Chapter 273: Opening of Golden Rat stores
Inside the administrative building at Arena, Kent and Mia sat alone, side by side. Sophia and Lucy had already left for the sect and taken Amelia along with them.
Fatty and his parents followed Mei Bai to the city's commercial street. They got busy taking over the business of the Chen family.
Kent filled the glass with wine and passed it to Mia. While he was listening calmly, Mia continued to speak nonstop.
"Kent, when my sect disciples were discussing your name, I never expected it to be you. You don't know how I felt when I saw your picture at the Arena entrance. How did you raise your cultivation so fast?"
Mia didn't leave any space for Kent to reply. Staring at her excited face, Kent enjoyed the wine.
"By the way, do you ever think of me after that night? But I never forgot you. Your face and the memories of that night are always lingering in my mind."
Mia turned emotional as she stared at Kent's face. Suddenly, Kent held her hand while staring into her eyes.
"Calm down and tell me, How are you these days? Is everything alright?" Kent asked in a concerned tone.
Tears filled her eyes as she felt the warmth in his touch. "I'm good. Look at me; I'm a first-stage master magus now." Mia replied with a wide smile.
Time passed slowly as they exchanged words. Holding her hand, Kent brought her out of the arena.
"Mia, how is Elder Thea doing?" Kent suddenly changed the topic as he remembered his promised bride. After leaving Silver Leaf Town, Kent didn't see Thea. He thought she would come on her own after knowing about Kent's fight. But it didn't happen.
"I don't know. After reaching Autumn Wind Sect on the first day, the elder sent me away and took Thea with her. After that, I never saw her again. Maybe she accepted a different branch. If you want, I can inquire about her." Mia replied while moving along with him.
"How could it be? There is definitely something wrong." Kent thought as he lost his thoughts.
"Mia, please inquire about elder Thea. It's important for me." Kent replied in a serious tone.
"Okey, leave this matter to me." Mia replied while staring at Kent doubtfully.
Understanding her gaze, Kent changed the topic. "Is that elder named Sinara still inside your sect?" Kent asked with an angry look. Elder Sinara is the one who came to the silver leaf town for recruitment. She said the Autumn Wind sect is a lady sect and rejected Kent. Also, she is the one who gave him a fake recommendation letter.
"Yeah, she is the elder of my branch. Is something wrong?" Mia asked with a curious look.
"Nothing. I just need to ask her a question. When the time comes, I will definitely ask her that question." Kent uttered it with a grim face.
As the evening sun faded, Kent dropped Mia at her sect gate and waved his hand in good-bye.
His gaze lingered on the Autumn Wind sect gate for a long time as he thought about Thea. He felt the urge to go inside and inquire about Thea. But after remembering the rift between him and Thea, he dropped the act.
_
Chapter Discover:
The sun had barely risen over Golden Bamboo City when the news of the Golden Rat Stores spread like wildfire. Overnight, many properties once bearing the prestigious Chen family name now displayed new signboards, glittering with the emblem of a golden rat.
Whispers of intrigue and curiosity filled the streets as people speculated about the new business magnate who occupied half of the Chen family properties.
On the Chen family estate, the patriarch, Master Chen, received the news with a mixture of disbelief and fury. As he hurriedly dressed, his family members followed suit, the household abuzz with anxious energy.
With a determined stride, Chen Zhong led a procession of family members and servants through the bustling city streets toward their most prized property, the grand pet store.
Upon arrival, they were met with a scene of bustling activity. Fatty, with the help of Mei Bai, orchestrated the grand opening of the newly rebranded Golden Rat Stores. Workers busily attended to last-minute preparations, while curious onlookers and eager customers gathered around, drawn by the commotion and the promise of something new and exciting.
Master Chen's eyes blazed with anger as he marched up to the pet store, his presence parting the crowd like a knife. He confronted Fatty's parents, Liam and Noma, standing proudly at the entrance.
"Who gave you the right to occupy our stores?" Chen Zhong demanded, his voice booming with authority.
Before Liam could respond, a composed figure stepped forward. Niche, the three-star property manager from the Wizard Association, addressed Master Chen with a calm, authoritative tone.
"Patriarch Chen, allow me to explain," Niche began. "This is all part of a business cooperation deal between Sophia and the Stokes family. The agreement is legitimate and binding."
Master Chen's eyes narrowed. "That contract is void if the Chen family name is removed from the signboards. It was a condition we set before transferring fifty percent of the property to Sophia's name."
A smirk spread across Fatty's face as he stepped forward, holding up a signboard. "Is that so?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. He pointed to a small inscription at the bottom of the signboard. "If you look closely, the Chen family name is still there."
Master Chen squinted, leaning in to read the tiny letters that indeed bore the Chen family name. It was so small that it could only be seen up close, a clever loophole in the agreement.
Realization and frustration washed over Master Chen's face. He had been outmaneuvered, and there was nothing he could do about it. He turned to Niche, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "Is this legal?"
Niche nodded. "Absolutely. The terms of the contract have been drafted by me."
Defeated and seething, Master Chen had no choice but to accept the situation. With a final glare at Fatty and his parents, he turned on his heel and left, his entourage following him in a sad mood.
"It looks like everything went according to plan," Mei Bai said.
Fatty nodded. "Yes, it did. Now, let's make sure the Golden Rat Stores become the best in Golden Bamboo City."
For the sure success of Golden Rat stores, Mei Bai used her family influence to add several rare pets to the new stores for display.