Chapter 448: Is This an Unscrupulous Store?
"Hey, have you heard the news that General Zhuge altered his appearance and participated in the auction held by the Tian Liu Chamber of Commerce, where he won a lot of items, well worth over seven billion Spirit Stones in total?"
"I have already heard this news. That sum is way too formidable!"
"However, I've heard that he has run away because he didn't have enough Spirit Stones to pay."
"That's baloney! He opened up a store. Its name is McDonald's of the Exploding Heavens Faction."
"My God! Really? Can that guy open a store? Who would dare to visit his store?"
"Exactly! It's a pity that his store hasn't opened to the public yet. I wonder what its main commodity would be."
"I've heard that he is planning to sell dog meat. It seems his dog is doomed."
"No, I've heard he is going to open a brothel!"
...
Early in the morning, everyone in the Imperial City was talking about Xu Que.
After finishing his renovations, Xu Que closed the store right away, evoking endless curiosity from the onlookers.
From her place inside the Imperial Palace, the Water Empress also heard the news.
The Water Empress was dumbfounded after hearing that Xu Que had spent so many Spirit Stones to bid for items in the auction, doing it all under the name of Wang Sicong.
Apparently, she had not expected Xu Que to be so wealthy. Regardless of whether he could pay it all off at the end, he had still already spent over five billion Spirit Stones, which was an enormous number.
"This little chap is really good at making trouble!" The Water Empress shook her head with a wry smile.
After that, she waved her hand gently to summon a maidservant. Then she said in a low voice, "Go to the Tian Liu Chamber of Commerce and stop them from asking for the two billion remaining debt from Xu Que. They can deduct that sum directly from my profit at this auction!"
The maidservant was stunned. Then she said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, I've heard that General Zhuge had promised to the Tian Liu Chamber of Commerce that he will pay off the balance after seven days. Now he has opened a store in the Imperial City. It seems that he is going to start a business."
"Is he going to open a store?" The Water Empress was surprised again.
"Yes. It is said the name of his store is McDonald's of the Exploding Heavens Faction. Many people are attracted by his store. However, it hasn't been officially opened. No one knows what commodity he is going to sell."
The Water Empress shook her head and couldn't help but laugh. "This little chap always gets such fantastic ideas. What kind of business could make over two billion Spirit Stones within seven days?"
"Yes, a lot of people are planning to have a good laugh at him."
The Water Empress smiled slightly again. "Maybe they will be disappointed."
"Ah?" The maidservant was surprised. "Your Majesty, just now you said that his ideas are always fantastic, right?"
"I mean his ideas are always different from those of normal people. Tasks that would be impossible for ordinary people can be accomplished through the fantastic ideas of this little chap," The Water Empress replied with a faint smile.
The maidservant was totally confused. "So...should I still go to the Tian Liu Chamber of Commerce?"
"Not necessarily. Let's see what will happen in seven days." The Water Empress smiled.
The maidservant was even more confused.
To her, it was absolutely impossible for someone to earn over two billion Spirit Stones within seven days. Even the Water Empress would be able to make that happen.
But why was the Water Empress so confident about that General Zhuge?
....
In a guesthouse in the Imperial City, some young people who came from wealthy, official families were drinking in a private room. All of them were laughing.
"Haha, that Wang Sicong was actually Zhuge Liang in disguise. This is really a huge humiliation for him!"
"I thought he was going home to fetch Spirit Stones. I didn't expect him to open a store!"
"He is too childish! Does he really think he is a know-it-all? A war expert is not necessarily an expert in doing business!"
"He is daydreaming about earning over two billion Spirit Stones within seven days!"
"Even the most experienced businessmen couldn't promise to earn one hundred million Spirit Stones within seven days. How can he make over two billion?"
"Hehe, just ignore his bragging. In seven days, he will be a mockery."
"Exactly. I hope all of you will use your power to prevent people from buying whatever it is that he is planning to sell. Like that, all he will get will be humiliation and embarrassment!"
"Hahaha..."
The private room was filled with laughter.
...
At that moment, Xu Que had selected over ten soldiers who had basic cooking skills from the 3000 soldiers of the Snow City. Then he started individually teach each of the selected soldiers how to use these new technologies and products.
Furthermore, the meals of McDonald's were not very complicated. As long as the materials were available, everything could be made easily like an assembly line.
As a chef, what Xu Que could do was process the foods at the last step to add all kinds of magical effects.
Of course, he decided to try the foods himself before opening the store to verify all possible effects of the foods.
Finally, he wrote down the effects of each meal on the billboard, so that the customers could place orders accordingly.
After a whole morning's worth of busy learning, the selected soldiers had mastered the skills to operate the equipment purchased by Xu Que. Then they started to work excitedly.
Some of them were responsible for frying potato chips, some of them were responsible for frying chicken nuggets, some of them were order-takers and the rest were responsible for collecting the Spirit Stones.
Now, everything was ready.
"Okay, my brothers, let's set a small goal of earning one billion Spirit Stones on the opening day!" Xu Que started to motivate the soldiers by shouting loudly.
Hearing his goal, those selected soldiers freaked out.
Is he planning to earn one billion Spirit Stones on the opening day?
How... how could this be possible?
"Are you confident?" Xu Que asked loudly.
The soldiers replied, "Eh..."
Xu Que said, "Those who are not confident will be punished according to military law!"
Immediately the soldiers shouted, "We have confidence!"
Hearing that, Xu Que nodded his head satisfactorily. Regardless of whether the soldiers were confident or not, he was quite confident himself.
After being processed by Xu Que's chef skills, the foods would be even more effective than three-star or four-star potions.
Moreover, the effects of some of the meals could not be realized by potions.
"General Zhuge, Buttface is planning to sneak into our store to steal food by digging a hole in the backdoor," a soldier of the Snow City reported in a hurry.
"Tell him if he doesn't want to be strangled to death, he should go back to the Imperial Palace. I will grant him a reward of delicious food in the evening!" Xu Que waved his hand.
Then he turned to the main gate. Waving his hand, he shouted, "Soldiers, on my mark, let's open for business!"
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers replied in chorus, in high and vigorous spirits,
Meanwhile, a lot of curious onlookers had already gathered outside the store.
Many people were discussing the commodity of Xu Que's store, for the renovation style was so novelty that none of them had ever seen anything like in the past.
Also, some people were looking forward to witnessing Xu Que's humiliation on the opening day of his store.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Finally, Xu Que ordered his soldier to lift up the rolling door.
Being fully surprised, all onlookers stared at the store with curiosity.
Along with the lifting of the rolling door, a typical McDonald's style renovation came into view of the onlookers.
All onlookers were totally shocked and dumbfounded.
"Awesome! It's really beautiful!"
"Look at that! It really turns me on!"
"Save your breath! In this world, this kind of renovation style is unprecedented. Of course it would turn you on!"
"Gee, look, it seems that it is a food store!"
"Really? Who would buy foods with Spirit Stones in the Imperial City? This is definitely a rip-off!"
As they shook their heads, these onlookers started to read the menu on the billboards.
The next moment, their eyes widened in great shock.
"Holy shit! Could this...be food?"
"Grilled Chicken Burger of the Exploding Heavens Faction, and the price is five hundred thousand Spirit Stones for one?"
"Damn! French Fries of the Exploding Heavens Faction, the price is ten thousand Spirit Stones for a single fry?"
"My God! This must be an unscrupulous store!"