hsntnovel Chapter 59: The Out-of-Control Auction
Chapter 59: The Out-of-Control Auction
The reason Lionel and his associates came to the auction in person was because only they had the ability to mobilize as much money as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Secondly, the auction items were too tempting: apart from the four technologies of optical technology, material formulation, operating system and battery technology, all other mecha technologies were for sale.
This means that whoever buys all the technology auctioned in this event will also be able to build the mechs.
That's why Lionel and his team risked all sorts of dangers to come in person.
As for the four missing technologies...
Of the four technologies, battery technology is the one they want the most!
Because the battery technology for mechs can be used not only in mechs, but also in other military and civilian equipment, the market and profits are ridiculously large.
Unfortunately, Zhou Luming refused to sell, and they couldn't force him to sell; they could only discuss it again later if the opportunity arose.
The remaining three technologies are ones that Zhou Luming would rather sell than buy, and they certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to buy at an auction.
The reason for not buying the operating system is simple: what if Zhou Luming tampered with the operating system and could remotely shut down or forcibly control the mecha? Wouldn't their mecha technology have been wasted, and the mecha would have been built for Zhou Luming?
Therefore, even if Zhou Luming were to auction off the operating system, very few people would buy it, and it might even be completely ignored.
The reason for not buying material formulas is simple: profit.
In their minds, the cost of special materials for mechs is definitely not cheap, and if they use genuine materials, the cost of their finished mechs will remain high.
The higher the cost of goods, the higher the selling price can be, making it more difficult to expand the market and significantly compressing profit margins, which is completely contrary to their original intention of making a profit.
Therefore, even if they buy the material formula, they will never use it exactly according to the standards; they will definitely cut corners.
As for the mechs' actual performance, service life, and potential safety hazards, what business is it of theirs?
If something really serious happens and the public pressure is too great, then we can just find a scapegoat.
In that case, it would be better not to waste money buying materials and recipes.
Therefore, the best-case scenario is as it is now: Zhou Luming refuses to sell.
In that case, they don't even need a scapegoat: it's not that they insist on using inferior materials to cut costs, but that they don't have the technology to make the genuine materials. So, if something goes wrong, blame Zhou Luming for not selling the material formula.
The reason for not buying the optical technology is even simpler: they have optical technology, so why do they have to buy it from Zhou Luming at the auction?
Although their optical technology may not be as advanced as Zhou Luming's, it is still usable and not invisible.
Besides, nowadays we have all sorts of satellites, radars, and dedicated reconnaissance equipment like early warning aircraft, so a little less optical accuracy doesn't really matter.
As a result, the atmosphere in the first half of the auction, when non-mecha core technologies were being auctioned, was very friendly and lively, with almost everyone willing to bid and do their best to acquire the technologies they wanted.
The reason it's described as "almost" is because Lionel and his team didn't place any bids during the first half of the auction.
It's not that we look down on it, nor that we don't need it, but rather that there's no need to film those non-core technologies.
Because those who have filmed the technology will definitely take the initiative to cooperate with them, and they will do so at a low price.
Otherwise, without core technology, what they produce is just a pile of scrap metal.
If they don't actively offer their services, or if the cooperation price exceeds Lionel's expectations, they can acquire those people's companies through other means to obtain the technology.
In fact, Lionel and his team may very well be planning to acquire those technologies through a merger.
After all, the cost of a merger is definitely less than the cost of an auction.
Therefore, Lionel and the others did not make any bids.
However, the atmosphere became strange in the second half of the auction.
"The auction for the first core technology will now begin: the Mech Global Energy Diversion and Stabilization System."
This technology includes the overall energy distribution scheme, instantaneous overload power supply regulation of weapons, standby energy saving regulation program and a complete set of hardware circuit designs. It can be adapted to various high-energy weapon platforms and does not rely on other power technologies.
There are four slots available, with a starting price of 1 billion international currency, and each bid must be at least 10 million international currency.
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, Fahad, unsurprisingly, immediately raised his paddle and bid: "30 billion international currency."
"Okay, ah..."
Before the host could finish speaking, Lionel, disregarding all decorum, coldly remarked, "I never imagined that the patriarch of the Asud family would one day be someone's scapegoat!"
It's no wonder Lionel was furious, because although the technology wasn't auctioned off in single lots, the price was uniform: no matter how many copies of the technology were sold, they were all sold at the auction price.
If no one bids, the technology being auctioned will go unsold.
The term "following up" refers to the auctioneer asking each bidder in descending order whether they want to purchase the technology at the final price.
If no one buys, or if there are still remaining slots, then those remaining slots will be sold out.
If everyone ahead of me wants to buy, then we'll stop once the limit is reached.
As for whether someone might bid the price but then be unable to pay...
If you want to experience your whole family suffering terribly, then go ahead and do it.
Bidding might feel good in the moment, but it can lead to disaster later. This is no joke.
That's why Fahad's casual remark meant Lionel would have to pay more than three times the expected price to secure the cabin technology—truly, a single word was worth a fortune!
What really broke Lionel's defenses was that Fahad's offer was clearly a reminder to the others that they were not going to join the blockade.
In this way, other people who are rich but lack power or military strength are very likely to follow suit and bid, eventually driving up the price of the mecha core technology!
"Chief Lionel, this is an auction. The highest bidder wins, not the loudest voice."
"you……"
Just as Lionel was about to retort, David's voice suddenly rang out from the other side: "50 billion."
"good……"
The host was interrupted by Lionel before he could finish speaking again: "David Rockefeller, you're asking for it!"
Compared to Fahad, David showed even less respect to Lionel. He merely turned his head slightly and glanced at Lionel out of the corner of his eye to indicate that he had heard, before continuing to signal the host to continue, which infuriated Lionel, who clenched his fists.
"besides……"
The host was interrupted for the third time, and it was Lionel again who said: "The Rothschild family, 51 billion."
"Heh~"
David gave a dismissive laugh that Lionel could hear, then raised his sign again: "100 billion."
"That's it," David retorted sarcastically. "Lionel, are you so poor that you can only bid at the lowest price now?"
"Since we're from the same area, do you need us to lend you some money?"
"Heave-ho!"
Lionel adjusted his breathing, his knuckles turning white, suppressing his anger, and then waited quietly as if he hadn't heard David speak.
Because the worst has already happened: Starlink, Lee Jae-hyuk, and Tatsuhiko Yamada have all made bids!