Buying A Building In Serene city

Devin let out a sigh of relief, knowing that one part of the problem had been taken care of. Just then, he received a message from Neil, informing him that he had made contact with the high wave business in Meteor City, and they were preparing to bring him to Serene City on their next shipment in two days.

Excitement welled up within Devin. Another problem being solved. The only remaining concern now was Elijah being trapped in the secret realm. Devin lamented how his past self had been preoccupied with upgrading and battling other players, resulting in his lack of knowledge about the local forces. He had no idea what had happened to the dwarves or if they had simply remained secluded.

Devin added Elijah and sent him a message, hoping to find a clue on how to locate the secret realm. However, Elijah didn't respond, indicating that he likely hadn't logged in.

Deciding to return to Serene City to wait for Neil, Devin prepared to leave with the next shipment. But before he could depart, he received a summons to meet with Priest Aja.

"How have you been, Priest Aja?" Devin greeted her when they met.

The priest smiled warmly at him. "The hospitality has been great. Everyone has been welcoming," Aja replied.

Devin nodded, sensing that the priest had something to say. Aja began, "The elders of your village have been telling me about everything you've done for them. They spoke of how you opened a paper mill and have plans to open more industries in the future."

"I didn't do anything concrete; I merely voiced my ideas. It's the elders who are working hard and making them a reality," Devin humbly replied. He wasn't being modest – he genuinely believed that credit should be given to those who were doing the actual work.

Aja smiled back. "There has never been a shortage of people; it's the knowledge that truly matters. Your contributions shouldn't be underestimated," he expressed, before moving the conversation forward. "This may sound presumptuous, but I was hoping you might have any suggestions to help my people."

"To be honest, the geographical location of Stone Village is not suitable for habitation due to the high metal deposit," Devin answered sincerely. He couldn't provide solutions to make their land more viable as he lacked the necessary knowledge and skills.

"That land is our home and we are deeply attached to it. Even if we were to migrate, where would we go? We would become like duckweeds without roots," Aja lamented.

Devin empathized with the priest, particularly since he knew that their village had been destroyed in his previous life. "Priest, there will always be a way. Sun Haven will remain an ally of Stone Village, and through trade, we can offer some assistance," Devin assured him.

Aja smiled, acknowledging his words. "I know it may just be the rambling of an old lady," she replied.

Devin sighed heavily as he left the priest's place, feeling the frustration of the priest's powerlessness. Stone Village had abundant resources that should have allowed its people to live in abundance. However, due to their fear of others coveting their resources and their lack of capabilities to defend their land and people, everything had come to a standstill. Devin knew that once he started making significant progress on the island, he would attract powerful attention. Fortunately, thanks to Sun Haven's location and their focus on paper production, they were still enjoying a grace period.

Leaving with Gary, Devin informed the village chief of the seashell purchase from Stone Village. He also heard from Gary that the City Lord was planning to auction the properties belonging to the Covington and Kramer families, though the exact date had not been decided. Devin had little interest in the estates of these two families, as who knows how many resentful spirits might be lingering there. However, their business buildings caught his attention, particularly the grand three-story building owned by the Covington family. Situated in a prime location, it held immense value and potential for his future plans.

Seeking to establish a backdoor, Devin visited the City Lord's mansion. Surprisingly, the guards didn't stop him and welcomed him inside.

Devin entered Philip's office and found the city lord sitting behind his desk, smiling as he saw Devin. Philip had taken a liking to Devin, as he often brought him good luck. Philip could sense that Devin had helped his son make a breakthrough, as his aura had changed and his physical condition had improved.

"Good day, City Lord Philip," Devin greeted him with a smile, and they exchanged pleasantries.

"It's always a pleasure to see you, Devin. What brings you here today?" Philip asked curiously, knowing that Devin wouldn't come to him unless it was necessary.

"The three-story building of the Covington family has caught my interest. I heard that the City Lord is planning to auction the properties of those two families," Devin explained.

"It's true that we are planning to auction their properties instead of letting them go to waste. I thought you might be interested in their estate," the City Lord replied, intrigued by Devin's request.

"Lord Philip, I won't lie to you. I have no interest in their houses after witnessing the diabolical things that occurred there. But I am interested in the store," Devin stated honestly.

City Lord Philip laughed at this, as they shared the same sentiment. "As the hero of our city, I don't mind doing you this favor. However, I must tell you that the price won't be cheap. It's a prime location, and many merchants have their eyes on it," he warned.

"What is the price?" Devin asked.

"Why don't you make me an offer and we'll see if it's favorable or not," Philip countered, offering Devin a chance to propose a price.

Devin liked the idea, as he didn't have gold coins readily available. However, he did have an abundance of magic crystals. After his last visit to Stone Village, he had acquired over 500 magic crystals and even obtained a machine to help unravel jade stones, allowing him to access the magic crystals himself.

Devin brought out a bag containing 100 high-level magic crystals. These crystals were considered extremely valuable and were sought after by many due to their rarity and incredible magical potency. They were not commonly used as a medium of exchange, but Devin was willing to part with them for this special deal.

The building would be valued at least four hundred thousand gold coins if it went to auction. Offering 100 magic crystals to offset the bill was a bargain for the City Lord. Magic crystals were sold based on their purity, and given the high level of purity of Stone Village's magic crystals, they could be sold for as much as a thousand gold coins each st auctions. If not for the lack of gold coins, Devin wouldn't have made this offer.

"I offer you these 100 high-level magic crystals as payment," Devin proposed, presenting the crystals to the City Lord.

The city lord's eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld the value of the magic crystals Devin presented to him. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and he quickly recognized the immense benefits of accepting such a deal. In addition to Devin's established reputation and title, the city lord had personally witnessed the incredible impact of Devin's potion on his own son's breakthrough.

"Did you rob a mine?" the city lord asked, unable to hide his astonishment.

"You could say that I hit the jackpot during one of our adventures. Unfortunately, this is all I have left," Devin responded modestly.

Considering Devin's esteemed status and the significant positive impact he had brought to the city, the city lord knew this deal had to be made. "I will make an exception and open the backdoor for you. The Covington building is yours," the city lord declared.

Although the city lord's mansion already possessed high-level magic crystals, the opportunity to accumulate even more of these valuable resources was too enticing to pass over. The purity and magical aura emanating from Devin's crystals were undeniable.

Devin couldn't help but smile as he realized the success of the deal. It was a win-win situation, with both parties benefiting greatly. While Devin had acquired the coveted building, the city lord had obtained a significant influx of high-level magic crystals, ensuring substantial resources.

With the exchange completed, the city lord took care of all the necessary documentation to legalize Devin as the new owner of the building. Filled with excitement and anticipation for the future, Devin walked away, assured of a promising path ahead.