The Archmage’s Restaurant

# 129

Chapter.30 Watch

Capital Merchants Association.

Although it is smaller than the Wizards Association, it is still the most recognized association. Other than that, the mercenary association is also quite large. I went straight to the merchant association.

“I came here because of the auction.”

“You mean the auction? “Which commercial association did you come from?”

“That is the new business association created in a place called Grace City.”

“Greaksey?”

The man frowned as if asking where it was. It was strange for nobles to come and go to the Merchant Association, so it was difficult to send a Gray Boy, so he had no choice but to come in person.

“It’s a small city in the countryside. “It has grown a bit since it merged with Deadran City this time.”

“Oh, I think I’ve heard of it. “Ah, my name is Doron, the manager of the Merchant Association.”

A man called Doron offered to shake my hand.

“hello.”

“It’s a new company. Please fill out the registration form here. And you pay the subscription fee, but you need to review the items you want to sell.”

“Judging?”

“Yes, it is not a trading company with any track record, so it would be difficult to put out products that are not suitable for nobles, so an examination is necessary.”

“Hmm”

“Otherwise, you can submit your work by paying a deposit, but if you don’t win, the deposit will all belong to the association. “I always make souvenirs to compensate for ruining the aristocracy’s excitement by providing a space for them.”

It seems like an idea that clearly shows aristocratic absolutism.

It doesn’t matter. I had no intention of obsessing over small amounts of money. As I said, I paid all the money and registered the item.

“I don’t think anyone would buy a wooden cabinet like this, but would you really spend the money?”

“Yes, you don’t know.”

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

The manager said he wanted to know something and motioned for me to go, and I left the merchant association.

Since I have to act at a commercial meeting in a local city where I have no connections or anything, I can’t help but be treated poorly.

***

“Greak Company?”

“What is it?”

“I heard it’s a new business that opened in Gray City?”

When the manager reported, the president of the association shook his head with an annoyed look on his face.

“Hey, why don’t you lower the level of the capital auction and even accept the local city’s chamber of commerce? “Did you bring something really great?”

“When I took a quick look, it looked like it was just a decoration. Made of wood.”

“what?”

“But I received a large deposit, and more than anything, I brought a letter of recommendation from Count Medrine… . Aren’t the Counts of Medrine, not nobles of a provincial town, recognized in the center? I couldn’t just get bitten.”

“The Count of Medrine? Damn this is annoying. Just make it the first auction and get it done quickly. “I guess I have connections, but isn’t it rather a nuisance to put up a local cabinet for auction?”

“That’s right. But you still paid a hefty deposit, so I guess you have some financial resources? “There are a lot of things to charge and receive, including membership fees and annual fees, so shouldn’t we just wait and see?”

“Well, that’s right. If it’s the first turn, it’s not something the nobles look forward to anyway. “I understand.”

“Yes, president of the association.”

***

On the day of the auction.

Nobles enter the grand entrance one after another. In the capital, an event equivalent to a ball is held after the auction, followed by a social gathering.

That’s why we all dressed up, holding our husbands’ arms, and entered the auction house elegantly.

“Oh, Your Majesty the Duke, are you here?”

“So, is there anything good today?”

When the Duke of Taimuran appeared, the association’s executives, including the president, came rushing in and began to bow down without even lifting their waists.

“I like the unusual perfume from the kingdom across the water at the end.”

“Right. “I don’t like my wife or anything like that.”

“Oh my, what kind of perfume is it?”

When the Duchess showed interest, the Duke shook his head.

“That’s for the joy of the auction, haha.”

In this way, the association president was very busy.

And in the waiting room, the merchants were talking passionately about how their products would be better.

“Did you see it? Today’s entry? “The first one is like a dresser or something?”

“So what are you talking about, a local merchant association? There’s nothing to do. “They said they put down a lot of deposit.”

“Fuhahaha.”

“Brother, why are you smiling?”

When the representative of the Mandala Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber of merchants in the capital, laughed out loud, the attention of representatives of other merchants gathered.

“Don’t be so mean. You seem to have a lot of money. Shouldn’t we be friendly? familiarly. “If there is a lot to tear off, our merchants cannot afford to miss it.”

“is that so?”

“yes.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha.”

With the grandfather clock stopped, the merchants began laughing and chatting, with no one imagining what kind of product it was.

***

I had to wear a mask. However, it would be unreasonable to put the noble Gray boy in this position. Randall, a dwarf, is also not a good candidate. If you send Lurin away, you will fail in just one second.

In the end, the only answer was to go. Duke Taemuran, as well as the other three dukes, know my face.

I may be the first order because I think it’s an insignificant item and I want to deal with it as quickly as possible, but it’s actually beneficial in that I don’t have to waste time.

“Why the mask… ?”

“Would you please understand that I don’t want to arouse the disgust of the nobles by having a scar? “Before, I sent my subordinates, and today I came personally as a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

“Well, I see. It doesn’t matter… In any case, if the bid is not successful, the deposit is lost.”

The manager forces an answer with greedy eyes. So I roughly nodded and went inside.

“But what will you set as the starting price?”

Let’s get started.

First of all, if it seems worthwhile in the beginning, you will rush in more. Aristocrats don’t waste money on good things.

For that purpose, we made a special plate covered in gold that was different from the one that would be distributed generally.

“The starting price is 10,000 runes.”

“what? 10,000 runes?”

That is an amount equivalent to approximately 10 million won. It was natural for the manager to be surprised.

“There’s no way it could be sold at that price. Look. No matter how pure gold it is, the price is ridiculous… .”

“If I don’t win the bid, all my money will be lost. “Isn’t it okay?”

“That doesn’t matter… “Please charge a reasonable price to make sure I’m not doing something truly outrageous.”

“I refuse. That is the appropriate amount.”

I answered firmly. The lowest price is 10 million won. Since it is the first watch to be released to the world, it naturally has more value.

When we go to the waiting room, there are men who appear to be representatives of other companies sitting there. They must have just heard the conversation and were whispering and giggling to each other.

It is inevitable that in their eyes, this is nothing more than a decoration.

Even if the position changes and I am one of those people, from the perspective of the head of the company, what I am doing now will seem crazy.

I didn’t even go there and just waited my turn. There is nothing to wait for. As soon as the manager announces the start of the auction, it begins.

“The first auction item of the day is a wood and solid gold armoire from Gray’s Mercantile. Going to start… 10,000 runes? “I’m sorry.”

The host looks at the manager. The manager sent a sign saying there was nothing wrong. Then the host bows his head to the nobles again.

“Ah, they say 10,000 runes is correct. First, let’s take a look at the radish item in person.”

The host conducts the auction again and people from the association place the items in the center of the stage. And I also moved next to the grandfather clock.

“hello. “I am the representative of the Gray Chamber of Commerce.”

Although temporary. First of all, I’m the representative right now. If the product was successfully popularized, the plan was to receive royalties for each watch sold and leave the rest to sales experts.

Of course, this is irrelevant now.

“Everyone must have questioned the price of 10,000 runes.”

Murmur.

The nobles began to make absurd expressions. As I was about to explain as there seemed to be signs of booing, the host suddenly proceeded with the auction.

It seemed like the manager had given some kind of signal.

“Then don’t you have 10,000 runes? 10,000 runes?”

For that moment, the auction hall became extremely quiet. Of course, no one raised their hand.

Only Medrine had a very troubled look on her face.

“If there is none, we will proceed with a non-successful bid. then… .”

I shook my head at the host who was trying to pass the turn unilaterally.

“wait a minute.”

“yes?”

“The explanation is missing.”

“What explanation? “Isn’t this just a decoration?”

“It has other uses. Please give me just a moment. for a moment.”

I said that in understanding to the host and looked at the nobles again.

“Your Majesty! Do you know about sundials? The sundial in the imperial palace. “This is a clock that tells time hundreds of times more accurately than that sundial.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

A nobleman sitting in the second row stood up. Since he doesn’t have a full name or anything, I can’t even guess his title or name, but the important thing is that he’s starting to show curiosity.

First, I turned the grandfather clock. And just like he did with the dwarf, he opened the back panel and showed the complex interlocking internal structure.

Then, in complete contrast to before, the auction hall began to become noisy.

He quietly turned the clock forward again and began a lecture on clocks, starting with how to read the hour and minute hands.

“… So the current time is 9:20 PM. This isn’t just about telling the time. It helps tremendously in everyday life. “It is possible to gather at precise times, such as when going to a banquet or a palace assembly, and the military can plan precise strategies according to the time.”

“I showed you the internal structure earlier. Does that mean something like that can be mass-produced?”

“yes. “Currently, we are setting up a mass production system at the factory with the help of Count Gray, the lord of Gray City.”

“Huh, something like that… .”

“but! The watch brought to the auction today is a special limited edition. This item is being sold only at this auction, and unlike items sold to the general public, it is painted in pure gold and is exactly the same as the item presented to His Majesty the Emperor. After today, no watch like this will be produced again. That’s why the starting price is 10,000 runes.”

Now the place is starting to become noisy, as if it has become a goblin market. The whispering turned into a commotion, and immediately the nobleman in the back row raised his hand.

“15,000 runes!”

Then the noble in the row next to him also raises his hand.

“17,000 runes!”

“You’re laughing. Those guys over there said we can’t do this, so we’ll get this limited edition product from our side. 50,000 runes!”

The nobleman who was right behind the duke in the front row raised the price at once.

“It’s petty. “I just ordered a nobleman under my command to be petty.”

Then, Duke Taemuran, who was in the front row, quietly stood up.

“I’ll buy it for 100,000 runes.”

With those words, the room became as quiet as ever. Everyone, including the managers and representatives of other companies who were waiting for their turn behind the scenes, were too shocked to even react and were so contemplative that they could not keep their mouths shut.