Marcus pulled the Guild Creation Token from his inventory and offered it across the table.
Within the auction house interface, once a player and shop owner initiated a trade, the system took over, securing the item. If it sold, the gold went straight to the seller's account. If it didn't, the item was returned. It was safe.
"A Guild Creation Token!"
Old Vine had been wondering what this cautious, masked player considered valuable enough for a private meeting. When 'Stonehaven' handed him what looked like a plain, dark ingot of iron, he was baffled. But as his fingers closed around the cold metal and the three swirling, magically embossed words came into focus, he jolted back in his chair, his professional composure shattered.
"You're the one who activated the Guild System?" he asked, a note of genuine surprise in his voice as he addressed Marcus.
"Just a lucky break," Marcus replied with a casual shrug. "Dropped from a quest completion."
"And you're the Knight topping both the Reputation and the Top Ten Experts leaderboards. That's you, isn't it?"
Marcus gave a wry smile. "Let's just call it a fortunate streak. I'd prefer if that didn't become common knowledge."
"I'm in the business of gold, Mr. Stonehaven, not gossip. Your secret is safe with me," Old Vine assured him. He leaned back in his chair, studying Marcus with a newfound intensity. "I have to admit, I never thought I'd be doing business with the top-ranked player in Dominion. This is quite a day."
"You're too kind."
Marcus found it quietly amusing that a man of Old Vine's age and apparent experience would be impressed by something as fleeting as a leaderboard position.
"So, Mr. Vine," Marcus said, steering the conversation back on track. "What's the best way to auction this token?"
"Before we proceed, Stonehaven, are you absolutely certain you want to sell this?" Old Vine's tone turned serious, almost paternal. "With this item, your level, and your reputation… founding a guild would cement your legacy. It seems a shame to let that opportunity slip away. A young man like you should be aiming for the stars."
"I'm not interested in running a guild," Marcus stated plainly. "I work better alone. This is just a way to make some real money."
"I see. In that case, this token is nothing short of a treasure." Old Vine held the token up, his eyes glinting with a merchant's avarice. "Stonehaven, by bringing this to my auction house, you've placed a great trust in me. And I promise you, I will make sure you get a price that will make your head spin."
Old Vine gazed at the token, feeling a long-dormant ambition stir. He'd entered Dominion on a whim after retirement, but a hidden quest had landed him this auction house. He saw the potential, the sheer economic engine the world represented. But he'd been outmaneuvered by the bigger players; the Merchant Alliance and Gold Coin auction houses, with their deeper pockets and flashier marketing. Old Vine Auction House had been languishing. Until now.
This token was his ticket back into the game. The balance of power was about to shift. With the endorsement of the game's top player, he couldn't lose. He felt it in his bones.
"Whoever holds this token gets to found the first guild," Old Vine began, his voice dropping into a analytical cadence. "That's a monumental advantage. Every major group, every wealthy syndicate with dreams of conquest will be clawing each other's eyes out for it. The bidding will be a bloodbath."
"The currency exchange goes live tomorrow at midnight. For these organizations, money is just a number. My conservative estimate? This will go for no less than three million gold."
"Three million?" Marcus blurted out, unable to hide his shock. That converted to three hundred thousand dollars. For a single digital item? He'd seen real-money trading before, but this was on another level entirely. It was insane.
"You think three million is high? That's my floor," Old Vine said, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
Marcus was speechless.
"Stonehaven, Dominion isn't just a game. It's a second reality. It's where people live out their fantasies. For the people we're dealing with, spending that kind of money is about the experience, the glory. They want to make a splash, even if it means failing spectacularly." Old Vine seemed to transform as he spoke, exuding a world-weary confidence. "Besides, three hundred thousand dollars? That's a vacation home they never visit. It's a sports car they buy on a whim. It's pocket change to them. Trivial."
Marcus just stared. Old Vine was talking about a sum that was life-changing for him with the casualness of someone discussing the weather.
"When can we hold the auction?" Marcus asked, his impatience returning.
"The day after tomorrow. We'll issue a global announcement immediately. Once people have had a chance to convert their currency tomorrow, we'll strike. It's the perfect timing." Old Vine's plan was laid out with concrete certainty.
"Good."
"Stonehaven, since you are the top player, you must have some high-level gear lying around. If we bundle it with the token, it creates a bigger event and drives the price up."
"I've got a few Golden-tier pieces, and some level twenty-five to thirty blues sitting in my storage. It's nothing spectacular, but I can go get it."
"Perfect, be quick about it! You retrieve the gear, and I'll start the promotional machine. We need to make this an event nobody forgets."
Old Vine's eyes were alight with fervor. The Guild Creation Token, supplemented by high-end gear from the game's best player; this was how legends were made, and how auction houses became famous.
Marcus hurried to the Storage Vault and began sorting through his belongings. A wave of disappointment washed over him. For the so-called "number one," his hoard was pathetically meager. He felt like a fraud.
After sorting, he had fifty-five pieces of Blue equipment between levels twenty-five and thirty (the White trash had been vendored long ago). Aside from the Skeleton Set he was wearing and the gear he'd gifted to Lily and his sister, his Golden-tier inventory was depressingly slim: the War Bear Armor and Cabaro's Greataxe. That was it.
'God, I'm broke,' he thought, the realization hitting him. He'd been strutting around feeling powerful, but his net worth was a joke. This was embarrassing.
He decided to get the rest of the Cabaro set appraised. Since the Greataxe was a two-handed Warrior weapon and useless to him, he might as well sell the whole lot.
"Hey there, Appraiser. Got some work for you."
"Ah, Stonehaven! Back so soon? Let's see what treasures you've unearthed for me this time," the old appraiser said, his eyes twinkling. The recognition was a small, pleasant thing.
The appraisal fees were steep; 580 gold for the Greataxe, 610 for the Wolf Helm, 800 for the Tunic, 700 for the Gauntlets, 800 for the Greaves, and 610 for the Boots. Marcus scowled. The old man was ruthless. Thank god the system had rewarded him 5,000 gold for activating the Guild System; his farming income would never have covered it.
He checked the stats. He'd be relying on this set until he hit thirty, so he prayed the attributes were worth the investment.