AUCTION HOUSE
Rex stepped into the Blue Wind Auction House, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos of shouting merchants and frantic bidders. The grand hall pulsed with energy, the golden glow of floating auction panels illuminating the determined faces of players scrambling for rare materials. The air carried the pungent mix of parchment, burnt incense, and smoldering metal, a testament to the wealth exchanged here every minute.
His fists clenched at the memory of past losses. He wasn't here to waste money—he was here to win.
His goal was clear: Black Iron Ore x3 and Tempered Wood x2, but the real challenge wasn't just acquiring them—it was beating the manipulators at their own game.
---
The Market Manipulators
As Rex approached the floating auction panels, his eyes narrowed. Years of experience had trained him to spot a scam at a glance, and this market was riddled with them.
Current Market Prices:
Black Iron Ore x3 – 5 silver each (Fast Buy)
Black Iron Ore x1 – 3.8 silver (Bid, 5 minutes left)
Black Iron Ore x1 – 3.5 silver (Bid, 8 minutes left)
Black Iron Ore x5 – 6 silver each (Fast Buy, Manipulated Price)
A cold smirk formed on his lips. Classic manipulation. Someone was buying up cheap listings and replacing them with overpriced Fast Buy options, forcing impatient buyers to overpay.
Not today.
Without hesitation, Rex placed bids on the 3.5 and 3.8 silver listings, securing the materials at their rightful price. He could wait—time was a weapon in the auction house.
Next, he navigated to Tempered Wood.
Current Market Prices:
Tempered Wood x2 – 6 silver each (Fast Buy)
Tempered Wood x1 – 2.9 silver (Bid, 3 minutes left)
Tempered Wood x1 – 3 silver (Bid, 6 minutes left)
His jaw tightened. Another scam.
Instead of falling into the trap, he bought one piece at 2.9 silver and strategically listed a single piece at 3.5 silver, making it look like the next best deal. This forced the manipulator to either compete or drop prices.
His heart raced—not from fear, but from the sheer thrill of the hunt.
---
A Rival Merchant's Interference
A sharp voice sliced through the air like a dagger.
"You there! You're interfering with my market!"
Rex turned, his gaze locking onto a player dressed in a silver-trimmed robe, his [Apprentice Trader] title glowing faintly above his head. The merchant's name: Roland.
The man's expression twisted with irritation and amusement, as if Rex were a child playing with fire.
"Didn't your parents teach you not to play in deep waters?" Roland sneered. "This market is controlled by traders like me."
Rex's hands curled into fists, but he forced himself to smile.
"I don't like being scammed," he replied coolly. "Your inflated prices won't work on me."
Roland scoffed, crossing his arms. "Fair enough. But since you're here, let's make a deal. I'll sell you the Black Iron Ore and Tempered Wood you need—for a 'modest' service fee."
Rex's muscles tensed. "How much?"
Roland smirked. "Black Iron Ore? 5 silver each. Tempered Wood? 5.5 silver each."
Rex laughed coldly. "That's just the same scam you're running on the auction house."
"Business is business." Roland's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with greed.
Rex turned away. "I'll take my chances with the real market."
As he walked off, Roland's voice followed him, laced with mockery. "Suit yourself, rookie. Don't come crying when someone outbids you."
We'll see who wins.
---
The Hidden Merchant
Rex moved to a dimly lit section of the auction house, where old NPC traders sat behind wooden stalls. Most players ignored them, too busy with the flashier panels—but Rex knew better.
An old man sat hunched over a crate, his title [Retired Blacksmith] faintly visible above his head. Garret.
The NPC's weathered face broke into a knowing grin.
"Looking for something, lad?" Garret asked, voice rough like grinding steel.
"Black Iron Ore. Got any?"
The old man chuckled. "Lucky for you, I still got some. But it ain't free. 3.6 silver a piece."
Rex's pulse quickened. Cheaper than the lowest auction bid.
"I'll take three."
[You purchased Black Iron Ore x3 for 10.8 silver.]
A victory—but not the last.
---
Winning the Bids & Securing the Wood
A quick glance at the auction panel showed that his bids had won.
[You purchased Tempered Wood x2 for 6 silver.]
Rex exhaled, feeling the tension unravel into satisfaction.
Final cost: 16.8 silver.
Had he fallen for Roland's scam? He would've spent over 25 silver.
His fingers tightened around the materials. This wasn't just about money—it was about power. Knowledge was a weapon, and today, he had wielded it flawlessly.
A cold smirk formed on his lips as he turned toward the forging station.
It was time to forge.
As Rex turned to leave, Roland's smirk twisted into a scowl. He wasn't about to let some low-level nobody undermine his grip on the market.
"You think you're clever, don't you?" Roland's voice carried a sharp edge, his hands tightening into fists. "You walk in here, mess with my profits, and think there won't be consequences?"
Rex met his glare with a cold, unwavering stare. "I think I just saved myself from being ripped off. If that ruins your little monopoly, maybe you should try actual trading instead of scamming."
A flicker of anger flashed in Roland's eyes. He stepped forward, lowering his voice to a growl. "You have no idea who you're messing with. The economy in Blue Wind Town doesn't run without me. And I don't take kindly to interference."
Rex chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Then maybe it's time someone changed how things work around here."
Roland's lip curled, but before he could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Trouble, boys?"
A towering figure in crimson armor strode toward them. His guild emblem—a golden dragon wrapped around a coin—shimmered under the auction house's light. Brutus, leader of the Merchant's Syndicate.
Rex immediately tensed. Brutus wasn't just any trader—he controlled one of the most powerful merchant guilds in the region. If Roland was a market manipulator, then Brutus was a kingpin.
"Nothing I can't handle," Roland muttered, his bravado returning now that backup had arrived.
Brutus turned his gaze to Rex, assessing him like one would a potential investment. "Newcomer, huh? Heard you stirred things up."
Rex crossed his arms. "Just buying materials at fair prices. Didn't know that was a crime."
Brutus chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Not a crime. Just… unwise. This town runs on power, and that includes the economy. If you disrupt it, you make enemies."
Rex knew a veiled threat when he heard one. His fingers twitched, ready to draw a dagger if necessary. But fighting in the auction house would brand him as a troublemaker, and he couldn't afford that yet.
Instead, he smirked. "Then I guess I'll just have to keep making enemies."
Brutus's expression darkened. "Watch yourself, rookie. This was your first warning. There won't be a second."
With that, the merchant leader turned, motioning for Roland to follow. But before leaving, Roland shot Rex one last venomous glare. "Enjoy your little victory. It won't last."
Rex exhaled slowly as they disappeared into the crowd. His hands were still tense, but inside, he felt exhilarated. He had just stepped on the toes of the town's biggest traders—and lived to tell the tale.
A slow grin spread across his face.
Let them come. He was just getting started.
Note : merchant syndicate cannot do anything now but in future I will involve them i will write a side story why rex is tensed