Ikasa and Sang Yi reached the Pleasant Dream Inn when the sun was still high in the sky. Ikasa decided to check off another task from the list while it was still bright outside.
Finalizing a suitable location for the Store.
In the past few days, Sang Yi and Zhong Xi had gone around the City, searching for a few potential storefronts. They had found four very attractive locations for the shop.
Now, Ikasa only had to visit the places in person and choose the location he liked the best. There may be better locations available if Ikasa waited for a few more days, but he wanted his store to open before the second day of the Auction.
Why the Second day? Because that was the day his Sense Realm Training Manual, 'Think Quick, Act Quicker' will be introduced for auction!
There was a reason he entrusted his Sense Realm Training Manual to the Fortune Lotus Pavilion. When the Sense Training Manual is auctioned, it will introduce the rich and powerful of Elm City to the concept of Single-Use Manuals!
This will in turn generate a buzz amongst the rchants and rcenaries which will serve as free publicity for his new shop!
So, Ikasa was eager to get his shop ready as soon as possible.
Sang Yi and Ikasa picked up Zhong Xi from the Inn and the trio set off to finalize the location for the store. As they walked towards the carriage, Sang Yi and Zhong Xi introduced Ikasa to the four locations they had picked.
"The first store is located on the Eastern Street, near the Fortune Lotus Pavilion. It is a small two storey shop with a good amount of footfall. For its location, the tax rate is also incredibly cheap at just 20%!"
Sang Yi spoke enthusiastically about his preferred location. Ikasa however noticed Zhong Xi's silence and his lack of enthusiasm regarding this store.
"Zhong Xi, is there a problem?"
Ikasa asked, addressing the teen directly after Sang Yi finished speaking. The one ard teen looked at Sang Yi and Ikasa with so trepidation and then gathered courage to voice his honest opinion.
"I… umm… I don't like this store very much."
Zhong Xi said with so hesitation while gauging the reactions of the two n. Ikasa still showed an interested look while a frown had ford on Sang Yi's face.
Zhong Xi quickly began to explain his reasoning to spare the feelings of the man with a tattoo who had shown him around the City for the past few days.
"Though the location is good, most of the traffic is in the form of Carriages drawn by the Spirit Beasts and servants rushing behind the carriages. I don't think either of those would notice our shop."
Ikasa was impressed by his detailed analysis. While Sang Yi only cared about the locality and the tax rate, Zhong Xi had taken into account the custors as well.
'He is already taking his role as a Shopkeeper seriously.'
Ikasa thought with a smile. He supported Zhong Xi and said to Sang Yi,
"Let's not think about this shop first then. Tell what you think of the other shops you visited."
Sang Yi was a little disappointed when Ikasa did not pay much heed to his words. However, he also knew that he had little experience in the matters of business, even less than Zhong Xi.
He sensibly let Zhong Xi speak about the other three shops they had selected. Sang Yi trained his eyes on the one-ard teen and gestured to him with a motion saying go ahead.
Zhong Xi smiled gratefully at Sang Yi and started to speak.
"Of the three other shops, one is located at the intersection of Northern Street and the Eastern Street. The shop is spacious enough for other normal cultivation stores, but if we are to get people to use the manual in the store itself, it will be crowded and turn away our custors."
A wider smile appeared on his lips as Ikasa looked at Zhong Xi with pride. He was glad to have such a thoughtful subordinate under him who took into account all his requirents without having been told to do so.
Ikasa encouraged Zhong Xi with a smile and said, "Very good, boy. Please, elaborate on all the other shops as well."
The encouragent from Ikasa boosted the teen's confidence. He spoke about the pros and cons of the other two shops with even more conviction.
"The third shop we selected is located on Northern Street. It is quite large with three floors and has sufficient space for our use. If necessary my family can also stay in one of the upper floors but…. it is too close to the Su Family estate."
As Zhong Xi ntioned the Su Family, he looked at Ikasa with slight dread and hesitation. Ikasa naturally understood the teen's fears.
The Shop was where Zhong Xi would be spending most of the ti. If necessary, his family would also help out at the shop. In case soone from the Su Family ca to make trouble, Zhong Xi and his family might die before reinforcents arrive.
Ikasa had a thought about using the shop to spy on the Su Family, but it was ultimately not worth the price.
He would be leaving manuals worth thousands of Cultivation Points in this shop. If by chance the Su Family beca greedy and attacked the shop, those Manuals could very well end up in their treasury before the reinforcents from the Nian Clan arrived from the opposite side of the City!
In this case, even the Chakra Sages of Nian Clan would not be able to force the Su's to spit out what they had already taken!
Then Ikasa would not only lose a capable subordinate like Zhong Xi, he would also lose out on several thousands of CP. He would really have no tears left to cry.
So, Ikasa dismissed the shop at a pri location on Northern Street because the security threat. He shook his head indicating his disapproval of this shop location to Zhong Xi and Sang Yi.
"That only leaves the shop near our Nian Clan branch on the Western Street…"
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