Chapter 32

Li Hao's eyes swept over Shalia, who remained silent, looking down at the plan below.

"Okay, this change is fine." Shalia finally gave in.

"Then I will make new arrangements for you. By the way, since we are already partners, we need a formal contract." Li Hao glanced at Victoria.

Victoria immediately took something out of her arms.

"Contract Stone!" Glenn was very perceptive and quickly called out the name.

This thing is very rare. It can be used to set up contracts. The effect of the magic contract is very powerful, basically involving the strength of level 5 magic.

To violate this magical contract, one needs to have the strength of a god of law, which is simply impossible.

Initially, neither Shalia nor Maggie wanted to sign the contract, given their inherent ulterior motives. However, Li Hao offered them something they desperately wanted: she would be in the contract, and Li Hao would answer a question. However, they had to keep the answer confidential.

Maggie agreed immediately, and Shalia hesitated before nodding. Thus, under the witness of the contract, the five of them officially formed a round table meeting.

Li Hao didn't actually have many chips to offer. If she hadn't been recognized for her abilities last time, everyone present would have more to offer. Even Glenn's various assistance was far superior to Li Hao's.

...

Charleston has been bustling lately, fueled by a new shop. Whether it's a passing caravan or a mercenary adventuring in the Warcraft Forest, everyone's talking about it.

"I have a friend whose captain has an invitation. It is said that once you go in, you won't want to come out. There is everything in there, and you can find anything you can think of." said an orc.

"It's so amazing, but it's a pity that even if you want to go to the first floor, you have to make an appointment in advance." Another person said regretfully.

Located on Charleston's main drag, the Luminous Shop is a striking sight, day or night. Its large, custom-designed sign, complete with magical lights, is visible from afar.

A grand entrance, adorned with golden ornaments. A muscular, uniformly dressed doorman stood at the entrance, helping members open the door. No one in this world had ever seen carpet before, and Li Hao had it custom-made. Every time someone stepped on this soft carpet, a sweet fragrance permeated the air, accompanied by soothing music. The experience was completely different.

This is the Night Light □□. Li Hao's previously customized machine hadn't been wasted, having been placed on the first floor as an entertainment facility. These custom-made entertainment facilities alone have already attracted many people. Some competitive events have rankings, which makes many people spend a lot of time on them in order to leave their names.

In the center is a beautifully shaped display table with exquisite pastries and various delicacies.

The food is different every day, and the presentation of every delicacy here is specially designed by Li Hao. In one word, it’s beautiful.

Take the escalator to the second floor, where you'll find a series of private rooms. There's a massage room, a sauna room, and a Mahjong room designed by Li Hao. There's even a dedicated person explaining the rules, and it's become a hit in Charleston.

Of course, there are also more private rooms where important people can talk.

Generally speaking, the first and second floors are open to the public, but the third floor requires a special invitation or the first 100 members, which are the numbered membership cards issued by Li Hao.

As you go up to the third floor, you will find a ballroom with a gorgeous ceiling. There are different activities every day, such as masked balls, wine tastings, and all kinds of fancy things going on every day.

Let Charleston's upper class experience the feeling of extravagance and decadence.

It sounds like this club has absolutely no profit potential. However, Li Hao has set a minimum membership fee. A membership card requires a minimum payment of 1,000 gold coins. And for higher-level services, like exclusive clothing, exclusive wine, and exclusive private rooms, a higher fee is required.

For a wealthy person, a thousand gold coins isn't a lot, but the price is a bit high.

But the information given by Li Hao is that this is a deposit, which will be returned when you cancel the membership. Fees will only be deducted in the second year.

Doesn't that sound like a scam? Of course, Li Hao wasn't just looking to make a quick buck. She just wanted to use the money as start-up capital to build something big.

Charleston has a total population of just over 200,000, but the floating population is over 300,000, which is quite large for a town.

□□The daily reception capacity is only 500 people, while there are 300 staff members of various types. Li Hao does not want to build a popular store, but wants to create a high-end place.

To make □□ members a symbol of status and become a qualified platform, the gold coins invested at the beginning were spent like water.

□□ had been open for two weeks, and Li Hao had begun building publicity since she returned. First, through Sharia, she contacted some of the most powerful people in Charleston and gave out membership cards. These were beautifully packaged, and came with exclusive invitations to the opening event.

After they accepted the membership, they started to spread the news that these important people would attend the opening ceremony, and only those who obtained this qualification could be considered big shots.

With the help of Victoria, Li Hao even invited a third-level wizard from the Wizard Tower through Teacher Michelle. Unfortunately, all the wizards were obsessed with the magic world, but one of them finally came.

For half a month, some information was revealed from time to time, such as the magic props everywhere, how gorgeous the decorations inside were, etc. For example, there was actually a waterfall inside.

The little bit of information that was revealed aroused the curiosity of the people in Charleston.

Li Hao also organized the final opening ceremony very well. The important people with exclusive numbers were also very satisfied with these novelties and services, which captured their hearts.

However, entertainment venues alone cannot last long. The only long-term solution is to bring benefits to these members.

Meals must be eaten step by step, and Li Hao gives Shalia a new plan every day.

"Today is different. There must be no mistakes in what we are going to do next." It was another roundtable meeting, and Li Hao, who was sitting in the main seat, said.

This time, she was talking about the core of making money and consolidating her position. She wanted to create a platform within the Charleston business system, where there was no general market understanding of prices. This was also the loophole that Li Hao had exploited last time.

She needed to create a place where merchants and adventurers could directly see prices and the selling prices of various items, similar to Wall Street.

However, it also incorporates some local characteristics. Every adventurer's trip to the Warcraft Forest brings in very high returns. Treating mercenaries and adventurers as a company, angel investment is incorporated into this concept. Shares, funds, and dividends are also included.

They can invest in those poor adventurers and then share the profits.

Even Shalia, a formidable businessman, was baffled by these concepts. After the meeting, Li Hao was about to leave when she stopped him. In the end, Li Hao and Shalia were left alone.

Li Hao had already learned two spell models, but to Shalia, she was just a small bug that could be crushed to death at any time. Shalia's strength was roughly equivalent to that of a second-level mage.

Li Hao had once seen his teacher, Michelle, cast a spell and easily created a pit the size of a basketball court.

"I haven't fulfilled my question yet." Shalia looked at Li Hao.

Not only Sharia, but Martha also did not ask Li Hao questions immediately.

Shalia made many predictions about Li Hao, but as long as there was a secret about Li Hao, there would always be nothing.

Although her predictions were not omnipotent, she had never been unable to obtain any information at all. This had never happened to her before.

However, she did not ask the question immediately after receiving it, but waited for a while. What Li Hao said today had made Shalia clearly realize that this knowledge was definitely not thought up by a single person, but emerged through various practices and the wisdom of many people.

"Where are you from?" These five words are the question Shalia asks most often.

"...from another world, a world without magic." Li Hao was silent for a while, but still answered truthfully.

When Shalia heard this answer, it seemed like everything made sense. But she still had more questions. Then she began to think deeply, and even as a cold-blooded person, she actually began to sweat.

When she raised her head, her pupils were constricted, only a single line. Li Hao was already prepared to fight back if she wanted to attack.

But Shalia didn't say a word, just stared at Li Hao for a few seconds, then turned and left.

After that, Li Hao didn't see Shalia for a long time.

Fortunately, when the contract was signed, Li Hao had included a condition that the answers to the questions could not be revealed to others. There was also an important point in the contract that the five of them could not harm each other.

The people at the base had guessed from some of Sharia's words and expressions that he had already formed an opinion about Li Hao's background.

Li Hao had considered this, and upon closer examination, it might be a loophole left over from his first time traveling. He was also waiting to see what questions Maggie would ask. Of course, unlike Shalia, Maggie's questions might not be that simple.

But these weren't things Li Hao wanted to deal with. She only had two more time travels left, and she was accumulating capital. She was about to simulate her third spell model.

This was very important to her, because some things in the Mage Tower could only be accessed after she became a formal mage. For example, the space technology that fascinated the base scientists could only be accessed after she became a formal mage.

It doesn’t mean that Li Hao can buy it just because he earns enough money.

But...if you pay a lot of money, you can still get it.

Li Hao had recently earned money, and apart from the expenses, she had used the rest to buy various books and materials. In fact, she had already used the points to buy all the first-level spell models of the Mage Tower.

This knowledge is very important. It is like she is studying abroad, trying hard to bring back useful knowledge to build the country.