BXBX NOVEL Chapter 217 Shop Finalized!
The Nian Clan only opened a branch on this street because they could not afford a piece of land on the Eastern or Northern Streets. Also, it was nearer to the main branch of the Clan that resided outside the City, in the Daruka Forest.
Ikasa had traveled on the Western Street on his way to the Nian Clan. So, he was well aware of these conditions. Still, he waited for Zhong Xi to give his opinion.
"The Shop on the Western Street is indeed not as good as the one on the other two streets when it comes to luring the wealthy."
Zhong Xi admitted to the shortcoming right at the start but he was not done yet.
"But our shop in Birch City makes the most income from the commoners and the nouveau riche. This shop can easily lure this customer base. Also, Mercenaries, our other preferred customers also need to visit the markets to prepare for their journeys. So, I don't think we would be losing out on much."
Ikasa smiled at Zhong Xi as the teen tried to justify his reasoning for choosing a shop on the Western Street. He had indeed done his research but he thought from the perspective of Tier-3 City.
It caused him to make an error when choosing the target customer group. While the number of merchants with private forces in a Tier-3 City were limited, there were too many of such merchants in Elm City!
He could earn much more from them than he could from the poor commoners.
Still, Ikasa reserved his judgment and decided to take a look at the shop in question first. He got into the carriage and requested Sang Yi to set the destination.
"Brother Sang, can you please take us to the shop on the Western Street?"
Soon after, the Dual Horned Horse turned left from the Northern Street and connected to the Western Street. A few breaths later the carriage came to a halt.
"We are here?"
Ikasa asked with surprise. From the grim tones of Sang Yi and Zhong Xi, Ikasa thought that the Shop was not touching the main street but deep inside some alley.
However, they had stopped right at the intersection of Northern Street and the Western Street.
They had only taken a turn toward the western street and yet the numerous Spirit Beast carriages of the Northern Street were replaced with hordes of pedestrians.
Zhong Xi got down from the carriage and pointed to a slightly rundown yet very large shop three blocks away from Northern Street and said, "I picked this storefront."
Ikasa moved his eyes to follow the fingers of Zhong Xi. At the same time, he could not help but notice the stark difference between the two adjacent streets.
Unlike the buildings on Eastern Street or the Northern Street, the structures here did not scream of wealth and opulence. There were no colorful stones or shiny white marbles used in the construction on this street.
Instead, the buildings here had a rustic and solemn vibe. Made from solid and rugged black stone bricks, every building on the western street seemed to have withstood a test of time.
The storefront Zhong Xi pointed to was no different. It occupied the space of nearly three normal stores and also had two storeys above the ground floor!
Ikasa was impressed by the size of the establishment. He followed Zhong Xi's hurried footsteps who pushed open the rickety old door made from wood.
A slightly musty smell hit his nose as soon as Ikasa entered the premises. A wooden counter appeared before his eyes with plenty of open space to the right side of the counter.
"This place used to be a tavern before. The owner died and his heirs could not retain the old customers, eventually causing this place to fall into disrepair."
Sang Yi provided from the side, seeing Ikasa narrow his eyes at the bar counter. Ikasa had deduced the fact already but he still nodded gratefully at Sang Yi.
Zhong Xi led Ikasa up the stairs to wide dormitory-like rooms. He spread his only hand, showing off the spacious dust covered hall and exclaimed, "This is the reason why I like this storefront!"
Ikasa could not understand the reason for the teen's enthusiasm. When they had visited the three more wide halls similar to the first one, suddenly light flashed in his head. He looked at Zhong Xi with contemplative eyes and probed his thoughts.
"Are you, perhaps, suggesting to convert them into training rooms and then rent them to large groups for their breakthroughs?"
Zhong Xi eagerly nodded his head with a wide grin, seeing Ikasa had understood his idea.
'The idea certainly holds some merit…'
Ikasa thought while rubbing his chin as he looked at the dusty floors and thick walls in new light.
The rooms were wide enough to give 4 people enough space to spar and train their Battle Techniques at the same time. If it was just a breakthrough in cultivation, 10 people could simultaneously breakthrough in each of these rooms.
Since the Cultivators using this room would mostly be Path Forgers or Sense Trainers, their destructive capability would also be much lower. That means a basic reinforcement array would also be enough for the job!
The idea of turning this into a training room for his customers took a firm root in Ikasa's head. The progenitor of this idea, Zhong Xi, became even more valuable in his eyes.
"There are not only these rooms but also a basement that used to be a wine cellar and place to live upstairs."
Zhong Xi spoke, leading Ikasa to the living quarters on the floor above. He opened the windows, letting the sunlight shine inside the room. The atmosphere became bright and cheery from dark and gloomy as soon as the golden rays of the sun entered the room.
"There, beyond that huge Elm tree, lies the branch of Nian Clan. So, this place should be as secure as it can be."
Sang Yi said to Ikasa while looking out of the window, giving the latter another reason to consider this place.
Ikasa indeed had come to like this place a lot. The location was not so bad that the rich would disdain visiting it in person. Footfall was also good and many of the pedestrians on the street had the potential to become his customers.
In addition, the ideas of Zhong Xi about the training room really had him hooked. Not to mention, the teen had also chosen this place as his home. Either way, Ikasa had to buy this property as a reward for the little guy, so why not turn the lower floor into a shop?
However, there was one thing bothering Ikasa and he voiced it out loud for the other two to hear.
"There are many reasons to pick this place but everything is for naught if we cannot get this place cleaned up and ready for opening before the day after tomorrow."
Ikasa said in a wistful voice.
This caused Zhong Xi to feel disheartened. Even if he tried his best, there was no way he could make all the repairs like replacing the old creaking wooden door. It was even more impossible for him to find an Array Master to lay the arrays.
At this moment, Sang Yi jumped to offer his help.
"I can take care of the repairs and the arrays. There is an Array Master who is a friend of my father's. I am sure I can employ his services. You just need to pay for the fees."
"Really?" Zhong Xi asked with a glint in his eyes. He turned to look at Ikasa with hope.
Ikasa had no reason to refuse if his biggest problem, finding an array master, was going to be solved easily. After all, any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem at all!
"Brother Sang Yi, thank you very much. I will definitely repay your favor. Please, ask him to set up the best defense array possible for the shop and the basement as soon as possible. The reinforcement arrays for the rooms upstairs can be prepared at leisure. Also, don't worry about payment, I will not be stingy with compensation!"
Then Ikasa turned to Zhong Xi and issued him a set of instructions.
"Find some people to take care of the repairs and cleaning. Don't try to do everything by yourself. By the time you finish cleaning, this property will be in your name!"
A wide smile bloomed on the face of the teen as his eyes lit up. Similar matching grin had appeared on Ikasa's face as he shared the teen's joy of finding a great location. Leaving the teen behind to take care of the chores, Ikasa turned to leave with Sang Yi.
Two days later, this place will officially open as the first branch of the Gold Heart Business Group!