chapter 100 auction house
Raven left the Alchemy Center, stepping into the bustling streets of Viles Town. The moment the heavy oak doors swung shut behind him, he felt the weight of his five-hour alchemy session settle into his muscles. He had been so focused on refining 500 poison resistance potions that he hadn't realized just how drained he was.
But there was no time to rest.
The real work started now.
His footsteps echoed against the cobblestone streets as he made his way toward the Auction House. The town was livelier than ever, filled with level 3 players arguing, trading, and cursing about the Sprent Dungeon's first boss.
> "Damn those developers! This boss is busted!"
"We need poison resistance! I died five times already!"
"Who the hell is selling potions?!"
Raven smirked slightly but didn't stop. They'd find out soon enough.
---
Arriving at the Auction House
The Auction House stood tall at the heart of Viles Town—a grand structure made of stone and iron, its entrance flanked by golden banners. This was where players, NPC merchants, and guilds fought for control of the economy.
As Raven entered, the atmosphere shifted.
Inside, dozens of players stood at the bidding counters, watching as items flashed on the floating magic screens. Others were speaking to Auction Brokers, trying to negotiate private deals. The air buzzed with tension—gold was flowing, and everyone wanted a piece of it.
Raven's eyes scanned the board. No one was selling poison resistance potions yet.
Perfect.
Raven didn't rush. He wasn't here to flood the market—not yet. Instead, he moved toward the standard auction counter, ignoring the chaos of players desperately searching for poison resistance potions.
The Auction House buzzed with tension. Level 3 players were gathering, frustrated and panicked over the Sprent Dungeon's first boss. The difficulty spike had caught them off guard, and now, everyone was scrambling for any kind of advantage.
"Poison resistance is a must! Where are the potions?!"
"There's nothing on the market—who the hell is hoarding them?"
"Damn it, I'll pay anything!"
Raven's smirk deepened. Perfect.
Without a word, he opened the auction interface and placed a single Low-Level Poison Resistance Potion for sale.
Starting Price: 3 Silver
Buyout Price: 30 Silver
Then, he stepped back and waited.
---
The First Bidding War – The Market's Awakening
It took less than thirty seconds.
> [Player 'Hawk' has placed a bid: 3 Silver.]
[Player 'Ironfang' has placed a bid: 6 Silver.]
[Player 'ShadowFox' has placed a bid: 9 Silver.]
[Player 'DarkBlade' has placed a bid: 12 Silver.]
The price shot up instantly.
The realization hit the Auction House like a thunderclap—poison resistance potions had entered the market. And not just any potions, but Low-Level Poison Resistance Potions, which were still better than nothing.
More players gathered around the screen, eyes widening as the price soared.
"Holy crap, someone actually has them!"
"Who's the seller?!"
"Where the hell did they even get this?!"
The numbers kept climbing.
> [Player 'Knightmare' has placed a bid: 18 Silver.]
[Player 'AzureSpear' has placed a bid: 24 Silver.]
[Player 'Hawk' has placed a bid: 27 Silver.]
Then, it happened—
> [Player 'SteelFang' has purchased the item for 30 Silver (Buyout Price).]
The Auction House fell into silence.
A single Low-Level Poison Resistance Potion had just sold for the price of a full set of starting armor.
Raven chuckled to himself. This was just the beginning.
But then—
Two figures entered the Auction House, drawing immediate attention.
---
Serpent Dungeon Guilds Make Their Move
Liam, a logistics member of Dark Solution, and Mack, a purchasing officer from Rainbow Solutions, had arrived.
Unlike the desperate solo players, they weren't here to scramble for scraps—they were here to secure supplies for their guilds.
> [Dark Solution Member 'Liam' has purchased (5) Low-Level Poison Resistance Potions.]
[Rainbow Solutions Member 'Mack' has purchased (7) Low-Level Poison Resistance Potions.]
Their bulk purchases sent another wave of urgency through the market.
"Shit, the big guilds are buying them up!"
"If they're stocking up, we need to buy before they take everything!"
"Damn it, the price is gonna spike even higher!"
As panic spread, more players scrambled to buy whatever potions remained.
Raven narrowed his eyes.
"So, they've finally made their move."
This wasn't just about making a quick profit anymore.
This was about controlling the alchemy market in Viles Town.
Raven watched the chaos unfold with amusement. One potion had already sold for an absurd price, and the market was desperate. He knew exactly how to push them further.
Without hesitation, he adjusted the prices.
New Starting Price: 10 Silver
New Buyout Price: 75 Silver
The moment the updated listings went live, the Auction House erupted.
Player Reactions – Panic & Rage
"What the hell?! The price just doubled!"
"Who the fuck is selling these?!"
"This bastard is robbing us blind!"
Despite the outrage, players hesitated only for a moment before the next round of purchases began. They had no choice. The Sprent Dungeon's first boss was a poison-type nightmare, and without resistance potions, it was almost impossible to progress.
More bids flew in.
> [Player 'Knightmare' has placed a bid: 12 Silver.]
[Player 'ShadowFox' has placed a bid: 15 Silver.]
[Player 'Ironfang' has placed a bid: 18 Silver.]
[Player 'SteelFang' has placed a bid: 25 Silver.]
The price kept climbing.
Liam from Dark Solution and Mack from Rainbow Solutions clenched their fists. Their guilds had no choice but to buy, and the supplier was bleeding them dry.
> [Dark Solution Member 'Liam' has purchased (5) Low-Level Poison Resistance Potions.]
[Rainbow Solutions Member 'Mack' has purchased (7) Low-Level Poison Resistance Potions.]
Their guild funds were already taking a hit.
"Who the hell is selling these?" Liam growled.
Mack scowled at the auction logs. "This price gouging is insane. If we find this guy, we'll force him to lower the price."
But that was the problem.
There was no seller's name.
---
The Masked Trickster's Cover
Hidden under his Trickster's Mask, Raven smirked.
He had carefully set up his alias beforehand. Every potion on the market wasn't listed under his actual player name. Instead, the seller was marked as Frost Eye.
A completely fake identity.
And it didn't take long before the blame started spreading.
"Frost Eye! That greedy bastard is the seller!"
"Find that guy and make him lower the price!"
"He's probably watching us and laughing right now!"
Liam gritted his teeth. "That son of a bitch is making a fortune off us."
Mack nodded, frustration clear on his face. "Rainbow Solutions won't forget this. If we find Frost Eye, he's done."
Other players were just as furious.
"Track down Frost Eye!"
"Put a bounty on him!"
"We'll kill him every time we see him!"
But no matter how hard they searched, Frost Eye didn't exist.
Raven, watching from the sidelines, could barely contain his laughter. They were wasting their time.
All of their hatred, all of their threats—they were chasing a ghost.
And while they fumed and hunted for a phantom, Raven continued to drain their wallets dry.