Chapter 146 - Preparations For Departure
Bromley entered the private room and sat down opposite of Leon happily.
"Why do you look happier than I am? Leon was baffled his father-in-law's expression.
"Hahaha... happy... why shouldn't I be happy? Those distant relatives had been far too arrogant, while riding on my family's success. They've been tarnishing the good image of my Cromwell family long enough. This will ought to teach them a lesson. In any case, the money will come out of their pockets, not mine." Bromley grinned.
Happily, as he was, it couldn't be shown to others because he had to uphold his image as the Huckabee family's relative.
Although he sealed their mouths and they would not spread the news outside, they would inevitably gossip among themselves inside. It would not sound pretty if his workers said he took pleasure in the misfortune of his own relatives.
"Fair enough. Alright, back to business. I'm looking for a good location with lots of traffic to open a pill store. What options does the Cromwell Real Estate have to offer me?" Leon stated forwardly.
"Sure, just let me grab the files." Bromley stated, before rummaging through a bunch of papers on the desk. "Here at the options. Take a look and see, which one suits you."
Leon accepted the files and had a quick scan through the few options available.
"This is a surprise. For such a real estate business, I was sure there would be a lot more options than just these few." Leon commented.
"Naturally there are a lot more options, if it is outside the Capital. Here, it would not be weird if there weren't any options available at all." Bromley stated as a matter of fact.
His words baffled Leon. "What do you mean?"
"Well you see, real estate business in the Capital hasn't been good at all, thanks to your good mother holing up in the palace. Haven't you realized why the Upper District is still so spacious?" To construct new building complex in the Capital, we must first buy the land.
But in order to do that, we must first gain approval from the royal family since most of the undeveloped land belongs to the them. We can only acquire the already bought lands from others." Bromley explained.
Hearing the explanation, Leon nodded in approval. "That makes sense."
He would have understood the reason if he had also given it some thought. It wasn't rocket science. However, why would he need to waste time thinking when he could just ask the person who already knows the answer?
"Well that shouldn't be a problem anymore, since my mother has taken to the office. If you want to buy some land in the Upper District to develop, just go and discuss it with my mother."
"Why would I want to do that now?" Bromley responded irritatingly. "Your mother just dumped the entire Lower District Reconstruction Project on my shoulders. I don't have the spare time and manpower for that."
"Actually… it was me, who recommended your Cromwell family to take charge of the project." Leon said with some embarrassment.
"Damn rascal, you must have plotted to work this father-in-law of yours to death, in case he opposed you wooing his daughter, right!?" Bromley said grumpily.
"Hahaha, it wasn't like that at all. As the saying goes; Important tasks should be left in the more capable hand." Leon chuckled and said righteously.
"Hmph! What a good; important tasks should be left in the more capable hands. Aren't you just shoving the work to someone else?" Bromley upbraided.
"Hmm~" Leon hummed, before saying. "I want this building."
Seeing they were no long talking nonsense and going back onto the main topic, Bromley shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the option his son-in-law pointed.
Some surprise appeared on his face. "Boy, I don't know if you are a genius or just courageous. You actually picked the prime location in the commercial district."
Leon just smiles towards this comment.
"Despite being situated in the busiest part of the Upper District and selling for a very cheap price, no one wants it. Do you know why?" Bromley quizzed Leon, intrigued with how the boy would answer.
"Because it is also situated in the middle of the three Merchant Association Buildings. There's no way such a good location for business would be unoccupied until now. The three merchant associations must have been fighting over it with no real winner.
If any of the three Merchant Associations dares to open business there, the other two would join forces to suppress them. Thus, they have been waiting for someone else to take it, but no one else dares to either because it is eyed by the three merchant associations, right?"
"Right. Good lad. It seems you already saw through everything before picking this option. I guess I have nothing to worry about."
Only Leon would dare pick the place. No one dares to mess with the royal family in the Capital. But if the three merchant associations dare to do so… Leon couldn't be any happier. He wouldn't have it any other way. Who wouldn't want to miss out on such an opportunity to milk those fat cashcows.
The price for the land and property deed amounted to a mere 4,000,000 Craws. It was cheaper than a steam-powered car. It shows how much the value had depreciated over the years. Leon paid the full amount outright on the spot.
"Good lad, you even came prepared." Bromley was startled as wasn't sure how Leon hid so much money on his body.
Leon soon followed an attendant to check out the newly bought property. It was a simple three-storey building. The inside had collected an incredible amount of dust.
Since everyone wanted but never bought the place, the Cromwell Real Estate never bother to maintain the place.
"…"
Leon looked at the dusty building, before glancing at the attendant silently. Nothing could be read from his calm expression.
"T-This… I'll go inform the President about this right away! The President should be able to send a team over to refurbish the place as soon as possible." The attendant sweated and said with awkwardness.
He was just an attendant, but he felt embarrassed as part of the company, for selling a piece of property in such poor condition. It would take a few days to refurbish the place back to pristine condition.
Leon nodded towards the attendant. "Please."
Receiving his acknowledgement, the attendant scurried back to the company quickly.
Normally, the customers would check out the piece of property first before buying, but Leon did not waste time and bought it outright.
Because of the string of coincidences, it created this awkward situation.
…
Back at the Primrose Merchant Association Building.
"P-President."
A servant barged into the president's office. His action immediately caused the president to be displeased.
"What the hell are you doing? Is this the sort of place you can barge in without knocking?" Vigo reprimanded with a dark expression,
"My deepest apologies, President. This servant deserves death." The servant kneeled before him.
Seeing his servant had something urgent to report, Vigo forgo the servant's undisciplined action with a wave. "Never mind. Out with it. Why are you back already? Did you already find information on that brat?"
"Y-Yes and no. This servant has yet to uncover his identity and background… but that person went to the Cromwell's Real Estate and bought the prime location the three association had been keeping an eye on."
"That's it? You haven't found out his identity or background yet you came back to report so urgently!? Go back and keep digging! You're a fucking embarrassment!" Vigo kicked his servant out of the office.
The servant scurried back to spy on Leon with awkwardness. He thought he found big news for his master, but it turned out to be anything big in the President's eyes.
He had forgotten that the association had always been watching over the property. If someone bought it, the assigned person would know immediately.
After the servant was gone, a different servant knocked on the office door, before entering.
"Leave. I already know." Vigo waved off the newcomer.
"Huh? Yes, President…" The servant left in bewilderment. Was their president a god? He hadn't given his report, but the president already knew? How strange.
In the quiet office, Vigo's lip rose into a cold smile.
"How interesting. Was this brat purposely picking a fight with me? That was an extremely foolish move. He is not only picking a fight with me, but all three merchant associations. There's no need for me to send someone to inform them. They should already know that someone bought the property."
Their three merchant associations had been eyeing the piece of property for a long time. They would be blind if they didn't know when someone bought it.
…
Before calling it a day, Leon went and bought some necessities and rations in preparation of his trip to the Extreme Misty Forest. After finding a secluded spot to store everything in his Worldspace, he returned to the Royal Palace.
Lynne had gone to Crawford Royal University that day, while Aria continued to cultivate quietly in the Guest Courtyard.
The situation on campus was complicated. Due to the previous events that happened to the Capital, the compulsory military training the student had to undergo was put on halt.
While the students cheered for the break, the soldiers back at the western frontier wailed in agony. The Wild Bear, that battle maniac had returned to duel with everyone.
"Tomorrow, I'll going on a short trip to the Extreme Misty Forest." Leon said over dinner with his mother and the two girls.
Elizabeth and the two girls expressed their surprise.
"Why are you going there?"
"Nooo, don't go. That place is filled with unknown dangers."
"That's right, son. Don't go. Just wait for someone else to find the herb. Mother had already sent out the task. We can afford to wait." Elizabeth argued against his decision.
Leon shook his head and said. "Even if it's not for the 7-Petal Frigid Agapanthus, I will still go for other reasons, mother. You don't have to worry about my safety. I know how to take care of myself." He promised.
He wanted to temper himself in the wild and see what rare herbs he could find in that mysterious forest. He wasn't lying when he said he knew how to take care of himself.
He had gone beast hunting before in his previous life before. Coupled with their wealth of knowledge over herbs, it was hard for them to starve in the woods or accidentally poison himself.
Seeing her son's strong conviction, she didn't continue to argue against his decision.
"Just be careful when you are out there." She sighed.
She had seen the desire for strength and to explore the unknowns of the world in her son's eye. She knew her son would leave the Capital one day, but she didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Don't worry, mother. I will only be gone for a few days." Leon assured, after reading the reluctance in his mother's expression.
"Mmm." Elizabeth nodded quietly.
Dinner soon passed by. Leon retired to his room for an early rest for tomorrow's trip.. However, the two girls had other intentions and followed him to his bedroom.