Chapter 277 Expo 1783 (Part-1)
<strong>Two days later;</strong>
<strong>Genesis Training Grounds, Imperial City;</strong>
In the early morning of Monday, Mark and his family started working. The whole place was divided into three sections.
The first section is covered by a huge tent where the auction will be taking place. Sitting at one of the tables, Song Yue was memorizing the script she was given for she was going to be the host of the auction.
As this expo involves transactions of huge amounts, millions of gold coins in Mark's opinion, Song Yue knew that she cannot mess it up. Fortunately, for the past couple of weeks, she was handling the customers at the store. With her experience as a manager, at the very least, she has some confidence to pull this one.
Song Yun aka the Black Knight was simply standing behind his daughter, doing his bodyguard duty.
In the meantime, Alina was commanding the butler robots in other arrangements like the chandeliers, food section, etc…
The second section is covered by another tent where guns were neatly arranged on several long tables. Chimera SGM was the highlight of this section and was placed at the center of the room. All of them were enclosed in transparent glass boxes.
It cost hundreds of gold coins for Mark to order these custom-made ones during the past two weeks. But then again, in front of the profits, he was going to earn soon enough, the costs were nothing.
Allen was arranging all of that with the help of more robots. A sales assistant robot was deployed at each table with a weapon.
The third section is an open area, which is currently being filled with a row of a Panzer-I, Light multirole vehicle (LMV), PzH 2000 Howitzer, LCA, and Destroyer.
Even though it occupied the biggest space on the ground, much of it was just empty with only one model of each of them being put on display. Mark took the job of arranging those four vehicles.
Just like with the firearms and explosives section, Mark also deployed a sales assistant robot for each vehicle for an explanation of their functions to the VIP clients.
By 8:30 in the morning, everything was set, and the people who were passing by couldn't help but halt their footsteps for a moment to take a glance at those vehicles placed inside the compound of the training grounds. However, because of the stern looks of the soldiers recently stationed at the entrance, they didn't stand there for long and went on their way.
In the meantime, Chang Bo also reported for duty. He was given the task of registering the names of everyone that enters the venue.
The welpire teenager was given a separate table and chair placed nearby the entrance to sit, a patio umbrella for the shade, and a butler robot to accompany so that he doesn't feel low, not that he would, but still, Mark doesn't want to lose the loyalty of this hybrid intelligent being that could live for thousands of years.
Thankfully, Shang Jiao, for some reason, decided to ditch her family and reported to duty as an employee of the store instead. At around 9 o'clock, she dragged one of the chairs from the auction hall to the entrance and accompanied Chang Bo.
Shang Jiao was usually a person who doesn't like to be confined by rules set by society whatsoever. And no one dares to question her actions either. During her time at the store, she befriended Chang Bo of a similar age despite the fact that he has neither background nor the strength to even look her in the eye.
And now that the representatives of the major noble clans will arrive soon enough, this move might irk the Imperial family and others, pretty much soon. As for how it will affect Chang Bo's life, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Mark was going on the rounds to check whether everything is in place or not. After he was done with the weapons hall, he went to the auction hall to fetch his fiancée who was still reading the script.
Seeing the look on Song Yue's face, he spoke, "No need to be so anxious, Manager Song. Just take it easy."
Song Yue raised her head to look at her fiancé and forced out a smile, "you are here, De... Dear. Is everything done?"
"The guests might arrive at any minute. So, we should get ready."
"Alright."
As both of them started walking away, the Black Knight followed them in silence while wondering why his daughter would constantly stutter every time she addresses her fiancé and why Mark would address her using a prefix. Weren't they lovers?
Perhaps, it's because of his presence that they cannot show affection to each other? Song Yun couldn't help but wonder.
***
Another hour passed away and the first guest arrived at the venue. It was none other than Yuan Menzi, the current leader of the Yuan clan. He refused to stay at the Imperial palace like other clan leaders, who will attend the auction together with the Emperor as a big group.
It goes without saying that the other clan leaders won't bid for the aircraft and howitzers which the Emperor has an eye on. The Imperial Palace invited them first so that Emperor Shang has fewer competitors in the auction.
As for the sect leaders, they weren't invited because of a number of reasons.
One, it is due to the annual summit, which will start on the same day quite coincidentally and will go on for the next three days.
Two, they usually lack material wealth like gold coins.
And three, they wouldn't likely show interest in firearms as cultivation techniques are everything to them.
Anyway, back at the training ground, while the coachman parked the horse carriage outside, Yuan Menzi started walking toward the gate alongside his cousin-sister, who is trying her best to hide her displeasure.
Her name is Yuan Meili and she is the third daughter of the former Patriarch of the Yuan Clan and the governor of the Northern Yuan Province. She fancies the second prince and wouldn't want to miss any chance of meeting him.
However, her cousin, the Yuan clan's devil refused to entertain the emperor or his family and directly came to the venue and she was forced to tag along with him.
As they entered through the gate, both of them found the teenage couple giggling around. Yuan Meili was familiar with Shang Jiao and she heard about the only employee of the store too.
Hence, she didn't like the scene. In her eyes, the commoners without any status were just untouchables who shouldn't even be allowed to breathe the same air as her.
On the other hand, Yuan Menzi's attention was stolen by the robot that is standing nearby them.
Upon seeing him, the butler robot left its position and walked toward him, "Hello, Welcome to Expo 1783 by GWS."
While Yuan Meili was slightly taken aback by its appearance or the way of talking, the butler robot politely pointed his hand toward the table, "Please register your identity before entering."
"Interesting puppet," mumbled Yuan Menzi as he stared at the robot that have a perfect vocabulary and also manners.
Meanwhile, Chang Bo and Shang Jiao had spotted the first guest and they stopped chitchatting.