Chapter 164 Day before


    "It''s Mr. Adam..."


    "The Mayor of Sedyon? And on either side of him, Marina and Sabrina... beauties!"


    "Avalon and Ricky. These five are the most famous businessmen of the year!"


    The conference began!


    ***


    The day before...


    The conference "Veridia" - that''s the name the event received, where five major business owners gathered to answer questions and present significant changes, including exnations of the merger and its motivations. This event became thergest assembly in two decades, and conference tickets became extremely valuable. Some even attempted to sell their tickets but found out that each ticket was unique.


    Adam and the four entrepreneurs provided almost no exnations before the scheduled date, which only heightened the interest. Clients and businessmen began specting, "Why the silence? Perhaps they are nning something?" This led to many spreading rumors and ying a guessing game about the events.


    The customers'' reactions varied: some were shocked by the sudden changes, although upon some analysis, it became clear that this event was not entirely unexpected. Wealthy aristocrats weren''t concerned about limited goods, as they had the means to acquire whatever the market offered. However... "Hey, you scoundrel! Let go of that clothing; I spotted it first!" shouted a man with long mustaches in a splendid suit and a monocle over his right eye. He resembled butlers from movies.


    "Like hell, mustached devil! I noticed it first!" retorted another butler.


    In the capital store Nymph''s Radiance, chaos reigned. More than twenty butlers and maids burst into the store demanding to sell them specific items. Most likely, they were sent by aristocrats who considered a personal visit too demeaning. And now, the situation turned into this...


    "Ouch! Hey, who just hit my backside?"


    "What? Who needs your old backside, you donkey?!"


    "Oh, you!"


    Ricky watched with a smile on his face as formally dresseddies and gentlemen fought over merchandise. This spectacle satisfied his narcissism, and upon seeing that for the purchase of seemingly ordinary dresses, they were offering sums ten times the original price, he only waited for the right moment.


    "Although, I can''t say I''m not shocked," Ricky thought, crossing his arms over his chest, watching from the corner of the store. He was just observing until someone offered a high price. "Honestly, even the sadistic Sir Adam couldn''t have predicted this. Perhaps the most amusing sale I''ve witnessed."


    However, Ricky had his interpretation of the word "amusing." It seemed he was one of those people who enjoyed watching others break each other''s faces over his merchandise. It was somewhat strange and, in some ces, even amoral.


    "Anyway, there are only three dresses for women and six suits for men left. Their initial cost ranges from 100 Dragon Stones to 750 Dragon Stones, but as a result of the bidding, some customers are already offering four-digit amounts," he thought, rising from his seat and approaching the cash register, where intimidated cashiers stood.


    Their shocked and admiring expressions could not fail to satisfy Ricky''s narcissistic nature. Nevertheless, he took action, specifically to resolve this situation in the most peaceful and... profitable way, of course.


    Knock, knock!


    Suddenly, there was a loud thud of a fist against a solid surface, which subsequently emitted waves of magic. These waves caused many brawlers to stop in confusion, turning their attention to Ricky, who was smiling brightly. Considering his feminine appearance, this smile made many men and women blush and instantly be quiet, as if just a minute ago they were threatening to kill each other.


    Fake coughing, Ricky straightened up and announced in a friendly tone, "Due to the current chaotic situation, I''mpelled to take control of the situation. So please, take your seats and get ready... we will settle this dispute through an auction."


    "!!!"


    The customers exchanged nces and noticed that chairs were already ced behind them. The entrance to the store had been closed for a while, while security had been reinforced. The magical energy in the air had increased tenfold. Ricky grinned cunningly, sending shivers down the spines of those present. Their faces also disyed bitterness.


    Auctioning. I suppose many have already figured out how it works. Typically, this method is used by big brands to sell limited editions by offering the initial price. Thanks to this, you can sell the most unnecessary products at high prices.


    "This is the power of reputation. You can sell horse manure and im it cures diseases. And people will buy it," Ricky thought, recalling a humorous phrase Adam would asionally say when exining the necessity of such expenses: "Now I understand why we spent so much on marketing. I suppose our brand has now reached a new level, and while we might have fewer regr customers, the profit won''t suffer. I''ve already received over a hundred orders from the royal family, the ducal family, and particrly wealthy officials."


    He affectionately smiled, watching the representatives of his clients ce their tokens and prepare for the grand battle. There was a knock - Ricky tapped a wooden mallet on the table. Closing his eyes, he smiled and spoke with a rxed and friendly tone.


    "The auction is officially open. Please, dear guests, start bidding!~"


    ***


    A simr scene unfolded in almost all of Adam''s businesses. Each of the sellers would just smile and announce an auction, and the especially clever ones, like Marina, had initially sent invitations to a closed auction that would be conducted blindly. As a result...


    nk! nk!


    Adam tirelessly watched as bags of ie, reaching the height of an average person, wereid out on his desk. There were ten of these bags, and they were filled to the brim with tinum Dragon Stones. In total, there were over twenty thousand, maybe even more. Adam lost count and was enthralled by the beauty of his wealth.


    "Ugh... so brilliantly," Amarantha muttered, entering the room. She was dressed in a beautiful red negligee, and her hair was disheveled, indicating she had recently woken up. Surveying Adam''s office, she saw that it was filled with bags. "Wow. Are all of these tinum Dragon Stones? This seems like my ie for three years of... uh, business."


    Adamfortably leaned back in his chair and spread his arms. Amarantha noticed this and smiled. Then, with a bouncy gait, she approached him and jumped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the lips. The temperature of their bodies unintentionally rose, and Adam felt the softness of her bosom pressing against him.


    Her kiss was passionate, filled with love and attachment. Amarantha''s tongue skillfully entwined with Adam''s, and muffled moans asionally escaped. And when they separated, a semitransparent bridge made of saliva connected their mouths.


    "Hehe... you''re more assertive today than usual," Adam murmured, grinning. He pressed his forehead to Amarantha''s and smiled when he felt her tender breath.


    "Yes, how should I put it? I have joyful news for you," she whispered very softly. Adam raised an eyebrow.


    Moving back, he looked at Amarantha, who was sitting on hisp, facing him. Her face disyed shyness and a bright smile. Usually, she had a feminine, seductive appearance. This was often referred to as the "MILF aura," but...


    "T-This..."


    Right now, she resembled a young girl ready to confess her love. Amarantha''s unusual behavior left Adam bewildered, and he was embarrassed, not understanding anything. He noticed that the tips of Amarantha''s fingers emitted dark energy; this was her primary attribute – darkness. Given that she could usually control all the energy within her, such a disy...


    "You see, I-I..." Amarantha blushed and hid her face behind her hands, then whispered, "I..."


    "WHAT?!"


    ****


    After all the merchandise was sold, the four traders gathered in a small room, where they began discussing the events of the day. Their excitement was impossible to hide; it was written on their faces. Ricky started things off.


    "So, guys! In one day, I''ve earned more than five thousand tinum Dragon Stones!" he dered, pounding his chest and grinning proudly. "I''ve also secured over two hundred pre-orders for the clothing line I''m nning to release next month!"


    p-p-p! Thunderous apuse erupted, and Ricky beamed. Next up was Marina.


    "Friends, as we discussed, I held an auction, and my goods were snapped up for staggering sums in no time. Although, unfortunately, I couldn''t achieve the same profit as Ricky, it still amounted to around four thousand tinum Stones!"


    "Not bad, not bad!"


    "Well done!"


    The praise towards her was sincere. The traders were grinning from ear to ear as they shared their achievements. This sum was substantial, even for them, essentially exceeding their monthly earnings by two, if not three times. It made many envious, but there was one truth.


    They would only receive 35% of the total amount. The rest would go to Adam, and only the Goddess of Light knew what he would do with that money. Of course, everyone had their grievances about this, but who could argue against it? Right, no one. The facts were right in front of them.


    Adam had resurrected the unprofitable businesses of all four traders. He helped them manage their finances correctly, be popr, and earn a lot of money. It was a rebirth in the truest sense of the word. And that means that even if he took 90%, it would be justified. But he decided to leave personal ie at 35% for each business owner, taking only 5% from the remaining 65% and letting the rest circte. This was how he began the financial nning to create a wless reputation, and products, and eventually move into mergers.


    This was a n conceived over a long period. It seemed as though he had foreseen all the actions and moves of the traders. And that was unsettling.


    To be continued...