Chapter 57: Ch 57: Buying A Property
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, no one attempted to ambush him on the journey back to Naida’s house.
He arrived at the residence safely just as the sky darkened into dusk.
The warm scent of roasted herbs and fresh bread greeted Raidan the moment he stepped inside.
Naida was in the small kitchen area, stirring a bubbling pot of stew over the stone hearth. She wiped her hands on her apron and offered a gentle smile as he pushed the heavy wooden door shut.
"You are back late, Raidan. I was beginning to worry that the wild arena crowd had given you trouble."
Raidan shook his head and walked over to the sturdy oak table in the center of the room. He could not completely hide the massive grin spreading across his face.
"Naida, there was no trouble at all. In fact, today might be the luckiest day we have ever had since arriving in this city."
Naida paused her stirring and turned to face him fully. She crossed her arms, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Luckiest day? How so?"
"I made a bet at the arena. A very risky one. And the payout was beyond anything I could have ever expected."
Naida’s expression became stern.
"Gambling? I didn’t think you’re that kind of person Raidan."
She said with slight disappointment.
"Anyway, exactly how much did you win?"
He looked at her emeral green eyes, replying:
"I usually don’t gamble, Naida. But I did it for you. I win 28,760 gold coins."
"Tw-twenty eight...?"
Naida froze completely. All the color drained from her face, and her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
She stared at him for a long moment as if he had just spoken a completely alien language.
"Twenty eight thousand? That is a lot, Raidan. Are you sure no one followed you on the way back?"
"Do not worry. I made sure there was no one following me."
Even if someone had, they would have made the worst mistake of their lives.
"I can finally fulfill my promise to you, Naida. Tomorrow, both of us will go to the Central District to buy the apothecary shop for you."
Naida felt tears welling up in her eyes.
She threw herself into his embrace. "Thank you, Raidan. That means a lot to me."
---
Next day.
Both of them were properly dressed and ready to depart.
"You look incredibly beautiful today, Naida," Raidan said softly as she stepped into the main room.
She wore a simple yet elegant pale green dress, completely stunning than her usual working clothes.
"And you actually managed to comb your hair. You look quite handsome yourself. Like a proper noble," Naida teased, though her cheeks flushed a bright red.
"Haha, it’s your big day after all. Anyway, the carriage is waiting outside."
They stepped out into the crisp morning air and boarded the hired carriage.
As the wooden wheels clattered against the cobblestone streets, Naida leaned her head against Raidan’s shoulder.
The morning sun filtered through the small window, casting a warm glow over them.
"This feels like a dream to me. I Can’t remember the last time I went out of my house."
"Get used to it. From today onward, you will be a proud Shop owner in the Central district. You can finally focus entirely on your alchemy."
"Raidan, are you really going spend all of yours winnings on me?"
"I promised, remember. Besides, there is no one else I would rather spend it on. And a skilled apothecary is a brilliant investment. You will make that gold back in no time."
Naida chuckled softly, "I will not charge the poor. But I will indeed make the rich bleed. Isn’t that right?"
"Yes. You’re learning, Naida. You cannot be too soft hearted." he replied.
Half an hour passed.
The carriage soon rolled to a gentle stop. T
he driver opened the door, revealing the pristine white stone buildings and bustling, clean streets of the Central District.
They stepped out and walked directly toward a polished mahogany door bearing the gilded sign of the district’s premier property merchant.
As they entered, a silver bell chimed.
Following that, a well dressed man with a neatly trimmed mustache looked up from his heavy leather chair.
Looking at the young couple, he offered a gentle greeting.
"Welcome to the Golden Scales Property Brokerage. I am Solan. How may I be of service to you on a beautiful morning like this?"
"We are looking to purchase a commercial property," Raidan stated clearly. "Specifically, a fully equipped apothecary shop."
"Of course, of course."
Silas said jovially while quickly glancing over their clothes.
"Sir, an apothecary shop in the Central District is a highly sought after commodity. Are you looking to sign a seasonal lease?"
"No qe want a full purchase," Raidan said firmly. "And we want a prime location with high foot traffic."
Solan raised an eyebrow.
"I admire your ambition, Sir. However, full ownership in the central ring is extraordinarily expensive. I do have one exceptional property available right now. It is located directly across from the Silver Fountain plaza. There are three floors in total. The ground floor is a reinforced alchemy lab and storefront. The upper two floors are luxurious living quarters."
Raidan nodded,
"That sounds exactly like what we need. What is the asking price?"
"The owner is demanding 25,000 gold coins. And they require the payment upfront. No installment plans."
Saying that, Solan leaned back in his chair.
He waited patiently for their expressions to fall.
"25,000," Raidan repeated flatly.
"Yes. I understand if that is completely outside your budget. I have a few modest properties in the outer rings that might suit your needs much better."
"Nope. We will take the one by the Silver Fountain," Raidan interrupted calmly.
Solan blinked. "What?z"
The polite smile vanished from his face entirely.
"I beg your pardon? Did you hear the price correctly? It is 25,000 gold coins."
"I heard you perfectly," Raidan replied.
He then reached into his cloak, accessing his spatial inventory safely out of sight, and pulled out a massive leather pouch.
He dropped it onto the merchant’s polished desk.
The loud, unmistakable clinking of dense gold echoed loudly in the quiet room.
"Draw up the deed, Mr Solan. We want the keys today."
Solan was wide eyed. He looked at Raidan as if looking at an unfathomable person.
A person who could magically manifest so many gold coins, was definitely not ordinary.
"Right away, sir! Please, sit down! I will have the paperwork ready in mere moments!"
Naida beamed. Her dream of becoming the strongest Healer was one step closer.
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