The Achievement Junkie

Eliza was also eagerly staring at Jack's room. She knew he had more to give and Eliza was convinced that the managers may have found the perfect item to tease Jack's buying spirit.

Looking back to the audience, Eliza stated, "We're sorry, but the Fat Goose will deny all current offers. We believe that is too low a price for such an item."

"The Aazoon Kingdom will offer a peak-tier lv. 50 set of armor," shouted the Aazoon prince.

"Please display in on the wall of your room. There is a small, black platform in the corner of your room. Place the armor there and then we'll all be able to see it," explained Eliza.

Jack looked around his own room and found a similar pedestal as well. He thought it was an ingenious contraption, one able to help conceal people's identities yet helpful to speed up the process of the auction.

"Take a look."

The set of armor came into view, big enough to easily be seen from the stage. It contained a breastplate, two bracers, and two shin guards. It was blue and appeared to be made of the toughest of metals, yet it shined let a sapphire. The beauty of the craftsmanship was enough to stun the crowd.

"It's a water-type armor that is resistant to cold and ice. Thanks to the materials used, there's also a significant boost to the wearer's defenses. This should be a better deal, right?"

Nodding, Eliza replied, "You're right, we'll accept this as the first valid bid. What other offers will we have?"

A fiery sword appeared on one of the room walls without any warning. A young man's voice came from inside. "This is the lv. 50 firs sword that we offered earlier. Note that it is a magical flaming sword, dealing extra fire and burn damage to its enemies. I believe it to be even better than that armor."

Eliza stared deeply at the image of the flaming sword and then back to the blue armor. Then, she looked around the crowd in thought.

What others didn't know was that the managers had all snuck into the crowd to watch the auction personally, but they acted like common citizens. The reason Eliza was looking around the crowd was to get the approval of the four managers.

When all four shook their heads, Eliza looked back to the room with a flaming sword. "I'm sorry, but we hold the set of armor in higher regard to your magic sword, though it is an amazing weapon. If it were only a portion of the set, then you would have won, but the complete set is too valuable to compare."

"Thank you for considering the offer," stated the young man as the image of the fiery sword disappeared.

"Who's next?" asked Eliza, not doubting that each kingdom would again make an offer.

Another private room's wall lit up and showed another set of armor. "The Fulken Kingdom offers a combination of two lv. 50 peak-tier weapons, a long shield and a scimitar. The long shield greatly increases defenses, matching the armor, while the scimitar is a wind type magic weapon. Its blade is light as a feather and its attacks are as quick as the wind."

"That is a wonderful combination," Eliza complemented the representative of the Fulken Kingdom. When she consulted the managers, they were split on which was better.

"I'm sorry, but it's hard to decide which of the two offers would be better. We'd like to more closely examine the items offered unless someone else has an offer that would prove more valuable."

"That would be us," a gentle, female voice chimed in as another wall lit up. "Together with the ivory bow, the Stladen Kingdom will offer a four-piece set of armor. The bow is also a wind type weapon, creating a similar effect as the aforementioned sword."

Hearing that, all four managers nodded and agreed that it was the best offer without a doubt.

"The Fat Goose accepts your bid as the highest and most valuable at the moment," stated Eliza.

"We'll add this ice whip to the offer!" shouted the Aazoon prince. "That makes our offer both offensive and defensive items like their's, yet with a five-piece armor. Also, both items are magical. Clearly, our offer is the best."

"Indeed, that would put the Aazoon Kingdom back in the lead," replied Eliza. "I'm sorry, princess, but they've countered you."

"It's to be expected. I've nothing else to offer and wish the prince good luck in acquiring the cloak." The Stladen princess took down their offer's image and kept watching.

"Who's next?"

The Zuran Royal Advisor was livid! Not only were they unable to compete for the holy weapon, but they didn't bring sufficient items to trade for the strange cloak. They would return as laughing stocks would don't know how to handle money and are lacking wealth.

It was true that the empire's wealth was starting to dwindle thanks to their war with the three countries that had broken off from them. Adding the humiliation of the prince to their lack of supplies, all of the strong nations that were present wouldn't forget how insignificant the Zuran Empire's presence was.

"The Barzdol Kingdom offers the combination of a six-piece peak-tier armor and the war hammer. Both are earth-type magic weapons, increasing defensive strength to the maximum and offensive power to its limits." An image of the sturdy iron armor appeared together with the war hammer, adding more suspense to the auction.

Eliza looked back to the managers and found that three of them agreed to take the Barzdol Kingdom's offer. "We accept the Barzdol Kingdom's bid as the highest and most valuable yet. Is there anyone else making an offer?"

"The Sandos Kingdom is unable to compete with the Barzdol Kingdom's offer, so we won't be bidding," said a depressed voice from a private room on the third floor.

The Aazoon prince grunted, "We can no longer compete with the current bid. Had there been more notice that such an item was to be revealed, we would have come more prepared."

"Thank you, we'll make sure to announce any such auction better in the future," Eliza commented, making sure to address the fact that it was an uncommon surprise to everyone. She didn't want anyone feeling like they had planned to give the item away to anyone.

"If there are no other bids, then the Fat Goose will accept the Barzdol Kingdom's offer. Going once! Going twice--"

"Wait!"

An elderly voice filled the room, surprising even the managers, however, they were happy. They brought out the cloak to bait a monster of a buyer. If they traded it for the current offer, the managers all felt that they may be getting short-changed.

If they knew what Jack knew, that it was a legend-tier item, they probably wouldn't have even dared sell it anywhere but the yearly auction.

"I'll offer a lv. 55 set of armor!" yelled the old man as an image of the armor appeared on a wall. "It's also an earth type armor and is a four-piece set that is peak-tier. No one else here could dare match it!"

The bold statement rocked the hearts of the crowd. Not only was it a peak-tier lv. 55 item, it was a set! Only extremely high-level experts would have such things.

Jack recognized that private room. Earlier in the auction, that same old man had purchased the life tree dew. Luckily for Jack, that man had offered to not compete with him if the situation came to happen. He doubted that the old man would back down, but he still had to try.

"I'll also offer a combination of peak-tier lv. 55 items!"

When everyone heard Jack's voice, they all started to feel excited. If the ruthless mysterious young man made such an offer, that means he would go after the cloak with full force! It would be a good show against the Adventurers Association.

The auction house managers were elated! They took the chance to catch the big fish, and they finally hooked him.

A few images appeared on Jack's wall. "There are a total of four items: A robe, a staff, an amulet, and a ring. All of which increase mana capacity and regeneration."

Now was the time for the managers to make a big decision, but again they were split. The armor was perfect for warriors while the robe was perfect for mages. It was an even split.

Jack knew that both offers were equal, so he added, "Kind sir, earlier on you said you would back down should we ever enter into a bidding war over an item. Since that exact situation has occurred, I ask that you please withdraw your bid."

All eyes turned to the association's private room. Such a deal really had been made yet how could they imagine this situation to occur later.

If the old man agreed it was the same as honoring the deal and keeping the prestige of the association. If he didn't, then it would just prove that the old man valued the cloak too highly and still wouldn't give it up.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to retract my previous statement. This cloak is more valuable than you know, young man, so I can't possibly give it up." It didn't take long for the man to reply and for a new image to replace the armor on his wall.

"I'm changing my offer. Now, I'm offering two lv. 60 high-tier weapons!"

Smiling wide, the mangers all nodded in unison to accept the deal. Looking to the association's room, Eliza stated, "We acknowledge that the association--"

"I'll offer a lv. 65 peak-tier weapon!"

Jack's shout silenced everyone, especially the old man competing for the cloak.