After Being Sold Out By The Empire, I Decide To Assist The Demon King
Chapter 109 - 108: This is the essence of price gouging.

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: This is the essence of price gouging.

Duke Hazad, or rather... the current Hazad Duchy Alliance, was originally Caesar Duchy and Hazad Duchy, and even before that, there existed a similarly named "Hazad Duchy Alliance."

The former Hazad Duchy Alliance split into Hazad Duchy and Caesar Duchy, which later merged again to form the Hazad Duchy Alliance, finally stabilizing the chaotic situation.

This led to the constant presence of factions within Hazad Duchy, with an even more complex situation than the Empire’s "two-pillar" state—different races, former Hazad people, Caesar folks, mercenaries, with countless factions standing tall.

No matter who became the king, they couldn’t win over everyone, so... the current Hazad Duchy followed Caesar Duchy’s parliamentary system.

Various factions and families nominated council members to vote on and invest in national policies, deciding the development direction of the Hazad Duchy Alliance. The number of council members could go up to hundreds at most.

It seemed like a very advanced, democratic system, but because money was often used to solve problems, and the duchy’s gold coins were always used, which were conveniently exchanged at 1:10 silver coins, the duchy became a country that valued money greatly.

It could almost be said that it was a nation built by merchants where almost everything could be bought with money. War traders generally started from Hazad Duchy.

Balls, social gatherings, banquets, dances filled the noble circles of Hazad Duchy; thus, the duchy and council members obtained intelligence and profits... The war with the Empire was their profitable business.

A war that’s destined not to win might even bring a lot of things instead.

This wasn’t a war that required the entire nation’s effort; it was merely an exchange of interests, a one-sided trade... so there was no trace of tension within Hazad Duchy’s royal capital.

Noble ladies lingered at balls, talking about sachets and soaps.

Nobles laughed, drank, and discussed the current situation.

"..."

Novak Auction, one of the most famous auction houses in the capital, was very popular due to its simultaneous balls and auctions.

This was also one of the reasons why Duke Novak became a councilman of the duchy... because it was really profitable.

This was also why the Novak Family set such high prices for the "Bee Flower Snow Moon," since with a proper name, the Novak Family could strongly promote things if they wished.

This is the necessity of "fashion" and "trends," after all, these concepts could easily make money.

The auction house was large, filled with many nobles clinking glasses and freely taking food, and on the stage at the other end of the auction hall stood an elf in a bright red dress.

The sharp ears and beautiful appearance were proof of her pure elf bloodline; she wasn’t any half-elf but a full elf. *Her smiling expression showed no signs of being a slave; rather, she was a happy employee hosting the auction.*

"An Ancient Key, sourced from some ruins, with its long past, no one knows what kind of treasure box it opens. However~ If anyone has a sealed treasure box at home, you can try it out~ Who knows, you might get a lot of money~"

*The elf’s voice was very pleasant. If the Sea Demons’ singing was melodious and ethereal, then the elf’s voice was like morning dew and the early morning bird chirps before the sunrise.*

"Starting at 20 gold coins, participate enthusiastically~"

Upon the elf auctioneer’s words, many nobles began their bidding... naturally, those were the uncultured nobles. Anyone with slight knowledge of ancient artifacts knew.

Everyone had sealed treasure boxes at home, which absolutely couldn’t be opened by an ancient key since the ancient treasure boxes needing keys usually came before the perfect spell technology.

A sword strike could open them.

If it were from the time when spell technology had developed, then those treasure boxes wouldn’t be opened by a key without any hint of Mana Wave... but no one pointed this out.

This wasn’t considered deceit; it was merely a marketing technique... a kind of inducement.

Finally, this broken key from unknown origins was auctioned off at a high price of one hundred and ten gold coins, a number unimaginable to civilians, but here it didn’t make any splash.

"Next is the second-to-last item of this auction, by Duke Novak himself—a peculiar fragrant liquid, similar to perfume, that once applied to the body, will have a continuous scent."

"According to ancient records, this perfume is called ’Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon.’ The Duke is currently trying to commission half-divine craftsmen from abroad to replicate it, with only a few bottles in his possession at present."

"Ladies, do you want to be the center of attention at gatherings?"

The elf auctioneer covered her mouth and giggled, flicking her emerald green hair, pulling out the silver birdwood stopper of the metal bottle embellished with gold lace... suddenly, a thorough fragrance filled the entire hall.

The women present all showed interested expressions.

The men revealed helpless looks, knowing they would have to spend money again... they used perfume to cover their body odor but still didn’t understand why to chase after increasingly expensive scents.

However, some male nobles were extremely interested, even showing fanatic expressions towards the perfume... the more they esteemed themselves as artists and high-end, the more they did so.

Some also wanted to build connections with Duke Novak.

"This bottle of ’Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon,’ starts at 50 gold coins, each bid increment must not be less than 10 gold coins, let’s begin~"

"..."

"80 gold coins."

"100 gold coins."

"120."

"170."

"..."

——————————

"Father, it seems the final price will be around two hundred gold coins..."

Appearances can be deceiving, Junior Novak asked his youthful-looking father, as he watched the bidding slow down in the hall below, "Nearly a hundred times profit, it was worth the momentum we built."

But Duke Novak didn’t say anything, he just softly shook the bell beside him, and with his motion, the predetermined bidder below instantly placed a bid: "300 gold coins!"

"..."

The auction house instantly fell silent. No surprise, this bottle of Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon would be bought by someone arranged by Duke Novak, merely shifting from the left hand to the right.

"Father? What’s this about?"

To his son’s confusion and regret, Duke Novak gently shook his head and said, "This is a marketing technique Elkaras once told me—when something is being auctioned, many factors decide its price, for instance..."

"..."

Junior Novak understood, he rubbed his stubble...

"Its previously auctioned price?"