Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 651

Chapter 651

Chapter 651: Competitive Bidding

Lan Jue’s face betrayed a small smile . They couldn’t contain it any longer!

“Three expedition ships!” The mysterious stranger who’d stoked the chaos cried out again . He didn’t bother with incremental bids, and instead immediately offered another big bid .

“Three expedition ships and one battleship . ” A Westerner challenged his bid . His paddle bore the number two .

“Three expeditions and five battleships!” The Northerner with paddle number one added his voice .

“Four expedition ships!” Mysterious Number Three was on a tear .

“Four and one battleship!” Number two shouted .

The Northerners were silent . Number three threw up his paddle . “Five expedition ships . ”

Stunned, everyone went quiet . These were expedition ships! Their systems could draw radiation from space to keep it going, almost indefinitely . They were considered the real force in an interstellar fleet, second only to dreadnaughts and capital ships . Typically, a fleet didn’t have more than thirty expedition ships . Relinquishing five of them for a single vital crystal, it seemed crazy .

“Bidder number three has offered five expedition ships . Any other bids?” The Wine Master calmly asked .

One of the Western delegates was glaring bloody murder at the cloaked man . His face was a thunderhead . He’d been specifically told to get a crystal just like that – but this price was too high!

The Wine Master didn’t let the prices or bidders affect his auction . “Five expedition ships . Going once . Going twice…”

“Wait! Five expedition ships and one battleship . ” The elderly Northern gentlemen threw his paddle up!

The auction hall broke into an uproar . The North apparently accepted this as a worthy price . The other representatives felt their hearts sink . These prices were madness!

There were high-level buyers hell-bent on winning, but not just from the West . The North was just as hungry!

“Five and two battleships . ” Mysterious Number Three increased the bid, but much less aggressively than before .

“Six expedition ships!” The Northern representative lifted his paddle to confirm the bid . He knew that if this trend continued, the remaining crystals would be even harder to obtain . Bidding would only get more intense as supply dipped and demand grew . Chances only increased that desperation would drive the prices up .

“Six and one battleship!” The Westerner’s curt voice arose with his paddle . Everyone here was intelligent, and he had to have come to the same conclusion as his Northern contemporary . Things were only going to get worse . This crystal was also the third best one in the whole batch .

Bidder number one’s face was stern . “Six and two . ”

Number two . “Six and three!”

“Seven expedition ships!” A new voice broke in from somewhere in the back .

The Northern and Western representatives craned their heads back to see . They first saw the paddle held high – number twenty three . It was borne by a stiff-faced man in his middle years who no one seemed to know . He was at least eighth level, however, judging by the waves of energy coming from him .

Seven ships was too much . The Western and Northern leaders glared with unbridled hatred . Both were uncertain whether they wanted to continue .

The Wine Master was ambivalent to their troubles . “Seven expedition ships . Any further takers? Seven expedition ships going once, going twice . Three times . Sold!” The hammer fell, another crystal was sold .

Number twenty three allowed himself to crack a small smile . All throughout the auction he’d been silent, until now . His sudden and expensive addition captured some attention .

His bid proved timely . A third high level crystal followed, vital crystal sixty four . The bidding was vicious, but the Northern representative came away the victory . His winning bid had been six expedition ships and six battleships . However, the crystal was a full twenty percent smaller than the last one .

The atmosphere felt white-hot, fervent . Those without the wealth to throw around were slowly being weeded out .

The North employed their riches to gather sixteen crystals, but they were not the biggest winner . Mysterious Number Three boasted that honor . Twenty crystals were his, including one high-grade piece, crystal number seventy nine . It was the second largest of the batch . He’d started the bid with a dreadnaught, and no one contested him .

Afterwards no one thought he was an Eastern agent any longer . There was no more need to fire up the crowd .

After three hours, the final vital crystal made its way on stage .

“This is our last piece on offer, and one of the best . ” A grin broke the Wine Master’s professional façade . He didn’t feel the need to introduce the crystal beyond that sentence . The East was already rich, boasting the equivalent of six hundred battleships . That was half what would be considered a fine interstellar navy . Half, only because dreadnaughts and Capital ships were tremendously expensive .

Everyone perked up when they realized it was time for the last crystal .

An Liu brought the cart up from backstage . The box atop it was hidden beneath a red cloth, but it was clear the box was bigger than all the others before it . The buyers’ thoughts went back to yesterday, and a sparkle of interest lit up their eyes . Several representatives were especially zealous .

The red cloth was removed . Presented within the box was a vital crystal roughly the size of a man’s skull . It glowed purplish-black, and from time to time a strange mist seemed to surround it before quickly vanishing . Despite the box, everyone could feel the vital energies coming from the crystal .

The four high-grade crystals together couldn’t compare to this specimen . Hearts sank to think of what it would cost .

Breaths came more rapid . Mysterious Number Three had taken two of the four best crystals so far . The other two belonged to number twenty three and number one respectively . The crystal one stage now was everyone’s last chance . Even before the auction began they knew this was going to be a vicious bid . It was destined, there were too many people too desperate for a quality crystal .

The Western government was determined to have it, as were the two Citadels . The Great Conclave was less rabid . Because the Terminator had such close connection to the Northern government, they were sure to give him crystals to complete research of the exuvium process . In that way they shared the benefits .

But be that as it may, who didn’t want a crystal for themselves? Who was to say the North didn’t have some interest in this, the largest of the vital crystals? The rich families were especially determined . They had money, if they were still here .

“Starting price is five expedition ships . Minimum increase, one expedition ship . State your bids!” The price had catapulted, far above any previous item . Scout ships, battleships – they were no longer enough . The auction had not yet started, but the pain of the bidders was palpable already .

“One dreadnaught!” Mysterious Number Three threw his paddle up, immediately increasing the base price by half .

His deep pockets and determination caused several buyers to openly gasp . A dreadnaught!

“One dreadnaught and one expedition ship . ” Paddle number one rose . There was an underlining fear of the Wine Master among the buyers . He was fast, there was no time to think . A moment’s hesitation could lose them their prize .

This final crystal was everyone’s last chance, why not try? What’s more, if bidders couldn’t have one themselves they would make sure their competition couldn’t get it cheap . There was no more room for equivocation .

“One dreadnaught and three expedition ships!” The Western delegate raised the bid .

“One dreadnaught, five expedition ships . ” A bidder from one of the richer families threw their offer in .

“Two dreadnaughts!” This bid came from Lucifer . He’d been mostly quiet but for a few common crystals earlier in the auction .

The Great Conclave and both Citadels boasted a Paragon as their leader, Paragons who e\yearned terribly for a crystal as powerful as this one . Their representatives had no option but to throw everything they had at the opportunity . Therefore, Lucifer was not conservative with his bid, hoping to scare the others into silence . Judging by what they’d seen so far, two dreadnaughts was not too much for this item .

“Three dreadnaughts!” A voice beside Lucifer called out right on the Fallen Angel’s heels . He angrily snapped his eyes to the side . His old rival, Metatron, had challenged his bid .