Darkstone Code
Chapter 277 - 0275 Unspoken rules, competitors, questioners

Chapter 277: 0275 Unspoken rules, competitors, questioners

Jogriman, who had returned to his seat, looked somewhat solemn. Lynch’s initial reminder gave him a sense of... anger and shame.

He is currently quite maniacal, and everyone in the bank knows it. Those who were dismissed lost their jobs because they sided wrong in the conflict between Jogriman and his opponent.

Even more terrifying is that the bank manager also very much supports Jogriman, and all the management stands by him, making him the star of the moment and further fueling the talk that he would remain in Sabin City as the bank manager.

But immediately thereafter, he began to feel a slight tingle in his scalp, and he realized immediately that there was a problem with his attitude.

He began to reflect on whether he had done anything foolish lately, and he started to calm down.

In fact, this situation is not an isolated case; it occurs mostly with dictators.

No one dares to question the authority of dictators, which makes them become increasingly arrogant and ultimately lead to their downfall. Fortunately, Lynch’s timely reminder brought him to his senses.

As time progresses, the auction begins. This closed-door auction seemed somewhat... unusual from the start.

Unlike the bustle typically seen at auction venues, the hall was not very lively, with no one whispering to each other and everyone sitting in their own seats.

Assets under the hammer this time include everything under Ristone’s light industry business: real estate, land, production machinery, some raw materials stockpiled in warehouses, and some items that people like Lynch consider trivial, like cars.

For business people, cars have many kinds of values. Some companies acquire an astonishing number of luxury cars each year, with incredible prices. Many ordinary people completely fail to understand why these companies have such needs.

Of course, some people offer explanations, such as maintaining corporate image, as luxury cars have seemingly become the face of a company, which is actually one of the somewhat distorted social cultures of this era.

Does a company have capabilities and strength? The manager or president can’t show up with tens or hundreds of thousands of savings when negotiating a business deal. How else to prove it?

That’s when luxury cars assume this role; they indirectly symbolize the strength of a company.

Moreover, these cars can be used as collateral to banks to pay off the company’s due interest or loan principal, allowing them long-term use for a minimal fee, which can even be traded at the original value, which explains why companies are keen on purchasing many luxury cars.

Today’s auction featured many luxury cars, as well as numerous exquisite sofas, artworks, and other items for enjoyment, all scavenged from a light industry subsidiary under the Ristone Group.

Right from the start, the auction went into the main proceedings. A barely used car produced the year before, with a market price of 32,800, was sold to an ordinary bidder for the low price of 4,200, surprisingly without any competition.

If one observes attentively, they would notice that this bidder only raised their paddle once and then became merely an observer, not raising it again, becoming a part of the auction’s backdrop at that moment.

Next was the second car, the third car... the first set of sofas... the first modern painting... the first art piece...

All these products at the auction were sold at very low prices, approximately an eighth of the original price, occasionally a bit more, such as artworks, but those prices weren’t excessively high, roughly a third of the original cost.

The overall auction operated in a way that many couldn’t comprehend; many might not realize how a person can ensure others do not raise their paddles when they do, everyone harmoniously refraining from competing, keeping the prices at the starting bid.

Had they discussed in advance?

Yes, they had discussed it. All the bank’s employees were involved, from the tellers in the lobby to the managers in the offices. Everyone eligible to participate in this closed-door auction would join in.

In fact, a small internal bidding had already been held prior to this auction to set prices on competitive goods and determine who would get each item.

Everyone adhered to these rules, and after the auction, the successful bidders would also deposit part of their winnings into an account resembling a small event fund for future use during events.

Over a hundred ordinary items were ultimately quickly concluded at starting prices, and City Hall was well-aware of the situation. Although both City Hall and the court had monitors present, they tacitly allowed or turned a blind eye to such occurrences.

By the evaluation of the entire auction process, it fully complied with the laws and charters of the Federation. It was a legal, reasonable, and well-founded auction, and that was enough.

Of course, to prevent the bank from overstepping, City Hall would evaluate these assets’ real value before commissioning the bank for auction, then providing a price they deemed appropriate, which was City Hall’s baseline.

As long as the baseline was not breached, there would be no issues.

Small items were sold off quickly, followed by the land plot, which was a major asset.

The land of this factory lies close to the urban circle, and given Sabin City’s current development pace, in no more than ten years, it will be considered part of the urban circle, at which point its price is bound to soar significantly.

The entrepreneurs invited by the bank gradually perked up. The bank sent them invitations, presumably because they had shown interest in these items, or had substantial funds that the bank hoped they would spend, thus allowing the bank to receive some benefit.

Affected by domestic and international economic conditions, the starting price wasn’t very high, eighty-five thousand. Honestly, this price was already quite low. Not long after the auctioneer announced the starting price, bids started being made, followed by competition.

The price for the first piece of land was ultimately secured at one hundred eleven thousand, which brought a broad smile to the face of Jogriman sitting on the side. A higher total sales amount meant he had done a good job.

Several parcels of land were quickly sold after brief and not so intense competition, followed by the machinery auction.

Very few people were interested in this machinery, purchasing it had little significance, and most seemed indifferent. When Lynch announced the starting price and intended to conclude this auction project to start the next, someone suddenly placed a bid competing with him.

He was somewhat surprised, glancing at the gentleman sitting not far from him. He appeared to be about forty years old with brown hair, and had a meticulously groomed circle of handsome facial hair around his lips.

Lynch had no particular impression of this person, as Sabin City didn’t seem to have any famous capitalist known for such a distinguished beard.

Lynch looked at the guy, who sensed Lynch’s gaze, smiled back at Lynch, and nodded in greeting.

The unexpected competitor caused some matters to spiral out of control. After Lynch attempted to raise the price twice more, the gentleman followed suit, and Jogriman, seated at the host’s podium, noted something was amiss.

After a brief exchange of looks with Lynch, Lynch indicated he needed to call and communicate with his investors, hoping the auction could be paused for fifteen minutes.

Jogriman naturally agreed, and the man competing with Lynch surprisingly agreed to this request.

"What’s the issue with this guy?", Lynch asked with a furrowed brow in the break room.

Jogriman’s expression wasn’t pleasant either, as the least likely place for a problem had encountered one, meaning he hadn’t done his job properly.

It was important to note that Lynch had given significant support and assistance in helping him seize power; he should reciprocate Lynch’s help. This is the social interaction in the Baila society; you wish others to help you when you’re in distress, so you must first help others when they need it.

Lynch helped him, yet he failed to help Lynch.

"Before I came here, I glanced at the invitation cards. Your competitor obtained his invitation card through the state bank branch. We don’t have much information about him, but he is presumably a merchant from the state capital or elsewhere; additionally...", Jogriman scratched his head, a gesture he rarely made, as he believed it displayed incompetence and helplessness.

But now, he subconsciously did it, "And it seems his purpose in coming here is also for this machinery!"

The machinery worth over a hundred thousand was now at a starting price of fifteen thousand due to Lynch’s operations, even after several bids, the price was still under forty thousand.

Although Lynch could continue to increase the price, the feeling of being inexplicably outbid was quite frustrating.

"So, we don’t have any specific solution?", Lynch asked again.

Jogriman, though embarrassed, nodded, "We don’t have any other solution."

Lynch paced back and forth a few steps; this clearly exceeded his expected range. He hadn’t anticipated encountering a problem here, yet the problem occurred, and the only solution was to address it.

"Let’s proceed as planned; perhaps his resolve isn’t as firm as I imagined!"

Returning to the auction floor, Lynch and the gentleman from elsewhere engaged in fierce competition, ultimately pulling the price to ninety-five thousand seven hundred and fifty, far exceeding Lynch’s psychological bottom price.

"It seems Mr. Lynch is determined to secure these items, so...", the gentleman chuckled, displaying a nauseating generosity, "... I will no longer compete!"

As he uttered those words, it felt as though Lynch had gained an advantageous deal from him, giving the illusion that this benefit was voluntarily surrendered by him to Lynch.

Lynch maintained his smile and even expressed gratitude, seemingly sharing the same sentiment.

However, the matter did not conclude there; on the following raw materials auction, they engaged in competition again, increasing the base price of less than twelve thousand to fifty-one thousand; ultimately, Lynch secured these items.

Spending over one hundred thousand more to secure these items, anyone’s mood would be foul, yet Lynch continued to exhibit a radiant smile, as if the auction had no behind-the-scenes dealings at all.

After the auction ended, he sought out the opponent he had contended with and posed a question, "I Can know why you are interested in these items?"