Of course, the crowd lost interest because according to the rules of the black market auction, the odds of having something decent in the first Intricate Dori Box set were near to zero.
Usually, the good stuff would be sandwiched in the middle or in the last set.
The last set would always spark a bidding war if all nine sets did not contain anything good. Until then, the last set would be the obvious ace.
After all, the so-called Intricate Dori Box would always provide two or more decent quality items every time, or so it claimed.
The black market auction loved this kind of show just to raise the price for a single set of boxes.
There were also moments when the auction needed a temporary cover, then they would adjust the sequence to deliver something interesting in the middle sets. If the good stuff was revealed from the start, who else would have the interest to bid for the rest?
However, there were always people who would buy the first set of boxes. After all, it was the Intricate Dori Box, so it would never contain some useless garbage. Sometimes, it would reveal one or two items with high practical value. Even if it was not a quality item, the buyer would be able to earn a little.
There were techniques for all the bidding and selection of items.
That was why the floor lacked interest in the first set, except for Tang Ling, who waited like a child on Boxing Day.
The succinct auctioneer was adroit at matching the passwords and he opened the first box.
“500 grams of Level 5 mutated beast meat.” He did not amuse the crowd with fancy words whatsoever and simply took the item from the box out.
Level 5 mutated beast meat? It was not exactly cheap for the average person as 500 grams would still cost around 2 to 3 Black Sea coins, but at the bidding price in the auction, this box was certainly a huge loss.
“The venom sac of the Eye-winged Hornet, a Level 1 mutated insect.”
The next item was something slightly better than common garbage. It was not even worth a single Black Sea coin.
After that, two more boxes were opened and the value of the items was similar to garbage. It was a huge loss indeed.
Even Tang Ling’s interest swiftly faded away. These were the so-called Intricate Dori Boxes. However, the crowd seemed to be calm. Even the guy who bid for this set of boxes did not respond.
The last box was opened and the expression on the succinct auctioneer’s face changed for the first time. His words were still brief, but he added some adjectives, “A Grade S dagger. Something useful.”
He then added, “It’s the work of Master Randy and has the special mark signed by Master Randy himself.”
The response from the crowd heated up all of a sudden.
A Grade S weapon was already considered the best item from the Intricate Dori Box, let alone the work of Master Randy. On top of that, it was a piece with the master’s mark! That meant that the master must have been satisfied with this work of his to have left his mark on it.
As the auctioneer introduced the dagger, he put it on the display stand. A large screen lit up the darkness behind him and he started to introduce all the details of the Grade S dagger. The mark of Master Randy was also on display. It was an abstract icon of a flower that was difficult to copy. The dagger also looked sharp and artistic upon the first glance.
Tang Ling stared at it with a racing heart. After what Boss Huang told him about weapon categorization, he knew that Grade S material might not necessarily be forged into Grade S weapons.
Grade S weapons were considered rare. Even a Rank 3 Purple Moon Warrior would keep one as a spare other than the talent equipment. An unlucky Rank 3 Purple Moon Warrior who failed to get talent equipment had to settle with a Grade S weapon, but would only get the highest quality one.
Tang Ling might not have known who this Master Randy was, but since he was known as the master and the dagger got the master’s approval, it must be something of high quality.
Too bad it’s just a dagger, so its value isn’t as high as a longsword or a saber…
Although attracted, he was not exactly excited. After all, Boss Huang raised his standards for weapons and he even had a Blood Bulrush Sword.
I wonder how much is my Blood Bulrush Sword worth.
While Tang Ling was carried away by his messy thoughts, the auctioneer offered a price for the dagger, “1,100 Black Sea coins. If the owner is fine with it, the black market will buy it back from you right away.”
“No thank you. I’ll keep it.” The fat owner sounded a little shaken. The reclaimed price would never be high enough, and if the man did not have an urgent need for money, it was not necessary for him to sell it back right away.
It was unexpected for the first Intricate Dori Box set to deliver astonishingly excellent results.
What was the organizer thinking?
No one knew, but it was also certain that no one would simply bid for the second set because the odds of having quality items twice in a row was near to zero. The second set would probably fail to be auctioned off.
Tang Ling was smart. After he understood the situation, he already had a general suspicion in his mind, and he also realized that the second Intricate Dori Box set would not fetch a good price. In fact, it might even fail to have a single bid.
However, Tang Ling’s hands were itchy. He wanted to try bidding but did not want to spend a lot of money, so the second set would obviously be the best choice.
As expected, the response to the second set of boxes was terrible. The auctioneer chanted a few times, but no one even wanted to top the asking price.
“It seems like no one is interested in this set of boxes. Nevertheless, according to the rules, after this lot fails to ask for a price, I’ll open it. If there’s something good inside, then it’ll be unfortunate.” It was rare for the succinct auctioneer to try and raise the crowd’s anticipation, but no one fell for it.
The asking price of 20 Black Sea coins was not much, but money did not grow on trees. More importantly, spending money and still being treated like an idiot was not exactly a nice feeling.
Then, Tang Ling made an offer. His voice trembled as he spoke through the voice changer as if he was nervous, “2-25 Black Sea coins.” He sounded like he had fallen for the auctioneer’s instigation.
“Very well. 25 Black Sea coins, calling once!” The auctioneer started to ask for more price offers, but other than Tang Ling, no one else offered anything.
The crowd probably assumed that it was his first time in an auction, and that he must be an idiot with a failing brain.
“25 Black Sea coins, calling twice…Sold!
The auctioneer struck the mallet.
Tang Ling got the second Intricate Dori Box set. It was true that he was a first-timer but an idiot? No, Tang Ling was never an idiot.
Without further ado, the auctioneer started to open the boxes. Moments like these were the charm of a Dori Box.
The crowd was not excited about this second opening, and even Tang Ling himself was calm. Actually, he just wanted to experience how it was to spend money like a noble.
As expected, all four boxes contained low-level junk, which value was as low as the first lot before the dagger.
However, for the fifth box, the auctioneer gave a different expression. The look on his face was even richer than when he had opened the box with Master Randy’s dagger.
It was at that moment that Tang Ling realized this auctioneer’s strong points. His brief speaking manner never exhausted the people’s attention and his rich expression was the key that aroused their excitement.
As expected, the change in his expression made the whole auction hall excited again.
Even Tang Long, who was not paying attention, commented, “Lucky kid.”
Even if Tang Ling did not know what he had gotten, the auctioneer’s expression said it all.
Under his hood, Draconic Twelve’s smile remained warm, but his eyes were glued to Tang Ling and he seemed to be thinking about something.
Had he seen through Tang Ling’s disguise? With the mask and the robe, the odds were slim, but if he did not know who Tang Ling was, why would he fix his gaze on him?
Tang Long did not notice it as his thoughts had floated far away.
Tang Ling would never have known that someone was staring at him after he offered the price. He was only looking forward to finding out what was inside the fifth Intricate Dori Box.
The auctioneer skipped the wordy introduction. His eyes were showing perfectly timed and appropriate envy, excitement, and even jealousy as he took the item out.
A strange item was placed on the display stand. After the spotlight was cast upon it, all the details of the items were displayed on the screen on the stage.
“My goodness, what am I looking at? It’s a super-advanced weapon!”
“This is probably the best item that an Intricate Dori Box could ever contain!”
Someone even screamed bitterly, “F*ck! 25 Black Sea coins for this super-advanced item?”
Indeed, the crowd had yet to find out what exactly the item was, but it did not stop them from realizing that it was a product of super-advanced technology due to the patterns on it. Not all super-advanced technology items had the patterns, but items with the patterns would surely be one.
At first glance, the patterns had countless smaller lines within itself like the circuit on a CPU. It could not be replicated unless a scientist did it!
However, which scientist would have the time and energy to replicate something like that? If the scientist could do it, he could probably make a real super-advanced technology item.
What was it exactly?
Tang Ling’s heart raced. It was the first time he came across a product made of super-advanced technology.
On the screen, the item looked like a crossbow though it definitely was not one. Even though its frame resembled one and it had three shining silver arrows, the lower part of the frame was actually a handle that resembled that of an old civilization handgun. On top of that, at the end of the frame was a metal hook.
The three different components did not look strange when combined together. Instead, it showed off the beauty of machinery.
The item itself was not big at all. The frame of the crossbow was only palm-sized and everything was strapped onto a shining silver wrist guard that had a cold metallic luster. The super-advanced technological patterns were also on the wrist guard.
Be it the crossbow, the handle of a handgun, or the metal claw for climbing, nothing was special. The super-advanced technology was not even necessary.
Could this toy be something useless? All the super-advanced technology did was combine a handgun and a crossbow together which was meaningless and wasteful.
Of course, regardless of its use, super-advanced technology products had value in a collection and was quite interesting as a toy.
The person who won this with 25 Black Sea coins must have earned a lot.
However, was the super-advanced technology just for appearances?
The auctioneer took another smaller box from the Intricate Dori Box and said, “This comes along with the super-advanced technology product and there’s a manual for this. I’ll read it out.
“Sir, you have quite some luck there!”
