Chapter 281 - Auction Thrills
I rode in a first-class, black car to an event venue managed by the House of Gavel. The entrance and interior were packed with security personnel and magical devices, making it as secure as it gets. Clearly, this was an event that the Marquis Gavel was putting on to bolster his reputation.
As we stepped out of the impressive vehicle, I took my place beside Rosmerta-sama, flanked by a knight. We aimed to appear subtly vigilant, not overtly cautious.
With such tight security and excellent knightly protection, it was highly unlikely that I would need to step in. Frankly, no fool would dare cause a commotion in such a place. However, it was crucial to maintain this image of unbreakable vigilance.
Properly showcasing the power and authority of the most influential individuals is vital for the kingdom's stability. It's important to make it clear that crossing them would be disastrous. This is the essence of deterrence.
Amid the subtle tension, the Duchess walked into the venue with a composed smile and confident strides.
The expansive hall was set up with VIPs seated in semi-private balconies. While the knights stood guard behind us, Rosmerta-sama and I took our seats.
"Where’s the proxy bidder?" I asked.
"They’re in the front row. We’ve already conveyed our preferences, so everything should proceed smoothly," Rosmerta-sama replied.
The role of a proxy bidder usually falls to a household servant, as it doesn’t require specialized knowledge or negotiation skills.
To handle unexpected price surges or unforeseen situations, a liaison is also present with the proxy bidder.
Typically, Rosmerta-sama would only make a brief appearance when the desired item came up for auction. Her presence at such an event, especially when her proxy bidder was in attendance, was often a gesture to honor the host, the Marquis Gavel.
This time, I was here to observe, and we arrived during the early stages of the auction. She probably found time in her schedule today.
Although the auction had just begun, the venue was already packed. Most of the people in the main hall were proxies and liaisons.
I sipped the wine served by the waitstaff while listening to Rosmerta-sama’s explanations and watching the smooth, persuasive auctioneer work the crowd. The fast pace and steady rhythm of the auction were engaging.
"It’s rare to see so much money, in the hundreds of thousands, millions, or tens of millions of gists, being thrown around in a place other than a casino," Rosmerta-sama remarked.
"I suppose this is one of the few places where the wealthy indulge in such extravagance," I added.
Nobles generally don’t venture out to shop; they prefer items to be brought to their homes. Ordinary wealthy people like me usually visit stores, unlike nobles who have items delivered or summoned to their homes.
Even if a noble were to buy clothing or accessories, they would rarely purchase ready-made items. Custom orders require precise measurements and fabric choices, and they might want to compare the items with what they already own.
While it might be a bit more inconvenient for the seller, the convenience for the buyer in having items brought to their home often outweighs the inconvenience.
Of course, nobles do occasionally go shopping for a change, and some stores prefer not to make house calls, but that’s a different story.
"By the way, Rosmerta-sama, there’s a woman who’s been staring at you," I noted.
"Really? Where?" she asked, subtly shifting her gaze without turning her head.
"To your left. A flamboyant and plump woman with a feathered fan. Does that ring a bell?" I described.
"Unfortunately, it does. It’s that woman again," Rosmerta-sama said, completely ignoring the gaze.
The woman in question was likely the same one who had caused trouble for Rosmerta-sama at a previous auction. She was apparently a countess, and although Rosmerta-sama had also been a countess in the past, this woman seemed to view her as a rival.
"Since it’s not causing any real harm, just ignore her," I suggested.
"I will, but it’s a bit unsettling," she admitted.
The plan was to give the woman a taste of her own medicine during the auction, probably by outbidding her. If Rosmerta-sama was fine with it, I wouldn’t interfere.
I refocused on the auction catalog and the ongoing proceedings. High-value items and crowd favorites are usually auctioned later, with prices rising more gradually in the early stages. Sometimes, only a few bidders will raise their hands, and the auction moves quickly.
"If you see anything you like, just let me know," Rosmerta-sama offered.
While I might do so if I found something I truly wanted, I didn’t plan to go on a shopping spree at an auction I hadn’t been officially invited to.
As I observed, I noticed that one particular proxy bidder was aggressively bidding on almost everything. At first, I thought they might be representing multiple noble families, but that’s not a common practice.
Their bidding spree was quite conspicuous.
While a specific buying pattern might indicate a particular interest, this person was buying almost everything, regardless of interest or value, and always bidding up to about five times the starting price. It was as if they were intentionally drawing attention to themselves.
The Kingdom of Brenark has seen a rapid economic recovery from its previous state of decline, and many newly rich individuals have emerged, including nobles and merchants. The Kiikyo Society, including myself, is no exception.
I fully support the idea of using excess wealth for good, but flaunting it in such a public setting can come off as vulgar. It’s not that it’s wrong, but it’s not the most refined behavior.
"Do you know which family’s proxy this is?" I asked Rosmerta-sama, who seemed equally curious.
An attendant quickly left the semi-private balcony to investigate and returned within minutes.
"Lady, this way," the attendant said, handing me a small note.
"What does it say?" I asked, glancing at the note.
"It appears to be the proxy for Viscount Lamreneis. He runs the most prestigious workshop in the Royal Capital and has amassed considerable wealth through recent military contracts," Rosmerta-sama explained.
"That makes sense. He must be doing very well," I remarked.
It turns out that Viscount Lamreneis is from an old viscount family that had been struggling until the current viscount, a young man with a keen business sense, took over after the war. The kingdom’s massive budget for military equipment has undoubtedly contributed to his success.
"If he’s nouveau riche, he must have more money than he knows what to do with. But his bidding might interfere with our plans," I noted.
"Perhaps, but the proxies for influential nobles often observe who’s bidding," Rosmerta-sama responded.
"Do they really read the room? Is that allowed at an auction?" I asked.
"I suppose. I didn’t instruct anyone to do so, but there are always those who will compete regardless. So, it doesn’t really matter," she concluded.
There are those who read the room and those who don’t, those who enjoy the process and those who don’t. In the end, it doesn’t make much of a difference.
"Yukarinowe, are you ready?" Rosmerta-sama asked.
"Yes, let’s see how it goes," I replied, feeling a bit nervous despite not being the one bidding.
"—And now, lot number 49. This is a ring once worn by the Fourth Princess, known as Akki."
The auction began!
"It’s a highly sought-after item from a popular princess. Lot 49, are we ready? Starting bid is 800,000 gists. 800,000, 800,000. 900,000, 1,000,000! 1,200,000... 1,500,000—"
The auctioneer pointed to the bidders, announcing the rising bids. The tension and excitement were palpable, even though I was just an observer.
I believed the ring was worth far more than its starting price, but I also thought it was unreasonable for it to be too expensive. It was a delicate balance.
"Someone has just bid 3,000,000 gists! 3,200,000... 3,300,000, and still going, 3,500,000!"
The proxy bidder for Viscount Lamreneis was also competing. I wondered how far they would go.
"3,800,000, still going. 4,000,000! 4,200,000, 4,500,000... 4,700,000, 5,000,000! 5,000,000 gists. Any higher? 5,000,000 gists. No more bids? 5,000,000 gists it is!"
The wooden hammer struck the podium with a sharp, dry sound, finalizing the sale.
An item that was originally priced at around 200,000 gists and started at 800,000 gists had ended at 5,000,000 gists. It was a high price, and I felt a bit relieved when it didn’t go any higher. I’m quite wealthy, but I still have a sense of what’s reasonable.
And with that, the ring was now mine. Hooray!
While I maintained a calm exterior, I was doing a silent victory pose in my head.
"How was it? Your first successful bid," Rosmerta-sama asked.
"I thought it would be more competitive, but it stayed within my budget. I’m satisfied for now," I replied.
"I’m glad you enjoyed it. If you see anything else you like, let me know," she said.
The items Rosmerta-sama was interested in were still to come. Until then, I planned to enjoy the event.
The continuous introduction and sale of items made me realize just how prosperous the Kingdom of Brenark has become. Both the capital and Exembra have been experiencing sustained economic growth, and this trend is expected to continue.
The increase in wealthy commoners is a positive sign, but the powerful elite are amassing even greater wealth. They can afford to spend lavishly, knowing that their wealth will only continue to grow. This might explain the extravagant displays of wealth at such events.
One person who stood out, especially in the early stages, was the proxy bidder for Viscount Lamreneis. By the time the auction reached its midpoint, I estimated that this person had won at least forty items, spending around 500,000,000 gists in total.
As the auction progressed to the more expensive items, other nobles would likely join in, and even larger sums of money would change hands. It was a spectacle to watch, and as an outsider, I could enjoy it without any personal stakes.
We took a break to relax and watch as others bid large sums of money. Eventually, it was time for the item Rosmerta-sama had been waiting for.
As a first-time auction attendee, I was quite nervous, but the experienced noblewoman was completely at ease, a testament to her power and wealth.
"—Lot 312, the Briolette Talisman. This exquisite piece is by the renowned late Rio Kalston, one of the continent’s most celebrated jewelry designers. Starting bid is 2,250,000,000 gists!"
The starting price was ridiculously high, far beyond the 5,000,000 gists I had bid earlier.
According to the catalog, this wasn’t just a valuable piece of jewelry but also a powerful magical artifact. It was a bracelet with several teardrop-shaped gemstones, crafted from high-purity mithril and adorned with precious gems, with multiple magical functions, including healing and protection.
While the multiple magical effects were impressive, the design wasn’t to my taste, and it didn’t seem to be Rosmerta-sama’s either. However, she had mentioned that she planned to win the bid, not just to drive up the price, but to keep it.
The idea of paying a high price for something you don’t want seems strange for a commoner, but for someone as cunning and experienced as Rosmerta-sama, it must have a deeper purpose.
"—3,680,000,000, 3,700,000,000! 3,710,000,000... still going, 3,720,000,000! 3,730,000,000!"
The bids were rising by increments of 10,000,000 gists, and the pace showed no signs of slowing. The price was climbing, but Rosmerta-sama remained calm, not batting an eyelid.
It’s amazing how the value of an item can be perceived so differently. Considering the original cost of the materials, the price should be nowhere near this high. High-purity mithril is expensive, but the bracelet’s size wouldn’t justify such a price. Even the raw gemstones wouldn’t fetch such a ridiculous amount.
However, the value is added through the various stages of production, from mining and refining to crafting and selling. Magic minerals require extensive processing to increase their purity, and gemstones are costly to extract. From land acquisition and exploration to the tools and labor needed for mining, and then to the skilled craftsmen and equipment for refining, every step adds to the final cost.
In the case of this bracelet, there’s also the designer’s reputation, the high demand, and the exclusivity factor. The brand value adds significantly to the price.
Other factors, like the item’s association with a famous person or its historical value, can drive the price even higher. The wealth of the elite can be both astounding and impressive.
"—4,280,000,000 gists!"
The hammer struck the podium with a sharp sound, finalizing the sale.
"That’s a lot of money. Even for an item like this, isn’t it a bit too much?" I asked.
"Perhaps, but I’m not losing out. I plan to resell it for 4,500,000,000 gists," Rosmerta-sama replied nonchalantly.
"Is it really that easy to sell?" I was skeptical.
"The lady who wanted this piece will be more than happy to buy it. She’s determined to get it, so all I need to do is spread the rumor, and she’ll come to me," she explained.
"You mean you’re planning to sell it to the same woman who’s been causing trouble?" I asked.
"She was bidding up to 4,270,000,000 gists. If I wait a bit, she’ll likely find a way to gather the funds," Rosmerta-sama replied.
What a woman. She plans to outbid and then resell for a profit, adding insult to injury.
While reselling for profit is common, the calculated nature of her plan was a bit much. It made me feel like I wanted to leave early.
"—Try not to make too many enemies," I advised.
"I have plenty of allies, so I’m not worried. My business here is done. Do you want to stay and watch more?" she asked.
"No, I’m done. Let’s go," I replied.
We left the venue and visited a restaurant she recommended before returning to the fortress. I thought we might start an evening drink, but the busy Duchess had an urgent matter to attend to, and I also received some troubling news.
Really, I just wanted to relax today.