System Change

Derek got up the next morning, ready for the auction. It was apparently a really big deal. Even though only a certain select group of people could take part in the auction, the city had been flush with activity for the past week.

To dress properly for the auction, Derek put on his best black t-shirt and blue jeans, and his least worn-out pair of boots. He looked the same as he would have any other day. He looked in the mirror and shrugged. He wasn’t planning on making any bids or purchases today. His only reason for going was to see what all profits he would make. He would be getting plenty of gold and, hopefully, some good equipment.

Over the past few days, after he handed off all his Void Beasts to Stella and Roman, they all amended their contracts for the auctions. Not all the meals or potions would be auctioned off in a single auction. They would spread them out over time to keep demand, which would always be high due to the rarity of obtaining permanent stat boosts, even higher.

Because of the amount of materials provided by Derek, Alanah insisted on increasing the percentage of sales he would get from twenty percent to twenty-five percent. He would be getting many more prepared meals from the Crown, as well.

Based on the sizes of the Void Beasts he turned in, each one would make between five to fifteen meals of varying stat allotments. The prices could go from tens of thousands of gold coins to hundreds of thousands. Then, there was the ‘Vitality Elixir,’ which is what Alanah was calling the blood from the undeveloped Void Beasts, and the potions created by Roman. There was no telling how much those would go for, but he knew it would be a lot.

Derek checked the system time. There were a few hours left before the auction was slated to begin, and it would be an all day thing. He headed over to the dining room, where everyone else was already waiting at the breakfast table.

Not everyone gathered for breakfast all the time, especially now that Rayna and Jacks hunted a lot, and Brandi couldn’t be bothered to be pulled away from her crafts, but they were all here today.

As Derek grabbed a few dishes, he spoke. “So… who wants to come with me to the auction? I’m going to play by the rules and only bring two people, even though Alanah said I could bring anyone I want.” He waited for a reply, but there wasn’t one. Everybody just looked at one another.

“Silvi?” He asked.

Her voice came through her communication crystal. “It lasts too long. I’m staying here to cook. Just got fresh ingredients. You will bring meals back.”

“That sounds like a command.” Derek chuckled. “Jacks? Rayna?”

“While everyone else is busy today, many of the popular hunting spots will be open. We should be able to make a lot of progress without interference today. It would be more productive if we used the day for training. Unless you wish for me to go along with you.” Jacks answered. If Derek said so, the man wouldn’t hesitate to come along.

“No, that’s fine. You guys go train.” Derek said.

“I’ll go.” Rudy said. “I would like to see how the Crown holds their auctions and handles their contracts. It will also let me mingle with some possible new clients.” He had been busy. His contract business was already up and running, and he even had a few customers. Contracts by Rudy hadn’t even done any advertising, but it was spreading by word of mouth.

“Is it okay to leave your shop for the day?” Derek asked.

“I will be fine. I’ve only had a few customers, and I can just put a sign up to come back tomorrow. Most contracts aren’t exactly urgent. Going to the auction will be better for me.” Rudy replied.

“That’s one slot.” Derek said. “I don’t even think I should bother asking Brandi.” He looked at the girl with her head down, shoveling away her breakfast as fast as she could.

Brand looked up from her plate. “I just started another project.”

Derek shook his head. “Thomas, what about you? You busy today?”

The boy hesitated. “I won’t be of any use. It would be better if I used all the time I have to get ready for the Academy.”

“Fair enough.” Derek smiled. “I figured it would be like this.” He looked at Malorie. “You good to leave Brandi alone all day?”

Malorie stole some glances at her daughter and sighed. “It would be for the best if I went, since I am technically the manager of your shop. Brandi will be more than safe here with Silvi.” Today would be the longest amount of time she’d spent away from Brandi since her village was attacked.

Derek nodded, then spoke to Silvi and Brandi. “If anything happens while we’re gone, and I mean anything, either inform me through our link or a communication crystal. I’ll be here in seconds.”

Brandi looked up again and nodded. Silvi just continued to dig into her meal.

Soon, Brandi finished her meal and hopped up from her seat. “Bye! Have fun at the auction.” She said as she rushed downstairs back to her workshop.

Malorie shook her head and looked pointedly at Derek. “I should strangle you for telling her about Greater Meditation.”

Derek rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “It was probably the best choice she could have made.”

“It was.” Malorie sighed. “That doesn’t mean I still shouldn’t strangle you.”

Soon, everyone finished with their meals and headed out. Silvi went back to the kitchen, and Derek was left with Rudy and Malorie.

“I guess we better take off. It’s a bit of a walk from here to the hotel.”

His group moved through the crowded streets of Savannah. Just one auction announced by the Crown was enough to create a festival type atmosphere in the city. More vendors than ever were set up on the sides of the streets, which also led to more and more guards controlling the area. Derek even looked off a couple of would be pickpockets on his way to the hotel.

They made it to the hotel in just over an hour. Because of how crowded everything was, they weren’t able to move through the city at their usual speed. Still, they left the shop with plenty of time, and they still arrived well before the auction was to begin.

Two guards Derek hadn’t met before were standing before the entrance of the hotel. Derek sized them up. His Identify skill was unable to produce any details on the guards, but that didn’t mean much, as most higher level people were able to block Identify by either having their own Identify skill at a high level, or by having some other skill.

Needless to say, the two guards were strong, as expected of Stella and Alanah for such an event. Derek and his group walked up to the entrance.

“Membership.” The guard to the right announced.

Derek pulled the black card with the shining golden Crown logo out of his storage bracelet and handed it to the guard. Multiple gasps came from the surroundings when onlookers noticed the membership card he took out. The guard took hold of the card, and his eyes widened in surprise.

After scanning the card, the guard quickly handed it back to Derek and bowed. “Esteemed guests, you may enter.”

Derek took his Tier Four Membership Card back from the guard and nodded. “Thanks.” He said. “Keep up the good work.” With that, Derek led Malorie and Rudy into the Crown Hotel.

Stepping inside, three individuals stood in a line in front of Derek. The layout of the hotel had been changed from how it was before. Instead of being greeted by the giant open floor of the lobby, a reception room was set up just inside the entrance. The receptionist took the membership card of one of the guests and scanned it.

Soon, the three people walked through the door leading out of the reception room, and Derek heard a booming male voice ring throughout the hotel. “Tier Two Member Craig Allister, his son Tristan Allister, and daughter Teresa Allister have arrived.”

I guess there’s no secrecy here. Derek thought as he walked up to the receptionist.

The woman smiled brightly at Derek and company as she asked, “Membership, please.”

Derek handed his card to her, eliciting another surprised expression. She scanned the card with her mana and handed it back.

“Mr. Hunt, would you like to hide or reveal your information to the guests?” She asked.

“Oh, we get a choice?” Derek asked.

She smiled. “Tier Two and above, get the choice. Most enjoy the entrance.”

“You can announce us.” Derek said.

The woman looked over at Rudy and Malorie and nodded. “I just need your guest’s information.”

Soon, everything was settled and Derek and his group walked through the door out of the reception. Derek took in the sights before him. If the Crown Hotel was beautiful and extravagant before, it could only be called stunning today.

“Tier Four Member Derek Hunt, Malorie Fields, and-” The voice paused for a moment. “Rudolph Mckinney, of Contracts by Rudy, have arrived.”

Derek and Malorie rolled their eyes while Rudy was all smiles as every head in the hotel turned in their direction.

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