chapter 83 auction house hustle
The Auction House Hustle – Expanded Detail
Kaelith walked through the crowded streets of Greenhaven, his cloak billowing slightly with each step. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the town's bustling marketplace. The scent of fresh bread, sizzling meat, and alchemical herbs mixed in the air, but he had no time for distractions. His destination was clear—the Auction House.
As he stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. Unlike the chaotic energy of the marketplace, the Auction House was a place of silent competition, whispered deals, and hidden schemes. The stone walls were lined with glowing notice boards, displaying the latest bids and sales. Rich merchants, opportunistic players, and professional traders hovered around counters, studying prices and making calculated moves.
Kaelith weaved through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning the auction attendants.
Wealthy merchants in fine robes stood in groups, discussing the market's latest trends.
Veteran players with expensive gear whispered among themselves, planning their next purchases.
Brokers moved quickly between bidders, relaying offers and striking deals.
New players stood hesitantly at the edge, overwhelmed by the complexity of it all.
Kaelith smirked. To most, this was just another part of the game. But to him? It was a battlefield.
He approached one of the listing terminals, a magical stone podium embedded with glowing runes. A flickering screen floated above it, displaying current listings.
Taking out a stack of freshly brewed healing potions, he examined the glass vials one last time. The liquid inside was a rich crimson, a sign of high-quality brewing. Thanks to Veryon's skill, these potions were pure, potent, and in high demand.
"Time to make some money."
Kaelith opened the auction interface and began listing the potions.
Auction Listings:
1. Batch of 10 Healing Potions
Starting Bid: 50 Silver per potion
Buyout Price: 70 Silver per potion
2. Batch of 20 Healing Potions
Starting Bid: 50 Silver per potion
Buyout Price: 70 Silver per potion
3. Batch of 20 Healing Potions
Starting Bid: 50 Silver per potion
Buyout Price: 70 Silver per potion
Total Potions Listed: 50
Kaelith pressed confirm, and the listings went live.
Instant Reactions
Almost immediately, players started noticing the potions.
"Damn! Someone just posted a huge batch of healing potions."
"These prices aren't bad at all—should we grab some?"
"Healing potions are always in demand. If we don't buy now, the prices will rise later."
A few players quickly placed bids. Others hesitated, considering their options
The Fallout: Marketplace Complaints
The Auction House, once a quiet hub of commerce, had turned into a storm of angry voices.
A crowd of players had gathered around the glowing listing terminals, their frustration growing with every passing second. A warrior in rugged iron armor, his tabard stained with the dust of battle, slammed a gauntleted fist against the wooden counter. The force of the impact made a nearby merchant flinch.
"This is bullshit!" he roared. "The potions were 50 silver just a minute ago! Who the hell bought them all and hiked the price?"
Beside him, a rogue in a dark hood flipped a dagger between his fingers, his sharp eyes scanning the updated auction board. "It's not just random inflation," he muttered. "Someone cleared the cheap stock on purpose—they wanted to make their own potions look more appealing."
A mage in deep blue robes ran a frustrated hand through her silver hair. "You mean to tell me we just got played?" she asked, her voice sharp with irritation. "Some greedy merchant pulled the oldest trick in the book, and we fell for it?"
A healer, his face partially hidden under a hood, sighed in defeat. "I was saving silver for my new staff, but now I have to spend extra on healing potions just to run a dungeon." His voice was bitter. "Whoever did this just robbed half the player base without ever drawing a sword."
The warrior turned back to the auction screen, his jaw clenched. "It was one seller who offloaded all those potions at 70 silver each," he growled. "That bastard just made a fortune off of us."
Theories Begin to Spread
The players exchanged frustrated glances, and theories started flying.
"It has to be a merchant guild! Only those trade freaks pull off scams like this."
"Or maybe it's a high-level player trying to dominate the healing potion market before a big raid."
"What if… what if it was the same person who bought out the cheap potions?"
A sharp silence fell over the group.
The realization hit like a hammer.
"…Wait," the rogue said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "The only person who made big sales just now was the one who posted those 50 potions."
The mage's fingers twitched as she scrolled through the auction log. "They played us," she muttered. "They bought out the cheap stock, raised the price, and made us panic-buy their supply at 70 silver thinking prices would rise even higher."
The warrior let out a low growl, cracking his knuckles. "If I find out who did this, I swear I'll hunt them down."
The Search for the Culprit
The crowd around the terminals thickened as players searched for leads.
Some began combing through the Auction House logs, trying to match the seller's name to known traders. Others ran through the marketplace, asking vendors and bystanders if they had seen anyone making suspiciously fast transactions.
Meanwhile, a few players took their frustration to the global chat.
---
[Global Chat]
IronFist: "Some greedy merchant just jacked up healing potion prices in Greenhaven! Watch out!"
StormSeeker: "Lmao, someone pulled an Auction House scam? Classic."
DivineGrace: "Ugh, I just bought potions at 70 silver. Who even did this?!"
ShadowFox: "Whoever it was… they're probably laughing at us right now."
---
And they were right.
The Shadowed Alley: Kaelith Watches the Chaos
A few streets away, hidden in the shadows of a narrow alley, Kaelith sat comfortably on a stack of wooden crates, one leg crossed over the other. A gold coin flicked between his fingers, catching the light as he watched the crowd of furious players in the distance.
His smirk widened.
They were exactly where he wanted them to be.
The desperate scrambling, the panic buying, the angry accusations—it was all part of the plan.
"Perfect."
He took a deep breath, savoring the moment. The marketplace was in turmoil, but his pockets were full. And the best part? Nobody knew it was him.
He tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes flicking toward the auction board in the distance.
"Now," he murmured, spinning the coin one last time before catching it midair, "how can I make them pay even more next time ?"
With a quiet chuckle, he disappeared into the shadows.