The Achievement Junkie

"Thank you for waiting patiently. Now, it's finally time to start day two!" shouted the announcer, getting the crowd back on their feet.

"We'll start off the second day with a special item. It's quite rare and they are hard to find nowadays. As a lv. 50 peak-tier item, we'll be selling this summoning amulet, starting at forty thousand gold!"

"... Forty thousand gold!"

Another moment passed till a rival bid arrived. "Forty-one thousand!'

"Forty-two thousand gold…"

This item was definitely rare and peak-tier, but it wasn't the most popular item either. Summoning Amulets were known usually as a single-use summoning spell with someone or something that has bonded their blood with the amulet.

Typically, it was better to carry a beast companion in a bestial storage than to just have a single-use summoning spell. But this was also the only place to sell such an item since it was lv. 50 after all.

The beautiful announcer smiled half-heartedly as she started the countdown, "Forty-two thousand gold going once! Going twice…"

"Forty-three thousand gold!"

The sudden shout from Jack surprised the auctioneer and the former high bidder. But that bidder quickly backed off, not bothering to argue over such an item with someone as ruthless as Jack.

"Forty-three thousand gold going once! Going twice… Sold!"

"Gong!"

While everyone was getting ready for the next item, Argyle glared at Jack. "Is this what you meant by robbing my on the second day?"

"Yup!"

"Well… I wouldn't call losing such an item a robbery…"

"If you knew what I planned to do with it, then you would," laughed Jack. "Though I'll have to wait till I'm lv. 50 to be able to use it or even bond it to me and the summon, it's a must-have item!"

"If you say so." Argyle shrugged, unsure if he should even feel bad since it would've sold low anyway.

Jack was looking around the room, noticing everyone getting a good feel for their new weapons or items. That's when Jack saw that Daliea was silent and looking away from the group.

Having an idea why, Jack walked over to her. "Let me guess, they all got something and you didn't, but you don't want to tell me?"

Daliea shyly nodded and turned to face Jack.

"I didn't buy you anything because I already had something in mind for you. What do you think?" asked Jack as he retrieved a choker from his storage and handed it to her.

Inspecting it carefully, Daliea realized that it contained dark type energy. "What does this one do?"

"It's a lv. 35 holy item that amplifies all dark type energy. So, all spells that use dark type energy, like that new peak-tier spell I gave you before, will be even stronger," explained Jack. "It's just like Eliza's amulet, but I think this dark choker is more fitting with your light grey skin than some shiny pendant."

With a blush on her face, Daliea asked, "Can you help me with it?"

"Fine," sighed Jack. He knew this would happen and was already expecting to put it on her.

After he fastened it around her neck, the knock of the delivery man came. Jack smiled at Daliea and went to make the exchange as Daliea returned to the group and was welcomed by the other girls.

Very soon, the auction was back underway.

"Next, we'll bring out some more peak-tier lv. 50 weapons and items. After that, we'll have a couple of lv. 50 holy items up for grabs as well!" The announcer baited the audience, making sure they were anxious for the holy items on the way.

"This one is a lv. 50 halberd. Its great reach and balance offers overwhelming power and precision. It will also start at forty thousand gold."

"Forty thousand gold!"

"Forty-two thousand gold!"

Back in action, the crowd went crazy.

Based on who was bidding, Jack was able to understand why the three day system was in place. The first day heavily targeted the crowd on the first floor and the second day was being taken over by the second floor bidders right from the start.

That meant that the third day would turn into an all-out bidding war between the third floor. And the fact that most of the third day's items were unannounced only added to the drama and the possible price tag.

Jack didn't bother bidding on the halberd, or the item after that, or the item after that. He just chatted with the others, mainly clearing some doubts after Jack's conversation with Hurmot.

"Jack, are you really going there at lv. 30?" asked Argyle.

With a nod, Jack replied, "Yes, if that's my best option, then I'll have to go there."

"But you'll--"

"Don't worry about me or your daughter. When I go there, it'll be alone."

"What do you mean you'll be alone?!" shouted Eliza from across the room. "You expect me, your wife, to let you go to such a dangerous place alone?! You've already been kidnapped once, Jack, I won't let that happen without me again!"

"Jack was kidnapped?!"

"Calm down, Argyle." Jack held up his hands, trying to calm down the father and daughter. "Eliza, please, don't worry about me too much. I'll be fine."

"Actually, I'm also against this," added Maura, showing a determined glare.

"You too…" sighed Jack.

"At least take us two with you, or we'll be forced to follow you in secret," stated Eliza, knowing how to get at Jack.

"How about we discuss this later?"

"No, we're discussing it now," complained Eliza. "If you're going to Barren City in Sandros, then you'll at least have to take your wives."

"..."

Jack frowned. He glanced around at the others but found no help.

"Fine…" agreed Jack. "But everyone else should go to Iscantor and train near the Korten-Iscantor border. We'll meet up there after I'm finished with everything in Barren City."

"Yay! Thanks, Jack!" Eliza threw herself at Jack.

She tried to kiss his cheek but he leaned back to try and avoid it. But to Jack's surprise, Maura attacked him from the other side. Caught in the middle, both women kissed his cheeks and left Jack turning red.

"Alright, alright, that's enough." Jack held out his arms, breaking them up. "Then it's decided. After the auction, we'll split up. As for those going to Iscantor should not cause harm to any elves near the border, not unless it's a life-threatening situation. Got it?"

"Sure thing, Jack!" shouted Maynard, lifting his glass of wine. "To Jack, and all the treasures he spoils us with!"

Rydel followed along. "To all the adventures and EXP he gets us!"

"Oh, knock it off you two!" shouted Jack. "Now you're just encouraging them to keep bullying me!"

"So? Ya asked for that by letting so many women into the party. Since we can't beat them, why not join them!" laughed Maynard, downing his drink together with Rydel.

Rubbing his forehead, Jack looked around at the giggling women and Argyle's wry smile.

He was definitely the party leader, but when it came to anything outside of adventuring, he was always the underdog of the party. It almost made him want to cry…

"Oooohh! I want that one!"

Suddenly, Lina's giddy shout broke the conversation. Everyone looked over to see Lina leaning against the wall with the view of the stage.

Jack looked at the stage and at the current bidders. Then, he started laughing, "Consider it done!"

"Seventy-nine thousand going once! Going twice...S--"

"Wait!" Jack interrupted the auctioneer. "I would like to ask the king of Fulken to withdraw his bid, as I want that item. Will you do so?"

The Fulken king ground his teeth, trying his best not to show too much of his rage.

After a moment of silence, Jack continued, "In that case, I'll offer eighty-five thousand gold."

"Eighty-five thousand gold going once! Going--"

"Eighty-six thousand gold!" shouted the Fulken king. He was struggling to believe that a rumored young man would have so much wealth.

"In that case…" replied Jack. "I'll offer a lv. 55 high-tier item."

Groaning, the Fulken king kept himself from blurting out a rival bid. The only way to beat that was to offer a peak-tier lv. 55 item, but why should he give one of those up for a peak-tier lv. 50 item? It would be a total loss. Even if he won the item, the Fulken king would be humiliated yet again by that mysterious person.

The king looked to his wife and whispered, "I'm sorry…"

"We'll accept your generous offer. Going once! Going twice… Sold!"

"Gong!"

"Thank you for letting me have it in the end!" exclaimed Jack, rubbing in his victory even more.

Inside the room, everyone was laughing at the king's expense. Jack was now feeling a bit better after he found an outlet to relieve his stress and Lina was giddy to get what she wanted.

Once the delivery person made the exchange, Jack immediately took out the hair clip he had just bought and fastened it in Lina's blue hair. "It looks good with your hair. Nice choice, Lina."

"Thanks, Big Bro!"