Chapter 1084 Business
Chen Yang saw Ananda's constrained posture and chuckled, "With your physique, you probably can't stand for long, right? Sit down."
Ananda didn't show any anger at Chen Yang's teasing; instead, he let out a dry laugh.
"I apologize for keeping Young Master Chen waiting. I just finished with guild matters and came straight here without pause."
After Ananda sat down, he said in a low voice, "Young Master Chen, I heard you made a deal with Hei Gu?"
At this, Chen Yang's brows immediately furrowed.
Chen Yang's gaze fell on Ananda, and he said sternly, "Fatty, are you investigating me?"
Ananda's mouth twitched. There were very few people in the entire Hei Gu City who dared to call him Fatty.
This Young Master Chen's mouth was truly unforgiving.
Despite Chen Yang's questioning, Ananda quickly explained, "No, no, nothing of the sort! How could I investigate Young Master Chen?"
"I just heard from my subordinates about Hei Gu. Young Master Chen, you might not know, but Hei Gu has been snatching a lot of my business from those outside guilds. That guy has no bottom line in his dealings. I often have people keep an eye on him, lest he cause any trouble."
Chen Yang looked deeply at Ananda and said with a hint of doubt, "Hei Gu Zhenren has no bottom line? Then do you have one?"
"In this entire realm, how many people truly have a so-called bottom line? Don't pretend in front of me."
Chen Yang actually already knew that Ananda had people investigating him. It wasn't just him; even Bamuge from the City Lord's mansion, whom he had met before, had sent people to secretly monitor him.
Chen Yang didn't have any particular thoughts about this. Instead, he found Ananda of the Si'an Merchant Guild quite interesting. If he could bring him under his wing, it would be of great help to their future establishment of an outpost in the ancient battlefield.
"Young Master Chen, although I, Ananda, am a merchant, I still have my bottom line. At the very least, the Si'an Merchant Guild would absolutely not be involved in helping certain factions find cauldrons."
Cauldrons. Chen Yang looked at Ananda a second time upon hearing the word.
He knew that some cultivation techniques could rapidly increase one's strength using cauldrons. He hadn't expected such techniques to exist in this realm.
However, Ananda saying this was likely an implication that Hei Gu Zhenren was involved in such matters.
Chen Yang didn't probe further and instead said, "The matter I asked Hei Gu to handle is something you cannot do, as it would offend people, and success is uncertain."
"However, I might be able to offer you a few good arrangements here. If handled well, it might not double your business, but an increase of one or two times is definitely possible."
Ananda, who had just let down his guard, trembled at this.
It was not just fear, but also excitement.
What kind of big business could make his guild double or triple its earnings?
And according to Young Master Chen, this was likely the minimum.
Of course, Ananda also understood one thing: generally, great opportunities came with equally great risks.
The Si'an Merchant Guild was originally just a small merchant guild in Yao Gu City.
It was only under Ananda's management that it gradually became a guild that could trade in the Wangyou Sea.
Only Ananda himself knew the hardships involved.
Opportunity... always accompanied by danger.
"What? Judging by your expression, you don't want to take it?"
As Chen Yang spoke, he made to get up and leave.
Seeing this, how could Ananda let Chen Yang leave?
He immediately reached out to press Chen Yang's shoulder, but in the next second, the sharp gazes of the people around him made Ananda retract his hand.
"No, no, no, Young Master Chen, where did that come from? If it's truly a big business, our Si Da Shang Hui would certainly not refuse."
"But what kind of business is it? Can you give me some hints first?"
Ananda's eyes were gleaming. No matter how great the danger, he wanted to get involved!
Opportunities were rare.
And if he didn't take this business, Young Master Chen might very well approach other merchant guilds in Yao Gu City!
"What do you know about the ancient battlefield outside Yao Gu City?"
Ananda was first stunned by the question. After a moment of thought, he replied, "I don't know much. When my clan migrated to Yao Gu City, the ancient battlefield was already in that location."
"The ancient battlefield has always been home to numerous fierce beasts. Although it's close to the Wangyou Sea, it's not suitable for transporting goods."
"The beasts there might not be very high in cultivation, but there are too many of them constantly emerging."
"Why is Young Master Chen asking about this? Could it be that the business you mentioned is related to this ancient battlefield?"
Seeing Chen Yang nod slowly, Ananda wore a bitter smile.
He genuinely couldn't figure out what profit could be made from that ancient battlefield.
Chen Yang was not surprised by the expression on Ananda's face.
"If I say I want to establish a black market on the ancient battlefield, what do you think?"
As soon as the words "black market" were uttered, Ananda's face turned fearful. He nervously looked around, afraid that someone might overhear the words.
Chen Yang chuckled, "Don't worry, there's no one else around."
Chen Yang obviously wouldn't tell Ananda what he truly intended to do.
The black market was merely a name.
"Young Master Chen, although I don't know how deep your resources run, this matter cannot be spoken of lightly. The reason Yao Gu City has been able to stand here for so long is because it controls a portion of the business from the Wangyou Sea, and Yao Gu City takes a cut from every transaction. "
"The black market you mentioned, would it be to bypass Yao Gu City?"
Seeing Chen Yang nod, Ananda hurriedly waved his hands, indicating refusal. "If it were any other business, I would certainly participate. But this matter affects the very foundation of Yao Gu City. If the City Lord's mansion finds out, I know my life would be forfeit!"
"There may be spiritual stones to be earned, but one only has one life."
Seeing Ananda's fear, Chen Yang smiled, "Alright, then let's not talk about a black market. I want to build a courtyard on the ancient battlefield. The courtyard needs to be large enough to accommodate all my friends and their goods."
"In addition, I also want a sea outlet. Please calculate how many spiritual stones and how much time would be needed for the construction of these two places, inside and out."
Ananda's eyes were fixed on Chen Yang. He realized that Chen Yang was not joking at all.
What courtyard... it was clearly a black market.
However, if these two places were truly built, the construction costs alone would allow the Si Da Shang Hui to earn a considerable amount.
One had to admit, Ananda was indeed tempted.
If after the black market was established, he could get a share of the profits, it would be a whole new level for the Si Da Shang Hui.