After a moment's thought, Andrew chose to give up the struggle. He couldn't help it.
The place was just too tempting. Andrew's inner farmer was burning with a passion so fierce that his principles could go hang. If he had to lose them, so be it.
Every moment he wasn't tilling the soil felt like ants crawling all over his skin.
Andrew had to admit, Lycaon had him completely figured out.
This extra 'greenhouse' was probably something he'd sought out specifically after observing Andrew's shop and noticing the balcony overflowing with plants.
But even though everyone thought the place was suitable, they still needed to see it in person to be sure.
The group quickly piled into a car and headed for the address.
At the same time, they used the number provided to contact the Sons of Calydon and express their interest in renting the warehouse.
And unexpectedly, while the voice on the other end was lazy at first, the moment they heard Andrew wanted to rent that warehouse, it was like a switch flipped. The tone suddenly became ecstatic, so full of enthusiasm it was practically spilling out of the receiver.
He scratched his head, a little surprised. Logically, a place with such 'perfect' conditions should have been in high demand, even as a regular warehouse.
But the other party's attitude... why did it feel like they were just relieved someone had finally called about it?
Piper put down the phone and immediately sat up from the pile of tires where she'd been sleeping.
She carelessly plucked her beloved sleep mask from her face. Instead of placing it down 'preciously' like she usually did, she tossed it onto the workbench and scurried out on her little feet.
Her tender, rosy toes 'curled' unconsciously inside her plastic slippers. The meticulously manicured nails gleamed with an alluring pink hue, enough to make anyone who saw them's mouth water.
And despite being in the outer ring, a place of constant wind and sand, her skin hadn't been worn coarse. It remained fair, with a dewy, hydrated quality.
Even though wearing slippers on the poor road conditions of the outer ring was basically an invitation for sand, Piper couldn't be bothered with that right now.
She rushed nonstop to the adjacent garage, where Caesar was tinkering with her beloved, recently assembled vehicle.
Caesar, a smear of black grease on her face, was pondering how to make her ride even more perfect.
Seeing Piper burst in, she greeted her cheerfully.
"Yo, Piper! You here to give me some modding advice? No need to be in such a rush, is there?"
Hearing Caesar's greeting, Piper instinctively waved a hand in refusal.
"A gearhead modifies their own ride. No one else can give advice on that. Just do what you think is best, Caesar."
But she quickly remembered why she'd come looking for Caesar.
"No, that's not it! I'm not here for that! Our warehouse—it's been rented out!"
Piper was thrilled, but Caesar was just confused.
"Warehouse? What warehouse? Do we even have a warehouse?"
She scratched her head in confusion, having completely forgotten such a thing existed on her turf.
But Piper was clearly used to her leader's 'dense' nature. She quickly explained:
"It's the one we got when we first took over this territory! After months, someone finally wants to rent it!"
Caesar pressed her hands to her head, a look of 'come on, you 'slow brain', think!' on her face as she concentrated hard for half a minute.
Finally, she remembered which place it 'was' and, with a sudden flash of insight, smacked a fist into her palm.
"Oh! Right, that place!"
"Not bad. They've got good judgment. Everyone else takes one look at the Sons of Calydon, sees we're a newly formed gang, and doesn't trust us at all. I didn't think anyone would ever give us a chance."
Although Caesar now knew what Piper was on about, she still couldn't understand the urgency.
"So it's rented out. Just have Lighter handle the liaison. What are you so worked up about, Piper?"
Hearing this, Piper panicked, grabbing Caesar's shoulders and starting to shake her.
"Are you 'out of your mind', Caesar?! A three-million-Dennies project, and you want to send that 'clam' Lighter to handle it?! What if they just take off?!"
Piper's vigorous shaking made Caesar's head spin, but she definitely understood the number: three million Dennies.
"What?! Three million?!"
Caesar's math skills were practically nonexistent, but even she could tell that was no small sum.
That kind of money... it was an amount the entire Sons of Calydon might not make even after half a year of deliveries.
And now, just by renting out a building, the money would be in their account in an instant?!
For the Sons of Calydon, this was a 'complete and utter' windfall.
In the outer ring, no one besides local gang members would ever live in a building like that.
And for the Sons of Calydon, with their handful of members, that warehouse was a 'completely and utterly' useless asset.
To think it could now be turned from trash into treasure, bringing in extra income—it was a pure, unexpected joy for the Sons of Calydon.
Suddenly, a head of golden hair popped in through the window. Even for the outer ring, the uniquely massive metal hair tie 'was' a dead giveaway as to its owner's identity.
Burnice looked at the two inside, her face alight with excitement.
"What's this, what's this?! We made three million Dennies?! I'm throwing a fuel drink party!"
Piper grabbed Burnice's head as she eagerly leaned forward.
"Hold on, Burnice, hold on! We haven't gotten the money yet! It's just a possibility!"
After finally restraining the runaway husky, Piper placed a hand solemnly on Caesar's shoulder.
"Now, whether our Big Steel Tooth gets a new engine, whether your bike gets new parts, and whether Burnice gets her fuel drink party—it all depends on this one deal!"
In response, Caesar nodded with equal gravity. As the leader, she was well aware of how crucial this money was for the Sons of Calydon in the outer ring.
She'd been wanting a cooler custom body for her own motorcycle for a long time!
As for who would meet the client, Caesar had already decided. But no matter how much Piper tried to object, she couldn't dampen Burnice's enthusiastic heart.
In the end, to ensure that if Burnice started 'going wild' during the meeting, there would be someone to watch her and prevent her from scaring the client away...
...Piper, for the sake of Big Steel Tooth's soon-to-be-acquired new engine, resolutely gave up her half-finished nap. She, Caesar, and Burnice climbed aboard their beloved Big Steel Tooth and drove off toward the warehouse.
____
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