The fox-like elder's gaze towards Chen Yu changed.
4 Fire Power.
100 Fire Resistance made it practical.
This…
Could it be that this was not enough to move the well-traveled elder?
If not, then considering the taste that was so delicious it made one want to rip off their clothes, the fox-like elder believed that in his half-life traversing the underground, he had never tasted such a delicacy.
This single can of preserved food made him feel his previous life had been lived in vain.
"Young friend, the items you've provided are definitely substantial," the fox-like elder said with utmost seriousness. "It's just, I wonder, what is the approximate expected bidding price for this can of preserved food?"
"Huh?"
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, it's to sell for as much as possible!"
This old fox was truly quite interesting.
An auction!
Who could predict the final transaction price in gold coins?
Furthermore—
Chen Yu was actually more concerned about the bidding slots. What he needed most urgently were legendary blueprints and camp guides. Only by participating in the auction could he acquire them at a lower price.
And while he was at it, he wanted to test the waters with the native financial magnates of the underground city-states.
Whoever dared to make a move against him,
He would use them as his stepping stone.
That's how confident he was!
Chen Yu couldn't believe it. He, a person who had received a higher education, couldn't possibly outmaneuver the local magnates of the underground, with its feudalistic slave system.
Even in terms of assets, those magnates' cash flow might not necessarily surpass his.
The fox-like elder also noticed Chen Yu's expression.
He explained with a smile.
"Young friend, it's like this, I wish to directly purchase your items on behalf of the Elton family," the fox-like elder said softly. "Name your price, and I'll make the decision to buy it directly. Otherwise, while your goods are good, the small quantity makes it difficult to get onto the auction stage, and our direct purchase has no handling fees."
Hiss!
So, that was their intention.
Chen Yu smiled.
He wasn't surprised by the fox-like elder's actions. Regarding the preserved food he produced, he had absolute confidence in it.
It's just—
That explanation was somewhat disingenuous.
While the fox-like elder seemed frank and was considering Chen Yu's interests, the truth was, he simply wanted to acquire good quality items at a low price.
Handling fees?
Did Chen Yu care about that?
From the elder's demeanor, Chen Yu could roughly estimate that his preserved food would fetch at least ten thousand, and with reduced consumption requirements, coupled with double bonuses for taste and attributes,
The price was bound to increase exponentially.
It was like an item in a game; while the names might be the same, the differing attributes would dictate different prices, and items closer to their limit would have higher value.
Otherwise, why would "no level requirement" items be so expensive?
And "simplified" items be so expensive?
"Let's stick to the auction," Chen Yu grinned, not exposing the elder's intentions. "I also want to experience the atmosphere of the auction."
"No problem!"
The fox-like elder said with a smile.
"I will grant you the qualification to participate in the auction. I will personally escort you to the auction hall later. I believe it would be best for your items to be sold directly to us at Elton. I'll offer you 20,000 per can, how about that?"
Woah!
Twenty thousand!
He hadn't expected to have underestimated it.
The fox-like elder waited for a response, while Chen Yu rested his chin on his hand, gently rubbing his jaw.
"You want all of them?"
"Yes!"
"Oh, then I have quite a lot of these goods," Chen Yu coughed lightly. The elder, however, smiled indifferently, "How many do you have, I'll buy them all."
"Truly?"
"Mhm!"
"I have 300 cans."
"Mere 300…" The elder, who had been relaxed a moment before, froze and widened his eyes. "300 cans!!!"
Twenty thousand per can.
300 cans meant a total of 6 million gold coins.
"Yes, 300 cans."
Chen Yu's eyes brimmed with a smile, and a sword blade emitting a colorful glow suddenly appeared in his hand.
The Five-Colored Sword!
Upon seeing this sword, the elder's expression tensed again.
"To be perfectly honest, I'm actually here to sell goods on behalf of my elders," Chen Yu said, holding the Five-Colored Sword and smiling. "My elders learned that your noble family would be holding an auction in the Turner City-State, so they sent me here to bid. They also required me to participate in the auction. Although the price you offered is very high, however…"
Chen Yu trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
"I understand, I understand,"
The fox-like elder nodded with a light smile.
"Family decisions cannot be defied. Since your noble family has decided to auction, then let this item be listed!" the elder said softly. "However, I have one small request."
"Please, speak."
"10 items for auction, and the average of their final bid prices will be taken. May I sell the rest to my Elton family?"
"No handling fees."
Upon hearing this, the fox-like elder inwardly cursed the "little fox."
Elton Auction House.
The handling fees ranged from 3% to 10%.
For transactions exceeding a million, they charged 3%. At a price of 6 million, Elton would receive 180,000 gold coins in handling fees, yet Chen Yu wanted to waive it all with a single sentence.
Was he not considered a bit of a fox?
However—
This canned food was indeed important to the Elton family.
300 cans.
1200 Fire Power.
It could help the Elton family nurture a batch of outstanding fire mages.
This canned food, he had to have it!
"No charge!" the elder said with a smile, shaking his head. "The 10 items listed for auction will also not incur any handling fees. What do you say?"
"Then, since you are showing me so much consideration, how can I not give you face?"
Chen Yu smiled and leaned forward.
From a profit perspective, Chen Yu was already at no loss.
Although he didn't know much about the Elton family, he assumed their family strength was quite good. Establishing good relations here was not a bad thing for him.
The martial world, it wasn't about fighting and killing, it was about human relationships and savoir-faire.
Who knew, perhaps one day.
Chen Yu might collaborate with the Elton family again!
"In that case, happy cooperation!" The elder rose with a smile and moved to embrace him, but Chen Yu took a step back. "Sir, while cooperation is indeed pleasant, is it really appropriate to embrace while wearing only a pair of shorts? Also, where I grew up, we shake hands instead of embracing when cooperating."
Only then did the elder notice that he was now unclothed.
Only a pair of shorts covered his modesty.
The elder, having experienced much, showed no embarrassment despite being scantily clad. He took off a robe and put it on in front of Chen Yu.
Seeing this, Chen Yu had already extended his right hand.
The fox-like elder glanced at it, then placed his own hand forward.
Hands clasped!
"Happy cooperation!"
The elder said with a smile, and Chen Yu, holding the elder's hand, nodded with a pleased grin.
"Happy cooperation."
For Chen Yu, this was an undeniably monumental moment.
This handshake.
It represented Chen Yu's formal first cooperation with an underground family, and Chen Yu was well aware that this was just the beginning of his journey to achieve great things in the underground.
He could feel it.
A strong premonition.
In the future, such collaborations would become more frequent, and they wouldn't need him to visit; rather, they would come to his domain seeking cooperation.
Family?
Conglomerates!
Even the kings of kingdoms, what of them?
In the future,
They would all have to look to Chen Yu for approval!