Old Sam Departs

"Little Duke has no money, but I see potential in his future, so I'm transferring it to him for free. What's the problem with that, Best?" Old Sam pulled a fast one.

The patent for the Coating System had already been sold to someone else.

This kind of privately sold patent had clauses in the contract that transferred even the title of technology inventor, so both he and Little Duke had to remain silent.

"Are you crazy, or is Little Duke your illegitimate son?" Best shouted.

Old Sam put on a stern face: "Best, what does this have to do with you? You just need to do your job as an external Card Maker and get your salary from the Card Repair Shop on time each month. You don't need to worry about anything else... From now on, Little Duke is the boss of this Little Sam's Card Shop. Everything else remains unchanged."

The news was too sudden.

Everyone was caught off guard, especially the full-time employee Bob. He was considered a veteran of Little Sam's Card Shop, having started working there since its inception.

However, the shop belonged to Old Sam, and he could transfer it to whomever he pleased.

He had to step forward and say, "Boss, your departure is truly... saddening. But I also believe Little... Duke will be a good boss."

"You're right, Bob," Old Sam said with a smile.

Duke then said, "Bob, after I take over the Card Repair Shop, your job and benefits will remain unchanged. The same goes for the three Card Masters, and the three apprentice workers. In short, everything will be the same as when Old Sam was here. Even the shop's name will remain Little Sam's Card Shop."

Dilanke and Sane, the two Card Masters, had no objections.

The apprentice worker Bobby, having been disciplined by Bob's slap, had already come to terms with it. Moreover, he, Thomas, and the newly hired apprentice worker Levin had no say in the matter.

Old Sam turned his gaze to Best.

Best snorted, "What can I say? Old Sam, this is your shop. It's your freedom to transfer it to whomever you want. I just take money for my work."

"Then it's settled," Old Sam said. "I'll spend the next few days taking Little Duke to handle the paperwork to officially transfer the shop. Then I'll hand over the procurement channels. Bob, please look after the shop for me."

"Understood, both bosses," Bob quickly changed his address.

Old Sam immediately took Duke to handle the procedures. After making a fortune from reselling patents, he no longer wanted to stay in Snakehead Town and just wanted to reunite with his family in Chen Jiao City as soon as possible.

After the two left.

Best immediately complained, "Old Sam has really lost his mind. He didn't even ask us before handing the shop over to Little Duke. That kid is clumsy even as an apprentice. I'm afraid the Card Repair Shop will go bankrupt before long."

"Best, don't be so pessimistic. Little Duke has opened his Spirit Sea, after all."

"So what? Haven't both you and I opened our Spirit Seas? Are there few people who have opened their Spirit Seas in our town? You saw the public class this morning, hundreds of Spiritual Apprentices popping pills!"

"At least he's more reliable than an ordinary person taking over."

"Heh, I don't think so."

Best complained for a few sentences. Seeing that no one really agreed with him, he gradually quieted down, and with a hint of anger, he worked on repairing cards, occasionally scolding the newly arrived apprentice worker Levin.

"The shop has four storefronts with a large courtyard in the middle and a big warehouse in the back. You can renovate it and live here directly in the future, saving you the rent," Old Sam said as they walked.

Duke bared his teeth, "If you had told me earlier, I could have saved some money."

He had just rented a new place, and the landlord might not be willing to refund the rent unless he could find someone to sublet it immediately.

"It's just a small amount of money. After deducting all salaries and expenses, the monthly income of the Card Repair Shop is at least one gold dragon," Old Sam said nonchalantly. "Besides, I've already paid this year's business tax in advance, so the money in the shop for the next few months will be pure profit... In short, work hard. I'm still expecting you to become an Erudite."

Following Old Sam, they went to several town institutions. It took three days to complete all the procedures.

Old Sam also handed over all the procurement channels to Duke.

At this point.

Little Sam's Card Shop truly became Duke's property.

On the evening of the third day, Duke hosted a farewell banquet for Old Sam at a large restaurant in town, inviting everyone from the shop.

The meal alone cost fourteen silver dragons.

Before, this was a number Duke could hardly imagine.

The next morning, Old Sam, carrying large bags and packages, left Snakehead Town. Duke saw him off to the Black Beetle Car and watched it drive away before turning back.

"Hoo!"

"Old Sam is gone, and he gave Little Sam's Card Shop to me."

"In Snakehead Town, in this world, I finally have my own industry to rely on. Now, I just need to focus on cultivation and diligently repair cards!"

Duke walked back to Little Sam's Card Shop with light steps.

"Boss!" Bob greeted him enthusiastically.

Duke glanced at the repair area and casually asked, "Card Master Best, is he not at work today?"

"Yes, but Card Master Best mentioned last night that he might have something to do today and wouldn't be able to come."

"I understand."

Duke didn't say anything. External Card Masters had some privileges, and they couldn't be held to the same strict standards as full-time employees or apprentices.

He walked straight to workstation number four. This spare workstation was mainly used by Old Sam, but now it had become his exclusive spot. A pile of broken cards lay on the table. He spent almost all his free time learning to repair them, striving to master the skill of repairing spirit cards as soon as possible.

When he encountered difficulties, he would consult Card Masters Dilanke and Sane.

The day passed just like that.

After Bob got off work, Duke stayed alone in the shop. He planned to renovate the warehouse behind the store into his own living quarters and live there from now on.

He didn't close up and go back until midnight.

"Xiao Yi, how is my cultivation progressing now?"

"Master has condensed 134 drops of Spirit Liquid. The condensation speed has decreased significantly compared to before, but there is still a long way to go before Condensing Liquid into Line."

The mark of a One-Star Spiritual Apprentice is Gathering Qi into Liquid, and the mark of a Two-Star Spiritual Apprentice is Condensing Liquid into Line.

The two are related, with a quantitative change leading to a qualitative change.

The Spirit Sea appears boundless, but in reality, the amount of Spirit Liquid it can store is limited. Different people have different physiques and can store varying amounts of Spirit Liquid, ranging from one hundred to one thousand drops.

Having little Spirit Liquid does not mean poor talent; having a lot of Spirit Liquid does not necessarily mean exceptional talent.

Because once Condensing Liquid into Line is achieved, the strength of Spiritual Power will be determined by the energy lines, and energy lines have long surpassed the stage of relying on sheer quantity.

What determines the strength of a Spiritual Apprentice is the energy circuit that the energy lines can construct—the Ring!

Of course.

For Duke, the more Spirit Liquid he condenses now, the longer he can use the One-Ring Desert Eagle and the more times he can fire it, thus increasing his survivability.