After waiting for a while, Zaboru kept himself busy with work and also took the ti to buy so souvenirs. It wasn't long before his secretary, Yumi, inford him that Ichidai was looking for him. She also relayed that Rinne Hinnetaro and his son, Shin Hinnetaro, the owners of Pikurin-Hon, were finally willing to et with him at the bookstore.
"Got it, Yumi-san. I'll head there imdiately," Zaboru responded, gathering the items he had prepared in advance. He had done his research and learned that the old man had a particular fondness for cigars. With that in mind, Zaboru had procured a fine selection of cigars as a gift, hoping it would serve as an icebreaker.
Not long after, he arrived at Pikurin-Hon, where Ichidai was already waiting for him outside. Together, they entered the shop, where both father and son were seated, waiting for their arrival. Shin greeted them politely. "Good afternoon, Ren-san, Ichidai. Please, have a seat."
Rinne, on the other hand, rely snorted, his arms crossed as he regarded Zaboru with suspicion. The hostility in his posture was apparent, but Zaboru remained unfazed. He had dealt with all kinds of personalities in his past life—stubborn clients, unreasonable bosses, and difficult colleagues. This was just another challenge, one he was well-equipped to handle.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Hinnetaro-san," Zaboru said smoothly as he reached into his bag. "I brought sothing for you. I heard you enjoy cigars, so I picked out a selection that I think you might like."
Rinne's eyes flickered toward the gift, and for a mont, the corner of his mouth twitched. "At least you understand proper manners, brat," he muttered, taking the box and inspecting it before setting it aside. Then, without further pleasantries, he leaned forward, his voice sharp. "So, you ca to buy Pikurin-Hon, didn't you? You think I'm going to sell just because you flash so money around? This store isn't just a business. It's my life's work! Every book here has aning! I built this place with my own hands, and I won't sell it just because so corporate brat wants more land!"
Zaboru nodded, completely unfazed. "I understand how much this store ans to you, Hinnetaro-san. That's exactly why I want to make sure you get a fair deal. I'm offering a proper price, one that will allow you to start fresh in a better location, one where your bookstore can thrive instead of being buried in a comrcial district. Right now, this area isn't suited for bookstores. It's more suitable into an office space hub, which ans fewer walk-in custors. Moving your store elsewhere will only increase its value."
Shin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "That's what I've been trying to tell you, Father. We barely get any custors these days, and you know it. I've already found a better location, one where Pikurin-Hon could actually grow. It's ti to move forward."
Rinne's expression darkened as he slamd a hand on the desk. "You're my son! And yet you side with this brat?!"
Shin sighed, clearly exasperated. "Because you're being stubborn, Father! We're struggling here, and you know it! There's no point in clinging to a place that's holding us back!"
Zaboru and Ichidai exchanged an awkward glance, watching as the father and son's argunt escalated. This was not the direction they had expected the conversation to go.
Finally, after a tense silence, Rinne let out a deep sigh. "Fine, brat. I'll sell. But you," he pointed at Shin, "You better make sure this bookstore doesn't fall apart when we move!"
Shin nodded firmly. "I promise, Father. We'll make it better than ever."
With that, the deal was unofficially sealed. Rinne stord out of the store, leaving Shin behind to handle the formalities. He turned to Zaboru and Ichidai with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that. My father has always been... well, difficult."
Zaboru waved it off. "It's fine, Hinnetaro-san. The important thing is that we've co to an agreent. You ntioned you had a price in mind?"
Shin nodded. "Yes, I've already looked into the real estate market, and I think the price should match what the other nearby buildings are selling for. That should be fair, right?"
Zaboru smiled and extended his hand. "Sounds reasonable. We can finalize the negotiations at my office. My legal team will take care of the paperwork."
Shin shook his hand firmly. "Understood, Ren-san. I'll bring everything we need when I visit your office."
As Zaboru and Ichidai stepped outside, Ichidai let out a small laugh. "Well, that escalated quickly."
Zaboru smirked. "No kidding. But at least we got what we ca for. Now, we can finally move forward with the expansion, and boss, did you know that Shin works at HanDai?" Zaboru's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really? He's a HanDai employee? That's interesting. Well, I might just put in a good word for him with HanDai's higher-ups. After all, we're partners in the toy business."
With all the surrounding buildings now acquired, ZAGE could proceed with transforming the entire area into a fully operational working space. Things were falling into place, and soon, ZAGE's presence would be stronger than ever.
To be continued.
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