CHAPTER 42

He Yazhu went closer and using a skill, his voice reverberated throughout the arena:

“I believe that none of us would have expected such an outcome! The beast was particularly strong this time but three young men managed to defeat it! Please, welcome them the way only us can, our three new members!”

There was a tremendous amount of cheering before He Yazhu went on:

“From the Stohn Clan, Promo 359 620, Stohn Endge!”

More cheering.

“From the Ary clan, Promo 359 620, Ary Josh!”

More cheering.

“And from my He clan, Promo 359 620, He Long!”

Even more cheering.

Those three kids were familiar with Mir as they belonged to his class. Ary Josh was the one who got second place at the entrance exam. Stohn Endge is Mir and Oka’s friend that ate with them at the Roasted Bear and finally, He Long is the kid that mocked them as beggars for eating outside that day. The world is vast yet small.

Back to Mir. He was finally joined by Bolores Davon at the Drunk Tiger tavern. Davon sat down with his smile on. he predicted this outcome long before. It was the obvious course of action and the best one for Mir in his opinion. He was right. Mir reached that same conclusion. And here they were, face to face. Mir initiated the conversation:

“A pleasure to meet you again, Davon.

-Pleasure shared, Mir.”

No more courtesy needed between businessmen. They were of equal standing. Mir said:

“I wish to offer you a job.

-I know. You want me to take care of your business for you.

-Yes. Nothing less from someone like you, I guess. It makes things easier.

-Let’s go right to the point then: what do I gain from this?

-A percentage on the sales as well as the right to sell the surplus to your old man, outside.”

This surprised Davon. He was expecting the percentage and thought he would have to negotiate on that, the right to sell to his father outside was something unexpected.

The kid was making him an offer he could not refuse. No one in this school can produce as much as the kid in front of him. The rumor of his incredible 100% success recipes were particularly growing strong. If it was real, the prospects for his family business was incredible. He answered:

“What kind of surplus?

-I’ll let you plan the quantity made and the recruitment of employees. You’ll have to manage the supply of goods and travel through the forest. But you’ll be able to use my unique recipes. 100% success rate.

-Is that for real?

-It is. Now, you are smart. You understand the weight of this offer. I’ll say it but once: 5% on profits from what you sell inside on points and half the profits to share between you and your father for what is sold outside. I just hope you’ll be smart enough to not make too much at once and induce a price drop.

-I would not.

-Very well. Before I go into details, there is one more condition: leave the business faction and enter Club ROI.”

Davon frowned. If he left the business faction, he’d lose many benefits. Yet, if he went with the kid, just how much profits would it make him? What’s more, there would be profits outside the school. This was very interesting even if he had to give up his status inside the business faction. Davon smirked and said:

“You are really a crooked kid.

-Thanks. So? Your answer?

-I agree. To everything you said.

-Good, let’s have you make an oath first: you won’t spread any intel on my recipe, what it contains, our goals and how we work unless required for you to do your duty as the manager of my business.”

Davon made the oath. He swore to not spread and divulge any intel on recipes or what it contains or how it’s made. He swore to not speak about the Club’s goals and how they worked unless required to do his duty as the manager. If he broke that oath, he would die. And Mir, in exchange, agreed to let him become the business manager. Then, Mir handed him a folded paper and said:

“This contains the recipe for all pills from rank 1 first realm to rank 3 ninth realm.”

Davon placed it directly into a space bag to make sure no one would sneak a peek. Then, they went to the alliance building. Davon left the business faction and entered Club ROI. They went to Davon’s shop. It contained all sorts of rare and miscellaneous goods. Mir was led upstairs to the third floor. There was only Davon’s desk. They could enter the details here. Davon said:

“So, what’s the deal with the Ninths?

-We provide them a certain quantity every week. I wrote it on the paper. They pay at a fixed price every week. In exchange, we have their protection as an organization and still make a high profit from it. you can see the prices we use with those guys written on that paper too. You must never sell for less to others. And obviously, the high-rank pills are to be sold at the auction.

-Of course. Alright, I get this. What’s your strategy in all this?

-I need millions of points to get the greatest secret skills this place has. Then, I’ll graduate and live life surrounded by babes.

-What a naughty kid~ But I meant…

-I know, what is the next step to this business, right?

-Yes.

-First, we need to build our reputation. Two months should be enough. Recruit workers, have them make an oath and make them create pills on the sixth floor. Recruit whatever is needed to cross the forest and transport the goods. You’re free to sell the pills however you see fit as long as the prices don’t drop too much and the profits keep going in.

-I’ll use this shop. It is already famous and there’s enough space. It won’t be too hard to make a partnership with a few auction houses either. For transport, I’ll just hire some people strong enough to make it easy. What should I do in two months?

-Buy more land around this shop. Make a bar. Name it “ROI Club Bar”. First floor will be a normal bar. Make sure there is roasted bear available.

-Roasted Bear, isn’t it a common dish?

-I love it.

-I see…

-The second floor will be used to receive guest and discuss our own strategies: a meeting place. And the third floor will be used for the special service.

-Special service?

-Helping crossing realms.”

What was that? Did he hear it good? Davon could not believe his ears. He asked:

“What did you say?

-Helping crossing realms.

-What do you mean? I don’t understand.

-Ahah, bet you don’t. You know how hard it is to breakthrough from one realm to another, even more so to another rank. And martial artists, they fail many times crossing those boundaries each time. Sometimes, they reach a point where it just becomes impossible to cross. Are you following me this far?

-Yes.

-Well, what would you do if I said there was a very simple reason behind these failures?

-I would not believe it.

-Try to. Because it’s the truth. The true method seems to have been lost along the way. And so, in this age, people aren’t breaking through but forcing it. And it results in those failures. Now, what would happen if someone knew the right method and could insure a 100% chance of breakthrough at all realms.

-Are you for real?

-I am.

-I don’t believe it.

-Don’t worry, once the bar is built, you won’t be far from having enough energy stored to try for a breakthrough. At that time, you will be able to see it for yourself.”

Seeing is believing but using himself as a sample for this test? No way. Sure, he did not care that much about his own martial prowess, he was not here for that. But still, he wouldn’t let it all disappear because of a failed experiment done by a kid. He said:

“I will find someone else to test it soon. There are many desperate individuals in this school. People who have been stuck in a realm for ages.

-I’ll do it for free this one time then. You’ll be able to see it for yourself. Make sure that they’ll agree to an oath of secrecy though, I don’t want it to spread too much. Now, I’ll be leaving, I have much more to do. I already talked about you to the Ninths. Just go meet their overseer first and begin managing the business. I have grand expectations from you, Davon~”

Mir left Davon’s shop and went to the fourth floor searching for Oka.

In the meantime, Oka had been quite active. Since no one would battle him anymore in the Lion Stadium, he went to the Ring of Dragons. A giant dome with four dragons battling on top, each made from a different precious jewel. Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Onyx.

There, he battled countless opponents of his level. He lost a few times too. He had made up his mind to learn to control his energy like Milly and thus, he forbids himself from using any skills. This placed him at a disadvantage compared to his opponents but he was still owner of a M-rank bloodline. He won more times than he lost. As he was finishing one more fight, he saw Mir in the crowd and decided to forfeit the next match before going down.

“Quite the show you put on there, Oka. Did you learn some good things?

-I did, young boss.

-Do share then! Don’t keep me in the mist~.”

And from there, Oka told Mir about everything and this weird and impressive control the girl Milly had on her energy. Mir pondered and considered it for a while before he nodded and said:

“Indeed, you need to learn about that. Keep at it. I went and hired Davon for our business so we’re free to do whatever we want now.

-Awesome!

-I’ll be going down to learn skills and look for good lectures to assist. I’ll see you later. If you need more points, go to Davon’s store.

-Yes, young boss!”

Mir left Oka to the Ring of Dragons to enjoy some fights. He was more interested in the concept of control and rather than try to learn it by himself, he could just go look for a master at control and observe him. With his eyes, he’d learn from it faster.