Chapter 8: Auction
On the way to the central venue, Su Xiao noticed many contractors heading in the same direction.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao arrived near the central venue, which was already packed with people.
Without mandatory regulations from Reincarnation Paradise, maintaining order at the scene was nearly impossible. Most independent contractors were unruly individuals.
"Ticket for Row 80 at the central venue. 500 Paradise Coins each, first come, first served."
"Ticket for Row 50, priced at 800 Paradise Coins, no haggling."
Several contractors were selling tickets at the entrance of the central venue. These people were selling at inflated prices, and needless to say, they were scalpers.
Typical auctions used a deposit system, but the Divine Emperor Adventure Group and the Black Sail Merchant Guild took a different approach by selling tickets.
Willingness to spend a few hundred Paradise Coins on a ticket indicated that those contractors had the financial means to participate in the auction.
If they didn't have enough Paradise Coins, no one would waste a few hundred just to watch the spectacle.
Calculating at 1,000 Paradise Coins per person, if 500 contractors participated in the auction, the Divine Emperor and Black Sail Merchant Guild could recoup their costs.
The number of contractors Su Xiao saw alone exceeded five hundred, even five thousand.
Unfortunately, the ticket revenue wouldn't all go to the Divine Emperor and Black Sail Merchant Guild.
Reincarnation Paradise's taxes took the lion's share, plus advertising and venue fees, the Divine Emperor and Black Sail Merchant Guild would at most break even.
However, the auction's profit didn't come from tickets but from commissions on various items.
It was around 7:30 PM, half an hour before the auction started.
Contractors filed into the central venue one after another. Su Xiao followed the crowd inside.
"Hello, guest. Please show your ticket."
A member of the Divine Emperor Adventure Group stood at the door, standing straight as a ramrod. Hosting an auction in Reincarnation Paradise was an honor.
Su Xiao took out the ticket he bought from the Divine Emperor and handed it over. The contractor's expression shifted slightly.
"So it's Mr. White Night. Please, come in."
This contractor wore a smile, clearly having been briefed by the Divine Emperor beforehand.
There was no cliché VIP passage or anything vulgar like that. The central venue had only two entrances: the front door and the back door.
The front door was for guests, and the back door was for transporting auction items. So forget VIP, even PVI had to enter through the front.
Entering the central venue, it resembled a large lecture hall, with the audience seating arranged in a semicircle surrounding the central stage.
The central venue was lavishly decorated. After all, at a cost of 20,000 Paradise Coins per hour, it would be strange if it weren't luxurious.
Su Xiao headed straight for the front row. His seat was number eight.
Seat number eight was at the very front, closest to the stage. Su Xiao could see the items directly, while contractors beyond Row 10 had to watch through a large screen.
Seat number eight was well-appointed. A three-seater sofa sat in front of a round table, which held fruit and delicate pastries.
Su Xiao sat on the sofa, with Bubu Wang beside him. Nearby contractors glanced over. Seats 1 to 50 were not sold to the public.
"Looks like that Divine Emperor guy is raking it in."
Su Xiao leaned back on the sofa, turning his head to look at the sea of contractors behind him.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked, its eyes fixed on the pastries on the table, as if asking Su Xiao: 'Can I eat this? Would it be embarrassing?'
Su Xiao chuckled lightly.
"We spent 2,000 Paradise Coins. Why can't we eat it?"
Su Xiao picked up a red apple and took a crunchy bite. The juice was sweet, and the flesh was plump.
The Grim Reaper liked apples. Coincidentally, Su Xiao did too.
Bubu Wang took a bite of the pastry on the table but lost interest after just a small piece. It was far inferior to its own snacks.
The crowd in the venue grew larger. Seat number one was empty, presumably reserved for the Divine Emperor.
Seat number two belonged to the boss of the Black Sail Merchant Guild, a fat man with a ruddy face. Though he smiled amiably, he was far from a kind person.
Seat number three was Xila. From this, it was clear that strength was far more reliable than wealth.
Apart from the first three seats, seats 3 to 50 had no special significance. It was first come, first served.
"Boss, this venue is great! That 'Divine Emperor Boss' must be making a killing."
"You don't know squat. Renting the central venue requires high authority. 'Divine Emperor Boss' raided a derivative world, got a high-level item, and sold it to Reincarnation Paradise to earn the rental rights."
"Boss is wise."
"Second Brother is mighty."
"Third Brother is too modest. You're not bad either."
No need to guess. This trio of boastful goofballs could only be the Three Brothers of National Football across the entire Reincarnation Paradise.
The three strutted proudly to the front row. Their seats were number 49.
"Boss, that guy is here too."
"Who?"
"That fierce guy with the sword."
The Three Brothers of National Football spotted Su Xiao eating an apple. They seemed eager, as if wanting to form a formation.
After weighing the pros and cons, they sat down obediently. The cost of showing off was too high; they might actually die.
"Oh~, I didn't expect you to have them so well trained."
Xila spoke. With her brother not around, her venomous tongue was maxed out.
"Bitch, you don't know squat."
"Bitch, you don't even know what squat is."
"Bitch, have you forgotten the 'despair' of being ganged up on by us three brothers?"
This triple insult was jarring. Nearby contractors watched the scene with interest.
"You three clowns, have you considered that matter? The benefits are generous. Just come back."
The Divine Emperor walked over from the side, stopping Xila's venomous remarks.
"Divine Emperor Boss, we're used to going solo. Thanks for your previous care."
The usually goofy Three Brothers of National Football turned serious, addressing the Divine Emperor with respect.
"Forget it then. Everyone has their own path. If you run into trouble you can't solve, come to me. We were brothers before, and we still are."
The Divine Emperor stepped forward and patted the eldest of the Three Brothers on the shoulder.
"More muscular than before."
"Hahaha."
The eldest scratched his head.
"Muscles have grown a lot, but intelligence has clearly regressed."
Xila held a glass of orange juice. Her words carried no malice, more like a tease from an old friend.
"Xila is as beautiful as a flower." ×3
The Three Brothers spoke in unison. For some reason, this remark infuriated Xila.
"Don't you have a rookie period!"
...
Su Xiao munched on his apple, watching the show. Bubu Wang even pulled out some milk-flavored popcorn.
"Bai Ye, interested in a fight after the auction?"
A hearty shout came from nearby. Su Xiao knew who it was just from the voice: that battle healer who had chosen the wrong initial skill.
"No interest."
Su Xiao flatly rejected Crazy Milk's proposal. If they were going to fight, it should be in a derivative world. That was more exciting.
"What a shame. But I'd rather meet you in a derivative world."
"Then see you in a derivative world."
Su Xiao and Crazy Milk had clashed before. Although Su Xiao would sell items to the Divine Emperor Adventure Group, his personal grudge with Crazy Milk remained.