Infinite Realm

"Yoshi! Finally it's over." Fudo rejoiced as he exited the auction hall through the door with the others.

"I have to admit, this was an eye opener. Selling our works in the auction hall would be more profitable than doing so elsewhere." Xue Yan said.

Apart from Sato, Xue Yan and Fudo had also put up a few of their products for sale. The end result was Xue Yan's talismans being sold for more than 40 silver coins per bundle and each bundle containing between 5-7 talismans. As for Fudo, each of his potion sold for at least 35 coins or more. Compared to weapons and equipment, potions and talismans were typically one-time use items so their prices were lower than the former. Even so, the potions and talismans Fudo and Xue Yan had put up for sale weren't your average over-the-counter products. 

This was understandable as just like Sato, the duo had gone through the books in the Caventry's library as well as experimented on a lot of different methods so the final products from their hands would be much better than what the best player apprentice of the subclass could do. Hence, the duo were able to make a name in this auction and Xue Yan was satisfied with that.

"You think too much about this. It's because this is the very first grand auction organised that's why the prices reached this high. There's also the fact that every guild is in need of any and every consumable they can get in hand for the dungeon raid so they wouldn't mind splurging just this once. If it's another time, I doubt things be go the same." Lu Zhen explained.

"He's right. Either way, we made a killing from this auction. Now we need to focus on making more and also preparing for the dungeon raid." Sato added.

"Preparing for the dungeon raid? Already? I thought you said in a month's time?" Yato looked at Sato with surprise. This was so because Sato had predicted that the guilds wouldn't take the dungeons seriously until a month's time. Only a week had gone by since then so it was still too soon to be preparing for an event coming up in 3 weeks.

"That was before." Sato sighed.

"This auction has made me understand that I have still underestimated these guilds. If they're able to make this much just by staying a week in the city, who knows how strong they've gotten. I won't be surprised if some of their Experts has already reached level 13."

"So quick?" Everyone was stunned.

"Haven't you noticed? Levelling up is easier than it was before." Sato suddenly revealed.

"That's...true." Everyone unanimously agreed.

Compared to when they were still at town, levelling up here was easier. This was because there was a large number of stronger monsters in every resource map. Be it level 10, 11, 12, and so on, up to level 15, there was no lack of them. This assembly of monsters made it easier for players, who were obviously lower in level than the monsters, to increase their levels at a rapid pace. As long as one moved in a party, getting to level 12 or 13 within a week or two wasn't impossible.

"With the sharp increase in strength, the guilds would be focusing on solidifying their financial foundations. Once they have enough wealth, they would then splurge it on items that would increase their chances of success in the dungeon raid. My guess is that in the following week, a lot of purchases would be made in various NPC stores, and there's also the chance that the exchange store would be enabled."

"Why? I get the guilds spending a lot but what does that have to do with the game's exchange store?" Lu Zhen asked confusedly.

"That makes sense!" Seiichi abruptly spoke up.

"You've figured it out too?" Sato smiled.

"Yes. This is all a plot by the developers. I can't believe I didn't see that coming." Seiichi chuckled in a deprecating manner.

"Can somebody please explain this to me?" Fudo dramatically grabbed Seiichi by the collar and shook him furiously.

"Calm down, okay." Seiichi shoved Fudo's hands away as he tidied his collar and fixed his glasses.

"The dungeon raid would be very important to every guild and as this is the first dungeon raid in the entire game, the importance would be at an all-time high. Therefore, every guild would be poised to try their best and take the achievement for being the first to complete the dungeon, whether global achievement or regional achievement. This means that none of them would shy away from spending a lot of money to get this done, buying new gears and items. However, there's a limit to the influx of cash in the game and how much a player or guild could make in a certain time span." Seiichi suddenly turned serious.

"Normally, it would take a month for them to all get prepared both financially and in strength-wise but as the levelling rate has increased more than normal, when compared to back in the town, the big guilds all feel pressured to get ready for the raid as soon as possible. None of them know how far the forces of the other has grown so they're all worried that while they might still be at the preparatory stage, some other guild would have already began testing the dungeon. As a result of their fears, the guilds wouldn't mind spending a lot of cash. But the problem of funds arises and to this issue, there is only one solution; to buy coins from other players or guilds.

"If you recall, there's a certain fee for making transactions through the exchange store and since it's much cheaper than bank transaction fees, players would find it a lot more attractive than the latter. Releasing the exchange store and the moment when guilds are in desperate need of coins might seem like a coincidence but it's actually a planned strategy to make the best out of it. The amount of money the developers would make just from this 'coincidental' move would be a lot." Seiichi sighed as he inwardly praised the development team for such a brilliant idea.

"Damn. Isn't that unscrupulous or something?" Yato asked.

"There's nothing wrong about it. It's just a strategy to make the best out of the feature and it doesn't go against any rule or law." Sato said.

"I'm pretty sure the big guilds must have guessed about it and that's why there's been a reported low in the number of bank-to-bank transactions for the players recently." Fudo added as he realised that fact.

"Well, it doesn't matter much to us. We just need to make as much money as we can and also make our own preparations. You guys can go levelling in the fields while I produce more equipment." Sato expressed his plans.

"Me too. I'm already level 13 so there's no reason for me to be out in the fields." Xue Yan voiced out.

"No." Sato shook his head.

"Regarding firepower, you're the team's main damage dealer, therefore your strength also has to be maintained at a high enough level. Level 13 might look good to you but remember that the recognised highest levelled player is level 14. If not for you taking time out to focus on rune-smithing, you would have been level 15 by now. Don't make that mistake and follow the others."

"But,"

"I said no." Sato maintained his stance.

"Okay." Xue Yan replied with a depressed tone.

"Oi Sato, you didn't have to be so hard on her." Fudo spoke up.

Just before Sato could answer him, an NPC walked up to him and without bothering with the others, said

"My master is looking for you.. Kindly make yourself available to his request."