three sacred plate armor sets were taken by room 21.
The armor auctions are hereunto concluded.
The auction had entered its late stage.
A small item appeared on stage, causing many buyers to toss the whole armor affair to the back of their mind.
The auction master lifted a small glass bottle with both hands.
The potion inside the bottle was a light yellow, like urine.
Countless scorching eyes locked into the potion.
The auction master’s presentation was unprecedently simple, “This is a gold level healing potion, the price starts at 380 gold.”
Everyone took a long breath, waiting for the auction master to proclaim the beginning of the auction.
“1000 gold!” Zi Di transmitted from room 21.
“?!”
“I…”
Innumerable derisions cried out from every buyer’s heart.
They suddenly noticed that the price was just at the cusp of spilling over!
How could they take it?