Divine Convenience Store Chapter 412 412: Shopkeeper's Tasks

"Manager Chi, your first official task will be to accommodate our new patrons in this region. The Blazing Maw Tribe will be our gateway to the whole Emberfall Tribes. As for the Ironbone Clan and the Spirit Haze Sect. They will possibly wish to discuss 'reparations'. They are now your responsibility. You can negotiate a deal. You can offer them a discount on their first bulk purchase in exchange for a non-aggression pact and their cooperation in identifying any other… inconveniences in the region. It all depends on how you want to handle it. I trust your judgnt."

Chi Yang froze, her eyes widening in panic. Negotiate? With the leaders of two major, terrifying powers who had just been humbled by a force of nature? She was a mortal who ran a barter hub in a backwater village.

"Shopkeeper, I... I am not..."

"You negotiated with a gigantic, intelligent creature from another world and kept your village alive for months," Lin Mo stated plainly, his voice leaving no room for argunt. "This is just business. You have the full authority of the Divine Convenience Store behind you. They won't be negotiating with Chi Yang the villager. They will be negotiating with the Manager of the Blazing Ridge Branch. Show them the convenience of cooperation."

He then gestured to Wu iyu. "Our Temporary Staff Manager, Princess iyu, will act as your advisor if you need one. She has so experience in... courtly negotiations."

Wu iyu gave a subtle, encouraging smile as she curtsied. "Indeed. The principles are the sa, Manager Chi. Establish your leverage, understand their needs, and never give away more than you have to. Furthermore, you do know the value of convenience. I'm certain you can deal with them without difficulty."

The High Priest cackled as he thumped his staff and rubbed his chin as if he were so old man full of wisdom but a savage one. "A fine first test! Let the little sun show the savages her teeth! If they refuse to cooperate, the Poison Demon Cult will be happy to provide a more... persuasive demonstration."

Chi Yang looked from the terrifying High Priest to the calm Princess, then to the unyielding confidence in Lin Mo's eyes.

She took a deep, shaky breath, and the fear in her eyes was slowly replaced by a spark of steel. She had been chosen for a reason. This was her new reality.

"I... I understand, Shopkeeper," she said, her voice gaining a newfound firmness. "I will not fail."

"I know you won't. Now, let's talk about your second task. Staffing."

Lin Mo gestured to the assembled villagers of Sunstone and the stoic, watching warriors of the Blazing Maw.

Chieftain Akasha cautiously stepped forward before she eventually went to her knees as she finally acknowledged that the newcor within the store was the Shopkeeper, who was communicating with her through the system.

He waved his hand, signaling for her to stop kneeling.

"You have two very different but highly motivated groups here. One is the villagers you've been protecting. I'm certain they can help you here. You have great community managent skills, and they have resilience. The other is a disciplined fighting force. They've settled here on this ridge, but at the mont, they're still nothing more than the store's patrons in this region. You can hire so of them officially. After all, you need cashiers, stockers, and a security detail. The system has a function that can guide you on how to better handle that."

"I… understand!" Chi Yang nodded continuously as she glanced at her expectant villagers and the red-skinned Blazing Maw tribesn.

"But before that, there's the matter of your own... inconvenience." Lin Mo continued, ending his sentence with a smirk.

Confused, Chi Yang couldn't help but tilt her head, "Mine, Shopkeeper?"

"You are a mortal in a world of cultivators, leading a tribe of warriors and negotiating with sects," Lin Mo stated. "That is an inconvenient imbalance. Xiaoyu, if you would."

Liu Xiaoyu, who had been quietly observing the proceedings with a proud grin, bounced forward. In her hand was a small, ornate box.

"For our new Branch Manager!" The young woman exclaid as she presented the box to Chi Yang. "Boss said you needed so employee benefits, so I picked this out for you from our main branch's inventory!"

Chi Yang hesitantly took the box and opened it.

Inside, resting on a bed of silk, was a single, luminous green pill that seed to pulse with a life of its own. It was a [Morning Sprout Foundation Pill], a low earth-grade elixir pill that is advertised as being able to rebuild a person's spiritual roots, allowing even a complete mortal with no talent to step onto the path of cultivation.

"This is..." Chi Yang's voice trembled. Such a treasure was sothing she could not even have dread of. She had long given up the idea of becoming a cultivator, yet a miraculous pill that could allow her to do so was so easily produced by the store.

Her reverence towards the Divine Convenience Store and Lin Mo had just risen a level.

"It's a welco package," Liu Xiaoyu said with a wink as she continued explaining the items in the box, "Once you've consud that and rebuilt your foundation, you can start with comprehending this cultivation manual, the [Gemstone Heart Scripture]. It's a foundational manual containing both a breathing and core cultivation technique that harmonizes with the latent energy of the energy-charged ores. Boss said your resourcefulness should extend to your own cultivation."

Chi Yang stared at Lin Mo, her eyes brimming with tears.

However, Lin Mo could only wryly smile. It was all Liu Xiaoyu's idea. Even picking the manual from the elusive shelf was done by her. What he originally planned as a 'welco bonus' was a free purchase of anything she wanted. He's ready to deduct it from his Personal Balance.

Xiaoyu picking those two items actually beca free, as if the system itself or the divine beings watching from the 3rd Heaven were also bestowing their blessings for the new Branch Manager.

"Now then," Lin Mo said, his tone turning back to business as he gracefully ignored her emotional state. "The branch is yours to manage. You can use the Store Portal to visit us anyti. Xiaoyu can easily pop up here to help you with the system and your initial cultivation. The sa with Princess iyu. You can ask her for advice on staffing. As for , you're also free to ssage either through the system or your Viewing Jade."

"We wish to stay a little bit longer. Unfortunately, we still have a Divine Lecture to prepare for back at the main branch. Let's head back." Lin Mo continued.

With a final, encouraging nod, Lin Mo and Wu iyu turned and walked towards the quarters' door and disappeared within it. anwhile, the High Priest and Venom Master Xun also exited to continue supervising their subordinates..

Chi Yang was left standing in her new store, the priceless pill in her hand and the weight of her new reality settling on her shoulders.

She looked at Xiaoyu, whose cheerful grin was infectious. The girl stayed since her curiosity had yet to be thoroughly fulfilled.

She looked at the stoic Blazing Maw warriors, now her future security force apart from the Guardian Construct, and her own villagers, now her staff.

After taking another deep breath, she tapped her face a few tis, steeling her resolve and clearing away all doubts in her head.

Once she composed herself, she walked out of the store and followed a Poison Demon Cult priest to where the Ironbone Clan and the Spirit Haze Sect 'delegations' were currently detained.

"Esteed guests," She began, "I am Chi Yang, Manager of the Blazing Ridge Branch of the Divine Convenience Store. I believe we have so 'reparations' to discuss. But first, can I interest you in a complintary can of [Heavenly Dew Soda]? This will be your first taste of convenience."

—

Back in the main store, Lin Mo and Wu iyu stepped out of the portal into the familiar quiet of the Shopkeeper's Quarters. Pan Ruo was still sleeping on her bed while Xiao Ya and Xiaoping were still in the training rooms.

"She will do well," Wu iyu comnted. "You have a talent for finding uncut gems, Shopkeeper."

"Co on, Your Highness. All I did was provide the opportunity," Lin Mo replied. "She's the one who has to shine."

He checked the system interface. The Sunken Caverns raid was still a primary focus on the sleepless Bulletin Board, with cultivators not participating in the Flash Raid continuing to flock to the Graypeak Mountains.

Shadow Scythe had no new report but Clan Leader Wei had confird the dispatchnt of their formation master to neutralize the still-unactivated Soul Lure Array.

Everything was in motion. For the first ti in what felt like an eternity, there were no imdiate, world-ending crises on his plate. However, sleep was still not on the nu for him.

"Now," He said as he turned to Wu iyu with a tired but satisfied smile on his face. "About that seating chart for the Divine Lecture..."

He projected a holographic layout of the Divine Arena, dotted with hundreds of glowing seats. "We have listed the most important guests who will be attending the lecture. Shall we begin arranging the grand ga of political convenience?"