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[Cheat] Chapter 114: Buying a Shop
🕑 Added 2025-06-26 03:27:09 +0000 UTC"Crystal ores? Yes, we have some information," the receptionist replied. "But the adventurer who found them is asking for a very high reward. There are three locations in total, and each one costs 2,000 Mora. Also, the price is just for the location info—no help with the actual mining."
"2,000, huh…" Zephyr thought it over. "Acceptable."
"I’ll take all three," he said.
The adventurers around them immediately looked shocked and envious. 6,000 Mora, spent just like that—and not even on high-grade gear, but merely for three mining locations.
But no one could really complain. After all, during their adventures, they hadn’t found any ore veins at all.
Sometimes, it’s just a matter of luck.
And so, under the combined reactions of surprise, awe, and envy, the group left the Adventurers' Guild.
Hu Tao strutted proudly at the front.
"Why are you so happy?" Zephyr asked.
"Of course I’m happy! It’s my first day here, and the name of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is already making waves! That’s a big win."
"But you haven’t even picked a location for the parlor yet," Paimon pointed out.
"Ah, details, details. What matters is getting our name out there first. Once we’re known, even if we’re just setting up a stall on the street, customers will come!"
"I think if you set up a street stall, the Knights will arrest you," Paimon muttered.
"It’s fine—Mondstadt is the City of Freedom."
"The 'freedom' in City of Freedom doesn’t mean that kind of freedom!"
Hu Tao tapped her cheek with a finger, suddenly curious. "Oh right—Mondstadt should already have a funeral service shop, right? Let’s go check out the competition."
"I actually don’t know if there is one," Zephyr admitted. "Paimon, do you?"
"Uh… Paimon think there’s one. Let Paimon try to remember where exactly…"
After asking a long string of townspeople for directions, they finally found the place tucked away in a remote little corner.
"Wow, this place is so run-down," Hu Tao said, wrinkling her nose. "In Liyue, funeral services are a major industry. No way would a shop look this dilapidated or be stuck in such a back alley."
"But still, it does have one advantage—this yard and building are pretty spacious. Not bad at all for a branch location."
Paimon reminded her, "This shop already has an owner."
"We can talk to the owner. Maybe they'll be willing to part with it."
They walked into the shop. The owner glanced up at them without moving a muscle. Listlessly, he said, "Look around if you want. Choose what you like."
Hu Tao frowned. "Is that how you greet customers? With that kind of attitude, how do you stay in business?"
The shop owner replied, "It’s funeral work. What kind of customer service do you expect? And honestly, who even wants to do this kind of job?"
"I do. I love it."
"You?"
The shop owner looked her over from head to toe. "Young lady, take my advice—don’t get swept up in this 'edgy goth' stuff. It may seem trendy, but mouthing off like that out there will get you in real trouble."
Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "Hey, look at you, knowing terms like 'edgy goth' and 'chuunibyou.' I’m impressed."
"Psh. Who in Mondstadt doesn’t know what chuunibyou is? That whole thing got popular thanks to that little girl Fischl. But you," he said, turning back to Hu Tao, "you don’t seem like you’re from her… sect, I guess?"
Paimon was stunned. "Wait… chuunibyou has types?"
"Of course it does. I’ve heard there’s Hot-Blooded Chuuni, Dark Chuuni, Shut-In Chuuni… That’s just what I’ve heard, though—I’m no expert."
"Actually, I think you’re pretty knowledgeable already," Zephyr said.
"Ahem, anyway, back on topic. What exactly are you here to buy?"
Hu Tao gave a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, shopkeeper. I’m Hu Tao, the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Wangsheng Parlor? Sounds familiar… Oh, is that the one that sells snacks?"
"That’s Wanmin Restaurant!! Why does everyone keep mixing us up!?" Hu Tao snapped.
"Wangsheng, Wangsheng… Ah! Now I remember. I visited Liyue about twenty years ago—I think I bought something from you folks back then."
"Hmph. So now you remember. Well, I’m the current Director."
"Really? Funny… I remember the director being an old man back then."
"That was my grandfather."
"Ah, I see. How’s he doing these days?"
"He passed away long ago."
"Ah… my condolences."
"Shopkeeper," Hu Tao continued, "I’d like to ask a few questions. How’s the funeral business doing here in Mondstadt?"
"'Business' is a weird word for it… But overall, not bad. I mean, you can see for yourself—I was able to afford this big yard because of it."
"Are there any other funeral shops in town?"
"Nope. Just me."
"Only one in all of Mondstadt?"
"Yup. People think it’s bad luck, so no one else wants to do it."
"Ignorant fools," Hu Tao muttered.
Then she blinked and looked at the shopkeeper with a smile. "Shopkeeper, let me ask you something—would you be willing to sell this place?"
The shopkeeper was stunned. He never expected someone to ask that kind of question.
“Huh?”
“Are you selling or not?”
“This... It’s the first time anyone’s ever asked me that. You want to buy it?”
“Yep.”
“Even though this business is a bit unlucky, the shop itself is worth quite a bit. Are you sure you have that kind of money?”
Hu Tao looked at Zephyr.
“Why are you looking at me? Do I look like I have money?”
“I heard adventurers are usually rich.”
“I’m not an adventurer. I’m just a weak little traveler.”
“Travelers are even richer, aren’t they? If you don’t have money, how do you afford to travel?”
Zephyr froze. That… made too much sense, and he had no comeback.
“Say something nice first,” he said.
“What do you want to hear~~” Hu Tao’s face flushed slightly. She looked a little nervous.
“Call me daddy.”
“Pah! You pervert!”
The shopkeeper’s eyelid twitched. “Could you take your flirting somewhere else? I’m too old for this kind of show.”
“Cough, sorry, boss. Just tell me how much Mora you want.”
“…Judging by how you two act, I doubt you’ve got much. I’ll just give you the lowest price. 100,000 Mora.”
“One hundred thousand!?”
“See? I knew you couldn’t afford it.”
“That’s so cheap!”
“!?”
Hu Tao immediately realized she’d slipped up. Even if she truly thought it was cheap, she couldn’t say it out loud—that would just encourage the seller to raise the price.
“Cough, I mean… that’s so expensive!”
Paimon whispered, “You seriously think 100,000 Mora is cheap?”
Hu Tao replied, “It’s not that 100,000 is cheap—it’s that this shop is a monopoly. It’s the only funeral business in all of Mondstadt! Even if it cost a million Mora, it’d still be a bargain. No way I’m letting this shop slip through my fingers!”
The shopkeeper, being a decent man, gave her a sincere warning: “Young lady, I suggest you don’t go into this line of work. Yes, it makes money, but it’s better if you don’t. Look at me—honestly, I regret it.”
“How so?” Hu Tao asked.
“You ever had that one mysterious relative? The one who lives alone far away from the rest of the family, no one’s sure what they do for a living, and they’re always single? Yeah… I’ve become that relative.”
//END
