On the day of the auction, Max and Sophia were awakened in their room by the maids, following Iris's instructions.
They were responsible for memorizing all the details of the auction list and rehearsing the script before the event began in the evening, so begrudgingly woke up and got into the bathroom resentment for iris.
Iris who has already got woken up and got ready before them and she didn't mind even if Max scolded her after the auction is completed,
Until the auction is over, she doesn't bother with his dissatisfaction since he's just fulfilling his promise. She'll ensure he works tirelessly for her to make more money and help develop the city.
Once the auction is done, she'll simply act like a spoiled child and make him forgive her, as it works every time.
As Max and Sophia came down from their rooms, they found Iris sitting in the castle hall, engrossed in reading some pending reports.
The moment she noticed them, Iris set the reports aside, pulled out the auction script and a detailed price list of the products, and handed them over. She instructed them to memorize the details before promptly returning to her reports. She paid no attention to Max and Sophia's resentful expressions as they reluctantly took the script and began studying the details.
Thankfully, they are an extraordinary person who has surpassed human-level abilities. They can now recall the details of standard scripts and other information with just a few glances or a single reading. Within minutes, they finished reading and began verifying by verbally questioning each other on the details and answering them, ensuring they remembered everything accurately.
After that they were presented with breakfast which the three of them ate in hurry and silence with each busy with their thoughts.
As soon as they finished breakfast, Iris said, "Brother, get ready. We're going to visit the auction house, where you'll need to manage the work until the evening, as I won't be free until then."
"No, I never agreed to help with managing the auction preparation," Max protested loudly, but Iris heard it with one ear and let it go out the other.
Soon, an alchemy vehicle arrived to pick them up, and as they settled into the back seat, the driver sped off quickly. The early morning had less traffic since most people were still at home, cooking and preparing for work.
It might take an hour or two for the streets to fully come alive, and by then, they would have to slow down to reach their destination.
As the vehicle made its way through the streets, it eventually arrived at the one housing the merchant guild. Stopping beside the guild, they noticed that what was once a vacant plot during their last visit now featured a grand structure resembling a mini castle. The building was adorned with numerous ornaments and designed in a traditional Earth style, serving as an auction house. Its walls were covered in runes that flashed, signaling the completion of its defensive measures. Staff members bustled in and out, carrying various supplies needed to host and entertain guests during the auction.
Iris slowly got out the car with Max and Sophia and the manager who was in the charge immediately came running upon seeing them and greeted them with smile and saluted iris respectfully.
"Madam, you should have sent someone to remind of your arrival so we could have receive more grandly." the manager said
"Come on, it's my island. I don't need welcomes from my staff every time I come for an inspection," Iris said sternly.
The manager scratched his head, apologized, and asked if she wanted him to introduce her to the specifications of the auction house.
Iris already knew the specifications, but she arrived with Max and Sophia, who were unaware of the details. She introduced Max to the manager and asked him to explain the auction house details to them, as they are today's auctioneers.
The manager, unaware of why Iris was regarded with such importance by the auctioneers, obediently invited them inside. They were first taken to the reception area, where participants would demonstrate their qualifications by presenting their financial status or the exclusive invitations they had received from the auction house.
He noticed the staff busy decorating the space with antiques, and Max and Sophia felt as though they had stepped into an antique store. They suggested to the manager to place a few flower pots with freshly blossomed flowers from this morning to enhance the atmosphere. Since most of the captains attending the auction are steadfast in their decision to remain ship captains and rarely change their minds unless in dire situations, the fresh flowers could help alleviate their stress and lift their moods after their challenging travels.
Max then asked the manager to arrange a few seats in the area for guests to wait, as many couldn't enter the auction house immediately while the staff checked their credentials. He also suggested placing two polite ladies to serve drinks, as this would enhance the city's impression on others.
The manager noted the details with concentration and no disagreement, and Max was impressed by the learning attitude, realizing why he was the one in charge of the preparations being made.
Iris, who was beside Max, was pleased with the manager's willingness to learn. As a former student before being transported here, she was unfamiliar with designing auction details. Many of the auctions in the system seemed outdated to her, so she decided to bring in two people with experience in modern society to assist with the last-minute preparations.
Soon they were respectfully taken backstage and shown the auctioneers' rooms and cash-in rooms, where the items could be stored until the winning bidder came to claim them.
Max then suggested placing two guards in front of the auctioneers' rooms, as they are located next to the item retrieval room, which attracts many people during breaks. This often tempts the auctioneers to betray their lords for personal gain through backdoor deals, leading to significant reputational damage for the lords in the city and surrounding areas.
Placing guards and regularly rotating them will encourage caution and diligence, preventing them from attempting to earn ill-gotten gains.