Chapter 83
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Isn't One Shopping Mall Okay? (1)
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"Brother, have you seen this?"
"You're here. I was just wondering what this was and about to look into it."
People were starting to gather at Kallon's restaurant before the lunch rush.
They were all folks who'd launched their own big and small businesses.
Their common thread? Everyone was clutching a piece of paper.
"Why not ask Miss Perot?"
"Forget that—why not go straight to Dominic? He'd know best, right?"
"We can't bother Dominic with something like this. The guy's the mayor now—how busy must he be? Even if we're on good terms..."
The former fishing cooperative locals—who were mostly original residents—hesitated to pile more work on Dominic when he was already swamped.
"Then how about Raki? That kid's pretty sharp."
"Good call! I'll run over to the resort and drag him here."
"Nah, he's been working at the trading post lately, not the resort."
"Perfect—it's right next door."
A short while later, Raki pushed open the door with a baffled look on his face.
He flinched a bit at the sight of all the rough-looking uncles packed in, but then he spotted the official notices in their hands and cracked a grin. He'd figured out why he'd been hauled in here.
"Oh, you uncles got the notices too, huh."
"Yeah. We saw there's an info session at city hall next week, but who can wait when you're curious? You got any intel? You're tight with those folks."
"Why make it complicated? It's exactly what it says. They're building a consignment sales facility. Even rebuilding the current city hall into something grand and shiny."
"That's the thing— we already have the trading post. What's this consignment setup?"
"Unlike the trading post, this new sales spot allows small batches too, but with a luxury vibe."
"Right."
"Exactly as it says."
The notice's wording was straightforward.
But the implications packed inside? Not so simple.
They planned to renovate the nearly completed city hall into a new kind of consignment sales facility, so businesses based in Evergreen should sort out items for sale and send samples.
If packaging or display was an issue, they'd provide advice—so no worries, just make it as upscale as possible.
"Okay, say we make stuff all fancy for consignment. But they charge a fee, right? Doesn't that hurt us? Why bother paying a cut when we could sell direct?"
The uncle specializing in lace-trimmed parasols and fans—to beat the southern sun—tilted his head. His business was booming, and though Dominic was pushing this, he still doubted it'd pay off.
'They say even wyverns fall from the sky sometimes. Did Dominic slip up this time? Or maybe the city's short on cash...'
He pondered anonymously donating to city hall,
"...Yeah, the city's been busy lately. Maybe send some marble for that music hall..."
Apparently, he wasn't alone in that line of thinking.
Most of the gathered crowd nodded at Kallon's mutter.
"Brother, looks like Dominic's a bit strapped for cash."
"Time for us to step up. We owe him big for how well we're eating now."
"Damn right! Even if we're uneducated slobs, we can't ignore family in need! Everyone got some savings, right?"
Suddenly, the uncles were fired up over the weirdest thing.
Raki watched the bizarre scene, failed to hold back his laughter, and doubled over, cackling with tears streaming down his face.
"Uncles, you're seriously worried about the mayor's wallet? Pfft-haha!"
Raki figured it was the funniest thing he'd heard all year.
These people fretting that Dominic—the mayor himself—might be broke.
"Pool all your fortunes here, and it'd still be less than a tenth of what the mayor's got. Nah, tenth? Maybe half that."
"...Wait, so it's not about needing money?"
"Obviously. This venture's gonna boom. That's why the commission's worth it. If I were you uncles, I'd be burning the midnight oil to whip up extra items for consignment."
"What're you getting at? Spell it out simple. You mocking us illiterates?"
"No way I'd do that—especially not to you uncles. I'd need two lives for that..."
No one in Evergreen—tourists aside—could miss it.
The old fishing co-op uncles, now the vigilante squad, gathered at dawn daily: bare-chested runs, sharp weapons drills. Dead serious.
'People calling Dominic "boss"—why do they go that hard?'
Raki still shuddered recalling the night he'd tried raiding this monster-guarded village.
"It's a sales facility built by converting what was meant for city hall. Packed with luxury goods! What do you think rich tourists visiting Evergreen will do when they hear?"
"...Go check it out?"
"Bingo. But just look? With all those dazzling, exotic items right there?"
"...Buy 'em? Lots?"
"Spot on."
"So, even academy students' ideas get hooked up with workshops to make 'em real? Then consigned for sale?"
"Wouldn't it be great if the students rake in cash?"
"What if it just fills their heads with pipe dreams?"
"A little dreaming never hurt. That's how they grow. We'll weed out the duds on paper, so don't sweat it."
In the academy director's office.
Dominic was working to ease Ian and the Old Lord's concerns.
"Spit it out honest. You're not plastering these notices everywhere just to make students rich. I know you too well."
The Old Lord's suspicious glare didn't budge easy.
He was sure Dominic had some scheme brewing.
This was the guy who'd launched countless ventures, keeping the titles all to himself—no sharing. Not that he blamed him.
'Capable guys deserve the lion's share.'
The Old Lord was a merit-first believer.
He liked Dominic because his talent and savvy far outstripped the average.
But this time, the greedy bastard wasn't hogging it all—instead sharing profits. Had to be another angle.
The Old Lord was dying to know what.
"Heh, nothing like that, I swear."
"Want me to rip down all the notices? Or ban students from joining?"
"C'mon, Dean, why you gotta be like this?"
"Then talk. Something you can't handle solo?"
The Old Lord's tone softened slyly.
Dominic couldn't help but chuckle at the shift.
"You win. Yeah, I can't do it alone. Need help."
"Oh? Why?"
"What I'm building? Call it retail's harbor."
The two frowned slightly at Dominic's words. No clue what he meant.
'Time to try a platform biz. Ultimate money-maker: let money chase money.'
A sales platform: provide a gathering spot for people, curate appealing goods, take a cut on sales!
'Evergreen needs a department store. Hell yeah!'
Give ready-to-spend customers real spending chances.
That was true entrepreneurship.
"That's the plan. But I need it stocked—and I can't fill it solo."
"Why not? Ceramics, coffee, spices, processed seafood—you handle plenty."
"Not enough."
"Not enough?"
"Short-term hurdle, but ultimate goal: thousands, tens of thousands of items on display. That's why I'm handing over the city hall build."
"...You aiming to fill that whole building with goods? Impossible..."
"Why impossible?"
"...!"
No department stores existed here.
Shops stuck to specialties, so big shopping trips meant hopping stores all day—common hassle.
'Rich folks and nobles send servants anyway. No sweat for them.'
Same reason low-circle magic tools didn't sell well elsewhere.
Folks needing or wanting lots had servants to fetch; those without couldn't afford frequent "shopping" sprees.
"Evergreen tourists? Loaded with cash and time. A spot to shop and kill hours? They'd love it. Right?"
"Hahaha! Spot on! Brilliant!"
The Old Lord slapped his knee, thrilled at glimpsing Dominic's vision.
He was hooked already.
'Not possessed by money— he is the money ghost!'
Time to encourage academy kids to brainstorm sellable ideas, he thought.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Uh... Mayor! Or Director here?"
"Call me whatever. Oh, this is our dean and the land's true lord: Old Lord of the Sinclair Count family."
"Southern Mage Tower mage, greeting the land's master!"
The mage bowed sharply at Dominic's intro—one of the first three from the tower to migrate.
"This mage'll stick around the academy, checking if student ideas can go practical. Also scouting for magic talent among them."
"Excellent. Put your back into it."
"Will do!"
Mage discipline, straight and tight.
Lately, the tower mages had pitched tents by their construction site, hawking magic tools—and caught the business bug.
To them, Dominic wasn't just a land-granting politician. He'd shown the tower's survival path. A benefactor.
"And the thing I mentioned before—you decided?"
"Yes, Mayor! Southern Mage Tower wants prime spot on Evergreen Department Store's first floor! Entrust us—we'll empty those tourists' pockets proper!"
"Pfft!"
Ian finally burst out laughing.
"...Not exactly 'emptying pockets,' but... sure. Love the enthusiasm."
He worried if these innocent mages were veering weird, but hey—a key department store section was filled. Good enough.
'Left: handmade stuff, crafts, direct imports, luxuries... and eateries!'
No department store without killer restaurants?
End of [Isn't One Shopping Mall Okay? (1)]