Chapter 206: 206
The bids rang out instantly, so many calls going out in a second that it was hard to keep track of how high it had reached . Forget just the VIPs, literally everyone in the auction was bidding now .
However, many calmed down from their excitement when they realized that they didn't even have 10% of the price for the Aether Crystals, and they began to sweat .
Their greed had almost led them into a pit . No one wanted to become the transgressor that went against the Church's rules . The winner of an auction was expected to be able to pay for it .
If one was not, well they would find out what exactly it entailed becoming blacklisted by one of the strongest powers in existence .
As such, the bidding slowly regained its regularity as more and more voices kept quiet . However, the value offered from those few voices who continued to speak made one shiver .
\"30,000,000 platinum . \"
\"31,000,000 platinum . \"
\"32,000,000 platinum . \"
The bids were climbing slowly, and that was simply because no one had such a large lump sum of cash available . The Merchant Guild was one of the highest, with 20,000,000 on hand .
Even this amount hadn't been enough to win the Orb of Worlds replica, much less 1,000+ Aether Crystals above the low-grade .
The circumstances going on in the background of this bidding, from the choice of presentation, the quantity, the reception, and the accumulation were complex, were plentiful and each played a role in the bigger picture, so one must break it down bit by bit .
First of all, the Church of Light had chosen to display it at all once, more importantly, they had done so right at the end, because many powers would save their funds for the final bidding . After all, whatever item was last was guaranteed to be a killer, one that couldn't be acquired anywhere else .
An example was the previous Drake's Egg . Even though many were under the false belief that it was a Wyvern's Egg, the bidding had still been fierce . Even most of the Rank 7 powers initially only hated VIP room 1 solely because of the acquisition of egg, and not for any other reason .
The Church had deliberated whether to sell them in batches of 100, in two separate auctions, privately for only the Hidden Powers after the auction, or in bulk .
Eventually, Madam Carrie had decided to sell it in bulk because of the way the auction had played out . Aside from the Epic items, Riveting Night had purchased the most valuable and expensive items with her 'allowance' .
Aside from other materials and items which did not surpass 200,000 platinum, she swallowed up everything else like an evil whale in a small pond .
The ones below were not easily estimated, but those in the 11th to 50th rooms should have no less than one, but no more than two, million platinum .
Nobody had the raw purchasing power to buy the whole bulk at once, yet the Church wasn't worried about that .
After all, an item like the Orb of Worlds replica was a single one, and it couldn't be easily split by multiple powers . Sure, those powers could take turns or make a quota of how many people to send over, but nobody would think it fair .
However, Aether Crystals were different! There was a surprisingly large quantity that could be shared easily . As such, just like the Church and Zaine had predicted, the various powers began contacting others to pool funds together!
Why was this more beneficial compared to selling in batches? It was because of the demand for Aether Crystals! Being the number 2 in the list of the top ten greatest items of the world wasn't just for show .
It would mean that everyone would sell off all their worldly possessions to be able to get one of those . The only thing even more desirable would be the number 1 item of that list .
Divine Crystals!
However, while Aether Crystals were rare, even more so the higher their rank, Divine Crystals were practically non-existent . The whole world objectively had only 3 of them, all were in the possession of the Church, this was an established fact!
Only Gods could have them, as Divine Crystals were similar to Aether Crystals, a purified crystallization of a certain energy .
Since Aether Crystals had such a high demand, the bidding would not stop until one power completely suppressed all others and took them all away, due to the fact that they were sold in bulk!
With every passing second, more and more powers began contacting those below them in the crowd, the various Rank 6 powers, roping them to their side and promising them benefits in exchange for their cash .
As such, the top 50 VIP rooms went wild, each of them bidding like mad . They each contacted those in the 51st to 300th rooms, promising them equivalent shares of the Aether Crystals based on how much they could contribute .
Soon, the bids surpassed forty million platinum, and the majority of the 11th to 50th rooms gave up, rather opting to send their funds to the higher-ranked rooms in exchange for the same terms they had offered others .
This was exactly the result that Zaine had wanted to see . She knew that this would continue on until there were only two bidders left, and the one with the most people on their side would win .
If the 700 medium-grade ones had been put forth, this same scenario would occur . But then why was it an inferior version compared to selling at as a batch? Because the current effect would be a one-time scenario .
For example, the total value of the medium-grade Aether Crystals was seven million platinum . If the final two parties managed to amass around seventy million platinum each, one would win by having a slightly higher margin .
Selling those medium-grade Aether Crystals at a 1000% profit was crazy good .
But what would happen next?
Afterward, the high-grade Aether Crystals would be brought out, with a base price of twenty million . At that moment, the joyful party that had spent seventy million for medium-grade crystals would become shocked and horrified .
The other party who had maintained their wealth, on the other hand, would laugh with glee, purchasing the high-grade crystals without any competition, sending over another seventy million easily!!
Or so a person with no comprehension of money and spending would say .
After both parties had shown their hand, the aftermath would be a foregone conclusion .
One party - consisting of likely half the combined powers - had just emptied out their pockets, so the other party could simply offer to pay the bare minimum .
Even if some of the forces who had decided to keep out now wished to enter, the remaining party would ultimately outbid them by the bare minimum as it now had the biggest financial donger!
So, while one would now have ninety or so million, they would have lost out greatly, as the more expensive and valuable item would have been swept away for a price at the base cost or somewhat above it .
The best one would get would be the laughs and satisfaction from the face slap or reaction from the party who had bid seventy million for while the others got the better item for way less, but who in their right mind would prioritize that over benefits???
The next best option would be to sell the crystals in two different auctions . Following the earlier example, one side would bid seventy million and sweep away the medium-grade ones .
Then afterward, the Church would heavily advertise the high-grade one, sending the various powers into a furor as they gathered funds for the bidding to come .
They would sell their resources, lands and precious items for cash in order to bid for the high-grade Aether Crystals .
At that time, the price would naturally be earth-shaking and heaven-defying!
But this would harm Draco and Riveting Night . As has been continually stated, money was not a problem, but it was resources they needed .
Even the auction Draco planned to host would not be accepting money, only Aether Crystals, and resources of equivalent value . What need did he have for huge sums when he had the Rank 7 Shop?
Even if he was absolutely hurting for cash in situations where he wanted to buy stuff, like with Shuro's shop, he could easily just rack up Aether Crystals and sell them, like now .
Resources could easily be transferred to money, but not the other way round .
Another point was that the Hidden Powers would be selling their good stuff away to other powers, not to Draco himself . As such, if they came to the player auction, they could only be able to use his own crystals to buy items .
If they used them all, Draco would have to buy-in his own stuff, which was seen as an extreme failure for an auction!
Zaine's meticulously crafted plan would backfire so badly that she would look like one of those cartoon villains who spent every episode crafting plans only to subsequently get blasted off into the sunset .
However, by selling in bulk, both powers would use all their available funds to bid, while leaving some for Draco's auction later on . Besides, using the above example, seventy million was more than enough to last the Evil Duo for months to come .
Assuming nothing like Shuro's Shop popped up to swallow all his money like a whale, of course . Who knew when such a mutually beneficial event could occur?
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