Read Novel Full Chapter 64 - Conflict at the Bar
Chapter 64: Conflict at the Bar
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yang Ling could refuse the normal customers that did not give him much of a profit, but he could not miss the bigger transactions. Yang Ling instructed Goode to build twenty more villas. Basically, the profit he could obtain from one villa was more than if he rented out a hundred normal rooms.
Just as the street lights were turning on, Yang Ling walked slowly toward the Evening Primrose Bar. Even though there was no KTV, nor was there any rock music, he could still find a shred of the feeling he used to have when he visited bars with his friends back in his world. The crowded bar, the dull lights, fine wine that could not be finished, and those beauties that would tempt him…
After taking a corner, Yang Ling saw a person sadly wiping doors and windows. Looking over, Yang Ling realized that it was Andrew, the boss of the bar who had invited him to stay in Wissen Town originally.
Under normal circumstances, business in a bar would be the best at the time after dinner, but Andrew’s bar was silent, except for a couple that was flirting in the corner. Andrew’s customers had long ago been poached by the Evening Primrose Bar. Looking at the middle-aged, haggard Andrew, Yang Ling understood that he must have had a hard time recently. Thinking back to how straightforward and passionate Andrew had been in the past, Yang Ling suddenly had a thought.
“Andrew, to think that you are still so hardworking at night!”
“Oh, it’s you, Sir Yang!” Lifting his head and looking at Yang Ling, Andrew was very surprised. “I am getting fatter recently, haha! I should be more active, otherwise, mold will grow on my bones!”
Getting fatter? Seeing Andrew’s haggard expression and streaks of white hair, Yang Ling smiled. “Big boss Andrew, you are not letting me into your bar! Are you worried that I have no money and will cheat you of your alcohol? I have always missed your topnotch bartending skills!”
“Oh, look at how forgetful I am, pardon me, this way please!” Andrew let out an embarrassed smile, wiping his wet hands on his apron as he tilted his body to allow Yang Ling to enter. He then poured Yang Ling a glass of wine.
Even though Yang Ling’s Evening Primrose Bar had snatched away most of his customers, Andrew did not harbor too much hatred toward Yang Ling. After all, Yang Ling had helped the people eradicate the evil Anca family and had frequently helped the poorer townspeople. Yang Ling’s reputation had grown, and Andrew could only blame himself for not being as good as Yang Ling.
“Ah, it tastes great!” Yang Ling deliberated for a moment after taking a sip of the wine. He was prepared to go straight to the point. “Andrew, how busy have you been recently? Are you interested in doing business?”
Doing business? Andrew was surprised. He had thought that Yang Ling was merely here to reminisce about old times. He had not expected Yang Ling to discuss business with him. After the surprise, he could not help but feel excited. After all, he was talking to Yang Ling; the man would never speak of something he was not confident about. Any business Yang Ling wished to discuss would definitely be something worth doing.
Indeed, after Yang Ling told him that he would invest in Andrew building up a giant hotel, Andrew became so excited that he stuttered. The success of the Shangri-La Inn was evident to all. Even though many would have liked to share a slice of that pie, how could an average person scrape together that much capital?
“Sir Yang, I…” After his excitement, Andrew thought about his waning savings and became a little depressed. “Sir, the investment needed for the hotel is too big. Sigh, I would not be able to gather such a large amount of crystal coins even if you were to break my old bones!”
“Money is of no problem, you can leave that to me! Do up the specific calculations to see how many crystal coins you will need, then come and look for me.” Yang Ling smiled. “But my interest rate is very high. After the hotel is built, you will have to make sure to manage it well. If you do not return my money, be careful that I will hound you for your debt!”
After patting Andrew’s shoulders, Yang Ling left with large steps. Behind him, the middle-aged Andrew’s eyes were red with gratitude.
With the waning business of his bar, he could almost no longer afford any food for his family. He was considering if he should close down his bar and go gathering wood with his neighbor for money. He had not expected Yang Ling to help him when he was at his lowest point, not only proposing a business plan, but also promising that he would provide a large amount of money as an advance payment. As for the words about the high interest, any person who was not a fool would understand that Yang Ling was only joking.
Noble, he was a true noble, a true noble who was rich, generous, and had a good upbringing!
Seeing Yang Ling’s back receding into the dark town, Andrew was so touched that tears welled in his eyes. He decided to immediately return home to discuss the proposition with his wife. In the future, he would pray for Yang Ling’s life to be peaceful and blissful every time he prayed to the heavens. In times like this, nobles like Yang Ling who would treat commoners as equals were basically extinct.
Andrew had tears in his eyes. At the same time, Yang Ling started to have many thoughts.
Perhaps I could set up a money lending firm here!
Thinking back to Andrew’s depressed look when he was poor, Yang Ling felt that setting up a money lending firm here would not be a bad choice. Firstly, he could earn quite a sum of crystal coins. Secondly, he could support and encourage the townspeople to invest and set up new businesses, more rapidly boosting the economy of Wissen Town. But more importantly, he could lay the foundation for firmly controlling the core of Wissen Town’s economy in the future.
Even though he had not graduated with a degree in economics, even though he had spent most of his time in college chasing after girls and playing games, Yang Ling still knew how important banks were to the economy. If he were to set up a bank here, he might not be able to earn much in the short term, but there would definitely be great benefits for him in the long term.
After thinking about it for some time, Yang Ling strolled to the Evening Primrose Bar. Unsurprisingly, the bar was already filled with people. There were troops laughing loudly, as though no one was around them. There were wood gatherers and hunters who viewed alcohol as their lives. There were also socialites dressed in revealing clothes.
“Boss, this way please!” Upon seeing Yang Ling, the two elf ladies at the door quickly welcomed him in. The troops also opened a path for him. In Wissen Town, if there was a person that could make them respectful and fearful at the same time, it was Yang Ling.
There were many female servers in the Evening Primrose. Both the human and elf ladies were captivating, but no one dared to act indecently toward them.
To be able to uproot the deeply rooted Anca family, to be able to wipe out the obnoxious Wind Troops, who would dare offend this tiger? No one in town would have the gall to lay a hand on the ladies under Yang Ling, unless they were tired of living.
Leaning on the high chair used exclusively for the bar table, Yang Ling took a sip of a high-quality Raphael Red Wine. In that moment, his body felt refreshed and energized.
“John, have you come up with any new wine recently?” After closing his eyes and resting for a moment, Yang Ling asked the busy bartender beside him.
The bartender called John was very young, but he was said to be a royal bartender who had served the royal family of the Banto Empire. Yang Ling had secretly tested him over several occasions and found that this lad possessed real skills. He could mix drinks with unique flavor profiles using merely ordinary rum and cedar wine. If not for having offended a high ranking official in the Banto Empire, he might not work here no matter how high of a salary Yang Ling offered him.
“Sir, come back in a few days. Then, I’ll treat you to the most delicious cocktail in the continent!” John smiled apologetically at Yang Ling as he shook the mixing glass in his hands. With the movement of his wrist, the cocktail in the glass moved like a brown dragon in the sea.
Looking at the not-so-humble bartender, Yang Ling smiled as he took a sip of his wine. Bartending was an art. Ordinarily, a person who was playing with art would often be a little eccentric, some thinking highly of themselves while others preferred to remain silent. He had seen many people like that when he was out with his friends in the past.
After taking a sip of the cocktail John handed to him, Yang Ling had not had the opportunity to savor the different tastes of the drink when a dull thud suddenly came from the door. Following that, people started to shout loudly, “Oh Yiblis, you yellow haired wastrel from the Banto Empire, you dare intentionally block the way! You’re looking for death!”
After a pathetic cry, a raspy voice came from outside the door, “Hehe, you stupid bear from the Rossi Empire, are you tired of living? Let’s see if your bone is harder than my dagger is sharp!”
…
Following the fierce shouts, the sounds of a fight spread from outside the door. Slowly, both parties called upon their friends, and more troops and adventurers joined the fray. The area outside the bar was in chaos, and traces of blood could be found everywhere.
Is this what a street fight looks like in this world?
Shifting toward the window and looking at the chaotic battle, Yang Ling doubtfully shook his head. Until he understood the full situation, he was unwilling to tread these waters.
Seeing Yang Ling crease his brows in doubt, the bartender John said calmly, “The Rossi Empire and the Banto Empire are at loggerheads with each other. Their animosity has spanned back a hundred years, and the small skirmishes at their borders have never stopped. The troops and adventurers of the different empires often fight when they encounter each other!”
“Oh, is this really a frequent occurrence?”
Seeing heavily armored troops coming out of nowhere, then looking at the few men in black hiding behind the large tree at the other side of the bar, Yang Ling let out a cold smile.
A ploy, this was definitely a ploy!
When the villas of Shangri-La had been booked at high prices, Yang Ling had secretly instructed the thief Fenlist to look into the identities of the renters. The men in black at the other side of the bar were the most mysterious out of the bunch. Yang Ling believed that today’s chaotic battle was definitely not as simple as warriors from the two factions coincidentally meeting each other.