After finishing their lunch at the pub, Max and Sophia sat back and listened to all sorts of gossip from the customers who had come to eat there.
While they have also collected intelligence regarding the merchant guild.
According to them the merchant guild is currently presided by the vice island master who was appointed through elections of the people living in the city.
The merchant guild acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers, especially when bulk purchases are needed at the right price without additional cost increases caused by various factors.
It also serves as an agent for the city lord to regulating, controlling, and gathering information about goods and sellers to maintain harmony in the city's economy, which can be fragile due to numerous influences.
They were also granted permission by the Island lord to operate as a bank, lending money to small businesses and serving as a safe storage for the funds of all the Island residents.
Many wealthy residents on the island trust the merchant guild, as its president is elected through a general vote.
The Island Lord selects candidates after thorough discussions and a detailed review of their work efficiency. This process avoids resentment among the residents, as they are given a choice of candidates along with their biodata and specialties before the elections occur.
Many were pleased to select members from the general public who earned their positions through service, as many external lords often didn't care about their people, focusing solely on taxes rather than their welfare.
After learning all about the merchant guild, Max and Sophia decided to visit and register with it, as it seemed to offer many conveniences during their stay on the island. They discovered that the guild is led by the vice island master, who is elected through a democratic process.
This left a positive impression on them, as they came from a world that strongly valued freedom. They appreciated that even in this unfamiliar world, the people had the opportunity to elect their leaders under the guidance of a good ruler.
Soon they paid the required amount to the waitress for the bill for their lunch and went out of the exploration guild.
When they went out of the exploration guild a sneaky person observed them from behind and went to the nearby hotel and disappeared into the hotel.
Max and Sophia crossed the bustling street and arrived in front of the merchant guild, discovering it to be even more magnificent than the alchemy guild and the exploration guild, making them truly appreciate its grandeur.
They soon went inside, where a receptionist greeted them and inquired about the purpose of their visit to the merchant guild, asking whether they needed any loans or if they were there to deposit money.
Max and Sophia exchanged a glance before telling her that they were here to register as merchants with the guild and sell the monster meat, along with the skin and scales of the creature they have obtained from hunting in the ocean.
The receptionist immediately asked them to follow her as she will guide them to the room where the registration will be carried out, While Max and Sophia happily followed her towards the private room she arranged for them.
Soon, they were taken into a small room with two sofas and a table in between. On the table was a machine that resembled a printer, but Max, noticing the alchemy array on it, immediately guessed it was an alchemy item inspired by the printer's design.
The receptionist asked them to take a seat, then sat across from them and inquired if they would like any refreshments. Max and Sophia declined, explaining that they had just finished lunch and had no room for any more food or drink.
Then the receptionist immediately Asked if they could provide any two types of identification to register in the merchant guild which confused them as why they need two types of identifications for registration.
The receptionist, noticing their confusion, explained that it was simply a procedure to ensure their identities were legitimate. They clarified that the guild didn't want people to think registration was too easy. Typically, island residents would present their resident certificate, tax certificate, or business license issued by the lord manor for identification.
After understanding, Max and Sophia took out the certificates issued by the lord manor and the exploration guild registration certificate. The receptionist accepted them, began filling out the details using the alchemy device, and produced a printed form. She asked them to check for any discrepancies, which Max and Sophia reviewed before returning it to her after finding no major or minor mistakes.
She informed them that the registration fee to become merchants was 1 gold coin. Max and Sophia asked if they could pay after selling their goods, and the receptionist agreed, confident that monster meat always sells for a good price, making her believe they would be able to cover the registration fee.
The receptionist asked them to wait a few minutes while she completed the remaining registration process and returned with the merchant identification.
Then she left with the forum containing Max and Sophia's details and returned with a tray holding golden-colored cards, each spaced apart. She placed the tray on the table in front of them.
Soon, she took the cards with both hands and presented them, which they accepted and began observing.
The card includes their name, exploration guild ID number, rank, and a bank account number, which Max and Sophia can use to store the earnings from their goods sales. It also allows them to withdraw all the cash they have stored in the merchant guild using the card.
She explained the advantages of saving the cash they earned from selling products and suggested they keep their gold in the bank.
She then asked them to follow her so she could guide them to the counter where they could sell the products they had with them.
Soon they reached the counter and were informed that 10 kilograms of tier-one monster materials were sold for 1 gold coin. Both Max and Sophia took out 1000 kilograms each, leaving the receptionists stunned with their mouths agape. However, they quickly recovered, checked the quality, and paid them 100 gold coins each, which Max and Sophia requested to be deposited into their cards.
Then they sold the skin and scales, earning an additional 50 gold coins, bringing their total earnings to 150 gold coins.
After that they picked the merchant cards and left the merchant guild under the respectful gazes of the receptionists who saw them selling thousands of monster meat.
Max and Sophia who left the merchant guild were then obstructed by the few people with obvious hostility on their faces.