Chapter 151: Chapter 150: Who’s Anxious?

Ji Liang smiled. “Are you trying to bully us because we’re newcomers and don’t know the rental prices in Guangshou City, Clan Leader?

Let everyone hear this. Just how big is our shop that its rent is worth two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones for five years? You could buy the place a couple of times over for that price, couldn’t you?

The Grey Parrot Clan will stop at nothing to snatch our shop!”

Clan Leader Ma Xiao chuckled. ’Look, he’s getting antsy,’ he thought, then said slowly, “Rent has always been a matter of mutual agreement. It’s just that our clan’s business in this shop is so good that we were willing to pay that much.

At least, that’s what’s written on the copy filed at the Contract Management Office.”

Jin Si nodded and took a sheet of sheepskin from the Beast Skin Bag at his waist. A template had been branded onto it first, with the details—like who was leasing to whom, which shop, for how long, and for how many Crystal Stones—branded in later.

“Correct. It’s clearly written here that the Gray Parrot Clan rented the property from the He Xi Tribe for five years, paying two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones. And regardless of how the property changes hands, the rental relationship remains unchanged, and the contract must continue to be fulfilled.”

He was one of the Stewards at the Contract Management Office and knew the rental market very well. The rent was definitely not this expensive; even the total property value would be around that much at most. This contract was obviously fake.

However, the procedures were all correct. Since both parties involved had reached an agreement, the Contract Management Office naturally wouldn’t interfere.

Besides, there were many cases of separating rentals from sales of a property, which was almost like selling a house to two different buyers. There were a lot of pitfalls in this business.

Manager Ma Xiang’s smile was tinged with schadenfreude. “Young man, everything requires evidence, and the contract is right here.

Don’t even talk about digging up previous contracts. The fact is, we paid two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones for these five years. Now that the property has a new owner, according to the rules of Guangshou City, the landlord-tenant relationship is now between you and me.

So, we want a refund for the remaining four years of rent. And whether you want to or not, you’re going to give it to us!”

Ji Liang gave a light chuckle. “Then I wonder, sir, what would happen if we were to break the contract right now and not allow the Grey Parrot Clan members to continue renting?”

Jin Si raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding his meaning. He smiled. “In that case, not only would you have to refund the two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones from this contract, but you would also have to pay double the two-year security deposit.”

The expressions of the Grey Parrot Clan members, who had been gloating just a moment ago, shifted slightly. They had clearly understood as well.

If Ji Liang and his group were willing to take on the liability of two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones, then what was double the sixty Level 10 Crystal Stones the Gray Parrot Clan had actually paid as a two-year deposit?

“Young man, let’s talk this over nicely. From now on, you’re the proper owners of this shop. We’ll be dealing with each other a lot.

We’re just a bit short on funds right now, which is why we tried to get creative with the rent. Sixteen hundred Level 10 Crystal Stones is indeed a bit much. It’s okay if you can’t come up with it all at once. A refund for two or three years would be fine too…”

Si Shuo remained silent, hiding quietly behind Zhi Qi. She tilted her head, watching Ji Liang’s calm negotiations, her eyes filled with delight and admiration.

’Her great snake is just so capable,’ she thought. ’Facing so many High Level Combat Power Beastmen and the entire Grey Parrot Clan, he hasn’t shown the slightest bit of fear. He’s still as calm as if everything is under his control, and he’s even forced the previously arrogant Manager Ma Xiang to offer a placating smile.’

Ji Liang lowered his gaze slightly, his peripheral vision locked on the little female. A faint smile touched his lips as he thoroughly enjoyed her adoring gaze.

’To be honest,’ he thought, ’the Beast Husbands at home are all incredibly capable, one more so than the next. Zhi Le, Zhi Qi, and I were the first to be with Si Shuo, and our Levels were the lowest. Now, all my Couple Brothers have become Beast Soldiers. Even though I have a clear plan for my own future, I haven’t accomplished anything yet. It’s inevitable that I’d feel a little anxious, afraid that Si Shuo might look down on me.’

“Sir, if we believe the contract doesn’t reflect the actual situation, and that the Grey Parrot Clan members and the He Xi Tribe have conspired to use the Contract Management Office’s rules to deceive us, which office should we approach to seek justice?” Ji Liang asked sincerely, ignoring the words of the Grey Parrot Clan member.

The Winged Dragon Beastman, Yu Hou, who was standing to the side, sneered. “What, are you questioning the Contract Management Office? Accusing it of helping them fool you?”

Ji Liang actually nodded. “That is a possibility. You, sir, are in charge of property rentals and sales in the western district, so you must be very familiar with market prices.

Just by looking at the sum of two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones, wouldn’t you say this looks more like a sales contract than a rental contract?

Or perhaps, we suspect, could an extra digit have been branded onto the contract by mistake?

After all, the real rent for five years would be two hundred Level 10 Crystal Stones at most.”

Zhi Qi laughed, a lazy drawl in his voice. “This has really opened my eyes. The people of Guangshou City sure use a lot of crooked schemes to seize property. Weren’t they saying Guangshou City values rules above all else?

So it turns out the rules are just something you set yourselves for outsiders to follow?”

Instantly, Beastmen who had been jealous of the Grey Parrot Clan for years chimed in, “The Gray Parrot Clan has always been treacherous. It was probably two hundred Level 10 Crystal Stones, and they took the opportunity to change it…”

“Two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones! Why doesn’t the Gray Parrot Clan just become bandits outside the city? Even bandits aren’t as fast as them…”

“We also suspect that this contract was swapped out by the Grey Parrot Clan members. If things go the Gray Parrot Clan’s way today, won’t the entire rental and property sales market descend into chaos?”

“It’s already a mess! Things like this have happened before, and everyone just glossed over it. But everyone’s watching this time. We can’t let them get their way again…”

“Right, right! Who would dare to buy houses or shops in the future? The Gray Parrot Clan is too greedy! Two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones… they actually have the gall to ask for that…”

“Young man, you can go to the Mediation Office to ask. They handle all disputes, big and small…”

There was never a shortage of people to fan the flames, especially in a place like Guangshou City with its complex web of powers. A small matter could involve many interests, so people loved to see small incidents blow up into major, unmanageable crises. After the opposing faction was hit, everyone else would swoop in to carve up the benefits.

This was also why everyone in Guangshou City was so concerned with saving face. They were afraid that one loss of face would lead to them being attacked by everyone, until not even dust remained.

Upon hearing someone suggest the Mediation Office, the people from the Contract Management Office looked displeased.

Jin Si said coldly, “Alright, Ma Xiao, you tell me. What is the deal with this contract? The Contract Management Office is not a place for your Gray Parrot Clan to cause trouble.”

His words were clearly an attempt by the Contract Management Office to shirk responsibility and push the Gray Parrot Clan to quickly find a way to quell the matter.

Clan Leader Ma Xiao’s eyes darted. He lightly slapped his own cheek and smiled at Ji Liang, but his eyes held a heavy warning.

“Aiya, look at us, so inept at handling things. The Gray Parrot Clan is, after all, one of the thirteen great families in the city. Even if this one shop has cash flow problems, we have other businesses to support it. At worst, we could borrow from acquaintances. We shouldn’t have troubled you, young man.

The rental contract will remain as is. Consider it our apology. The half-year deposit is still yours.”

As long as they didn’t pursue the matter, it would be handled leniently and dropped.

But Ji Liang pressed his lips together. “I’m not a fan of ambiguity. Things should be black and white. It would have been one thing if we didn’t know about the two thousand Level 10 Crystal Stones before. But now that we do, we must get to the bottom of this to prevent something similar from happening again.

Is this contract real or fake! Or rather, should this contract even be valid!”

He smiled coolly and pointed to the date on the contract.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep