Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2043: Short bid

“Two point three million!”

A collective gasp echoed amongst the onlookers.

“Are you out of your mind with the pricing?”

The heir of the Su Clan shot back immediately.

While mechanical war beasts offered undeniable advantages, boasting technology and material science far surpassing conventional equipment of similar tiers, their exorbitant cost was difficult to justify.

Despite their numerous abilities and formidable power, functioning as potent individual combatants on the battlefield, they remained artificial constructs. Unlike genuine war beasts capable of natural recovery with proper care, these machines necessitated costly professional repairs when damaged, a stark contrast to the mere medicinal expenses for an injured beast.

Karnagu’s earlier claims about Mountain Rage’s self-healing materials notwithstanding, no one present was foolish enough to believe. Only the core structure might regenerate; what about other crucial components like the transmission or control systems? Surely, these would still require expensive, specialized repair services.

Furthermore, the parallel between feeding real war beasts and maintaining mechanical ones became apparent. This mechanical counterpart demanded ongoing upkeep: part replacements, system tuning, tasks beyond the capabilities of ordinary individuals. Acquiring such a machine inherently meant incurring substantial associated costs for necessary support infrastructure.

Therefore, evaluating the purchase of Mountain Rage solely on its initial price was misleading. Supporting expenses had to be factored in. For most mechanical war beasts, annual maintenance hovered around a tenth of their purchase price, with higher-grade models incurring even greater upkeep costs.

For this colossal machine, a conservative estimate placed its annual maintenance and upkeep expenses at a staggering 200,000 Moonspan Gold. Combined with the 2.3 million needed for its acquisition, this presented an immense financial strain on any potential buyer.

In the eyes of many, two million Moonspan Gold was already a highly lucrative price. They had never anticipated Karnagu demanding 2.3 million Moonspan Gold right from the outset.

“It’s not that I’m intentionally overpricing it, but Mountain Rage genuinely warrants this cost. You might not be aware, but our tests revealed that when Mountain Rage partners with an individual possessing Furelai exceeding thirty thousand, it can unleash combat power that surpasses the controller’s own capabilities. We estimate Mountain Rage is equivalent to a warrior with fifty thousand Furelai. With optimal coordination, the exhibited strength could even far exceed that benchmark. Consider it from a different perspective: cultivating an expert with fifty thousand Furelai incurs a far greater expense than just over two million Moonspan Gold, wouldn't you agree? So, tell me, can this marvel truly be considered expensive? Even if it carries a high price, its value demonstrably exceeds it!”

Karnagu gestured emphatically, projecting an image of unwavering resolve regarding the price. Yet, his gaze flickered towards the other potential buyers, a silent plea for them to initiate counter-offers. Any form of bidding would solidify the 2.3 million Moonspan Gold benchmark. He had mentally excluded Ye Zhongming from this calculation, as the latter had already utilized Moonspan Gold and Red Condensation-grade equipment as payment earlier, indicating a drained purchasing capacity.

“Far too expensive. The maintenance demands for mechanical war beasts are inherently substantial, and this particular model is Raini Grade. Any malfunction necessitates summoning the Taros Red Dwarves for repairs. As everyone here knows, their services come at a premium. Recall the costs incurred when the war beast on the city gate malfunctioned previously? You’re all aware of the figures. While this one may not reach such extreme levels, the repair costs will undoubtedly be significant.”

The designated heir of the Su Clan scoffed, stating, “We seek to bolster our strength, not to invite perpetual trouble and discomfort upon ourselves. If the ongoing expenses remain exorbitant on top of this steep purchase price, it becomes truly unsupportable.”

He silenced any further explanations from Karnagu, declaring, “I’ll be direct. Two million, and I will acquire Mountain Rage. Any amount exceeding that, and I must regrettably withdraw.”

Karnagu’s brow furrowed slightly, feeling a sense of misfortune. This situation had taken an unexpected turn, deviating from the anticipated bidding war into a direct negotiation.

Another individual from the Su Clan shrugged, signaling disinterest. His financial capacity did not permit a two-million Moonspan Gold outlay, and the prospect of potentially hundreds of thousands in future maintenance costs was even less tenable.

The remaining two participants from allied clans remained contemplative. They possessed the financial means but were weighing the true value proposition of this acquisition.

With the Su Clan taking the lead, situations that absolutely required Raini Grade equipment were quite rare in the generally peaceful cosmic races. Even if such an event arose, the Su Clan would invariably be at the forefront. Consequently, a mechanical war beast, incurring substantial initial and ongoing expenses, was truly unnecessary.

One individual swiftly declared their disinterest. The other, just as everyone anticipated he would also decline, unexpectedly submitted a bid.

“Two point one million.”

All eyes turned to him, perplexed by his intentions. The representative from the Su Clan, in particular, regarded him with growing anger.

This reaction was understandable; when the initial bid was two million, Karnagu’s demeanor suggested some flexibility, indicating the price was open to negotiation. However, this new bidder’s action pushed Karnagu back into the position of awaiting the highest offer.

“Two point two million,” the Su Clan individual countered, adding one hundred thousand Moonspan Gold with a hint of petulance. Nevertheless, his tone was sharp, his expression stern, a clear warning directed at the other bidder.

“Two point three million. I find this quite appealing,” the persistent bidder declared, shedding his previous concerns and apparent indecision, replaced now by an air of relaxed indifference.

The Su Clan heir harbored a strong desire to increase the bid again but was restrained by the attendant beside him. Despite being a direct descendant of the Su Clan, expending over two million, plus the inevitable maintenance costs, presented a significant financial strain. Furthermore, his designation as heir was merely nominal; any actual inheritance of the Su Clan’s power was out of the question.

Unable to uphold his pride, he let out an angry snort, turned, and departed.

The individual affiliated with the Su Clan offered a smile, watching the heir leave, before addressing Karnagu, “In that case, let us finalize the transaction.”

While Karnagu hadn't secured a higher price for his Mountain Rage, the 2.3 million initially stated was already an excellent figure. He nodded, prepared to accept the offer.

“Two point five million.”

Ye Zhongming’s quiet interjection immediately halted Karnagu, his eyes sparkling with renewed interest.

“What is the meaning of this?” the Su Clan affiliated individual inquired coldly, having believed the deal was settled.

“The highest bidder claims the prize. Furthermore, I am genuinely fond of this item.”

Incensed by the response, the affiliated individual escalated the bid by another hundred thousand, reaching 2.6 million. Ye Zhongming promptly raised it by an additional 200,000, bringing the total to 2.8 million!

Those accompanying him began tugging at Ye Zhongming’s sleeve, signaling that regardless of the item’s merit, its value did not warrant such an exorbitant price. Moreover, they silently questioned the wisdom of such a high-profile display within the Su Clan’s domain.

“Two point nine million!” the rival bidder exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. “If you offer three million, I shall concede the item to you!”

“Three million!”

Ye Zhongming’s pronouncement met the challenge precisely.