Chapter 100: Chapter 98: Auction Turn’s From Profit To Dignity...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

I was thinking about adding local deities too to the story. Any thought about This idea.

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With the rules clarified and the atmosphere fully ignited,

The first grand auction of Trivenivrata finally began in earnest.

And from that moment onward—The royal arena transformed into a battlefield of wealth.

"Five hundred gold coins!"

"Seven hundred!"

"One thousand and two pearl crates!"

"Add sandalwood rights from our caravan routes!"

The voices rose continuously through the arena as merchants competed fiercely for the rights to Trivenivrata’s products.

The black grapes alone sold for an amount that left smaller traders staring blankly in disbelief.

And that was merely the beginning.

One after another, products from the kingdom were introduced.

Rare fruits grown from the fertile lands blessed by Bhudevi.

Vegetables with unusual flavor and freshness.

Medicinal herbs cultivated near the sacred riverbanks.

Special grains with richer texture and longer preservation life.

Each item sparked aggressive bidding wars among the merchants.

The more samples they tasted—The more dangerous the competition became.

Because the products genuinely surpassed expectations.

At first some merchants had believed the kingdom exaggerated its agricultural quality for prestige.

Now?

Now several traders looked ready to duel one another for distribution rights.

After finding the quality of the product example gave from the kingdom.

Meanwhile at the center of the platform, Prince Shakuni absolutely thrived within the chaos.

"Only THAT much?"

He looked theatrically disappointed toward one wealthy trader.

"I have seen richer generosity from temple donation boxes."

The arena burst into laughter.

Immediately another irritated merchant shouted a higher bid just to recover dignity.

Prince Shakuni pointed dramatically.

"Now that sounds like a serious merchant!"

More laughter erupted around as the auction is getting more heated.

More bidding.

The prince had somehow turned economic warfare into entertainment.

Even merchants losing bids found themselves caught in the excitement.

Above the arena, seated beside Gandhari, Devara quietly watched the avalanche of wealth flowing toward the kingdom.

"...."

"...."

Gold coins. Gemstones.

Silver.

Trade pledges. Rare materials.

And perhaps more importantly—Recognition of this auction.

Every successful bid strengthened Trivenivrata’s legitimacy economically across the surrounding lands.

Meanwhile, Gandhari occasionally hid amused smiles watching her brother manipulate wealthy merchants into emotional bidding wars.

At one point, a merchant bid nearly double his original limit purely because Prince Shakuni looked unimpressed at him with pity which irritated him so much.

Then the auction moved toward something entirely different.

A drink.

At first many merchants appeared confused seeing decorated containers being carried forward carefully by attendants.

Prince Shakuni raised one eyebrow dramatically.

"And now..."

"The next product of Trivenivrata."

"A fermented fruit mixture prepared through carefully preserved methods."

Immediately servants began distributing small tasting cups throughout the arena.

The fragrance alone drew attention of every merchants present.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Sweet. Rich. Sharp. Complex.

Which made them curious.

Several merchants cautiously tasted it first.

Then froze in shock feeling their taste buds exploded.

One merchant immediately looked down at the cup again in disbelief.

Another almost spilled his drink after the second sip.

Because the flavor was extraordinary.

It carried the richness of multiple fruits blended together with subtle fermentation that deepened rather than ruined the taste.

Refreshing to drink as if they wanted to drink more and more.

Dangerous aspect a drink could have.

Profitable of marketed rightly its a duck which was about to lay a golden egg.

The arena exploded instantly afterwards.

"I want eastern trade rights!"

"Two thousand gold coins!"

"I offer gemstones from mountain mines!"

"Three thousand!"

"I include caravan protection contracts!"

The bidding escalated wildly.

Even merchants who previously intended conserving their wealth now entered the competition aggressively.

Because everyone understood immediately.

This drink could become addictive among nobles and wealthy traders across kingdoms.

Prince Shakuni meanwhile watched the chaos unfolding before him like a delighted strategist observing battle plans succeed perfectly.

"Ah,"

He sighed dramatically while another massive bid echoed through the arena.

-Sigh!

"The beautiful sound of merchants destroying one another financially."

Even Devara finally laughed quietly hearing that.

"-Haha!!!"

And by the time the fermented fruit mixture rights were finally sold—The treasury officials recording the incoming wealth had already begun looking slightly overwhelmed.

Because Trivenivrata’s first auction was no longer merely successful.

It was historic.

Hours later—

The first grand auction of Trivenivrata finally came to an end.

And the royal arena looked like the aftermath of a glorious economic war.

Merchants sat exhausted in their seats.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Some stared blankly at their ledgers as if they had seen a ghost.

Others clutched their newly won trade contracts like victorious generals returning from battle.

Before the merchants who had mocked them earlier.

A few simply leaned back silently, mentally calculating how much wealth they had just spent in the heat of competition.

Because somewhere along the way—The auction had stopped being purely about profit.

At the beginning, the merchants had entered cautiously.

Strategically.

Cold-minded.

They calculated market reach.

Transportation costs.

Regional demand.

Profit margins.

But then—

The bids started climbing.

And Shakuni happened.

That was the real disaster.

Because somehow, through mocking remarks, dramatic commentary, and perfectly timed provocations, Prince Shakuni had transformed rational businessmen into competitive warriors fueled by ego.

One merchant increased his bid because another called him poor.

Another doubled his offer after Shakuni looked disappointed in him publicly.

A third spent nearly his reserve treasury because someone laughed at his "small kingdom finances."

The cycle became unstoppable.

Pride challenged pride.

Ego challenged ego.

And before they realized it—

Gold had begun flowing like river water.

Now, at the end of the auction, many merchants finally felt reality catching up.

Their money pouches felt suspiciously lighter.

Very suspiciously lighter.

One exhausted trader looked down at his remaining coins and muttered quietly:

"...When did this happen?"

Another merchant across from him answered immediately.

"The moment Shakuni started smiling."

Several nearby traders nodded grimly in agreement.

Meanwhile, the treasury officials of Trivenivrata looked increasingly stunned while overseeing the incoming wealth being recorded and transported.

Gold coins filled storage chests rapidly.

Gemstones. Trade bonds.

Silver bars. Rare crafted goods.

Even future trade commitments from distant merchant guilds.

The sheer amount gathered from a single auction surpassed many expectations.

And above it all, seated upon the royal platform, Devara quietly observed the exhausted merchants below.

"...."

Not mockingly. Thoughtfully.

Because today had proven something important.

Trivenivrata no longer needed to chase recognition.

Recognition had come to them willingly.

The kingdom now possessed:

Sacred legitimacy.

Economic momentum.

Growing population.

Strategic geography.

And most importantly—Attention.

A dangerous amount of attention from the merchants after this auction.

Beside him, Gandhari watched her brother proudly.

Meanwhile Shakuni stood at the center stage still looking completely energized despite mentally bankrupting half the arena.

One merchant finally pointed toward him accusingly.

"You manipulated us!"

Shakuni placed a hand dramatically against his chest.

"I merely believed in your financial confidence."

The arena erupted into tired laughter and collective suffering.

"-Hahaha!!!"

Even some merchants who lost heavily could not truly remain angry.

Because despite the chaos—The auction had been brilliantly organized.

Transparent. Structured.

And Profitable.

And strangely enjoyable.

Many already knew they would return for the next one.

Which, from an economic perspective—Was perhaps the most dangerous outcome of all.

Over the following days, caravans departed steadily from Trivenivrata carrying the kingdom’s newly auctioned goods toward distant lands.

Long lines of guarded trade wagons crossed roads, river routes, and mountain passes carrying sealed containers stamped with the roaring lion emblem of Trivenivrata.

At first, most kingdoms viewed the incoming products with mild curiosity.

A newly established kingdom entering major trade markets was unusual—But not alarming.

Then people tasted the products.

And the situation escalated immediately.

In western markets, nobles purchasing the black grapes quickly demanded additional supply after the first shipments vanished almost instantly.

In southern trade hubs, the fermented fruit mixture became wildly popular among wealthy merchants and local rulers alike.

Elsewhere, the vegetables and fruits from Trivenivrata drew stunned reactions because their freshness lasted unusually long while their flavor surpassed normal expectations.

The medicinal herbs too began attracting attention among healers and physicians.

Again and again, the same conversations spread through marketplaces across Bhulok1.

"Where did this come from?"

"Which kingdom grows produce like this?"

"Trivenivrata."

"The new kingdom?"

"That recently established one?"

"No wonder the merchants fought over the rights to sell these. according to the rumors around."

The reputation of the kingdom spread rapidly afterward.

Not through war. Not through conquest.

But through taste.

And taste travelled frighteningly fast.

Inside several royal courts, even kings and nobles began receiving the products personally through high-paying merchants eager to impress influential customers.

Some rulers initially dismissed the growing praise as exaggerated merchant tactics.

Then they tasted the goods themselves.

And immediately ordered further procurement.

One noble reportedly became furious after learning another kingdom secured exclusive grape distribution rights before him.

Elsewhere, wealthy merchant guilds that had lost during the auction began regretting their decisions intensely.

Because the profits now being generated by the winners were becoming absurd.

One trader who won fermented drink rights reportedly earned back nearly half his auction losses within days.

That story spread very quickly among merchant communities.

Meanwhile, in many marketplaces, buyers specifically started asking for products carrying the royal lion seal of Trivenivrata.

The seal itself began gaining value.

Trust. Prestige. Demand.

The economic identity of the kingdom was forming at terrifying speed.

Naturally—

The surrounding kingdoms grew increasingly shocked.

Because this level of market impact from a kingdom so newly established should not have been possible.

Not this quickly. Not this successfully.

Reports started flooding into royal courts...

"The products are outperforming local goods."

"Public demand continues increasing."

"Merchants are already requesting expanded agreements."

"Trade houses are planning permanent routes toward Trivenivrata."

Several rulers grew uneasy.

Because economics often achieved what armies could not.

Influence. Dependency. Soft power.

Like this before them. And the most dangerous part?

Trivenivrata had not even officially crowned its king yet.

Meanwhile, back inside the kingdom itself, the people slowly began realizing something incredible.

Their homeland was no longer merely admired spiritually after the Maha Shivaratri miracle.

Now—It was becoming desired economically too.

And somewhere within the royal palace—

Devara quietly continued building foundations while the rest of Bhulok1 slowly realized that Trivenivrata was not a temporary phenomenon.

It was rising.

As the fame of Trivenivrata continued spreading across Bhulok1, admiration was not the only thing growing within neighboring kingdoms.

Greed had begun awakening too.

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"...."

Inside royal courts far away from Trivenivrata’s sacred rivers, ministers and rulers gathered privately behind closed doors discussing the same kingdom repeatedly.

The fertile lands.

The explosive trade growth.

The strategic river position.

The rapidly increasing population.

And the king at the center of it all.

Devara.

Many rulers openly acknowledged his achievements.

The slayer of Kamsa.

The young ruler blessed publicly during Maha Shivaratri.

The founder of a kingdom already drawing merchants, sages, pilgrims, and immigrants alike.

Even the more skeptical kingdoms admitted one thing reluctantly:

Devara possessed terrifying momentum currently which they need to stop or at least slow down.

Yet for some rulers—That admiration only sharpened their greed further.

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(Author note:)

I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.

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Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.

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