I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 534 The Night of the Auction in Omdour

The Elf Auction is in full swing in Omdur.

The auction was held in an open space not far from the dock, with over a thousand participants, all of whom were players... Some NPCs also wanted to participate, but were then driven away.

Are you kidding me? Who do you think you are, daring to interfere with our welfare activities?
How many heads do they have? Enough for us to chop off?
For players, elves are the most precious treasures. Apart from players, most NPCs who possess them are as good as possessing original sin, and players will want to try their luck at any time.

try what?
Anyway, you know it's not a good thing.

The auction is not simply an auction of spirits, but rather an auction of the spirits' debts.

Where did the debt come from?

Of course, it's the money the elves owed the vengeful fleet after their defeat... A surviving half-elf owed 10,000 silver dollars, while an elf owed 100,000. If an elf was female and had some skills or was a magician, the debt would be even higher.

The auction venue had been simply cleared, and torches were placed around the perimeter, illuminating the center.

Thousands of players surrounded the area, creating a cacophony that nearly lifted the night sky above Omdur.

The air was thick with excitement, greed, and an indescribable restlessness.

A player who called himself a "gold medal auctioneer" jumped onto a makeshift wooden crate platform, carrying a tin megaphone. He cleared his throat and shouted with all his might.

"Quiet, all of you, quiet down! The first Auction of Elven Debt Settlement Rights in Omdur is now beginning!"

The crowd erupted in even louder shouts and whistles.

"You know the rules, right? What's being auctioned isn't the elves themselves, but the war debt they owe our revenge fleet!"

Whoever wins the bid for the debt will have the right to pursue repayment from them!

How to recover the debt is up to you, we won't interfere. But there's one condition: before the debt is fully repaid, the goods... uh, the debtor, can't be killed!

Whoever killed them must pay the fleet double the original debt!

A knowing chuckle erupted from the audience.

"Alright, enough chit-chat! First debt: a healthy male half-elf with no obvious injuries, a swordsman/shieldman, and a debt of ten thousand silver dollars! Anyone bidding?"

"Ten thousand!"

"Just in case!"

"twelve thousand!"

Prices are rising rapidly.

In the eyes of players, although half-elves are not as sought-after as pure-blooded elves, they are more affordable and have practical functions, making them excellent bodyguards or sword and shield instructors.

Before the auction even started, some players had already tested the captured goods and found them to be quite good. Even the most basic swordsman and shieldman was more skilled than most players.

Aside from top-tier players (T1 level), ordinary players really can't beat a half-elf swordsman and shieldman in a one-on-one fight.

Therefore, a half-elf swordsman and shieldman is very attractive to players who don't have enough funds but still want to buy a useful utility character.

Ultimately, the half-elf male was sold to an Ultramariner player for 18,000 silver coins; the Ultramariner apparently wanted to use the half-elf swordsman to train his militia.

The debts of the next few half-elves and elven archers were quickly settled, and the atmosphere at the scene became increasingly heated.

"Next up, the big one is coming!"

The auctioneer's voice rose several octaves.

"A pure-blooded elf woman, Lilandra Galadriel, claims to be a noblewoman from the Blue Flame Kingdom. Her specific abilities are unclear; she may be a mage, or she may not. And her debt is... 500,000 silver dollars!"

Two players escorted Lilandra, whose hands were tied behind her back and whose mouth was taped shut, to the platform.

She still tried to straighten her spine, but her pale face, disheveled silver hair, and the suppressed fear and humiliation in her eyes completely shattered her previous pride. The torchlight flickered in her pale purple eyes, like stars about to be extinguished.

A collective gasp and even more excited discussion erupted from the audience.

"Five hundred thousand, holy crap!"

"Nobility and pureblood are all just empty words. It's this appearance, this figure, these big breasts... Holy crap, she's a mature elven woman!"

"Hehehe, her lower half is pretty good too, and her feet are small... I wonder what they taste like."

"Starting bid: 500,000. Each bid must be at least 5,000 higher. Begin!"

"Five hundred and fifty thousand!"

A player wearing plate armor immediately raised his hand.

"Six hundred thousand!"

Another person beside him followed in a cold voice.

"Six hundred and fifty thousand!"

A player, adorned with jewels and clearly a wealthy individual, lazily shouted.

The price soared at an astonishing rate, quickly surpassing the one million mark.

Lilandra trembled slightly as she listened to the shouts. Although she couldn't understand them, each bid felt like a hammer blow to her heart, because the scene and the shouts of the people nearby were all too obvious.

She never imagined that she would one day be openly priced and fought over like livestock.

"1.2 million!"

The wealthy player spoke again, his tone full of arrogance.

The scene was quiet for a while.

One million two hundred thousand silver dollars is no small sum; it's enough to form three Bagnian defense infantry regiments and an artillery regiment.

The auctioneer looked around, trying to raise the price.

"One million two hundred thousand, is there anything higher?"

If not… 1.2 million for the first time!

"1500000."

A calm voice rang out, not loud, but clearly drowning out the noise in the room.

The crowd looked in the direction of the voice and saw a player dressed in the uniform of a low-ranking civil official from the Kingdom of Bagnia standing at the back of the group.

His official robes were starched and crisp, making him stand out among the group of oddly dressed players.

Despite the attention he received from others, he remained expressionless and did not hold a number in his hand; he simply repeated himself calmly.

"One and a half million silver dollars."

The once arrogant and domineering wealthy player frowned, his tone clearly showing displeasure:

"Hey buddy, just because you're wearing official attire doesn't make you special. This auction is our business as players; does the government want to get involved?"

The civil official player glanced at him indifferently, his eyes showing no emotion, and his tone remaining calm.

"This is a personal matter and has nothing to do with the authorities. I bid according to the rules: 1.5 million."

The auctioneer was also taken aback. He looked at the uninvited guest and asked tentatively.

"This... buddy? Are you sure it's 1.5 million silver dollars, cash or...?"

"On-site settlement, Kingdom Bank cashier's draft."

The civil servant player took out a note bearing the emblem of the Royal Bank of Bagnia from his pocket and showed it to the player.

"Once the funds are verified, the transaction can be completed."

His actions were calm and confident. The wealthy player glanced at the promissory note, then at the official uniform on the other person's body, which represented "being within the system," opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

Civil servants aren't scary, and neither are rich people. When the two are combined, even a nouveau riche player doesn't want to offend them... Especially when the latter is wearing a tax bureau uniform, he's even less willing to have an unnecessary dispute with this person.

The other players also started whispering among themselves.

Seeing that no one was bidding anymore, the auctioneer, though somewhat puzzled, still called out the auctioneer's name according to procedure.

"One million five hundred thousand, this guy offered one million five hundred thousand, is there anyone offering higher?"

"One and a half million for the first time... one and a half million for the second time... one and a half million for the third time! Sold!"

The paddle fell.

"Congratulations to this guy for gaining the right to recover Lilandra Galadriel's debts!"

As Lilandra watched the strange man in human official robes approach her, her despair deepened.

Falling into the hands of a mad adventurer might offer a glimmer of unpredictable hope, but falling into the hands of someone representing a vast human bureaucratic machine means she can almost foresee her future being strictly controlled, studied, and even completely instrumentalized.

That uniform felt more suffocating to her than any chains.

The civil servant player ignored the surrounding chatter, went straight to the transaction area, skillfully completed the formalities, verified the funds, and signed a standardized "Debt Transfer Agreement." The entire process was efficient and calm, as if he were not buying a living elven noble, but handling a routine official business.

He walked up to Lilandra, who was being escorted over, and calmly swept his gaze over her, as if he were confirming an asset that had just been deposited into the treasury.

Unlike the other players, he didn't show any greed or curiosity. He simply took out a pair of magic-suppressing shackles, put them on her with impeccable skill, and then nodded to the player escorting her.

"Very good goods, suitable as a gift."

His voice remained flat, carrying a businesslike indifference.

Then, he led a dozen or so soldiers wearing breastplates, escorting Lilandra, whose eyes were vacant and who looked like a puppet, through the crowd and walked out of the dock area, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the night in Omdur.

The auction hall was silent for a moment, then erupted into a new uproar as the bidding continued.

Although a minor incident occurred, it did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm for the auction. In fact, the players were even more excited because some good items were sold.

The players who spent money were very enthusiastic, and the players belonging to the revenge fleet were even happier.

The money earned from selling the half-elves and elves will be distributed to them later!
Whether we have porridge or rice depends entirely on the results of tonight's auction.

Judging from the current progress, the shareholders and sponsors of the Revenge Fleet are all able to make a good living.

Get rich overnight.

So, before the heat of the auction had completely dissipated and the lingering echoes of the clinking of gold and silver coins still reverberated in the air, another, even hotter and more frenzied undercurrent was already surging and gathering in the shadows of Port Omdour.

In the port area, inside a tavern with a sign that reads "Anchors and Barrels," which is currently booked by the core shareholders of the Vengeance Fleet, the atmosphere is completely different from the cool night outside.

The air here was polluted, filled with the mixed smells of cheap tobacco, beer, and sweat, yet it couldn't suppress the almost tangible excitement and greed.

On the tables, on the floor, and even on some people's laps, there were piles of money bags that had just been counted or were still being passed around, bank drafts, and gold that gleamed with an alluring luster.

On the large, long table, the auction proceeds were roughly piled up, forming several small mountains. The torchlight danced on these riches, illuminating faces flushed with excitement.

"Damn it... I've never seen so much money in my life, not even in-game currency. My heart is about to jump out of my chest!"

A Mediterranean player, his hands trembling, held up a handful of silver coins, letting them slip through his fingers with a pleasant clinking sound.

He was originally just a small-time merchant player who traded along the coast. He had to sell everything he owned to qualify for the revenge fleet. The rewards he was getting now far exceeded his wildest dreams.

"Damn it, if I sold this money on the currency exchange market, it would be worth a year's salary for me in real life... There are so many rich people in the game!"

"Where is this?"

Even as he stabbed himself in the buttocks, he remained calm and composed, forcefully slapping the thick stack of Kingdom Bank promissory notes on the table.

"The first batch of goods was just a trial, but this good momentum means that we can do it again, or even multiple times."

"The most crucial thing is that the road is open!"

A player with beer foam on his lips roared, taking a big gulp of beer and wiping the foam off his beard.

"This is a long-term path to wealth!"

These words ignited everyone's emotions.

The previous expeditions were driven by hatred, perilous adventures with a slim chance of survival. But now, they are a golden route to a paradise of wealth, proven by real money!
"What are we waiting for? Form the Second Fleet!"

"It's an impatient player!" shouted one of the players.

"Yes, immediately! Right now, before the news spreads completely and other players react, we must seize the biggest piece of the pie!"

"We need more ships, bigger ships!"

"We have a large workforce, and the compensation package is excellent!"

"Supplies, weapons, this time we need to bring enough firepower, and two more battleships. Damn it, last time we encountered that elven magic vortex, the Storm almost got destroyed there!"

The people in the tavern were shouting, planning, and arguing all at once.

The existing shareholders were beaming, loudly calculating how much they would receive this time and how much they should invest in the next round.

New investors—those who witnessed the huge profits at the auction, or wealthy players and representatives of powerful groups who came through connections—eagerly inquired about the investment conditions, waving their money bags, eager to squeeze into this circle that had just been proven to turn lead into gold.

Amidst this frenzy fueled by wealth and ambition, Little Knife Stabs His Buttocks stood up.

Unlike the others, he didn't get excited; he simply clapped his hands, making a crisp sound that attracted the attention of some people.

"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment and listen to what I have to say."

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating quality that calmed the surrounding noise somewhat.

Everyone looked at him with anticipation, thinking that this key figure was about to announce some grand plan for the Second Fleet.

Xiao Dao looked around after stabbing his buttocks with his knife, a calm smile appearing on his face, and slowly spoke.

"My brothers and I shared life and death on this expedition, and the gains far exceeded our expectations. I am very satisfied. As agreed, I will take my share without hesitation."

He paused, and amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, uttered words that astonished many.

"As for forming a second fleet and continuing to operate the Elf route... I will not participate. All my shares and voting rights will be transferred right here today."

The tavern fell silent for a moment, as if a mute button had been pressed. Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"Brother Dao? What did you say?"

The Mediterranean player picked at his ear, thinking he had misheard.

"You're quitting? Why!?"

The henchman suddenly stood up, his voice filled with confusion and urgency.

"This is clearly a gold mine! We've only just started digging the first pickaxe!"

"Yeah, Brother Dao! Without you leading the way, we wouldn't feel confident!"

The others echoed this sentiment, their faces filled with confusion and pleading.

Xiao Daozai waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then explained.

"The reason is simple. First, the revenge fleet's initial goal was revenge. Now that the revenge has been taken and the path has been explored, my main objective has been achieved."

Secondly, I have a lot of things to manage myself, and there are a lot of things going on with the Overlord Tigers team. I can't be offline for long. And thirdly..."

He smiled, a smile that carried a hint of detached understanding.

"I'm tired of this activity and not very interested in it. The first time was adventurous and exciting, but the second and third times were purely driven by profit. I'm not very interested in things that are purely about making money."

He looked at the dazzling treasures on the table, his tone calm.

"That's it, brothers, until we meet again in the martial world."

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing some of the fervor of the crowd, but also prompting many others to reflect.

After a brief silence, the atmosphere did not cool down; instead, it heated up again in a different way!

The eyes of the wealthy and new investors who were already eager to buy shares lit up instantly.

The exit of Xiaodaojiu means that a large number of highly valuable shares have become available! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Brother Dao, since you've decided to retire gracefully, what about these shares..."

"I'll take it, Brother Dao. Name your price!"

"Don't rush, I've been wanting to raise the stakes for a while now, Brother Dao, consider me first!"

"Cash? I can pay in RMB!"

The scramble immediately drowned out the previous attempts to persuade them to stay and the questions raised.

People's attention quickly shifted from "why did Xiao Dao stab his butt and then quit" to "who can eat the fat meat he left behind".

When faced with personal interests, an individual's decision to stay or leave becomes insignificant.

Xiao Daozai looked at the scene before him, which had become heated again, even more intense, and shrugged indifferently.

He had anticipated this outcome, which was the main reason why Xiao Daozai was unwilling to continue participating.

Xiao Dao calmly began negotiating with several buyers who offered the highest prices and had the strongest backgrounds. The whole process was efficient and calm, just like when he was commanding the fleet before.

Soon, a preliminary agreement was reached on the transfer of shares.

Having successfully cashed out his investment, Xiao Dao, with a fortune far exceeding his initial investment, quietly withdrew from what was about to become an even more frenzied gold rush at sea.

The frenzy at the "Anchor and Barrel" tavern reached a new climax with the influx of new capital and the emergence of bolder plans.

With stronger financial backing, the concept of a second expeditionary fleet moved from blueprint to reality at a faster pace.

(End of this chapter)