Thomas had been living in the city for much longer than Silas, so even though they'd only just met, Silas trusted that he knew how to find a good location for the shop.
"We should focus on the central square," Thomas said. "Adventurers always pass through there. If you're planning to sell weapons or anything like that, they're your main customers."
The square was located right in the heart of the city. It was a popular place for people to relax, enjoy the greenery, and listen to the birds. The ruler of New Castle made sure the square was always clean, well-maintained, and attractive to both locals and tourists.
In the center stood a grand statue of a legendary wizard—the very one who had founded the city long ago and established its first magic academy. To most people, that wizard was more of a myth than a real person, someone revered and admired by everyone.
Because of all that, the square was one of the best places to open a shop. Restaurants, clothing stores, blacksmiths, enchanters—you could find all kinds of businesses there, constantly busy with customers.
But, as with anything, there were downsides. Thomas made sure Silas understood.
"The only problem is the price. Rent's going to be pretty steep."
Silas smiled. "That's not a problem—as long as the location brings customers. So… where do we start?"
"Let's walk around," Thomas suggested.
Silas and Thomas strolled through the main square. Silas used the chance to take a good look at the place for himself. It was a beautiful area—far more organized and peaceful compared to the rest of the city, which often felt chaotic.
Still, they didn't linger. Their goal wasn't to enjoy the scenery—it was to find the perfect spot for Silas's shop.
Several buildings around the square were empty. They checked each one, inspecting the interiors and paying attention to what types of businesses were nearby.
"Why are they empty, though?" Silas asked. "Isn't this a prime location? Can't anyone just open a shop here?"
It was a fair question. After all, New Castle was a wealthy city that attracted merchants, nobles, and adventurers alike. You'd expect these empty buildings to be snatched up quickly.
Thomas explained, "It's the competition. Getting a shop license here isn't easy, and the rent prices are ridiculous. A lot of people give up and go to other cities where it's cheaper and easier to stand out."
That made sense. In New Castle, nearly every kind of shop already existed. Starting something new—and making it profitable—was a real challenge. On the other hand, opening a business in a smaller city, where certain services or products were still missing, could be far more lucrative.
Thomas glanced at Silas, half-expecting him to hesitate after hearing that—to second-guess whether New Castle was the right choice.
But Silas didn't care. He was determined to set up shop in this city. With his mysterious phone and the system at his disposal, he was confident his business would thrive—no matter how fierce the competition was.
"Yeah… that makes sense," Silas nodded. "So, out of the ones we've seen, which building do you like the most?"
They had visited five buildings in total. There were a few more, but those were too far from the square to be considered ideal.
"The one with two floors and a big basement," Thomas said without hesitation. "If you're serious about making your shop successful—and expanding it later—you'll need the extra space. Plus, the location is one of the best around here. But like I said... the rent won't be cheap. Not even close."
Silas liked that building too. It was made entirely of high-quality stone and was clearly well-maintained.
But the best part? The basement. Its size was impressive—far bigger than what you'd normally expect.
A good basement was essential for any shop. Silas needed a secure place to store his items—especially considering his unique situation.
After all, he couldn't let anyone figure out where he was getting such rare and valuable items. On top of that, he needed somewhere safe to keep them.
And this wasn't just any basement. It was protected by magical formations designed to restrict access. Only authorized individuals could enter freely. Anyone else would have to deal with powerful magical barriers just to step inside.
Silas wasn't taking any chances with thieves. This building was perfect.
"Alright," Silas said, "let's go find out what the rent looks like."
All the buildings they had checked were handled by the same agency, conveniently located near the main square. It was a tall, four-story building with a variety of other businesses operating inside.
Silas barely glanced at them. His focus was on the agency.
A beautiful woman with a friendly smile greeted them and patiently answered all of Silas's questions.
"The rent is five thousand gold coins per month," she explained. "But... we can offer you a grace period. You won't have to pay until next month, which gives you time to set everything up. On top of that, we can provide workers to help get your shop ready—free of charge."
It was clear they were eager to rent the place out. Normally, rents required upfront payment, but since the property had been vacant for a while, they were offering incentives to attract tenants.
Five thousand gold coins was no joke. Based on Silas's calculations, he'd need to bring in at least a hundred thousand a month to comfortably cover the rent and other costs.
He still had plenty of money saved up, and once he opened the shop, the system would reward him with a three-hundred-thousand bonus. Even so, that didn't make the rent feel any cheaper.
"I'll need to sell some really good stuff... and work hard to make this succeed," Silas thought.
After considering the offer, he finally nodded. "I'll take it."
The woman's smile widened. No doubt she earned a nice commission from this deal.
"Perfect! I'll prepare the contract and schedule the workers to start tomorrow."
"Thank you. See you then," Silas replied, feeling satisfied.
But as they stepped outside, things quickly took an unexpected turn.
A group of three men was waiting for them near the entrance. Judging by their rough appearances, they were thugs.
"Hey, Thomas," one of them called out, his tone aggressive. "Get over here, brat."
Silas blinked, confused. "What the hell is this about?"
The thug stepped closer, glaring. "Where's my money, huh? I need that money!"
For a split second, Silas seriously considered punching Thomas in the face.