Chapter 340: Magnolia Restaurant and the Auction Empire

“Stone, a Large Health Potion costs five gold coins. How is this expensive? This is already the floor price. Converted to dollars, that’s what, three bucks? It’s practically free.”

Tactical Drunkard argued nonstop, refusing to lower the prices by even a single coin. For someone who looked carefree, the kid had the heart of a hardened moneylender.

“Stone, based on Dominion’s current economy, that pricing really isn’t high.” Boss Blaze finally spoke, remaining calm as ever.

“If the reaction isn’t good, we can always adjust it later.”

When it came to markets, Marcus trusted Boss Blaze and Path to Heaven completely. Those two almost never misread an opportunity.

“Alright, we’ll do it. But I need the footage edited first, with no trace of me anywhere.”

“Leave that to us.”

Tactical Drunkard immediately volunteered.

“Yeah. Once we’re done with it, it’ll look even better.” Invincible Strong had already grabbed the recorder like it belonged to him.

“Fine, you’re in charge then. Just make sure nobody finds out I recorded any of it.”

Marcus had no intention of becoming a marked target for every hunter, guild, and lunatic in Dominion.

“That’s easy.”

Path to Heaven, who had been silent until now, suddenly looked up. “Stone, how about this instead?”

The room quieted at once.

Even Boss Blaze admitted that when it came to business ideas, Path to Heaven’s mind moved faster than anyone else’s.

“Buy an auction house,” he said. “Use collecting rare recordings as our public identity. Then screen the footage through auction events. We can charge admission cleanly, and ownership stays hidden. It won’t attract attention to the Mad Lion Mercenary Group either.”

“Brilliant.”

Invincible Strong couldn’t hold back his excitement.

“Stone’s recordings are going to cause chaos. At least half the player base will want to watch them. If that happens, the auction house becomes famous overnight. After that, we branch into other businesses. Becoming Dominion’s fourth major auction house wouldn’t be impossible.”

Right now, Dominion’s auction market belonged to only three giants: Old Vine Auction House, Merchant Alliance Auction House, and Gold Coin Auction House.

Players trusted those three names alone. Rare items flowed through them, wealth flowed through them, and prestige flowed through them. New auction houses could barely survive, let alone host events worth attending.

Boss Blaze slowly nodded.

“As long as the system gives proper screening protection so players can’t copy the footage, we could even build something like real-world cinemas. Dedicated venues for rare battles, hidden locations, and spectacle.”

“That market would be enormous.”

“Exactly.”

Anya, sitting beside Marcus, gently held his arm. “If I were tired after grinding all day, I’d absolutely want Marcus to take me somewhere like that.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Dominion was an enormous living world, filled with hidden landscapes, forgotten ruins, strange cultures, legendary monsters, and wonders no one had seen yet.

Compared to real-world films, Marcus’s recordings had something no movie could fake.

They were real.

And in the future, once players began slaying Mythic Beasts, Divine Beasts, fighting guild wars, or waging nation-scale battles, the demand would only become crazier.

“No doubt about it!” Tactical Drunkard slapped the table in excitement.

“Stone, before everyone else realizes this opportunity, we hit them with a massive first wave. Stay ahead step by step, and monopolize the whole industry.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“Monopolize the industry!”

Invincible Strong echoed with heroic enthusiasm, then winked shamelessly at Marcus and Anya.

“Only one request. When we decorate the place, make sure there are enough couple booths.”

The room burst into laughter. Marcus and Anya both felt awkward enough to avoid eye contact.

None of them realized that this casual conversation would eventually grow into something far larger than any of them imagined.

After another round of discussion, the plan was finalized. Boss Blaze and Path to Heaven would handle the details.

Five days for marketing, and ten days until the first screening. They had to move fast, before rival players or guilds copied the idea.

Only then did Path to Heaven turn his attention to the Venomous Horned Serpent meat Marcus had brought.

“Stone, premium cooking ingredients are hard to price directly. Restaurants usually need to test them first and judge based on flavor.”

“A few days ago, Magnolia Restaurant bought fifty pounds of intermediate-grade material, Golden Emperor Fish. They turned it into ten plates of Golden Emperor Delicacy.”

He paused.

“Each plate sold for over one hundred thousand gold coins. Demand was excellent, and word spread quickly. If that’s what intermediate material can do, your high-grade ingredient should command an even better price.”

His eyes lingered on the serpent meat. “Then let’s go to the restaurant.”

Marcus stood. “My treat. Drinks included.”

“Beautiful!” Tactical Drunkard nearly jumped out of his seat.

“Let’s go drink!”

“Which restaurant?” Marcus asked.

“Stone, Magnolia Restaurant, obviously.” Tactical Drunkard’s grin widened.

“Magnolia isn’t just one of Dominion’s biggest names. The owner is an absolute beauty. Also Path to Heaven’s cousin.”

“His cousin?” No wonder Path to Heaven knew so much about premium ingredients. Marcus thought.

“Let’s move.”

As the group headed out, Tactical Drunkard glanced at Anya, who still wore her concealment mask, then privately messaged Marcus.

’Stone, who’s the girl beside you? Our sister-in-law?’

’Something like that, Marcus replied.’

’Stone, then be careful. Thunder still holds a grudge. He’s been looking for an excuse to settle things with you. Good thing he isn’t here today, or…’

’That guy again… It wasn’t even my fault. It was an accident.’

Marcus felt a headache coming.

’You did fall asleep naked while holding someone. That’s still the part everyone remembers.’

’It was an accident,’ Marcus repeated grimly.

’But Raven doesn’t see it that way.’

’Enough with that. Raven’s like family to me. She’s younger than me, and I was looking after her. People keep twisting it into nonsense.’

’Stone, don’t act irresponsible. Besides, Raven is adorable. Of course people misunderstand…’

Marcus seriously considered kicking Tactical Drunkard into the nearest fountain. The guy kept talking, so Marcus simply shut off private messages.

Still, it had been over a year since he’d seen Raven. Unexpectedly, he found that he did miss her a little.

—

They soon arrived at Magnolia Restaurant.

A broad yellow sign hung over the entrance, engraved with two bold words. Its distinctive style made it instantly recognizable.

“Is this the Magnolia Restaurant? The real-world chain?”

Marcus couldn’t help asking.

Over a century ago, Magnolia Restaurant had begun as nothing more than a small tavern in a southern town. During a move, its owner discovered an old kitchen manuscript buried beneath the property.

Only then did he learn that his ancestors had once belonged to a prominent family whose members had served as royal chefs for generations. After an empirical collapse, the family had fallen into obscurity.

Using the lost culinary manual, the tavern owner rebuilt the family legacy.

Over the next hundred years, Magnolia Restaurant became a national institution with an impeccable reputation. In the South, it was considered unmatched.

Its only true rival was the northern giant, Willow Garden Gourmet House. Because of the sharp contrast in regional cuisine, the two restaurants were often called Southern Kitchen and Northern Kitchen.

Together, they stood at the top.

“That’s right.”

Invincible Strong eagerly took over the explanation.

“Magnolia saw Dominion’s potential early and moved in fast. Every major city has branches now. Dragon’s Peak Citadel alone has three.”

He lowered his voice dramatically.

“And the manager of this branch is Path to Heaven’s cousin, Jennifer Magnolia, youngest daughter of the Magnolia family.”

Marcus gave Path to Heaven another look. It seemed that man’s background was even deeper than expected.

Led by Path to Heaven and Invincible Strong, the group went upstairs to a private room.

Jennifer had already prepared a full banquet and was waiting for them.

Before today, Path to Heaven and the others had visited Magnolia several times already. Among everyone present, only Marcus, Anya, and Chloe had never met her.

Path to Heaven stepped forward first. “Jennifer, this is Stonehaven. An old friend.”

Marcus looked up. Tactical Drunkard had not exaggerated,Jennifer Magnolia was stunning.

She wore flowing white robes that moved softly as she walked, graceful and elegant. Her figure was slender yet full of presence, carrying herself with the ease of someone born into refinement. Even beside the beautiful women already in the room, she did not fade in the slightest.

Her face was even more remarkable.

Delicate brows, bright eyes, soft lips, skin fair as polished jade, every feature balanced so naturally that nothing felt forced or ornamental. She had the kind of beauty that drew attention immediately, then held it through poise alone.

Yet what truly set her apart was not appearance, It was temperament.

There was warmth in her gaze, gentleness in the way she stood, intelligence in every subtle expression. She seemed graceful and approachable at first glance, but beneath that softness was unmistakable confidence.

The kind of woman no one would dare underestimate.

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