He kept chasing after Jenofonte, but he was quite agile and had even sent the herdsmen to deliver a fine horse to him in my name last time. For a while, I couldn't catch up with him. Eventually, Jenofonte fled into the resurrection point, and all my attacks were ineffective.
I gasped for breath and dismounted the horse, pointing at Jenofonte: "You scoundrel! If you don't stop lying, you'll die!"
Jenofonte helplessly spread out his hands: "My profession is like this. The way I level up is by lying. As long as I succeed once, I can gain some experience. Now I'm level 56."
I shouted: "Even if you want to deceive, don't do it in my village! I understand why you added a penalty clause in the contract. You are deliberately trying to anger me and force me to fire you in order to get those 100,000 gold coins!"
Jenofonte showed a look of grievance on his face: "My lord, how could you say such a thing? I really meant to do something for you."
I gritted my teeth: "Just be angry with me! Hmph, don't think I can't deal with you! Yes, if I kill you, the system will consider me in breach of contract and deduct 100,000 gold coins from me. However, I'm about to build a city soon, and once the city is built, I'll be the first to build the prison! I won't believe it!"
Jenofonte let out a sigh: "My lord, you are going to build a city? Congratulations! Do you want me to run some connections for you in the capital? I know many lords."
I shouted: "No need. You haven't hurt me enough yet? Hmph, you really want to do something, right? Well, let me think. If I have some enemies, I'll send you to their side and torture them every day. Hmph!"
Jenofonte's face suddenly became serious: "My lord, I have been in the capital for a long time and do know many rich young men. The relationships are quite good! Please accept this task from me! After the city is built, won't you have to pay a lot of tribute every year? I can help you avoid a lot of that!"
I was stunned for a moment. Could Jenofonte really have such talent? After all, in the world, diplomats and politicians are all masters of deception, aren't they?
I hesitated for a moment. Since there was no hope for me to build the city, I decided to ask Jenofonte to try it. If he fails, it doesn't matter. Just pretend to torture him to death.
His interruption made my anger subside a bit. I grunted: "Alright, I finally remember some annoying people. Those ministers in the capital. Alright, I'll send you to handle this matter. Don't rush to finish it. Just help me torment them well. Hmph!"
Jenofonte nodded repeatedly: "Then, my lord, as long as you give me a personal commission, I can set off. Additionally, I need 1,000 gold coins for the activity funds."
I thought for a long time and finally wrote the commission, stating that Jenofonte would act on my behalf to apply for the city-building matter. I also gave him 1,000 gold coins. Spending 1,000 gold coins to get rid of a terrifying rumor-monger seemed worth it.
Finally, I said firmly: "This time, I'll give you a dead target. Make a military oath for me. If you can't reduce the annual tribute to less than 500,000 gold coins, you are not allowed to come and see me!"
Jenofonte nodded repeatedly: "I'll do it, my lord, don't worry!"
Watching Jenofonte finally leave my town, I let out a long sigh. The tribute would never drop to 500,000 gold coins, unless all the officials in the capital were a bunch of fools. Therefore, Jenofonte wouldn't come back this time. The world was finally quiet.
I casually opened the world ranking list, and there were already thirteen player city lords on the city mayor list, including Laure.
I rode on the teleportation town and arrived at the Sea Sky City. Now the Hai Tianhui project is fully engaged in building the city. The new buildings are still not visible yet, but it is clearly evident that the area of the urban district is five times larger than that of a town.
I didn't see Laure and Tadaaki, but I saw the orc Waheeda charging at me angrily.
Could it be that he still holds a grudge against me? I don't want to fight with this savage, so I quickly ran into the resurrection point.
Waheeda pointed at me and shouted angrily, "Is it this brat who sold us the building stones?"
I coughed, "It wasn't sold. I needed building stones myself, so how could I sell them? I just followed the agreement and gave the building stones to your president. He was too polite and insisted on giving me money. Hehe."
Waheeda shouted, "How could you be so kind and give us the building stones for free? Hmph, you knew that this stone was the stone of peace, so you deliberately used it to cheat money!"
I was stunned for a moment, "The stone of peace? What does that mean?"
Waheeda snorted, "With this stone, the city will have the effect of 'becoming a neutral city'. The city cannot have an army, cannot participate in the kingdom's wars, and cannot rebel. Even, we, the residents of this city, cannot actively attack others outside! Damn it, how can we conquer the world!"
I nodded, "Of course, the city god also said that this stone can only be obtained by those who love peace. So, there must be such an additional attribute."
I forced a smile, "Since it's a neutral city, it shouldn't suffer from war, right? If others attack you, they will probably be cursed. Um, anyway, there must be benefits. I cough, I still have to go back to my town. When you see your president, remember to convey my congratulations to him."
After saying that, I quickly slipped back to my town.
Back in the town, Baxter was just online. As soon as he saw me, he hurriedly asked, "The building system has been opened, right? I came online as soon as I got the news. How is it? When do we build the city?"
I sighed and mentioned the king's tribute gold.
Baxter said without hesitation, "5 million gold coins? What's this? Okay! Hurry up!"
I was stunned for a moment, "You're not kidding, are you? Are you sure the city can earn this much money in a year?"
Baxter seriously said, "You didn't think about it? The king requires gold coins, not cash! The current 5 million gold coins can be worth 200 million world coins, but as time goes by, the exchange rate drops, and it will only be worth several million world coins."
I said blankly, "Several million is not a lot? Besides, our city is just about earning gold coins, what does the exchange rate have to do with it?"
Baxter smiled, "Who said our city can only earn gold coins? It can also earn world coins!"
I looked at him puzzledly.
Baxter smiled, "The Infinite World has just opened the naming rights auction. Now, the companies are competing fiercely. Guess what the current market situation is."
I've been quite busy recently, so I haven't cared about this naming rights thing. I shook my head.
Baxter smiled, "The most commonly used and advanced blood potion naming rights in the game are being sold the most aggressively. The annual naming fees have reached 1.7 billion and 1.4 billion world coins respectively, and there are still new drug companies joining the competition. Magic potions are cheaper, but also reaching 1200 million and 800 million."
I said, "That's really a huge profit. Could we also get a share of this naming fee? The game company is so good?"
Baxter laughed, "No! Listen to me until the end. There's more. Now, the players in the game are also privately selling naming rights. Because players of various life occupations, after reaching the master level, can leave the name of the producer on their works." I did a lot of research and now the licensing fees for master-level players' works are 1 gold coin each for platinum-level items, and 10 gold coins each for elite equipment. The strongest are the players in the construction and sculpture professions. They can earn money by engraving the names of companies or products on buildings and statues. Some buildings even have hundreds of company names engraved on them! Ha, my younger brother has recently become the agent for several master-level architects, specializing in finding partnership companies for them.
I patted my head: "You guys are really good at business. Don't you think you should engrave a bunch of company names on every building wall in Friendship Town?"
Baxter asked in surprise: "There's nothing wrong with that? Actually, this is just a small amount of money. I've been traveling outside these days, mainly dealing with matters related to the naming rights of stores for some companies."
I widened my eyes: "You mean, all the store signs in Friendship Town will be XXX Company? This... I'm stunned. I can't even imagine what my town will become like."
Baxter smiled: "The number of people who can see the shops in a town is limited. What I'm talking about is the naming rights of the shops after the city is built! Guess how much I can sell a store name for? You won't be able to guess. It's 100,000 world coins per month! Ha ha, building hundreds of shops in a city, that would bring in several million world coins a month!"
I was surprised: "100,000 world coins is a small amount for a company, but why would these companies buy it? Why would they pay for a store name in our town?"
Baxter said: "I showed them our materials. You're the first lord in the game, and we're the first town built by players in the game. Plus the popularity accumulated from the lottery event, and the brotherhood with Haishang Town. All these show our huge potential in the future. I also made an estimate that the population of our city after the construction should reach 10,000, and the daily flow of people is over 3,000. Spending 100,000 world coins on advertising in such a city is worth it. Actually, 100,000 world coins is already very cheap. I'm mainly trying to build credibility. When we establish the city in the future, then it will be worth much more than 100,000!"
I murmured in awe: "100,000 world coins is a small amount for a company, but why would these companies buy it? Why would they pay for a store name in our town?"
Baxter didn't avoid my gaze and said calmly: "For every 10,000 gold coins, I take 4,000. How about you, can you explain your idea? We're friends, we can discuss it."
I smiled wryly, filled with contradictions. I really don't want my future city to become so commercialized. But, it sounds like this is a very tempting path to make money. If my surgery is successful, my life in the future will surely have a place for it, right?
Moreover, the Baxter brothers have put so much effort into the prosperity of my village and town. Isn't this the reward they've been waiting for today? Are the two of them not here to search for gold in the game? Can I bear to let them down?
I thought for a long time and finally said: "I hope my town is cleaner. How about this? I'll give you 100 store names, and the rest won't be sold. Also, Julie's restaurant name is not for sale."
Baxter had a disappointed look in his eyes and thought for a moment: "Okay, I respect your idea. I hope you can change your mind. I'll go and confirm the 100 slots right away."
I smiled: "It would be best to choose some more eye-catching names. Also, the things the companies operate should be related to our shops for it to be better."
After Baxter left, I suddenly felt a bit depressed. Why is everything related to money these days? Am I playing the game or doing business?
Leveling up, I ran to a place where I couldn't receive information and practiced for two days, reaching 44.5 levels before returning to Friendship Town. In the information bar were N messages sent by Baxter urging me to apply for the city construction, and he also stated that 100 companies had already been negotiated with. I replied to him: "Just do it!"
Just then, the system alerted: "Your city construction application has been approved. The system has detected the successful acquisition of the city construction stone. The system will upgrade your town to a third-class city in 30 minutes."
Then came the town-wide announcement: "This town will be upgraded to a city in 30 minutes. Please, residents of this town, leave your rooms and go outside to rest to reduce the burden on the system's operation..."
I listened in a daze, and after a while, I realized, could it be that Jenofonte helped me get the application approved? No way, he really did it?
Standing outside the town, I and nearly a thousand players and NPCs were waiting quietly and excitedly for the changes that would occur in Friendship Town.
At this moment, a figure appeared from the teleportation array and galloped towards me on a horse. It was Jenofonte.
I pulled Jenofonte off his horse and said harshly: "You brat, how did you get the application approved? Did you not follow what I said and agreed to pay 5 million gold coins?"
Jenofonte smiled slightly: "Your Excellency, why have you never trusted me? This is the construction purpose, this is the document about the tribute gold. Please read it yourself."
I took the document and saw that it said: "The new city of Baron Yitian, temporarily named Friendship City. After various departments' calculation, it is required to pay 240,000 gold coins to the treasury each year and pay it monthly. King Ego XVI."
I stared at this document blankly. Could it be that Jenofonte had forged this? Damn, 240,000 gold coins, how could that be possible? Just my current town's income is already enough to cover it!
Impossible! How could the game company let me get such a big advantage?
I had a bad premonition in my heart and stared at Jenofonte tightly: "Do you have something else that you haven't told me!"
Jenofonte looked at me in surprise: "Lord, you truly are a wise ruler. Nothing can escape your notice. Well, yes, there are still some agreement documents that I haven't shown you."
I grabbed the thick stack of papers in Jenofonte's hand and read them carefully.
"I represent Baron Yitian, the new lord, and promise to pay 120,000 gold coins to Minister Arian of the Ministry of Territory each year after the application for Friendship City is successful..."
"I represent... and pay 120,000 gold coins to Minister Zuning of the Ministry of Finance..."
"I represent... and pay 10,000 gold coins to Minister Wan Kefu of the Ministry of Public Security..." ......