Twenty minutes after the bidding began, the price reached ten million gold coins, and there was no end in sight as the price kept increasing.
Additionally, the bids were becoming larger and larger.
Within half an hour, the price skyrocketed to thirty million, and at this point, some of the bidders gave up since they didn't have enough money to continue.
One by one, the people dropped out of the bid, but the price didn't even slow down, soon reaching forty million gold coins.
-45,000,000 gold coins.
Fei Fei finally joined the bidding, making everyone speechless.
At this point, the bids were rising by at least a hundred thousand gold coins, but she went straight for the kill, raising the price by five million in one go.
Even the host was speechless for a few seconds before he remembered that he had work to do.
-45,000,000 going once, is there anyone who wishes to bid higher?
The host asked, but most of the guests were still in shock, so no one answered.
-45,000,000 going twice, last chance for anyone to bid higher.
-45,000,000 going thrice, sold to the lady in private room nr 5!
The mallet fell, snapping everyone back to reality, but it was already too late now, and the precious item was bought while they were in a daze.
However, they all knew the rules, so they could not blame anyone but themselves for missing out on this item.
Soon, the auction continued with more items being sold one after the other.
The only difference was that now everyone waited to see if someone from the private room nr 5 wanted to bid, heaving a sigh of relief when there was no word from the said room.
-I think you overdid it a bit.
Paul said, trying not to laugh at the situation.
-It's not my fault that they are so easily startled.
Fei Fei answered.
She was happy that she got what they wanted, and now all that was left was to wait for the end of the auction to collect their items.
The next few items didn't make as much of an impact, but soon it was time for the Mana carrots to be sold.
-Dear guests, it is time for the top three items of the auction, and the first of them is three mana carrots.
These ingredients are of the highest quality, and I'm sure that there is no need to tell anyone how rare and how useful these things are.
The host presented the three carrots on a silver tray, making the guests gasp in shock.
It was rare enough to have an opportunity to buy one of these, and they usually were far from the best quality.
Yet every time a mana carrot was sold in this town, its price was astronomical, to say the least.
-Without further ado, the starting price for all three is 1,000,000 gold coins.
The host said, and a moment later, the bidders started shouting over one another as the price skyrocketed.
In less than five minutes, the price reached 40,000,000, and the bidding was still going strong as nobody wanted to pass such an opportunity.
Neither Paul nor Fei Fei was surprised by this since these carrots were rarer than even the fiery ginseng, and they were of the highest quality to boot.
The two of them quietly observed the bidding war, which was the only way to describe what was going on.
It didn't take long for the price to reach 100,000,000, and it was still rising, despite many bidders backing off, since they didn't have nearly enough funds to continue bidding.
When the price rose to 200,000,000, there were only seven people still bidding, and each bid rose the price by ten million at a time.
At 250,000,000, there were only five contenders left; at 300,000,000, there were only three bidders, and they were going toe to toe.
By the 400,000,000 mark, there were only two left, and to Paul's surprise, they were exactly the two people Fei Fei told him about at the beginning of the auction.
-I should have known that these two would be the last ones standing.
She said, seeing the two men still bidding, raising the price by 20,000,000, by now.
Paul was hardly able to believe the amount of money the two of them were willing to spend on the three carrots.
Only now did he understand Fai Fei's words about it being an understatement to call these two men wealthy.
-Fei Fei, are these two rivals or friends?
-Why do you ask?
She looked at him strangely.
-Because I don't want to ruin a friendship.
He smiled with amusement, seeing as she was trying to figure out what he was planning.
-They are rivals, but I would not call them friends, but they are also not enemies.
She explained, though it had been many years since she last saw the two of them.
-Good, then this might work.
Paul said and summoned the servant.
-Can you call your appraiser here?
He asked.
-Right away.
The girl said and left immediately.
-What are you planning?
Fei Fei asked.
-Seeing how much they want the carrots, it would be unfair to only let one of them have them, wouldn't it?
He asked her with a grin.
It was her first time seeing this expression on his face, but she quickly connected the dots.
-That's a bold plan.
She admitted once it was clear what he was planning to do.
At that moment, the appraiser arrived.
-You wished to see me, young master?
The woman asked.
-Yes, I'm wondering if the Auction house could act as a middleman for me once the auction is over, the commission would be 5%.
-That depends on what you have in mind, young master?
The woman asked, not wanting to commit to anything without knowing what she would be getting into.
Paul explained his plan, and the woman was stunned.
-I'm sorry, young master, but I need to ask the owner about this.
-Then please do so as soon as possible.
Paul said, and the woman was gone the next moment, hurrying to tell the host, who was also the owner, about his proposition.
-You really don't like the idea of relying on us, do you?
Fei Fei asked the moment the appraiser left.
She was surprised that he even came up with such a plan.
-It's not that I don't like the idea of relying on you ladies.
Paul shook his head.
-There is an opportunity to gain a lot of money right in front of me, so why should I not take it?
He asked, with an innocent smile, that failed to trick her.
Fei Fei was certain that he was doing it to avoid relying on her fortune in the future, but that was all right for now.