Chapter 2043: Short bid

“Two point three million.”

Everyone was simultaneously stunned.

“Are you crazy for money?”

The Su Clan’s heir directly retorted.

Mechanical war beasts were good; the technology, materials science, etc., contained within them were far beyond comparable equipment of the same level.

But this did not mean it could be so much more expensive than equipment of the same level.

Mechanical war beasts had many abilities, were powerful, and could enter the battlefield as excellent individual soldiers to fight. However, they were ultimately not real war beasts. A real war beast, if injured, could recover with care. But if this thing were damaged, it would require professionals to repair it, and the cost was not comparable to the mere medicine money for a real war beast’s injuries.

No matter how well Karnagu had spoken earlier, about Mountain Rage’s material being able to recover automatically, etc., everyone was not a fool. What could recover was only the main structure made from this material. What about other parts that broke? Like the transmission system, control system, etc., what then? Wouldn’t it still require finding someone and spending money to repair it?

Also, real war beasts needed feeding, and this mechanical war beast also required maintenance and upkeep—replacing parts, tuning the system, etc. Non-professionals could not do these tasks. It could be said that buying such a thing required keeping up with supporting facilities, which was another expense.

Therefore, if one wanted to buy Mountain Rage, it was impossible to only look at its standalone price; the supporting costs also had to be considered. For typical mechanical war beasts, the annual maintenance cost was basically around one-tenth of the sale price, and the higher the grade, the more expensive the maintenance.

For such a behemoth, conservatively estimating, it would require 200,000 Moonspan Gold annually for maintenance and upkeep. If another 2.3 million were spent to purchase it, this would be a heavy burden for anyone.

In everyone’s view, two million Moonspan Gold was already a very profitable price. They hadn’t expected Karnagu to ask for 2.3 million Moonspan Gold as soon as he opened his mouth.

“It’s really not that I want a high price, but Mountain Rage is truly worth this price. You may not know, but through our tests, when Mountain Rage cooperates with someone whose Furelai exceeds thirty thousand, it can unleash combat power surpassing that of the controller. We all believe Mountain Rage is equivalent to a powerful warrior with fifty thousand Furelai. With good cooperation, the strength displayed could even far exceed this. Think from another angle: nurturing an expert with fifty thousand Furelai costs far more than just over two million Moonspan Gold, right? So, you tell me, can this thing not be expensive? Even if it is expensive, it offers value beyond its price!”

Karnagu waved his hands in explanation, putting on an appearance of absolutely not lowering the price, but his eyes looked towards the other few people, hoping they would make offers. As long as there was competition, then at least the price of 2.3 million could be guaranteed. Of course, among these people, Ye Zhongming was not included because that person earlier had already used Moonspan Gold plus Red Condensation-grade equipment to pay; Karnagu judged he no longer had purchasing power.

“Too expensive. The maintenance cost of mechanical war beasts is originally high, and this one is Raini Grade. Once any problems arise, people must invite the Taros Red Dwarves to repair them. I don’t need to say, everyone knows the price. How much did it cost last time when the one on the city gate broke? You all know, right? This one, although not that exaggerated, would definitely not be less.”

The Su Clan’s designated heir snorted while speaking: “We buy things to enhance strength, not to find trouble and discomfort for ourselves. If the follow-up costs remain high, and the purchase cost is this high as well, it really is unbearable.”

After speaking, he didn’t let Karnagu continue explaining, but said, “I won’t say anything else. Two million, and I’ll take Mountain Rage. If it’s any more, I can only give up.”

Karnagu slightly frowned, feeling today’s matter was really a bit unlucky. Shouldn’t it be bidding? How did it become bargaining again!

The other Su Clan person heard this, shrugged, and indicated giving up. His financial resources did not allow him to spend two million at once, and even less could he bear possible maintenance costs reaching several hundred thousand in the future.

The other two members of the affiliated clans were somewhat silent. They could afford it, but were thinking whether it was worth buying.

The Su Clan led them. When the overall situation of the cosmic races was relatively peaceful, incidents requiring Raini Grade equipment to resolve were rare. Even if there were, the Su Clan would be at the forefront. Thus, such a mechanical war beast, with huge expenses both initially and later, really wasn’t necessary.

One of them immediately expressed no intention to purchase. The other, just when everyone thought he would also give up, suddenly made an offer.

“Two point one million.”

Everyone looked at him, not understanding what this meant. Especially the Su Clan person; the gaze looking at him already held some anger.

This was understandable because when he said two million, Karnagu’s expression actually wasn’t very resistant; obviously, it was negotiable. But this person raised the price, putting Karnagu back into a state of waiting for the highest bid.

“Two point two million.” The Su Clan person added a hundred thousand Moonspan Gold somewhat petulantly, but his tone was very unpleasant, his expression very serious, clearly warning that person.

“Two point three million. I really like this.” That person’s earlier worries, thoughts, and such emotions all disappeared, replaced by relaxation and indifference.

The Su Clan’s heir very much wanted to raise the price but was pulled back by his attendant behind him. Even though he was a direct-line Su Clan member, over two million plus the follow-up maintenance fees were not easily produced. Moreover, his status as designated heir was only nominal; he had no possibility of inheriting the Su Clan at all.

Unable to save face, he angrily snorted, turned, and left.

That Su Clan affiliated race person smiled, watching him leave, then said to Karnagu, “Then let’s trade.”

Although Karnagu hadn’t sold this Mountain Rage for a higher price, 2.3 million was originally the price he stated, which was already very good. He nodded, about to agree.

“Two point five million.”

But Ye Zhongming’s faint sentence made Karnagu stop immediately, his eyes glowing.

“What do you mean?” The Su Clan affiliated race person, who thought the deal could be concluded, looked at Ye Zhongming and said coldly.

“The highest bidder gets it. Also, I really like this.”

That person was angered upon hearing this and added another hundred thousand, making it 2.6 million. Ye Zhongming immediately increased it by another 200,000, bringing it to 2.8 million!

He behind him already started pulling Ye Zhongming; no matter how good this thing was, it wasn’t worth so much money. Besides, in a place like the Su Clan, wasn’t it bad to be so high-profile?

“Two point nine million!” That person was almost gnashing his teeth. “If you bid three million, I’ll let you have it!”

“Three million!”

Ye Zhongming satisfied him.