Infinite Realm

The item on sale was a buster-sword, about 1.2 metres(3.937 feet) long and 0.3 metres(0.984 feet) wide. The design was bland and the buster-sword looked simple, much like a butcher's cleaver but with a smaller handle and a larger size. Even the attributes of the weapon were similarly plain as the design. In summary, there was nothing that made this sword special as some of the weapons that could be found in NPC stores were much better than it.

The only noteworthy fact about it was that it was made by a player. This alone meant that the product could be mass-produced and sold cheaper than market products to make money.

The red-haired player admired his work with eyes filled with pride even though he knew that there were much better ones out there. 

For this auction, not every product made by a player was accepted to be sold off. The quality of each equipment was checked by the appraisers of the auction house, and if they found it below a certain standard, it won't be accepted even if the equipment is classified as a successful product by the blueprint's standard. So, for any player-made equipment being sold at the auction right now, they could be said to be the peak of the players current capacity in blacksmithing as every one of them was above average when compared to the handiworks of other players.

So even though the red-haired's buster-sword was below market standard by a bit, the weapon was still accepted to be sold at the auction because the production method of the sword was strenuous, hence the quality of the sword was different from other swords in the market.

Looking at the red 'K' brand on the sword, the red-haired was filled with pride. The buster-sword was forged with [Inksteel], a 3 star material that was very difficult to work with. 

The material wasn't exactly rare but it had a high melting point and was very resistant to hammering. Hence, normal forging methods didn't apply to it so most players and even blacksmiths avoided using the metal, unless when forging blunt weapons like war hammers or shields. The only thing that made it valuable was that due to its special quality, weapons made from [Inksteel] were very durable and powerful. Even then, it was only added in little amounts with other minerals. The buster-sword however, was completely made of this material so it's value was stretched high.

'This cost me half almost a gold coin to make and that's just ignoring the losses during the process, otherwise, it would easily pass a gold coin in value.' The red-haired blacksmith sighed internally.

As an apprentice blacksmith, making some failures in the production process was normal. It was for this reason that most apprentice blacksmiths didn't use 3 star materials, even if it was a low grade one, for their works. The cost of both production and failure would be high, and even if they succeed, the amount they could sell the creation for wouldn't be able to negate their losses.

If it wasn't for the fact that his family was rich, and so he could buy coins and materials from other players, the red-haired player wouldn't have been able to produce this weapon. Even then, there was still a limit to what he could afford so he still had to pay out of his own pocket.

The apprentice blacksmith wasn't interested in the cash he would make from the auction, but instead, he was focused on gaining fame as a blacksmith. Being to lazy to explore the world of IR like most players, he was just interested in gaining fame in what he perceived to be the most simplest way, which was by becoming the best in a lifestyle class. And to him, both this auction, as well as the group known as the League of Hammers, were the key factors to achieving this.

'As long as my creation sells the most, I would be able to gain more recognition in the league. Taking over as the head or seizing a valuable core spot would then be easy.' A glint flashed through the eyes of the player.

Meanwhile, the auctioneer went on to introduce the lot.

"The buster-sword sword before you is entirely comprised of the 3 star material, [Inksteel], together with a few supporting materials. While its attributes aren't exactly exceptional, the durability of the weapon is very impressive together with its destructiveness. If youya fan of blunt weapons but in need of a pinch of fatal trait, I suggest you get yourself this weapon. It can fit as a role of charging, or be used to turn the tables around. Both defensive and offensive, this is a work of art that shouldn't be underestimated."

With the elusive wording from the auctioneer, many of the players and even a few of the NPCs had their attention focused on the buster-sword as they tried to pry its secrets open with their eyes.

"The starting bid is 25 silver coins with every increment being at least 3 silver coins."

*Bang*

Another item was put on sale once again but unlike the previous ones, a few seconds of silence went by as no one placed a bid yet. Most were still skeptical about the value of the buster-sword since after all, the attributes on it were below market standard.

"30 silver coins."

Just when the red-haired player was about to overreact, a bid was made in the item as the voice of a boorish young man sounded across the hall.

"33 silver coins." Another voice rose up.

Very soon. The auction for the buster-sword concluded at a price of 48 silver coins. Considering the quality of the item, this was pretty understandable as the lot didn't have any special features or attributes.

Following that, 13 more items were sold in the auction, with one of them belonging to Blue Flame, the blacksmith who had crossed with Sato. Another one belonged to the cloaked man who stood beside the red-haired player, and together with Blue Flame, they both had the honours of forging the most expensive player-made equipment. As for the rest, they were either made by some player apprentices in blacksmithing or were relics that weren't so old nor attractive to the NPCs present.

Blue Flame's [Guardian Shield] sold at a price of 63 silver coins while the cloaked player's went for 85 silver coins. It was a light sword stylised to fit [Assassins] the most. Due to the materials used to forge it, as well as the special attributes of the weapon, it was attractive even to [Swordsman] and some [Rangers] who would like to have a close range weapon.

"We're closing in to the end of the auction and we all know what that means." The auctioneer smiled.

'There's still something better?' Most of the blacksmiths in the League of Hammers were shocked.

In an auction, the lot was usually sold in accordance to the most valuable as appraised by the auction house. That means that the last item of the day would usually be the most valuable.

As the auction was made to fit both players and NPCs, it was divided into two segments with the NPCs participating in the first one and the players in the second. This was because current players couldn't match up to the NPCs in terms of wealth so if both were to partake in the same auction, players wouldn't be able to afford anything at all.

The NPC segment had already ended while the players' was thought to have ended with the sale of the [Erratic Blade], the sword made by the cloaked player from League of Hammers. The players had thought so because the craftsmanship skills used in making that sword had already surpassed that of all the other apprentice blacksmiths. So everyone had already prepared for the auction to come to an end, unaware that the auction wasn't close to ending.

"Uwaaaa! That's!"

As the usually trolley was pulled over to the stage and the item on it was unveiled, the players with impressive eyesight suddenly let out screams of surprise and even a few NPCs raised an eyebrow at the sight of the item.

It was a crimson chest plate that glittered in the dim auction hall. The attributes of it were yet to be revealed but all the players were agitated and even the guild representatives couldn't sit properly anymore. 

This was due to a noticeable feature they had spotted on the chest plate; the white cloud insignia imprinted at the left breast of the chest plate.

The Fleeting Cloud.

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