Chapter 814: VIP Treatmen (1/2)
GDK 814: VIP Treatment
***Ethereal City, the City Lord’s manor house.
Baum welcomed Han Shuo's arrival with the most pompous ceremony and was treating him as a distinguished guest. Most of the people in the mansion were surprised and confused. They did not know why their City Lord would treat a youngster with such great respect.
But after they learned of Han Shuo’s identity, they too started looking at Han Shuo with great excitement. It appeared that Han Shuo’s customers from the City of Shadows had been eagerly promoting the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy everywhere, even in distant lands.
Although Baum was the City Lord of Ethereal City and a very mighty expert, he did not establish any family clan of his own. It was a very different situation from the City of Shadows where ancient family clans wielded great political powers. Baum did not even have a relative living with him. His manor house appeared simple and crude, and yet, it carried a solemn atmosphere.
It was apparent that the divine guards loved and respected their City Lord very much. Although he did not have a family clan, he had several divine armies under his command, allowing him to firmly secure Ethereal City under his rule.
Han Shuo and Baum decided on the location for the new Celestial Pearl Pharmacy branch shortly after entering the manor house. Baum straightforwardly ceded a shop lot in the most bustling region in Ethereal City and even offered to help Han Shuo with everything else.
Han Shuo found it somewhat difficult to adapt to Baum’s abrupt change in attitude. After hearing Baum’s plans, Han Shuo asked, “Many thanks for your generosity, City Lord. Erm, I will give you thirty percent of all the profits generated from this branch. Is that alright with you?”
Back then, Bolten, Bowen, and Li Wei traveled thousands of miles to the City of Shadows and asked Han Shuo to set up branches of Celestial Pearl in the Dominions of Death and Destruction where they came from. They proposed the collaboration with the intention of getting rich together. From how Han Shuo sees it, Baum must also be having similar thoughts in being so helpful and enthusiastic.
But out of Han Shuo’s expectation, Baum immediately shook his head when he heard Han Shuo’s generous proposal. He replied, “No, you don’t need to do that. You just need to follow the rules of the Ethereal City and pay ten percent in taxes to the City. Such are the customs of Ethereal City. I, personally, will not have any crystal coins from you.”
Han Shuo stared blankly for a moment and was rather confused. The shop lot Baum ceded to him was a sizable area in a pricey estate. Baum was even willing to help Han Shuo with recruiting and settle all the miring procedures. Han Shuo basically needed to do nothing but refine medicines. He found it very baffling that Baum did not want any financial compensation for helping him with all those works.
While Han Shuo stared at him with astonished gazes, Baum explained, “Don’t be surprised. I have told you just then that the Space and Destiny Dominions are unlike any other Dominions. Not only that we allow any person to live here, we administrators are here only to maintain the most basic order in the City. This place is basically as free as it gets. In normal circumstances, we will not interfere with your business. I just need ten percent of the profits generated by the businesses to maintain the divine guard armies of the City.”
Han Shuo was even more amazed when he realized that Baum was not joking. He also started to like Ethereal City much more. Seeing that Baum had no intention of taking part of his profits, Han Shuo didn't insist on giving his money away. He put on a faint smile, nodded, and said, “The Ethereal City is truly a wonderful place. Haha, I’m liking this city already!”
“The presence of Celestial Pearl Pharmacy will benefit the gods of Ethereal City. That is why I’m doing everything I can to help you with opening a branch here!” Baum continued, “I will settle everything with your shop within five days. You may write a statement for recruiting shop assistants and pharmacists, I will have the divine guards post the announcement. Ethereal City is filled with all sorts of talents and there is no lack of excellent pharmacists. In this city, you can find anything that you want!”
“That’s great!” Han Shuo was glad. He did not expect to receive such treatment from Baum even though they fought. Han Shuo got rather curious about this City Lord that has no family clan.
“If you have no lodging yet, please stay in my manor house. I have many empty rooms and gymnasiums. You may stay here for as long as you like, as long as you do not mind that the place is rather crude,” invited Baum.
“Well, I shall trouble you then,” Han Shuo bluntly and smilingly agreed.
Han Shuo and Baum did not continue to exchange pleasantries. Baum provided Han Shuo, Rose, and Earth Elite Zombie with a rather quiet, seven-story tall building. The ground floor was a gymnasium and the rest of the building were rooms, living spaces, and some commonly found living facilities.
Rose, who was a clean freak, immediately went to take a bath. Han Shuo and Earth Elite Zombie, meanwhile, went to a spacious lounge on the third floor. Earth Elite Zombie started narrating what he experienced in the past fifty years, including his encounter with Verón.
Fifty years ago, after leaving Han Shuo, Earth Elite Zombie headed straight for the Earth Dominion. As the Earth Dominion had the most cultivators of the energy of earth on Elysium, it was the most abundant with knowledge and divine weapons of that energy. After arriving in the Earth Dominion, Earth Elite Zombie began attempting to communicate and interact with people.