[308] Rich

There was no denying that having someone to help really sped things up. In just one afternoon, the house situation was settled.

Thanks to Kanchal's introduction, August met with the property owner, who initially quoted 2.8 million gold coins. This was already 200,000 coins less than the 3 million Kanchal had mentioned earlier. However, after a bit of haggling from Kanchal, they managed to bring the price down to 2.6 million.

After signing the transfer contract, August officially became a property owner. The place, which had previously been a potion shop, wasn't too large but not too small either. It was a cozy two-story building, with the first floor designed as a shop and the second as a living space.

August spent a bit of money hiring workers to renovate the entire place from top to bottom. The transformation was astonishing. The efficiency of this world's magical renovations impressed August—what would have taken months in the modern world was done in just an afternoon.

However, with all the expenses piling up, his savings had taken a hit. August was now left with just over 3 million coins.

Since arriving in this new world, August had received plenty of help from both Zel and Kanchal. All he had to offer in return was one trip to the succubus shop and a favor each.

When August finally returned to the tavern, looking somewhat exhausted from his busy afternoon, Stunk and the others greeted him with amused smiles.

August had indeed been quite occupied, handling a variety of tasks. After the renovation, there was still the matter of furnishing the place—buying furniture, daily necessities, and other items.

"Sorry for being late. I had a lot to take care of this afternoon," August apologized.

"No problem, it's understandable. Sit down and take a breather," Zel said, handing August a glass of water with a smile.

Meidri, who was serving other customers nearby, glanced at August with a slightly different expression. After all, she had noticed the commotion across the street that afternoon. It was hard not to, considering the tavern faced the newly-renovated building.

"So, have you guys decided where we're going tonight?" August asked, looking at the group.

"Uh, not yet..." Stunk shrugged. The three of them had spent the whole afternoon discussing it, but they hadn't come to a conclusion.

August was speechless. Three grown men and they still hadn't made a decision after an entire afternoon?

"Well, I've got an idea. There's a new place in the neighboring town. I'm not sure if you guys are interested, though," Kanchal suddenly chimed in with a grin. Despite his small stature, he had the best connections and the most information out of anyone here.

"Oh? What kind of place?" Stunk asked, intrigued.

"It's a shop run by the Mia tribe. But because it's new and the Mia tribe doesn't have the best reputation, business hasn't been great."

"Hold on, Kanchal, you didn't get some kind of kickback from them, did you?" Stunk narrowed his eyes at the beastman.

"Uh, well..." Kanchal's eyes shifted to dots as he struggled to respond.

It wasn't unreasonable for Stunk to think that. The Mia tribe, with their half-human, half-serpent bodies, weren't exactly popular. A fully-grown Mia woman, with her snake-like lower half, could easily be three or four meters long.

For someone like Kanchal, who was just over a meter tall, that kind of size difference was almost laughable. The image of him with a Mia woman seemed absurd at best.

Moreover, serpent-type monster girls weren't in high demand in this world. Their mating habits were infamous, with coupling lasting as long as twelve hours. While the Mia tribe weren't exactly snakes, their needs were similarly... excessive.

"What's the harm in going? We've never been, so we might as well try it out. I'm curious," Zel spoke up, breaking the tension.

With that, Stunk nodded in agreement. "Yeah, alright. I've never been to a Mia shop either, so it might be worth checking out."

Seeing Zel and Stunk agree, Kanchal finally let out a sigh of relief. He had indeed taken a cut from the Mia tribe to bring in customers. If he managed to bring them there, he'd earn another commission.

"Since we've decided, let's get moving. It'll take some time to get to the neighboring town," August said, standing up.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's get going!" Stunk cheered.

"Yosh, let's roll," Zel echoed, ready for the night ahead.

With that, the four of them set off, eager to visit the Mia tribe's succubus shop and see what surprises the night held.

"August, that bastard, is just like Stunk. They're both total perverts," Meidri muttered to herself.

She had noticed the four men preparing to leave together, and naturally jumped to a conclusion. However, this time, she didn't say anything out loud. Instead, she glanced absentmindedly at the door, then across the street at the house August had just purchased—a house he had bought for her.

Meanwhile, August and the others had already set off. Since it was a neighboring town, there was, of course, no other settlement close by.

There was a reasonable distance between each town—not far enough to be considered a long journey, but certainly not close either. The most pressing issue was the time of day. It was already afternoon, and by the time they reached the next town, it would likely be dusk or even nightfall.

Once they left the town, Stunk, Zel, and Kanchal's entire demeanor shifted. Just moments ago, they had been a group of carefree rogues, but now they moved like seasoned adventurers, their attitudes transformed.

After all, leaving the town meant entering the wilderness, and in the wild, there was always a risk of being attacked by monsters.

August couldn't help but chuckle to himself. The morning's rampage had cleared out most of the local beasts. Thanks to that, there was now a monster-free zone around the town. It was safe to assume that for at least a few days, the area would remain peaceful.

Even so, August kept quiet, staying in step with the group without saying a word.

"Why is it so quiet today? Not a single monster in sight," Stunk remarked, glancing around with suspicion.

"It is a little too quiet," Zel agreed, his tone cautious.

"Better stay alert, Stunk, Zel," Kanchal added, his voice low.

The three men were on high guard, every sense attuned to their surroundings. A veteran adventurer never let their guard down. Despite his small size, Kanchal was a master of tools and traps, even if his magic and combat skills were nothing to brag about.

The atmosphere of the group was tense, but August? He looked as relaxed as a noble out for a stroll. His carefree demeanor confused the others. Stunk, Zel, and Kanchal exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why August seemed so unconcerned, like he was out for a casual walk rather than a potentially dangerous journey.

Still, they reminded themselves that August was the same man who had single-handedly taken down a rampaging grizzly bear that morning. Clearly, he wasn't weak. Plus, he was a well-traveled adventurer who roamed the world, so he probably had his own reasons for being so calm.

With that in mind, the trio kept their thoughts to themselves, assuming August knew what he was doing.

Time passed slowly, and after nearly two hours on the road, they hadn't encountered a single monster.

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