54 – Arbiter of Queen Adria 10

Eastern Trade Goods Auction

Although the proportion is less compared to the preceding spices, the scale and method are larger and more complex than spices.

In the case of spices, although they are expensive, they are already standardized to some extent within the continent.

Therefore, in the case of selling, it can be easily done at once with only paper work through the main merchants of the continent.

On the other hand. Auctions take a long time because customers have to go through the process of seeing each item and making a selection, and the transaction location is also distributed in various places depending on time and place.

The auction, centered on Piazza Marco in Benessa, is conducted sequentially by product over a period of about ten days.

First of all, on the outside of the plaza, items of relatively low value, including various miscellaneous goods, are displayed and auction prices are set, and more expensive items can be traded as you move closer to the center of St. Mark’s Cathedral.

And, in the case of items with a certain level of value or higher, the castle located near the plaza.

It is held in Calais, and items that are targeted by big-time customers, not tourists or small merchants, are sold through formal auctions here.

Trade items change according to the theme of each day, and of course, the customers who participate in the trade are also different each time.

On the first and second days, pottery such as fragile bowls and ornaments.

For four days from the third day, auctions of jewelry and clothing that are easy to store and popular are held.

After that, the trade of fabrics and papers, ancient books, medicines and spices, and weapons and equipment on the last day is carried out sequentially.

“Umm… In that respect, we don’t have much to see today. Until tomorrow, they’re selling pottery or something.”

“That’s right, thanks to that, I can take some time off and enjoy myself… Whoops.”

A silver-haired woman speaking in a slightly choked voice while piloting Benessa’s famous gondola.

Looking at her, the woman in the maroon robe showed a light smile filled with ease.

“But… it suits you better than I thought, doesn’t it? Looking at it like this, it seems like the picture is coming out somehow.”

“Let’s just say that… How many minutes have you been spinning around in my place already? This is harder than you think.”

A gondola that makes no progress even if it somehow tries to steer the boat towards the land.

The silver-haired woman felt a bit impatient at this, but the woman in the auburn robe just smiled leisurely.

“It’s okay. Because everything is like that the first time. But if you think about it, isn’t this kind of entertainment?

“..Haa.. Anyway, I always feel it, but you seem to be living a very comfortable life.”

“Whoops.”

With those words, a woman who takes out a book and starts reading slowly

Seeing her like that, the silver-haired woman decided to steer the ship normally and bring it back to land, even for pride, and began to do her best again.

And after about an hour, the gondola barely got its bearings and started moving toward the land.

Even though the width of the river itself was not wide, the silver-haired woman began to feel a little proud as she put meaning to the fact that she was maneuvering normally somehow.

“You have suffered. How is it, did you get used to it?”

“Ah yes. I’m fine now…”

“Good. Then, with this, we have poor insurance.. Shall we start preparing tomorrow’s schedule soon?”

“all right.”

With those words, a silver-haired woman gets off the gondola

The anticipation and excitement of what was to come began to appear on her lips without filtering.

*

Grand banquet hall located in the depths of Calais, the castle of the lord

Most of the participants in this auction, which took place in a large basement, were wealthy merchants or nobles who made a name for themselves on the continent.

Day 3 of the auction from today.

Unlike the middle-aged or elderly people who had been seen until yesterday, there were many aristocratic women dressed in splendor here.

In a way, it was natural.

The auction items for four days from today are jewelry and dresses.

It was the kind that women couldn’t help but be interested in.

In the first place, the Uranus Merchants knew this, so they invested the most time and money than any other auction item.

“This product is a silk dress from Jin. Craftsmen who make clothes for the imperial family put their heart and soul into making it, and it can be said to be a masterpiece among masterpieces in the image of a single dragon using golden threads on silk. Please let me know if you would like to purchase!”

A garment with a golden dragon engraved on blue silk in front of you

Shining even in the not-so-bright light, it instantly enchanted many people.

“3 talents!”

“3 talents 5000!”

“8 talents!”

“8 talents 4500!”

“14 talents!”

“14 talents 2200!”

Prices rising rapidly.

At first, people who were a bit cautious began to call higher prices without hesitation as others raised prices.

And, the appearance of such a place of worship…

Ophelia and Tilda, who took a vacation from Bahamut and went on a tour that doubled as information gathering, were watching with interest.

“I’ve heard about it, but… it’s amazing, because every word you say costs more than my salary…”

“right? It’s a scene I’ve seen every time I do Eastern trade, but the world of rich people is different from those like us.”

Ophelia’s monthly salary was 4 talents and 6000 silver coins.

If you dare to convert 1 talent into won, it is about 10 million won, that is, if you hit it with an ordinary person, this was an incredibly good level.

However.. the so-called money scandal that was happening in front of her eyes was at a level that would make even her daunted.

If I had to compare it, it would be the difference between a successful restaurant owner and the president of a large company.

Compared to her days as a poor low-class adventurer, she had risen significantly and thought that she was living without worrying about money, but today’s auction scene seemed to tell her that there was a higher place.

“I heard famous people from all over the continent gathered.. It seems that the world they live in is different..”

“I agree. Depending on the situation, it’s to the point where we’ll pay the amount of money we’re afraid we’ll save in our lifetime for a single set of clothes or a necklace. But… even here, there are tricks of its own.”

“A trick?”

Ophelia asked cautiously, questioning Tilda’s words. In response, Tilda glanced around and pointed somewhere in a quiet voice.

“You see that person over there? A person wearing a black hat. If you look closely, they keep raising their hands for the second or third or fourth time at intervals that are not noticeable.”

A man who calls for 8 talents on a necklace made of jade.

Accordingly, Ophelia also watched him for a while, and through this he was able to realize something.

“..Yes. I’m participating in the auction, raising the price little by little to avoid attracting as much attention as possible. And it seems that if you exceed a certain amount, you will no longer participate.”

“You’re right. That person… is a clerk belonging to our Uranus guild. And there are a few people like that working on something similar.”

“Ah.. that means.. no way..”

“Yeah, that’s right. A kind of wind catcher. Even if a good auction item comes out, it is sometimes sold without paying for its price, or it intervenes appropriately to prevent cases where such an auction item does not sell very well. In case of winning the bid, of course, the money the authors pay will be paid by the Uranus Merchant Chamber.”

“Anyway, the auction organizer is also the Uranus guild. It just increases inventory.”

“Yeah right. Besides, if people like that secretly raise the price, other people will think about it. Oh, that’s a better item than I thought. It’s tantalizingly rising from a low price, so should I buy some? I mean what you think.”

“It’s fun… and subtle at the same time.”

Interested in Tilda’s words, Ophelia nodded slowly.

The more she knew, the more she could feel that dealing with people’s psychology is the most important principle of business.

“It’s all about business, it’s about how pleasantly and naturally you deceive the other person. That’s why they say they don’t know what’s inside the merchants.”

“Maybe… I don’t know..”

After answering like that, Ophelia suddenly began to feel a little uncomfortable.

The person she knew best and trusted the most was also a merchant.

A person who calculates the gains and knows how to deal with people’s emotions accordingly.

Suddenly, I began to wonder if that might be the reason why he was nice to me.

Especially these days, since she discovered that she has considerable talent, that question hits a little stronger.

‘Ah..no.. Master.. Bahamut-sama.. is not that kind of person.. He must be me..’

The affection shown by the owner to himself.

Ophelia did not think that there would be lies in it.

But… to be honest, there weren’t any uneasy parts.

She wasn’t the only woman around Bahamut right now.

Wasn’t Bertina the owner who would be enjoying herself with someone who had incomparable charm and ability even at this moment?

However, Ophelia knew that she was not in a position to say this or that.

Her owner was no ordinary person.

He was a man with incomparable wealth, fame and power.

As a mere adventurer, she was not a person who could be monopolized, and it was enough for her owner to give her attention and love from time to time as she does now.

Trying hard to suppress those slightly uncomfortable thoughts

Ophelia turned her attention to the current auction item.

“Now, this product is a dress made of black silk. The Korra Empire located at the far end of the Far East! It is a masterpiece made with a special technique that is rare even there! This object with a green butterfly embroidered on the top is now looking for an owner!”

A shiny dress that is not only beautiful to look at.

Some customers exclaimed a small exclamation at the appearance of the beautiful garment, which was not just black, but radiated its own luster.

“Two talents!”

“2 talents 2000!”

“4 talents!”

“8 talents!”

Prices start to rise little by little.

The value of the dress started to go up smoothly in the natural response, without the need for any windbreakers.

“43 talents!”

“43 talents 5000!”

A dress that has already surpassed the price of an ordinary piece of clothing.

It was at that time that the voices raising the price gradually began to diminish.

“50 talents!”

“?”

“Yes! 50 talents are out!”

The price of the dress suddenly jumped up, so some people’s eyes turned to the person who participated in the auction, and it was the same for Tilda.

But. At that moment, Tilda’s face showed more surprise than curiosity.

“..Um… Ophelia over there?”

“… .”

Looking at Ophelia with her hand raised beside her, Tilda put on a dazed expression for a moment.