Chapter 240: Chapter 239 Your Name Chapter 240: Chapter 239 Your Name Alex looked innocently at Gro. “How did I become a shady businessman?”
Gro, not mincing words, retorted, “Isn’t this what a shady businessman does? Flipping it around, the difference is a whopping one and a half gold coins!”
“But this is the market rate,” Alex said, even more innocently. “There are restrictions when converting gold coins to crystal coins. The exchange rate I offered, thirteen to one, is already quite fair.”
“That’s still shady,” Gro said. “I think I’ll go exchange with someone else.”
It was then that Richard spoke up, turning to Alex and asking, “Aside from the deals you just mentioned, what else can you do?”
“Other things?” Alex’s eyes twinkled as he cautiously glanced around, ensuring no one was too close. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “I can deal in some not-so-legal business too, like procuring banned materials, magic books, or perhaps getting the local guilds to dispose of someone you don’t want around. Or I could hire some wandering wizard apprentices for you at a high price.”
“Is that all?” Richard continued to inquire.
“Well, isn’t that enough…” Alex said, his eyes darting back and forth as he racked his brains to remember all the services he offered, “The rest would be to sell stuff you don’t need at the moment, to keep an eye out for things you need on the market, or, say, to rent a house for you…”
“Renting a house?” Richard cut him off, asking for confirmation, “Can you do that?”
For Richard, having stayed in the dormitory for so many days, he indeed wanted to rent a place outside White Stone Tower Academy. Not that he planned to move out right away—leaving the dormitory was still a bit risky—but he could use the extra space to conduct experiments and research during his free time. The limited space and privacy in the dormitory made it impossible to carry out many experiments.
Hearing Richard’s inquiry, Alex’s eyes lit up at the prospect of business, and he eagerly responded, “Yes, I can. I have the most rental information for White Stone City. You can’t go wrong with me.”
“Then let’s go take a look now, how about that?” Richard asked.
“Now?” Alex, wiping sweat from his brow, was stunned.
He had been following Richard and Gro until then and hadn’t recovered his energy yet. Richard’s proposal made his legs feel weak. But the thought of coins filling his pockets made him grit his teeth and say, “Alright!”
Soon, Richard, Gro, and Alex arrived at a rental courtyard in White Stone City.
Before they even entered the courtyard, just glancing at it from the street, Richard rejected it: “No good.”
“Why not?” a breathless Alex asked.
“The location is poor, too noisy,” Richard pointed out, indicating the constant stream of people on the street.
“Noise is good,” Alex tried to persuade him. “Noise means it’s lively, and I love a busy place… huh… I…”
Richard gave Alex a look without saying a word. After Alex met his gaze, he suddenly shut up.
“Huh… alright, alright, I’ll take you to a quieter place… huh…” Alex said, trudging ahead with effort.
After a while, they arrived at the second rental property. This place was indeed much quieter than the first.
However, after a glance, Richard was again dissatisfied: “No good.”
“Ah? Why this time?” Alex asked.
“It’s too exposed,” Richard pointed out. “There, there, and there, are all high stone buildings. If someone looked this way, they could see everything.”
“That’s quite good,” Alex tried again. “If people are watching, huh… it means you’re popular. I wish people would watch me. When I shower, I don’t even close the door… huh… uh…”
Richard remained silent.
Alex fell silent again, then looked at Richard, “Really no good?”
“Alright!” Alex said through gritted teeth, almost angrily. “Then I’ll take you to another place.”
The fifth, the sixth, the seventh…
Alex had spent nearly the entire afternoon with Richard until he felt utterly drained. Finally, he stopped in front of what must have been the umpteenth rental property they’d looked at, pointing ahead as he panted, “This place is both quiet and secluded, easy to access, and the courtyard wall is high enough to prevent prying eyes. It meets all your criteria.”
“Indeed,” Richard nodded, but then his eyebrows raised slightly. “But haven’t you noticed, it’s a bit on the small side?”
“Ah?!” Alex had a moment of near panic, the urge to turn and flee welled up inside him—the torment was too much!
“Well, it’s small, but it’s not unacceptable, right? The smaller size has its benefits—it doesn’t feel so vacant, and it’s easier to clean… uh…”
Richard remained silent.
Alex clamped his mouth shut, staring at Richard for a long moment on the verge of a breakdown. “Really, it’s no good?”
“If it had the same conditions but was a bit larger, that would be ideal,” said Richard.
“Well, then…” Alex hesitated, his expression twisting slightly as he suddenly thought of something. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Actually, there’s one place that truly meets all your requirements. But…”
“But, it’s said that there’s a ghost in that house,” Alex’s face showed a look of terror. “Three tenants in a row lived there, the one who lasted the longest stayed for only half a month, and the shortest, didn’t even make it three days.
“They all said there were ghosts wandering around the yard, that the gate and doors would knock by themselves in the middle of the night. If you don’t mind that, I could let you have the place for a cheaper price.”
“Let’s go have a look then.”
“All right, but I have one condition,” Alex said.
“What’s your condition?”
“Let me rest—just five minutes, I really can’t walk anymore,” Alex said.
After a short break, the restored Alex led Richard to the haunted courtyard.
Pointing at the courtyard beside the street, Alex said, “Take a look. The area is sufficiently large, the location is quiet enough, entry and exit are convenient, there are no tall stone structures nearby to peer over, and it completely prevents any spying. It meets all your criteria. Except for… the haunting.”
Richard glanced over and said, “This is it.”
“Huh?” Alex’s eyes flickered as if he hadn’t quite understood.
“Just like you said, it meets all my requirements,” Richard continued, “So, I’ve decided to rent it.”
“But have you really thought about the haunting? I’m warning you now, if after a while you can’t stay, I won’t refund your money,” Alex warned.
“That won’t be necessary, you can rest assured,” Richard shook his head, adding, “Even if I can’t stay, I certainly won’t ask for my money back.”
“Uh, so… five silver coins a month, and with gold coins, I can give you an exchange rate of one to thirty. How long do you plan to rent?”
“A year will do. Here are three gold coins, take them,” Richard said, placing three gold coins in Alex’s hand.
Alex’s eyes flickered. “Did you count wrong? A year should be sixty silver coins—two gold coins, right?”
Alex became filled with indignant righteousness, raising his voice, “I am a very conscientious person, don’t try to test me or lead me astray with such tricks!”
“No need to worry, the extra gold coin is just a tip for your hard work. After all, you’ve run around all afternoon, and you’ve worked hard,” Richard reassured.
“Uh, is that so.” Alex’s eyes immediately brightened, “I can accept that!”
Though Alex would also get a commission from the rent, it was certainly not as much as a gold coin. An unexpected gain of a gold coin thrilled him beyond measure.
Quickly pocketing the gold coins, Alex looked at Richard with earnest eyes, “It’s settled then. If you have any problems, just come to me, and I’ll definitely solve them for you—I’ve made a friend today! Tomorrow, I’ll have someone prepare the contract and bring it over to you.”
“Mhm.” Richard nodded, unconcerned.
Suddenly, Alex’s eyes flickered, scratching his head as he looked at Richard, “Oh, my dearest friend, there’s something I need to ask, I hope you don’t mind.”