Deal With Elkom Auction House
However, before they could talk about the price, Sophia led Ryker to her office, before calling a servant to prepare a drink.
The servant merely looked at Ryker in shock, that she almost did not listen to her mistress' order, which would have dire consequences for her.
Thankfully, Sophia seemed to be in a good mood and let her off with a warning, which shocked her even more.
"What kind of technique did the young man put mistress Sophia under?" the servant could not help but ask. After all, while the manager of the Elkom Auction House is not cruel, she is stern and makes sure her orders are done properly.
"Wait. Is she, the mistress boy toy?" the servant comes to a different calculation that would have resulted in her being punished severely for it if Sophia knew of it.
Fortunately for her, she did not learn of this, but in the future, well, the power of gossip would be the one to make her fall.
-x-
"Can I know how much the auction house takes for a commission?" Ryker asked.
"We take 10 percent of every sale in the auction. Is there any problem with it?" Ryker shook his head.
"No, there is none," 10 percent is still a lot, especially in regard to the rare treasures.
"And for those that the auction house will help you sell to the different stores?"
"The powdered form of bones of the Spirit Giant Tiger, Blood Vultures and Bone Devouring Hyenas, blood of the all the Blood Vultures and Bone Devouring Hyenas, except for their leaders, the plume of the Blood Vultures, the leaders not included, and the bone plating of the Bone Devouring Hyenas, the leader not included," Ryker list out the item he is planning to sell.
"It will take some time, as I need to contact the stores that sell these materials, but it should not take long, maybe a week or so," the manager told him.
"Is that so? How long does Manager Sophia think the stock could last?" Ryker asked the manager, who did a quick calculation in her head.
"It might take a year or two, after all, the need to make sure the price won't drop too drastically with the amount of materials in question is vital to make the market price not drop and cause all parties to lose out in profits," the manager told him.
"So this is what Manager Sophia meant by using trickery in business," Ryker guessed, the manager merely nodded.
"Is something wrong?" Sophia asked Ryker, who seemed to be glum for some reason.
"I planned to travel to the central territory in 8 weeks or so. I do not plan to stay any longer," he told the woman.
"Hhmm, that will make things harder for us," she snapped her fingers, "How about this, sell all the material you want to sell. But the price will be slightly lower than the market price. Are you willing," the manager asked.
"Hhm, as long as the price is not too low," Ryker decided to agree. After all, there is no way he would allow himself to be scammed by another person, even if she is a beautiful woman.
"I say, about 200 to 300 High-Grade Genesis Gold will suffice for every single item. Of course, the price will rise depending on the strength of the beast before it is killed," Manager Sophia says her prices.
"That is... more than sufficient. Is Miss Sophia sure of this pricing," Ryker asked with doubt. After all, the Elkom Auction House still needed to sell them to the other stores, so they could not make the price too high or the stores would not accept it on account of the business being unprofitable.
"Do not worry, the market price for this item is usually at the 500 High-Grade Genesis Gold, at its lowest. When there are lack of supply, the prices will naturally rise as well. Besides, there are many stores and merchant groups that would like to have this many Grade 9 materials, so there will be no shortage of buyers.
But still, to think the little brother would care for little old miss, I am touched," the manager tried to tease the younger man, but Ryker merely pushed her off.
"Of course. After all, there might be some tricks play on this young me. So, trying to know why a Noble expert would try and give out such an advantageous deal is vital for this one safety," Ryker told her bluntly.
The manager hid her mouth with her hand as she giggled. "So, you are just being cautious. This manager begins to like even more now," she licked her lips seductively.
Ryker tried to look away, a blush on his face. He might be knowledgeable in that regard, having spent many nights with his lovers, but he still inexperience in the art of seduction.
"Looks like the young man could feel shy after all," the manager teased him. Ryker schooled his face before asking with a serious one. "When will the auction happen?"
"Hhmm, you are no fun," the manager pouted. Seeing how Ryker did not change his expression, the manager sighed, "Spoilsport. It began 5 days from now. And, if you want to enter, take this with you," she put a golden token on the table.
"This will allow you to take a single person with you to the Gold-grade room, which is the best room money could buy," the manager explained.
"So there are rooms that even money could buy," Ryker guessed. The manager nodded.
"Naturally. Those are reserved for the Noble expert of the territory. After all, whenever the auction house has its grand auction, there will be a lot of materials, items, and artifacts that would attract even Noble experts. Your skin is one of them, by the way," hearing this, Ryker nodded.
"Let's go back to discussing the contract. After all, I prefer if we have it in writing so no side could cheat the other one," Sophio told him.
Then, began a long session of talking and negotiating, showing to Ryker one of his major weaknesses, his inability to negotiate, at least without losing out a lot.
-x-
"You are back," acting like a diligent housewife, Ina exclaimed as she smiled at Ryker. One that morphed into worry, seeing how haggard her lover is.
"What happened?" she asked, fretting over the taller man, who merely slumped on the cushion, clearly too tired to say anything else.
"Next time," Ryker said out loud, "I am taking anyone who is better at negotiating, or at least, with paperwork, with me,"