The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 169

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 169
Chapter 169
GM Mimic, the operator of Second.
Why would someone like that contact me?
I could discern the reason immediately just by looking at GM Mimic’s profile.
‘Auction House manager of Second.’
The Second Auction House I’d been using all this time operated differently from other games—Second managed it directly themselves.
It meant that Second hosted all the exchanges themselves: converting game gold and items into real currency, and real currency into gold and items, collecting fees in the process.
Naturally, the Auction House had a dedicated GM overseeing its operations.
That was GM Mimic.
The operator who had contacted me.
And there was only one reason such a person would reach out to me.
‘Black Lion’s Grip.’
A mythic-grade glove crafted by processing the hide of the Red Beast God’s lion alongside Moeldum’s finest Blacksmiths.
Black Lion’s Grip.
That had to be why they contacted me.
[ Y / N ]
A selection window appeared.
Pressing Y would transport me to the operator, presumably.
‘Why not?’
I’d just finished all the tasks I needed to complete anyway.
Curious about what they had to say, I selected Y.
Whoosh!
My body was summoned somewhere.
‘Systemic authority… though calling it that feels somewhat imprecise.’
Just as it was in First, operators in Second weren’t god-like entities.
The powers they could wield inevitably came with limitations.
The same would apply to the force used to summon me just now.
In any case, the place where I materialized was—
‘A room?’
An ornate chamber.
Walls finished in dark wood and soft golden lighting that shimmered with elegance.
Premium sofas for guests and a table adorned with beautiful patterns.
At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary place.
As I surveyed my surroundings, the door to the chamber opened and someone entered.
“Mir, hello! I apologize for the sudden summons—I’m sure it was startling. Ah, please, have a seat over there! The comfort is quite exceptional.”
“Of course.”
There was no need to ask who this was.
The operator who had summoned me here.
It was undoubtedly GM Mimic.
“And would you like to try this as well? Frost Mist Tea and Stardust Sablé. I haven’t met a single person who disliked it after tasting it!”
Following her words, I sampled the tea and cookie.
Sweet cookie and subtle tea.
It was a premium snack—neither too bland nor too stimulating.
– ….
“Would you like to try some too?”
– Thank you, Master.
Whoosh!
As I permitted Luke to eat, black flames erupted across the table, and Luke’s meal began.
GM Mimic was startled at first, but quickly composed herself and praised him as a magnificent summon, then brought more snacks.
“Is it delicious?”
– It is quite a refined snack.
– It feels different from what I’ve tasted at the Imperial Palace.
– I believe I could eat many of these without growing tired of them.
“Really?”
That’s quite generous praise, more than I expected.
Luke actually likes it this much.
“Then I’ll make the same dish for you later. With a recipe that’s far better for your body and more efficient.”
I had intended to make it myself once we left anyway.
– … That’s not necessary, Master.
“No, it’s fine.”
– Really. Really, it’s not necessary.
Luke strongly objected.
He seemed to feel apologetic that his master would spend time for his sake.
“What a kind master you are! If you don’t mind, could I prepare a small supply for you?”
“I would be grateful for that.”
“It’s not an easy snack to obtain, so I can’t provide much, but I’ll prepare some whenever you remember to ask!”
– Thank you…!
I was worried Luke might feel disappointed.
Fortunately, the operator agreed to prepare a small supply of snacks.
In any case, as the atmosphere relaxed thanks to that.
“First, let me introduce myself! As I mentioned earlier, I’m GM Mimic, the Auction House manager for Second!”
“I’m Mir.”
“The creator of the first Mythic-grade item on the Second Korean Server! It’s such an honor to meet you, Mir!”
The operator began to broach the main topic.
“So, what is this about?”
“Hehe, well! As the Auction House manager, I’d like to make you a proposal!”
“What kind of proposal?”
“The item you listed on the Auction House—the Black Lion’s Grip! How about we conduct it as an open auction?”
“An open auction?”
“Exactly! Until now, auctions have only taken place on the Auction House website! This will be an actual in-person auction!”
Open bidding.
Words I hadn’t anticipated reached my ears.
“Actually, we’ve been experiencing errors with high-value auction items recently.”
“What kind of errors?”
“Well, the website requires bids to be placed within a set time frame. During the final moments of competition, people often miss their timing due to time constraints.”
For example, when a certain item is up for auction.
Hesitant bidders suddenly raise the price in the final ten seconds before the auction closes.
When this happens, existing buyers or those watching from the sidelines fail to keep up with the timing and miss out on the item, even though they could have offered a higher price.
As a result, the item owner doesn’t receive more money, and wealthy buyers fail to acquire the item.
It’s the greatest flaw of online auctions.
Which is why GM Mimic—
“To solve this problem, we’re planning to launch open public auctions not just on the website Auction House, but directly within Second! Starting with your ‘Black Lion’s Grip’, Mir!”
The Black Lion’s Grip was being used as a promotional tool to advertise the Auction House.
I understood the intent.
It was actually a noble cause.
The problem was what I would gain from this arrangement.
“What exactly would I receive in return for this?”
“As I mentioned, with an open auction format, there’s no tight time restriction, so buyers can bid more freely and the item will sell at a higher price! Loopholes won’t work, and you’ll get the best possible price!”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Pardon?”
“That’s obvious, but since you’re using my item as a promotional tool, shouldn’t I receive compensation commensurate with advertising fees?”
Truthfully, I’d benefit even if I did nothing.
But I’m not foolish enough to actually sit idle.
Fortunately, it seemed the operator hadn’t overlooked this either.
“Ah, you’re right. Then I’ll specially upgrade you to VIP customer status! As a VIP customer, you’ll receive commission reductions!”
VIP customer.
Since I’d been using the Auction House recently, I knew what VIP customer status meant.
Once you spend a certain amount or more at the Auction House, your tier gradually increases until you eventually reach VIP status.
When this happens, you receive various benefits such as preferential treatment during auctions at the same bid amount or a certain reduction in commissions.
These are quite excellent benefits, but—
“Won’t I automatically become a VIP customer once the Black Lion’s Grip sells?”
“However, if you become a VIP customer after it sells, the Black Lion’s Grip won’t receive the commission reduction!”
“So you’re trying to settle this by reducing my commission just once?”
“No, that’s not quite what I meant…”
Once the Black Lion’s Grip sells, I’ll meet the VIP requirements.
Since I’ll meet those requirements anyway, receiving them early only allows me to use them in this auction.
That hardly qualifies as proper compensation.
The operator paused to think for a moment.
“Alright, I understand! I’ll upgrade you to VIP customer status immediately, and additionally, I’ll reduce your commission by half!”
“Only half off?”
“I can’t go any lower! You’re already receiving a VIP fee reduction, and now you want an additional fifty percent off on top of that? That’s absolutely incredible!”
“Hmm….”
“Ugh, fine! Another half off from there! At this rate, I wouldn’t even get these numbers if I participated in the auction myself!”
“Very well.”
“Phew….”
I managed to secure the additional discount and continue the contract.
“For the public auction, Mir will need to appear directly, but if you’d like, I can hide your nickname! How would you prefer?”
“Please hide my nickname.”
“Of course! And I’ll stake my position as an operator that I won’t reveal Mir’s existence to anyone, so you don’t need to worry!”
“Understood.”
“Then, I’ll contact you as soon as the time is set. Please wait a moment!”
Thus, the public auction for the Black Lion’s Grasp was confirmed.
* * *
After that.
A mysterious message arrived to all those who had received VIP status on the Second Auction House website.
[ Hello, this is GM Mimic, the auction manager for Second. ]
[ I’m contacting you to inform our VIP customers of an important announcement. ]
The content was simply this.
“A public auction?”
Not an auction conducted on the internet website.
An announcement that the public auction would take place within the game itself.
Among the users who received the message, some felt troubled.
Public auctions did have the advantage of not being bound by time like website auctions, but they questioned whether they really needed to expose their identities to participate in a public auction.
However, those who saw the first item of the public auction had no choice but to change their minds.
“The Black Lion’s Grasp?”
The Black Lion’s Grasp—the item that had been heating up the auction house recently.
That item was apparently going to be auctioned publicly.
The confused users checked the website and found that the ongoing auction for the Black Lion’s Grasp had stopped, replaced instead with an announcement about the public auction.
As such, those invited to this public auction weren’t just VIP customers.
“A public auction?”
Even non-VIP customers—those who had been spending fortunes participating in auctions to purchase the Black Lion’s Grasp recently.
All of them received the invitation message.
With a Mythic-grade item like the Black Lion’s Grasp on the line, this public auction was guaranteed to be popular.
“Gather as much funds as possible before the public auction!”
“Sell game items if you have to and raise money!”
“It’s a Mythic-grade item! We absolutely have to buy it!”
Countless users prepared to win the bid for the Black Lion’s Grasp.
There were those who wanted to equip the Black Lion’s Grasp immediately, and there were also those preparing to win the bid, thinking the Black Lion’s Grasp would become increasingly expensive as time passed.
The rankers of Second.
The leaders of massive Guilds.
Young heirs from wealthy families not yet at that level, but with keen interest in Mythic-grade armor, and many others.
As countless individuals turned their attention toward it, Second was conducting extensive promotional campaigns for the public auction.
“Are you prepared?”
“Yes, we’ve gathered as much capital as possible.”
“Good. We must secure the winning bid, no matter what.”
“Of course.”
At last, the day had arrived.
The Second Auction House.
Renowned players began gathering there—top-ranked users from Second and leaders of massive Guilds alike.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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