Grue Augustus took these two requirements to contact the external supply unit of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and merely asked for the price, which made him feel momentarily in the dark.
Previously, he bought three hundred sets of instruments, which altogether drained the Viscount Mansion's working capital.
Now, just the quote for two sets alone equaled half the cost of the three hundred sets of instruments.
Grue inquired more thoroughly and discovered that these two pieces of equipment used to be priced at only three-fifths of the current cost.
The head of commerce at the Royal Academy of Sciences clearly reckoned he was up to something big, hence took advantage of the situation and temporarily set a high price.
Grue simply gritted his teeth and decided, for the moment, not to place an order with the Royal Academy of Sciences, but instead, put his requirements on the public bidding site at the Commerce Department.
Ten minutes later, Grue Augustus was stunned.
