Chapter 33: Bidding Strategy
Translator: Lordbluefire Editor: Lordbluefire
“A genetic researcher’s research notes?” Feng Lin’s eyes brightened, staring at that microchip.
‘Geneticist’ was an occupation that could run parallel alongside with cultivation and wouldn’t pose any hindrance to it. They were different but they complemented each other.
To simplify things, cultivators stepped on the path of cultivation after they awakened their mythological genes. As for geneticists, they deeply researched genetics, developing this field into an inscrutable discipline that could be applied to other things, producing various kinds of wonderful creations.
One delved deep into the theoretical path; the other delved deep into the martial path. One researched the truth while the other reigned over extraordinary might.
Those who awakened their mythological genes yet had not truly become interstellar cultivators were all known as cultivation apprentices.
Right now, Feng Lin was a cultivation apprentice. He had to evolve his basic genes into primeval genes before it could be considered that he had stepped through the gateway to the path of cultivation.
Similarly, for geneticists, there was also a huge gateway that acted as a barrier. At the lowest level, they were known as genetic researchers and were of equal rank when compared to cultivation apprentices. They couldn’t be considered a true geneticist yet.
The black microchip Feng Lin was looking at was actually the research notes of a genetic researcher.
Someone delivered a pillow to him just as he wanted to sleep!
Although the knowledge recorded within were all elementary ones, to Feng Lin who wanted to step on the pathway of becoming a geneticist, it was undoubtedly crucial that he obtained it.
The only troublesome aspect was that the research notes were sold in an auction. Although the starting price wasn’t considered expensive at only 5,000 star coins, once he encountered someone who also wanted this, the price would surge up like mad. The 40,000 star coins he had left was definitely insufficient.
However, this was something that he was determined to get no matter the cost!
This was why he felt that things would be troublesome!
Feng Lin frowned and stood at his original location, there was a look of contemplation on his face.
“What’s going on?” The virtual assistant asked, sensing that he was in a difficult position.
“I wish to purchase this research notes! However, I can only do so through the auction. Right now, I only have 40,000 star coins left with me, I’m afraid they won’t be enough.” Feng Lin didn’t hide anything as he explained.
“Genetic research notes?” The virtual assistant’s eyes flashed with a run of digital data as she found what Feng Lin was looking at.
This person wants to become a geneticist?
A geneticist was undoubtedly a money-burning occupation. If one wanted to achieve some success in this field, other than needing to be blessed with talent far surpassing the ordinary, they had to spend astronomical amounts of money as well.
Instruments, materials, techniques… All of this needed money, and the more the better.
It was like the more money you burned, the faster you would be able to learn.
Geneticists were precisely such an occupation. However, once you achieved some success, it would instantly become an occupation capable of generating huge amounts of wealth for you. You wouldn’t need to worry about money anymore in your lifetime.
But one had to know that it was rare for even one out of ten thousand students who studied genomics to become a true geneticist.
The rate was less than 0.0001%. This could be said to be an occupation that had equal amounts of risk and opportunity.
The nouveau riche, this man must be a wealthy lord!
He actually wants to obtain the research notes of a genetic researcher and even plans to burn money freely on this. Both his status and identity are definitely extraordinary!
The virtual assistant came to a conclusion after analyzing Feng Lin’s words, voluntarily elevating Feng Lin’s status as a customer to an unprecedented high one.
If he had been a normal customer before this, there was no doubt that he just became a VIP customer.
The A.I. modulated her attitude and expression, causing her smile to become even friendlier. In order to leave behind a good impression on Feng Lin, the virtual sales assistant passionately answered, “This is simple.”
“Oh?” The virtual sales assistant actually said that it was simple? Feng Lin was bewildered as he patiently continued listening on. As compared to humans, something powered by an A.I. would naturally have a stronger computing capacity and would be able to arrive at an answer far quicker.
The virtual sales assistant wasted no time. “There are many transaction methods in the Thousand Gold Building, but they can be classified into two types. The first method is purchasing, and the second method is bidding. Purchasing means that the customer simply handovers the star coins in exchange for the item they wanted to purchase. But in the case where the item or product is rare, unique, and limited in quantity, it would be auctioned away where the highest bidder wins. There is a bidding strategy you can use to help you procure the item of your interest. I’m sure that research notes aren’t something that would be very popular. The starting price is only at 5,000 star coins, and I don’t think there would be many people competing to get it. Hence, I suggest that later on when you bid, you can start off by directly elevating the bid to 10,000 star coins.”
“Mhm!” Feng Lin nodded. Although the one-time increase of the bid would give off the feeling that he was a foolish spendthrift, he didn’t mind the extra expense of 5,000 coins. What he minded was whether he could really obtain the research notes or not.
It felt as though the virtual sales assistant noticed a slight hesitation on Feng Lin’s expression. She continued, “Raising the bid to 10,000 is to create a barrier, blocking those who want to disturb your bid just for fun.”
“What if there are still people who continue to bid against me?” Feng Lin asked.
“Very easy. Just bid 100 star coins higher than whatever they bid!” The virtual sales assistant’s confident smile widened.
“100 star coins?” Feng Lin wanted to make sure that he didn’t hear wrongly.
“Yes, 100 star coins, not too little, not too much! There aren’t any rules on bidding in the online auction. You can bid an increment of 100 star coins every time if you wish to do so. After doing so for a few times, you would imperceptibly send out a message that you are determined to get the item no matter the cost. This will cause those bidders who want the item, but whose wills are not as strong as you, to back off. If the research notes are written by a true geneticist, the price would be invaluable. But this is merely elementary knowledge written by a genetic researcher. I believed not many people would be willing to spend too much on this. It’s highly possible that you would have more money compared to the others who are also keen to bid on this,” the virtual sales assistant spoke.
To think that there was such a technique in bidding.
Feng Lin nodded, silently feeling that this suggestion was excellent.
Very soon, 9 p.m. arrived.
The online auction of the Thousand Gold Building officially began. The customers could remotely bid through the wireless network and if they succeeded, there would be robots delivering the item you bade successfully on to you.
The numerous rare items entered the auction with the most valuable ones being listed behind.
Feng Lin patiently waited and the third item to be sold off in the auction soon appeared. It was none other than the research notes!
At the instant the auction for this item started, he immediately called out a price, “10,000 star coins!”
The auction entered a momentary lull all of a sudden. Those flashing ids of the customers stopped flashing for a few moments.
This suggestion is truly useful!
There was no response after some time; the customers keen on this item seemed to have been frightened by Feng Lin’s bid of 10,000 star coins. Who knows, he might succeed in obtaining the research notes just for this price.
“10,000 star coins, once!”
“10,000 star coins, twice!”
After a long time, the timer started to count down. If no one added any more bids after three calls, it would mean that Feng Lin had succeeded in bidding for this item.
When things seemed to be completely going his way, there were people who finally couldn’t endure it and started to bid against him.
“11,000 star coins!”
A customer increased the bid by 1,000 star coins in a single breath.
However, things weren’t concluded yet. The other bidders immediately shouted out their own bids, competing against the previous one.
“11,500!”
“12,000!”
“13,000!”
……
The auction entered the climax as the bids soared up, swiftly breaking into the 20,000 mark.
Feng Lin’s heart sank. He didn’t expect that there would be so many bidders keen to obtain the same item as him. The competition was much tougher than he had imagined.
However, this item was something he had to obtain at all cost; he couldn’t give up.
Even if he had to spend all 40,000 star coins here, he wouldn’t feel any pain in his heart.
Feng Lin was someone who had very definite opinions. Once his heart was determined, he wouldn’t hesitate too much.
He then called out another price for a new bid.
“20,100 star coins!”