Transmigrated as a Ghost

Chapter 378 – 378 Marcus’ Strategy

'So, what do you think?' Marcus telepathically said to Mrazivý after telling her his plan.

'Hm, I mean it could work. It will depend on how much other people really want the adamantine.'

'Then are you in?'

'Yeah I am, but even I have limits so do not expect me to pay more than forty-thousand gold for another set.' Mrazivý said, telling Marcus where her bottom line was.

'Got it. Worst case scenario, we just let it go. I wanted at least two sets, and I am certain I have more than enough to guarantee at least one more.'

With their strategy meeting over, Marcus and Mrazivý turned their attention back to the stage just as the second item of the last part of the auction was sold.

"Congratulations, to bidder number 57 for winning this lesser elixir for twenty-two thousand gold coins."

Hearing the end of the bidding for the second item, Marcus turned his attention back towards the stage, not wanting to miss the next set of adamantine ingots.

And he did not have long to wait as just three items later there they were.

"Our next item is as I am sure you can see another set of adamantine ingots. However, unlike the last set, these come from the kingdom's only mine that is controlled by the crown. Who graciously gave them to our auction house to raise money to fund the building of a new highways system, to allow for ease of travel across the kingdom. Now, bidding will begin at fifteen thousand and as last time, all subsequent increases must be at least in values of one thousand gold coins or greater. Let the bidding begin."

"Thirty-five thousand."

As soon as the bidding started Mrazivý from her box, gave a dominant bid that was already at the upper limit of the value of the adamantine ingots.

This caused many bidders who were interested to already have their wallets surpassed, and even those with enough money felt pressured not to bid.

Of course, this was because, Mrazivý had already shown her drive to win adamantine bars and nothing else, even having spent forty thousand gold coins on the first set.

"Thirty-five thousand, going once. Going twice. Sold to our esteemed guest in box number three." 

Smiling Marcus was happy to see that his strategy had worked.

He had figured that if Mrazivý who already showed her willingness to bid well above the upper limits that the adamantine ingots were usually sold at, were to bid again, there would be no competition.

Naturally everyone who had come for the adamantine ingots knew there were still three more sets even after this one, so there was no reason to try and fight.

There was a good chance that the aggressive bidder in box three was low on money after spending seventy-five thousand gold, which was no small sum. Or that they might already be satisfied with what they had obtained.

Unfortunately for them Marcus planned to make away with four out of the five sets, and only leave the last one for them all to fight over.

After that, Marcus waited patiently, watching rare item after rare item be auctioned, though he held himself back from purchasing them.

He had a goal, and he wanted a very large safety net in case someone decided to fight tooth and nail against him.

'Looks like it is time.' Marcus thought as he saw the next batch of adamantine ingots being wheeled out onto the stage.

And like the previous times, its opening price was placed at fifteen thousand gold coins, and bidding had to be in at least thousand gold coin increments.

However, just as Mrazivý had done last time at his direction, Marcus planned to make sure that no one else wanted to bid against him and started out strong.

"Thirty-six thousand."

Raising the price immediately to well over its value, Marcus caused a stunned silence. As those that had been waiting to bid on the adamantine, once again had to deal with another high bidder that cared not for the normal market value and was showing that they were going all out to win.

Also, no one had tried to outbid Mrazivý at thirty-five thousand gold, so why would they attempt to bid when Marcus had just exceeded that price.

"Thirty-six thousand going once. Going twice. Sold to our esteemed guest in box eleven for thirty-six thousand gold coins." 

With a third set of adamantine ingots secured, Marcus felt quite satisfied. He had now accomplished his goal, and even if for some reason he did not get another set he would be content.

'Now I have enough to make myself a new weapon, and armor, and maybe a little extra for some other items.' 

Happy that things were going his way Marcus popped open another bottle of wine, and started an early celebration.

Yet to his surprise when he turned his gaze back down towards the stage, he saw that the next batch of adamantine ingots were being brought out right after the last ones.

'Hm, I was not expecting this. Time to take a different approach then.'

Sitting back in his seat, Marcus decided to let things play out a bit this time instead of coming out immediately with a high bid.

He did not want some other bidders to get frustrated and start fighting him fiercely, so he was going to refrain from bidding at the start.

"Let the bidding begin." Amelia said after giving her usual speech about the adamantine ingots.

Except no bids came, as everyone looked towards Marcus' and Mrazivý's boxes, waiting to see if they would take the initiative once again.

But, after a moment of silence, hope began to well up inside the other bidders that wanted to obtain some adamantine, and the bids started coming in.

"Twenty thousand." 

Twenty-two thousand."

The bids then steadily began to increase, until they slowed down around the thirty-thousand mark.

However, as the finally three bidders were fighting to see who would win, Marcus picked up his magic tool that allowed him to bid and said, "Thirty-four thousand."

After having waited, allowing the other bidders to let go of some of their frustration, Marcus had come back and raised the bid by three thousand gold coins.

Looking at his box, the three remaining bidders one of who was Conall, were astonished.

They had thought that the high bidders in the two boxes were satisfied, but now Marcus had come back to try and win another set of adamantine.

Still, as much as it was a bit demotivating, two of the remaining bidders had decided that they would not back down, and the bid was soon brought up to thirty-six thousand.

'I thought this might happen. Now that there is only one set left after this one, those that truly want some adamantine are not going to back down easily.'

"Thirty-eight thousand."

Bringing the bid up another two thousand, and now well above the upper limits of its usual price, Marcus was hoping to dissuade the other two bidders.

Alas, Conall was not about to give up here, as like Marcus he had come here prepared to spend a great sum of money to get his hands on some adamantine.

"Forty thousand."

With he bid raised up, to the same price that Mrazivý had spent on the first set, Marcus was now left with the choice of spending even more or waiting to see if he could get the next set.

'I guess I will let him have it.'

Putting his magic tool down, Marcus decided to not bid anymore. He did not want to spend more money than he had to if possible, and if he was going to lose to anyone, it was best that it was Conall.

"Congratulation's bidder number 39, for winning these adamantine ingots for forty-thousand gold coins."

Having won the adamantine ingots he had come for, a satisfied smile could be seen on Conall's face, even though he had paid a premium for them.

'I will just have to get the last batch.' Marcus thought reformulating his plan that had gone a bit awry.

Continuing on, the auction brought out many different rare items, from skill orbs to batches of natural treasure, and even a couple of adamantine itmes started to appear towards the end.

Still Marcus ignored everything, waiting for the final set of ingots.

'Here they are.' He thought seeing the last adamantine ingots being brought out.

"Ladies and gentlemen. As you can see here our auction house has had quite a number of adamantine bars this year. However, this here is the last set that we have, and anyone who wants them, this is your last chance. Now the same as the last sets, the starting bid will be fifteen thousand gold coins and subsequent bids must be at least one thousand gold coins more."

After saying that Amelia, went quiet and allowed the bids to flow in.

"Thirty-eight thousand."

Not wanting to play any games this time, Marcus started off strong bidding above what most had.

And while there were still some that wanted the adamantine and had enough money to continue, they did not want to pay such an excessive price.

There were other places, and times that adamantine could be obtained, and paying nearly ten thousand gold over its normal price was not worth it for most.

Yet there was one person that was not going to give up just yet, and from one of the other boxes another bid came through.

"Forty-thousand."

Hearing this Marcus let out a low groan, as he had not wanted to spend any more money unless necessary.

"Forty-one thousand."

Still, he had come here for a reason and was not going to give up easily.

Yet, whoever he was bidding against now did, not seem keen on giving up and soon the price had risen to forty-six thousand.

With the price having risen so high, Marcus sighed before putting down his bidding magic tool.

'I have already secured three sets. I have enough for now and can get some more later.'

Giving up on the final set of adamantine, Marcus let the high bidder in one of the other boxes win it, as he had still achieved his goal, and a fourth set would have only been icing on the cake.

After that, the last few items that were in the auction's catalog were brought out, until the final one which was a powerful staff that boosted water magic was sold for sixty-nine thousand gold coins.

"Well, as I am sure that any of you that have read through our catalog know, that was the last item we have listed. But, as always, we have saved a few very special items for the very end of the auction. These items are all exceedingly rare and one of a kind.. And this year, we actually be auctioning five such items in honor of the fiftieth kingdom's tournament that concluded a few weeks ago."