A Big Deal

"Bob, have many people come by the shop to look around these past few days?" Best stood behind the counter of his Card Repair Shop with his hands clasped behind his back, carrying himself like a proper shop owner.

Bob took out the ledger and replied, "There were quite a lot of people during the first few days after opening, and quite a few brought Spirit Cards in for repairs. Things may have dipped a little these past few days. There aren't many people coming in, and only a few have brought cards for repair."

"No rush, no rush. We're a new shop, so this is normal." Best comforted him gently. "Sane and I are both experienced Card Masters. The neighbors nearby will definitely trust our craftsmanship. Now that Old Sam is gone, Little Sam's Card Shop will go under sooner or later."

"When I passed by this morning, I noticed Little Sam's Card Shop had already hired a new Card Master. They also hired some delivery people and a cook."

"Haha, that little brat Duke must have lost his mind. I've snatched away his business, yet he's still hiring people on such a grand scale. He'll go bankrupt within two or three months!"

Yet several more days passed.

Best looked at the Card Repair Shop, which did not have a single customer, and his expression grew uglier and uglier. "Bob, you and your father go take a look at Little Sam's Card Shop. Is no one going there to repair cards either? How come there hasn't even been a single person in sight these past few days?"

Bob did not want to go to Little Sam's Card Shop. He always felt it would be awkward to go over there again.

But he had no choice.

The father and son secretly went over to investigate. Then they hurried back, their faces drained of color. "Boss, something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?"

"Little Duke took people through all the streets and alleys nearby, saying they were launching some kind of home-visit service. They collected every Spirit Card that people had at home waiting to be repaired!"

The moment Best heard this, his face went white with shock. "Home-visit service? They collected all the Spirit Cards? He—he—he—what right does he have?!"

Bob replied bitterly, "I asked at several households. They said they could also hand their Spirit Cards over to Best's Card Repair Shop for repairs, but those people trust Little Sam's Card Shop more... Boss, you know that Old Sam opened his shop back when Snakehead Town was still a small market town. The neighbors have already grown used to Little Sam's Card Shop."

Snakehead Town had been established during the Pioneer War.

Before the Pioneer War had ended, this place had been a center for the circulation of supplies. It gradually developed into a trading market, and only after it was enfeoffed to the Black Snake Family was Snakehead Town formally established.

It could be said that Little Sam's Card Shop had already existed before many people even moved to Snakehead Town.

After so many years, it had become the established choice for countless people.

"Damn it!" Best stamped his feet in agitation. "Go now. Bring all the apprentices with you. That little brat Duke is going from house to house, so you go from house to house too. Bring all the customers over to me!"

"This..."

"What, you're unwilling?" Best's face turned cold.

Bob hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no. I'm just afraid we'll make a wasted trip. Little Duke has already collected the Spirit Cards once."

"Then we'll prepare for the next batch of damaged Spirit Cards. At worst, we'll charge a little less for repairs." Best paced back and forth before the counter. "You used to work the counter at Little Sam's Card Shop, so you're a familiar face to the neighbors. And I was a Card Master at Little Sam's Card Shop, so the quality of my repairs is guaranteed. Why wouldn't we be able to snatch the customers back?"

"Then... what about the counter..."

"I'll watch the counter. How many customers can even come in right now?"

Left with no alternative, Bob had to take several apprentices and hurriedly begin sweeping through the streets.

"Dutlan, take this Illusion Card to Mr. Leef's home at 277 Fine Rain Alley. The repair fee is one Silver Dragon and sixteen Copper Dragons. Remember to have Mr. Leef sign to confirm it."

Inside Little Sam's Card Shop, Sally, who was working the counter, quickly wrapped a Spirit Card in a new outer cover.

Dutlan, who had been resting by the entrance, immediately jogged over. "Leave it to me!"

The moment Dutlan left, Sally took out another Spirit Card and wrapped it. "Steve, it's your turn. Take this Spirit Storage Card to Dopa Clothing Store at 297 Second Vertical Street. The shop assistant only needs to sign for the repair-fee slip."

"Okay, Lisa." Steve quickly rose to his feet.

Duke, who was studying discarded Spirit Cards at Workstation Four, looked up at the busy employees. He was quite satisfied with the current pace at Little Sam's Card Shop.

After spending several consecutive days sweeping the streets with Dutlan and Steve, he had not only stabilized his customer base but had also made himself familiar to the neighbors.

Once this round of street-sweeping was complete, Old Sam's reputation, built up over many years, would smoothly transfer to him. As long as he maintained the quality of his repairs and continued providing good service, Duke would stand invincible.

Reputation.

In this era without advertising, it had an enormous influence on a shop.

"What Old Sam left me that's most valuable isn't the shop, but this signboard. Best can't see that, which is why he hurriedly opened a new shop, hoping to cut me off."

Duke did not take Best's frantic efforts seriously.

Best had limited connections and methods. In a normal competition, he was no match for Duke at all.

"Still, Best pulling a stunt like this has cost me a lot of money." Duke thought with some regret.

Originally, Little Sam's Card Shop could earn a full Gold Dragon in net profit every month. Now, although the customer base had been stabilized, the higher commissions and the increased wages and expenses had caused the net profit to fall below half a Gold Dragon.

"A first-ring spirit plant can easily cost dozens of Gold Dragons. Even a zero-ring spirit plant of a variety capable of organizing a spiritual aura field costs several Gold Dragons..."

Spirit plants were commodities that had a price but no market.

They were basically monopolized by the great families, with only a small number flowing into the market. As a result, their prices were frighteningly high.

"I'm cultivating the Blank Paper Meditation now, and the speed at which I condense Spirit Liquid is getting slower and slower. I have to get a spirit plant as soon as possible and arrange a spiritual aura field in the small courtyard."

Just as he was thinking this,

a customer entered the shop and asked as soon as he came through the door, "Can you purchase Spirit Cards on behalf of customers here?"

Sally immediately replied with a smile, "Yes. Our shop goes to Chen Jiao City to stock up every week. If there are any Spirit Cards you need us to purchase, you can pay a deposit in advance and have us buy them for you."

"Are you the owner?"

"No, I'm not. Our owner is over there." Sally pointed toward the repair area.

The customer said directly, "I want to speak with your owner."

When Duke came over, the customer could not help frowning. "You're the owner? You're far too young."

"Being young doesn't mean I'm unreliable. May I ask your name, sir?" Duke did not show the slightest stage fright. "Our purchase-on-behalf service at Little Sam's Card Shop can handle large quantities, and we can sign a contract."

"Is that so?" The customer thought for a moment. "My name is Rony."

"Mr. Rony, please sit over here and talk."

Sally brought over tea. Rony waited until she had left.

Only then did he explain which Spirit Cards he needed purchased on his behalf. "I need ten Arcane Cards: five Ice Cone Cards, three Mage Hands, and two Illusion Cards... You must purchase these Arcane Cards from United Card Shop in Chen Jiao City. At market price, the total comes to twenty-seven Gold Dragons. I can offer half a Gold Dragon as payment."

Duke was both shocked and delighted. Ten Arcane Cards worth twenty-seven Gold Dragons, plus half a Gold Dragon in payment—this was a big deal.

However, he kept his expression well under control, revealing only an appropriate trace of surprise.

Rony watched Duke's expression. Somewhat surprised by his composure, he could not help adding, "Also, you can bargain for a lower price. Whatever you save will all count toward your payment."

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