Things were going swimmingly for Izuku. His requests were increasing, and thanks to his new storage system, he could more easily classify both the data he had already collected and the new data that kept arriving. Not to mention how information exchanges contributed to the growth of his database: although some might seem ridiculous or insignificant, they still allowed him to obtain "cheap" information that complemented his contributions.
He knew that, taken individually, much of what he was given could barely be called information or even reach a decent level; but by filtering it and starting to compile it, as if assembling a puzzle, by putting together enough pieces he could obtain amuch larger and more meaningful picture. And although it seemed that this barter-type payment method could affect him financially, the auction acted as a buffer and even generated additional profits.
That's why Izuku was more than excited about the first auction. The day had arrived. Right at two in the afternoon, an hour after finishing "working" with the Hatsume family, the small auction section activated, covering the entire page and displaying the following prompt:
"Top 10 Hero Agencies Patrol Routes"
This revealed what would be offered on this first occasion. It was a relatively small item, but substantial and impactful enough to test the waters for how future auctions might go. He wasn't yet ready to risk overly sensitive information, such as All Might's secret about his side wound and his time limit for daily activities.
Even so, he had to prove a point: he possessed relevant and impactful information.
Patrol routes were a good way to do this. Not all of them were publicly available; some were mapped by fans, but even those fell short. Even surprise attacks relied on these routes, as villains and vigilantes could plan or avoid actions based on them. For any interested journalist or fan, the information was also useful. Its disclosure, if obtained by someone who wasn't a Pro Hero, could be remedied relatively easily, but it would take time to reorganize patrol logistics, so the information would remain useful for a considerable period.
In this way, Izuku kept his word not to share the same information with others, as it would change in the future. He stared at the screen, waiting for the first offer. He hadn't set an initial price, trusting that the bidding system would increase the price if someone started with a low, insignificant amount, in an attempt to undermine his good faith. In the end, all that mattered to him was the money he would get.
His eyes lit up when the first bid bubble appeared, a feature that added initial dynamism to the auction system instead of a simple bar graph. But his excitement quickly faded when he saw the amount: 5,000 yen. It was the first bid, and it somewhat disappointed him. He wanted to wait a little longer before activating the inflation program; things might pick up in a few moments, since the auction lasted two hours before the page crashed again.
Two minutes, five minutes, then ten. Izuku was about to type in a number, but noticing no new bubbles appeared, a new bid emerged: 10,000 yen, double the previous offer. It wasn't much to his liking, but it gave him a certain satisfaction to see that the real bidding had begun without his intervention… at least for the moment.
The two apparent initial users started a price war: 10,100… 10,200… 10,300… 10,400… 10,500… 10,600…
It seemed as if they had agreed to raise the bid by one hundred yen each, which Izuku found tedious; however, as the price continued to climb, he decided not to intervene yet. It wasn't until the bids exceeded 20,000 yen that a new participant entered, bidding 100,000 yen in one fell swoop, disrupting the rhythm of the other two. This caused a momentary pause in the bidding.
— I think it was something that had to happen — Izuku told himself as he started thinking about preparing some bagged popcorn, since there were still 42 minutes left and he wanted to stay alert to any anomalies.
But before he could stand up, a fourth bubble appeared: 125,000 yen. "Wow, this is really getting serious," he thought. These weren't small increments like the first two users'; the scale had jumped considerably. Soon a fifth bubble appeared with 150,000 yen, followed by a third counter-offer of 180,000 yen, while the fourth reacted with 200,000 yen.
The bids began to escalate rapidly, with offers varying in size as players tried to anticipate their opponent's next move. Each new bubble marked another step in the competition. Within ten minutes, the bidding had settled between three contenders: user 17, user 34, and user 3, who had initiated the escalating numbers.
By then, the bids had already exceeded one million yen.
The bidding began to slow, indicating that participants were evaluating how to proceed, whether because they were running out of funds, didn't want to spend more, or were debating whether the information was truly worth the investment. When the timer reached zero, one number stood out: ¥1,570,450.The bubble displaying that price grew, covering the screen before "bursting" and revealing a SOLD sign in large letters. A chat window immediately opened:
[[—Congratulations! You've won the first auction.]]
[[—Will you use your dosing technique or will you give me a direct delivery for full payment?]]
[[—Wow, no beating around the bush, it seems you really did want the information.]]
[[—There's a reason you offered that amount.]]
[[—That's a considerable amount.]]
[[—So considerable that I don't want there to be a digital trail that can be traced; the idea of a complete transfer doesn't seem very secure to me. Why don't we meet in person?]]
[[-No.]]
[[—For me, a face-to-face meeting is not a short-term option; it seems your request puts us in a dilemma of interests.]]
[[—A dilemma that leaves us both empty-handed.]]
[[—Since you don't get your money and I don't get my information.]]
[[—What a problem.]]
Izuku already suspected that the person who had won the auction wasn't a hero, though he didn't rule out the possibility that it was a trap or a distraction to ensnare him somehow. His mind quickly turned to considering a face-to-face encounter, or in the worst-case scenario, a villain who might try to kidnap or eliminate him. With the opening of the auction system, a new conflict arose: the sums of money involved were high enough to attract unwanted attention.
Although he tried to deny it, that client had revealed a problem he hadn't yet wanted to confront.
Therefore, he had to find a way to close the deal without exposing himself to risks or compromising his identity. His mind was racing; he couldn't afford to lose this business, as money was one of his main motivators for continuing with all of this.
It was a gamble, and he had to play his cards right. Even this interaction offered him a new opportunity, although he wasn't sure if it was worth the risk. For that, he needed to try his luck.
[[—Do you have any suggestions?]]
He made his move. He had already considered several options, but he needed to assess the position of that player in this new game, which had different rules. The wait for a response was overwhelming for Izuku, who remained expectant.
[[—Several, some where I can benefit more than you.]]"At least he was honest in some way," Izuku thought, looking at the response from the person on the other end of the screen. If they didn't reach an agreement, his camera infiltration plan was already underway.
[[—It seems neither of them will give in, since neither trusts the other enough.]]
[[—It seems we need a middle ground in the end.]]
That was the key: a middle ground reduced the risk of loss. He quickly typed up his proposal as an action plan.
[[—It will be a meeting point! Half the information and half the cash payment at the same location where the information is, contactless. I'll give you a specific location; you'll go there, pick up the information, and leave the money. If there's no money, you lose me and the rest of the information. But if there is, I'll send you another location with the remainder, via an electronic transaction to ensure the second payment.]]
[[—How will I know you won't set me up or scam me?]]
[[—First, if you know even a little about my system, I always deliver.]]
[[—Second, just as you wouldn't try to ambush me or wait to see me collect the money, the idea behind this plan is to minimize in-person contact for both of us.]]
[[—Your confidentiality in exchange for mine, I can say that's fair.]]
[[—To the point that we'll both end up winning; if you don't fulfill the first half, you don't get your full prize, and I can still use it to make a profit.]]
[[—Too good to be real.]]
[[—With all the obstacles you're putting up, I don't think it really seems like you want the information. The second-best offer might be better received, a little less money than yours, but not by much.]]
[[—Okay! I accept the deal.]]
[[—It was a pleasure negotiating with you, Bidder number 3.]]
With that matter resolved, Izuku decided to review the auction program for any unidentified anomalies during the bidding, aware of the attention his first participation had generated. He felt grateful for his level of paranoia, as it allowed him to detect several attempts to disrupt the subprogram, some of them tracking; although his countermeasures were effective, he still needed to reinforce and repair them.
In the end, he needed to occupy his mind with something before making the deal.
Could you give me some power stones? :)
Read more than 10 chapters and support me on Patreon.
https://patreon.com/ElVago06