Chapter 45: Auction House
I had an abundance of SP right now, and I wasn't quite sure how to allocate them all to passives. After all, passives didn't require active usage; they seamlessly integrated into the system after acquisition. My primary concern with passives was their hefty price tag. I usually opted to acquire them around the mid-level stages, as they proved considerably costlier compared to active skills.
After picking up a couple of Swordsman passives, I quickly shifted my attention to the Samurai class passives. With a mere 100 SP at my disposal, I realized I could only afford a select few. Upon perusing the options, two passives immediately caught my eye; they appeared essential for unlocking other Samurai Class skills, truly must-have passives.
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[Iai Stance]
1st Tier
Passive
Info: Unlock the power of quick-draw skills! With this tier, you can whip out your moves faster than a caffeine-fueled cowboy at high noon. No more fumbling in the heat of battle – you'll be the gunslinger of the gaming world.
Note: Now you can say goodbye to those awkward delays and hello to instant action. Quick-draw skills are your new best friend. So, no more "Wait, let me find my sword first!"
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[Batou Stance]
1st Tier
Passive
Info: Get ready to chop through your enemies like a hot knife through butter. With this tier, you'll become a master of the Batou Stance, unlocking a whole arsenal of skills to wreck your foes.
Note: We promise no actual butter will be harmed during the slashing process. It's all about those pesky enemies!
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These two seem quite beneficial if you aim to master the various skills associated with these stances. It's no surprise that most samurai-class players employ different attacking styles, often favoring either a swift draw technique or the more common drawn-out sword stance. Perhaps this diversity is a result of the unique skill sets they offer.
I purchased them for a mere 5 Sp, a departure from the usual costs I encounter for passive skills. This leads me to wonder if these skills hold special significance due to their necessity. Whatever the reason, I can't say for certain. My knowledge of samurai skills is limited, and I have yet to form a solid opinion. I have prior knowledge of some skills using Katanas but I don't know if they are applicable to the game.
Before I could even advance to the next skill tree, an announcement appeared on my interface.
[Greetings, players! An auction is set to commence in 5 hours of in-game time. All those interested in selling items or participating in bidding are welcome!]
Oh, the Auction House is finally operational? It seems like I'm in for some excitement. I briefly skimmed through other classes and activated all the skills marked as passive without delving into their details. I'll review them later; this auction holds greater importance, as it directly impacts my income.
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The Auction House had been the talk of the player community, a highly-anticipated event. It wasn't just the allure of the goods on display, but also the rare and very rare equipment up for sale. Sometimes, you'd even come across unique, which everyone hoped to secure. Given that the game was still in its early days, higher-tier items were beyond reach, save for those in the rare category. Finding a Guild Token was the top priority for many players who wish to form a guild now. They were usually a staple at the auction, and if that held true today, it would make their job a whole lot easier.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Auction House, I spotted a throng of players. Clearly, many had made it to the capital and bested their respective Gate Guardians. Kudos to them for the speed, but I remained focused on one thing: converting these seemingly useless tokens into cold, hard cash.
Naturally, I didn't head for the front entrance. This was a well-kept secret, but for those conducting clandestine transactions, the backdoor of the Auction House was the way to go. This arrangement was kept under wraps, ensuring my uneventful entry through the concealed back entrance.
Upon setting foot inside, the observant staff members swiftly recognized me. Their practiced and efficient approach to their job made them converge towards me, all wearing welcoming smiles.
"Sir, I believe you may have mistaken this for the customer entrance," remarked a friendly female staff member.
"No need to worry, I'm not here as a buyer. I've come up with an offer your company might find intriguing. Could you direct me to your superior?" I inquired.
The staff member was on the verge of responding when she caught sight of the token I brandished, causing a noticeable change in her demeanor as she reassessed the situation.
"Please, step inside and have a seat. Our boss will be here shortly, and I'm sure he'll be eager to see the item you've brought today."
With that, my entry was secured. Presenting an item with significant auction potential had the staff's attention, especially if it was a highly sought-after commodity among players.
The boss didn't keep me waiting for long. Tress, the auction house's chief, appeared unchanged. He still resembled a novice businessman, but in the gaming world, he was known as one of the most influential NPC tycoons.
Tress glanced around, spotting me, his face breaking into a smile as he strode over with an air of composure.
"Seems like my staff was right. Are you really considering selling that Guild token to us? No one's ever had the first token before, and you're the first I've heard of to earn one. Are you sure you don't want to keep it for yourself?"
"I've got no interest in starting a guild. It just complicates things, and I'm content with how my life's going right now. A guild would only disrupt my peace of mind."
Tress chuckled. "You're not much of a people person, are you? I can appreciate that. By the way, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I'm Tress, the head of the Auction House in the Capital. A pleasure to meet you, sir..."
"Just call me Bladeheart."
"Alright, Sir Bladeheart. Mind showing me that token?"
With a snap of my fingers, a Guild Token materialized and I tossed it to Tress, who deftly snagged it with two fingers. He adjusted his glasses, inspected the item, and then gave an approving nod.
"This is the genuine Guild Token we've been after. It's the real deal and worth a pretty penny. We can sell it for a hefty sum. I'll propose that we take a 10,000 gold cut from the profits, and the rest will be yours."
"Can't we negotiate that down a bit?"
[Haggling failed. Your relationship with the target is not close enough to get the desired result.]
"Sorry, Sir Bladeheart, but we can't afford to lower the price. We'd end up losing money, so I can't meet your request."
It seemed the negotiation was a bust. Without the passive unique skill [Haggle] that Merchant Ex-Jobs possess, haggling would always yield unfavorable results. Oh well, it was worth a shot, I suppose.
"Alright, but I'm not just selling one Token. How about another?"
"What do you mean?" Tress looked puzzled.
As he inquired, I swiftly produced the two remaining Guild Tokens, one of which was tucked safely away in my inventory. I had a quest for that one.
"What the f*ck..." Tress swore, his eyes locked on the shimmering tokens sprawled across the table.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone