Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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Han Hyun-min concealed a smile at the corner of his mouth.

In a low voice, he placed his bid.

-400 million.

-500 million.

Another twist occurred once again.

This time, Do Jae-hyun placed a competing bid without hesitation.

When he bid 300 million, his face wrinkled in annoyance, but when he bid 500 million, his expression remained blank.

It was the same face he had when he first bid.

While it might seem unchanged to others, Han Hyun-min understood the significance.

‘He’s determined to take it.’

When competition arises for the desired item, he engages in competitive bidding without hesitation. His attitude indicates a strong determination to acquire this item.

And such a demeanor…

‘That’s your mistake, Do Jae-hyun.’

For him, a hunter of auctions, it was nothing but a prey full of flaws.

-1 billion.

With confidence, Han Hyun-min swiftly raised the bidding unit.

As the competition ensued with increments of 100 million, the price suddenly jumped to 5 billion.

While such price fluctuations are common in auctions, intense price competition for unappraised items is rare.

Of course, there are times when competition for unappraised items goes beyond several tens of billions of won.

For instance, domestically classified artifacts deemed as ‘items’.

Items steeped in history could be legendary or, even if not legendary, possess significant performance.

Auction prices are determined considering these aspects.

In fact, even the [Sword of Repentance], an unappraised item at the time, achieved an auction price of 90 billion based on excavation circumstances, conditions, and the item’s appearance.

However, this auction item had no relevant basis…

A completely unappraised live item.

Even if it were sold for just 100 million, it would sell well.

And around that time…

The surrounding Holders started to stir.

“What’s this? 1 billion?”

“What’s so special that you’d bid 1 billion? Isn’t it an unappraised item?”

“Hey, hey, that person is him. He’s a dedicated Holder from the Sunset’s Flower. His auction success rate is incredible, so shouldn’t we follow his lead?”

“Man, you followed, thinking something good would come out of the unappraised item. What in God’s name are you bidding 1 billion for?”

Unappraised items are, quite literally, speculative items.

No matter how much money holders make, spending over 1 billion on such items is foolish.

Only A-grade Holders can afford such sums comfortably.

And they aren’t interested in unappraised items.

With their financial resources, they can purchase verified items and still have plenty left over.

‘Now, how will it turn out, Do Jae-hyun?’

Han Hyun-min gazed at him with keen interest.

Although not clearly visible from a distance, his expression was caught—twisting and turning.

A look that seemed unsolved.

His second change in expression since Han Hyun-min’s initial bid.

-1 billion. Is there no one else bidding? If not, I will conclude the bidding after the third bid. 1 billion, 1 billion…

And just before the auctioneer’s declaration of the winner…

Do Jae-hyun placed a new bid.

-2 billion.

“2 billion?”

“What’s going on? How’s this flowing?”

“Could there really be something special about that item? Shouldn’t we buy it right now?”

“Oh, I don’t know. If you want it, you buy it. How much did I lose by following the previous unappraised item?!”

A bid of 2 billion.

The price doubled in an instant.

The commotion among the onlookers intensified, and Han Hyun-min was also surprised, staring at him.

‘He’s bidding so aggressively.’

Something is up.

There’s definitely something.

The situation isn’t easily understandable.

Suspicious behavior.

Han Hyun-min felt his hypothesis gaining strength.

‘There must be runes or items involved.’

Skills or items that can roughly assess unappraised items.

He hadn’t experienced them firsthand, but he’d heard about them from other Holders he’d encountered at auctions.

They seemed to know something and participated in auctions with such conditions.

And those unappraised items were almost always big hits.

Special auction conditions he’d only heard about.

Do Jae-hyun was certainly participating with such conditions.

Even if he had a feeling, would he just bid 2 billion right away?

Unless he could use related runes to check unappraised items.

It was an amount that wouldn’t come easily.

‘Perhaps he thought I’d drop out.’

It’s only natural.

This amount is not something you’d bid on just out of competition.

If you followed here, you’d actually be the fool.

But Han Hyun-min smiled inwardly.

‘It’s still early, Do Jae-hyun.’

At least in terms of Holder auctions.

He was a veteran who played above Do Jae-hyun’s head.

“Eun-chul, is the Holder with the appraisal skill waiting outside?”

Han Hyun-min asked his junior clan member next to him.

Before this auction, he received support from the clan, totaling 40 billion won and a Holder with an ‘appraisal’ skill affiliated with the clan.

The clan demanded that he win items they required and, at his discretion, acquire items that would benefit the clan.

This was possible due to Han Hyun-min’s numerous auction successes as a member of <Sunset’s Flower>.

Thanks to this, he obtained many valuable items using approximately 33 billion won.

Leaving around 7 billion.

It was still more than enough to deal with a rookie Holder.

“Yes, he’s waiting outside.”

“He will go to the 6th floor reception desk after this item’s auction ends. Get this item and prepare for appraisal immediately.”

“Understood.”

Unlike regular items, …

Unappraised items can be received by proxy. Due to the lengthy auction duration, many Holders want to appraise the items immediately and check the information. That’s why junior clan members are assigned to handle proxy receiving. This unappraised item, it’s certain that he will be the one to receive it.

-3 billion.

-4 billion.

Han Hyun-min placed a bid of 3 billion.

And Do Jae-hyun immediately followed with a bid of 4 billion.

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