chapter 52 rich

Kaelith's Victory – 25 Gold in Hand

Kaelith stretched his arms as he leaned back, feeling the weight of his success settle in.

The auction house was still buzzing with outrage, but his job was done.

He opened his inventory, and his eyes gleamed as he saw the final result of his grand scheme.

> [Gold Coins: 25]

A slow grin spread across his face.

> "Not bad… not bad at all."

It was far beyond what he originally expected.

Just a short while ago, healing potions were selling for mere silver. Now? Thanks to the chaos he orchestrated and the brainless intervention of Pink Solutions, they had skyrocketed into pure gold territory.

A Silent Thank You to Pink Solutions

Kaelith couldn't help but chuckle.

> "I should really send Pink Solutions a thank-you letter."

After all, without their stupidity, none of this would have been possible.

Aires—that clueless fool—had blindly purchased potions at inflated prices, thinking he was pulling some genius market manipulation move.

Instead?

He played right into Kaelith's hands, driving the price even higher.

> "Their greed was my greatest asset."

But Kaelith wasn't done just yet.

Staying in the Auction House – Waiting for the Aftermath

He didn't leave immediately.

Instead, he stood near the auction counters, casually observing the aftermath of his actions.

The crowd was still in chaos.

Some players were fuming in frustration, others were debating their next move.

> "We just let that guy run off with a fortune!"

"It's our own damn fault… we got caught in the bidding war."

"There has to be another way to get healing potions, right?"

"Yeah, but it'll take time… and until then, he's already cashed out."

Kaelith watched it all unfold with amusement.

> "They're still trying to cope."

The best part?

He had all the time in the world.

For now, he would wait and observe.

Because he knew one thing for sure—the real game was just beginning.

Kaelith – Watching the Auction House Burn

Kaelith leaned against the wall in the auction house, expression unreadable, as the chaos unfolded before him.

Players were still arguing, cursing, and pointing fingers, trying to figure out who had caused the price inflation.

> "Who the hell started buying potions at these insane prices?!"

"Someone must have manipulated the market!"

"There's no way a normal player would spend that much on a healing potion!"

Kaelith smirked internally. They were right. But none of them knew who was behind it.

Players Growing Suspicious

A few players were beginning to connect the dots.

> "Think about it—who benefits from this?"

"Someone with a lot of potions… or someone who sold early and made a fortune."

"It has to be some guild trying to control the market."

But without concrete proof, all they could do was speculate.

Kaelith watched them like a spectator at a theater, his gold safely stored in his inventory.

> 25 gold.

Thanks to Pink Solution's brainless move, the market had spiraled out of control, and he had walked away as the biggest winner.

But he wasn't done yet.

He had no intention of leaving the auction house.

Not yet.

Because the real game was only just beginning.

Kaelith's Next Move – The Rare Archer Skill Book

Kaelith leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes sweeping across the auction house interface. He had already made a killing off the healing potions, with 25 gold sitting comfortably in his inventory—far more than what most players had at this stage.

The chat was still filled with complaints, curses, and outrage from players who had participated in or simply witnessed the madness of the potion inflation.

But Kaelith?

He was already looking ahead.

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Scanning the Auction House – Searching for Hidden Gems

With his newfound wealth, Kaelith navigated through the auction house categories, filtering through weapons, armor, skill books, and crafting materials.

Most of the items listed were either overpriced junk or common gear that would be replaced within a few levels.

Weapons? Already had a solid set.

Armor? Nothing better than what he was currently using.

Crafting materials? Not worth hoarding.

> "Nothing interesting…"

He scrolled lazily, until—

A single listing caught his attention.

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[Phantom Arrow] – Rare Archer Skill Book

A rare skill book, sitting quietly in the skill book section, listed for 4 gold.

Kaelith's fingers paused on the screen.

This wasn't just any skill book. It was one of the few rare Archer skills available at lower levels.

> [Phantom Arrow]

Rank: Rare

Effect: Fires an arrow that creates an illusionary copy, tricking enemies into reacting to a fake attack. If the illusionary arrow lands, it applies a temporary slow effect on the enemy.

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Understanding the Value – A Hidden Treasure

Kaelith's eyes narrowed as he recalled something from his past experience.

This skill book was typically only found in high-level dungeons, making it highly valuable for Archer players. But…

> There was one exception.

In the early stages of the game, there was a specific group of low-level monsters that had a tiny chance of dropping this skill book.

Most players, unfamiliar with its true potential, would dismiss it as a gimmick skill—since it didn't directly boost attack power like other Archer skills.

> But to a skilled player?

Phantom Arrow was deadly.

The ability to force an enemy to react to an illusionary arrow could create openings in combat, bait out dodges, and disrupt timing. Combined with the slow effect, it became an excellent tool for kiting and controlling the battlefield.

> "Whoever put this up doesn't understand what they're selling."

Kaelith's lips curled into a smirk.

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Securing the Purchase

Without hesitation, he clicked "Buy Now."

4 gold?

For a rare and powerful skill that most Archers wouldn't be able to obtain for a long time?

It was a steal.

As the system confirmed his purchase, Kaelith leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table.

> "This is just the beginning."

The Real Idiot – Kaelith's Silent Victory

As Kaelith finalized his purchase, a system notification appeared in front of him.

> [You have obtained the skill book: Phantom Arrow (Rare)]

Satisfied, he was about to close the auction interface when a burst of raucous laughter erupted from somewhere in the auction house.

"HAHAHAHA! Some idiot just bought an illusion skill for 4 gold! What kind of moron spends that much on a useless trick shot?!"

Kaelith's eyes flickered toward the direction of the voice, though in the auction house, player identities remained hidden unless revealed voluntarily. He didn't know who said it, but the voice was mocking, arrogant, and dripping with amusement.

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A Fool Laughs Without Knowing

"HAHA! I bet they thought it was some powerful attack skill! What a waste!"

The player's laughter continued, and soon, others started chuckling too.

"Wait, what skill was it?"

"Something called… Phantom Arrow? Some illusion-type garbage. No damage, no power, no use in real combat."

"Ahahahaha! A whole 4 gold? That's highway robbery!"

"Yeah, dude just got scammed."

A small crowd gathered near the auction board, players grinning and shaking their heads. The idea of someone wasting 4 gold on an "illusion skill" was hilarious to them.

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Kaelith's Smirk – The True Fool

Kaelith didn't react.

He didn't argue.

He didn't defend himself.

He simply smirked.

> "So that's how little they understand."

To the average player, damage numbers meant everything. They judged skills only by raw attack power, completely ignoring utility, deception, and battlefield control.

Phantom Arrow was a rare archer skill, and only a handful of people knew its true value.

> [Phantom Arrow – Rare]

Fire an ethereal arrow that phases through obstacles and ignores partial cover. Damage increases based on target's missing health.

Fires an arrow that creates a perfect illusion of the caster.

The illusion can perform basic movements and even mimic attacks, misleading enemies.

Lasts for 6 seconds or until struck.

If the illusion is attacked, it explodes into mist, stunning enemies for 0.5 seconds.

This was not a skill for raw damage dealers. This was a skill for those who played strategically.

A skilled archer could use Phantom Arrow to:

Distract opponents.

Bait enemy attacks.

Escape deadly situations.

Force mistakes from high-level players.

> "They don't even realize what they just let go."

Kaelith knew that in the hands of the right player, Phantom Arrow could turn the tide of battle.

And these idiots?

They were laughing at the wrong person.

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