A moment of silence lingers in the room. I can hear the gears moving in everyone's brain, turning faster and faster, digesting the information, Helioc has given us. Who would have thought there would be a better quality of the N1 solution already made and prepared by the company, but then, why decide to sell it? Why not monopolize it, after all, increasing one's strength is vital for the coming days.
What benefit does Helioc, an Aqua gain by selling N2? Hm… Thinking about it, he has hinted it will be auctioned with items. Maybe they are trying to amass higher quality weapons or materials, or even a higher quantity. The N2 is a limited resource until it can be mass-produced, but by then what is stopping Turquoise from developing an N3 or an N4?
Wait, then this auction is an elaborate plan to gain as many resources from other locations as quickly as possible since there isn't a method of trading in-game yet. Sure, smaller villagers may have found each other or even the larger ones, but ultimately all 10 guilds here could be weeks perhaps even close to months apart by travel. With no reliable fast transportation, the world feels larger than ever, but with the auction, they can use real-life resources in exchange for high-quality or quantity in-game resources.
This way they don't lose anything in-game or in real-life, but instead are always profiting. N1 is sold in real-life for the masses and then N2 is sold in-game, for a fortune. Plus, they could be lying about the amount of N2 they have, waiting for us to offer an even higher deal to profit off of us.
Then, Helioc offers a month-long peace treaty as a way to soften the load of giving us the N2. He would be free from any attacks or attempts of invasion if his village is discovered or is already discovered, protecting his interests and creating a public enemy if we choose to break the treaty. The peace treaty is less of a peace treaty but a method to monitor the guild's potential actions after the auction.
"An interesting proposal… Can I ask, what is the minimum you are looking for in the auction for the N2?" - Arthur
Breaking the silence, Arthur, speaks softly but confidently, resting his chin on the back of his hand as his eyes carefully scan Helioc's reaction.
"If we are going with items or materials for the auction, it will end up as a bartering auction. Prices and values of the items will be skewed in favor of the host of the auction. Especially since we have no way of telling or showing the value of the item we want to put up. What if the item we have is of great value to us, but no value to you?" - Sam
Before Helioc could respond to Arthur's question, Sam inputted his thoughts first. Looking at this like a business, he was trying to gauge if there was a way to connect the items to a numerical value, whether it is in-game or real-life.
"I understand your concern, SAMurai, and as for Arthur's question… I, unfortunately, cannot reveal the answer. This is not because I do not want everyone here to know the answer, frankly, I wish it was just that easy, but it is because I do not know what everyone has to offer. I do not know the materials in your villages, I do not know what kind of resources you have, what kind of weapons or armor, or what types of artifacts you have obtained.
Since I know nothing, of your situation, the only answer I can give you is to present the most valuable object you can think of, in exchange for the N2 solution. It can be anything, from weapons, armor, potions, foods, resources, minerals, etc. I don't have a limit, I just don't know what will be of use until I see it." - Helioc
Like a hammer hitting the table, it felt like everyone went silent. Helioc was pretty much saying, impress me and I will give you what you want. There was nothing else to be said since he was the one that gave us this knowledge.
"What if there is a universal currency?" - Crystal
"Would you care to explain?" - Helioc
"What if we use gold, silver, and copper to create a universal currency in the game? Everyone here isn't an idiot, so they must have thought about creating currency in their village, however, with a lack of resources it might have been hard or even impossible. What if we create one that is acknowledged by everyone here, then we can use that as the auction currency." - Crystal
"Wow… Someone is thinking smart. Makes sense, when you know you don't have anything of value to compete with everyone else." - SanShiGo
"A childish remark." - Crystal
"But a true one. Both Infinity and Adventure's Alliance, don't have much going for them right? Did you even get far in the last event? Oh, wait you didn't. In fact, I don't even remember anyone from either of your guilds in the various locations inside the Glemt." - SanShiGo
"No need to taunt us, SanShiGo. You will be gaining anything from it, although if you keep going then I will have no choice but to just smile and wave in your direction." - Bleu
"I guess it is true… What a pity." - Moon
"Silence. I understand the idea behind creating a currency, however, what about the villages that do not have access to gold, silver, or copper? Do you not think that it is too much of a disadvantage?" - Helioc
"Then we will just have to determine a value prior to the auction, or else-" - Crystal
"Do you mind if I say something?" - Ian
Turning her attention away from Helioc, Crystal looks at me curiously. Prior to this, I only spoke during my introduction and even then, I didn't say much. I wonder… What is her opinion of me?
"Go ahead." - Crystal
"What if it is something everyone can readily acquire without much trouble?" - Ian
"And what would that be?" - Helioc
"I don't know, but I'm just saying. We all know there is going to be a patch soon, so we can always wait for that before discussing this issue again." - Ian
"What is the point of your opinion if there was no solution?!" - Crystal
"Now, now, Crystal. I understand what Ian is suggesting." - Devel
"And what is that? He just said he didn't know. What can everyone readily acquire?" - Crystal
"Is it monsters?" - Vanessa
"Ah… I see, what Ian is on about then. However, that would require us to be quite lucky on what the patch will be right?" - Arthur
"Monster parts? Instead of completed weapons, armor, or even potions and natural resources, but monster parts. Interesting." - Helioc
"So what? A horn from a monster? A claw? Some hide? Is that worth the N2?" - Crystal
"Maybe. Maybe not. No harm in looking right?" - SanShiGo
"Hmm… I quite like that idea. It will show the different kinds of monsters we are all facing as well as give Helioc here lots of options for things he might want for Aqua." - Moon
"Right. It isn't a universal currency, in fact, it is quite far from it, but we should be able to classify types of monsters by the monster parts. After all, each monster has its strengths and weaknesses. Goblins will be worth less, and if someone were able to offer a dragon bone or something of that value, then we can all agree that it is worth more, correct? Goblins are weaker creatures than dragons, thus dragon parts are worth more." - Ian
"Hmm… Alright, I understand what you are saying now. Sorry for my slight outburst." - Crystal
"It's fine. No need to apologize. I wasn't quite clear about it anyway." - Ian
"Hmm… I understand what everyone is saying. Monster parts do sound quite viable, but I will have to see what it is you offer for the N2, but it is also promising. What about the peace treaty that I mention before? What are everyone's thoughts on it?" - Helioc
"Perfect, Helioc. I hate fighting, you know that." - SanShiGo
"I second that. There shouldn't be a reason for us to fight." - Moon
"Be quiet, SanShiGo. I know your true nature, and thank you, Moon." - Helioc
"I'm in favor of the peace treaty, and so is Arthur. The both of us aren't looking for a fight anytime soon." - Devel
"We are good with it as well." - Crystal, Bleu
"So are we. There is no harm in creating a peace treaty between us for a short duration. However, I want to establish some rules if possible." - Sam
"Sam?" - Ian
"What rules are you thinking?" - Helioc
"Since we have territories right now, then I would like to enforce the rule that we can not enter each other's territory. If the player is affiliated with one of us and tries to enter, then I would like to enforce a warning first for them to move, and if they refuse, immediate elimination. Another rule is to create a boundary from the edge of the territory, that way there isn't a standing army at the edge of our territory, waiting for the peace treaty to finish." - Sam
"Afraid are we?" - Devel
"Just taking precautions." - Sam
"That sounds like fair rules to me." - Bleu
"So long as there are no sneaky business." -SanShiGo
"I acknowledge those rules. Everyone must follow it. Understood." - Helioc
"Understood." - everyone
"Alright, thank you for your time. If you like, there is a small function hall on the 10th floor. We have prepared some food for everyone. Otherwise, if you decide to leave, just notify one of the staff members on the first floor. Thank you." - Helioc
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