The Shop Changes Hands

The dishes were served, and Boss Lucius raised his glass first.

After Duke took a shallow sip, citing his underage status, Lucius dropped the pleasantries and got straight to the point: "Today, I've invited Captain Murashi to mediate. I'm meeting with Boss Duke because I'm interested in Little Sam's Card Shop and want to buy it."

"You want to buy my shop?" Duke hadn't expected this to be the purpose of the meal. He immediately frowned, "I'm sorry, but Little Sam's Card Shop is doing very well right now, and I have no intention of selling."

Lucius said unhurriedly, "But the Pioneer War is coming soon, and Snakehead Town will become a vortex. There will be no shortage of trouble."

"There might be trouble, but it should be quite profitable," Duke still refused.

"Are you so sure you can handle all the trouble? You know, with all the mercenaries flocking in from everywhere, if you don't handle them properly, they might just smash the place."

"I think I can."

"Haha, Boss Duke is truly confident. I'll toast you." As Lucius spoke, he glanced at Murashi while raising his glass.

Murashi seemed to understand, and immediately said, "Boss Duke, the trouble might be greater than you imagine. Even I've been under a lot of pressure lately, afraid that these mercenaries from out of town might cause a major incident within the jurisdiction that we can't control."

Duke glanced at Murashi and asked in a deep voice, "So, can Boss Lucius resolve these troubles?"

Lucius chuckled, "Of course. I've been doing business in Chen Jiao City for so many years, and Captain Murashi is my friend. Resolving trouble won't be difficult."

With that said.

Duke understood that if he didn't sell the shop today, he would likely face endless trouble from now on.

Offending the Security Brigade and trying to do business on the Black Snake Family's territory was almost impossible.

If Old Sam were here, it would be easy. Old Sam knew many people in the Black Snake Family, but Duke didn't have any connections in that regard.

Thinking of this, he wasn't too panicked.

He calmly inquired, "Then, Boss Lucius, if I transfer Little Sam's Card Shop, what price are you willing to take it for?"

Lucius's heart leaped with joy, but he said generously, "Thirty gold dragons. Isn't that a show of sincerity!"

"Impossible. The land deed alone is worth more than that."

"Forty gold dragons."

"Too little, too little. That's not a sincere offer," Duke shook his head. "Besides, I'm a Spiritual Apprentice. I need to run the shop to earn money for my cultivation. If Boss Lucius continues to be so insincere, you should look for another shop."

"I'm already offering a very high price, Boss Duke. Aren't you going to consider it carefully?"

"I've considered it very carefully. Little Sam's Card Shop has over twenty years of reputation. It was one of the first shops opened in Snakehead Town. Just for that name alone, it's worth a hundred gold dragons. We've always been the most law-abiding shop in Snakehead Town, and we've never been late on our business taxes..."

Duke's words had a hidden meaning, mainly for Murashi to hear.

If the Black Snake Family were to bully businesses and force sales on their territory, it would be a significant blow to their reputation, especially at this critical juncture.

What if someone found out and made a fuss...

If nothing else, Murashi would definitely not want to be implicated.

Therefore, Murashi frowned and decisively said, "Boss Lucius, please make a sincere offer. Little Sam's Card Shop is, after all, a long-standing establishment."

"Uh, this..." Lucius gave a wry smile, "Alright, since Captain Murashi said so, I'll be direct. Eighty gold dragons. If you're willing, I'll buy it. If not, I'll just open a new shop on Third Vertical Street myself."

From forty gold dragons to eighty gold dragons.

This was not the true value of Little Sam's Card Shop; it was significantly lower.

But this had reached Duke's psychological expectation. Snakehead Town was becoming increasingly chaotic, and he himself was a bit reluctant to get involved in the murky waters.

Today, it was just an ordinary shop owner applying pressure by going through the channels of Captain Murashi, a 0-ring Knight.

Later, it might be someone who could go through the channels of a 1-ring Great Knight who would come to forcibly seize the shop.

Therefore.

It was better to sell the shop early and leave.

He no longer hesitated, "In principle, I agree to this price. It's just my employees; I hope Boss Lucius can look after them."

"Don't worry, I'm very satisfied with the operation of Little Sam's Card Shop. All employees will remain as they are."

"I also want to take a set of Card Machines. Don't worry, it's an old, discarded set that won't affect the normal working positions for card repair."

"This... fine."

After the lunch was over, Lucius and Duke went to Snakehead Tower and completed the shop transfer for eighty gold dragons.

The paperwork was signed, and the gold dragon card was swiped.

Boss Lucius happily took the business card and said to Duke, "This is a large sum of money. Boss Duke, have you thought about how you'll spend it?"

"Compared to the money Little Sam's Card Shop can earn during the Pioneer War, this is nothing. But since I've sold it, I won't say more. I wish Boss Lucius a prosperous business."

"Haha, you're too kind."

"Give me two days to sort out my belongings."

"No problem, take your time."

Duke returned to Little Sam's Card Shop alone. Sally came over and asked, "Boss, what was the lunch meeting about? You're back so late?"

"Didn't Teacher Murav tell you?"

"No, there isn't."

Murav at his workstation looked up and replied, "This has nothing to do with me. It's better if Boss Duke announces it himself."

"Alright." Duke took a deep breath and signaled for everyone to gather around. "I have an announcement to make. Little Sam's Card Shop has been transferred…"

"Ah!"

"What?"

"No way, Boss, why did you sell the shop?"

"Transferred again?"

After the employees quieted down, Duke said, "Yes, it's been transferred. But don't worry everyone, the new owner promised me everything will stay the same. You can all continue working normally."

"Boss, I don't want you to leave." The honest Levin put down his broom, looking reluctant.

Because he was too simple-minded, he couldn't earn money working in the factory, and his parents didn't care for him. He finally found an apprenticeship, only to be disliked by Murav.

If Duke hadn't been kind and transferred him to be his assistant, he would have been unemployed again.

Now that Duke was leaving, Levin felt like things were going to get bad again. He might be kicked out by the new owner in a few days, since he couldn't do anything well besides having some strength.

"It'll be alright, Levin. The new owner will treat you well," Duke reassured him.

He actually quite liked Levin, the honest, big guy. He was hardworking, didn't complain, and didn't have complicated interpersonal relationships. He was very reliable.

However, he hadn't even decided where he was going next.

Naturally, he couldn't take Levin with him.

"Sigh, this year has been quite frustrating. We've had three bosses already," the Card Master Dilanke joked. He wasn't too bothered by the change in ownership.

Card Masters with skills like his could survive anywhere.

Opening the Spirit Sea might not make one soar to the heavens, but as a Spiritual Apprentice, there were many paths to choose from. He wasn't worried about not making money.