Chapter 2192 Shops After hearing the distressing news, Emery swiftly concluded the meeting and made his way toward his apothecary shop in Golden City. The Merlin's Shop had been a cornerstone of his financial stability, generating an impressive average income of 50 million spirit stones per month. The orchestrated attempt to close it down was a clear strategy to cripple his ability to pay off the half-billion spirit stones debt owed by the Terra faction. The reason for the closure, as cited by the council, was the expiration of the shop's five-year permit. Additionally, the ongoing land dispute involving the Terra faction served as a convenient pretext for the council to justify their actions. Despite the blatant unfairness, the council had the legal grounds to prevent Emery from operating any business in Golden City under the current circumstances. As Emery arrived at the shop, he was greeted by a scene of controlled chaos. Aeon, the shop manager, was diligently coordinating the staff to pack up all the equipment and remaining stock while city officials stood by, ready to seal the premises. Karin, along with the other apothecary masters and practitioners, stood anxiously, awaiting Emery's plan. He gave them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry... We will be reopening the shop soon enough." At that moment, a group approached, led by the strikingly beautiful Victoria Qin. "I hope you aren't giving these hardworking people false promises," she said with a hint of sarcasm. Emery turned to the Qin heiress and greeted her casually. "They have indeed worked too hard. It's really good that they could have some time to rest. I have to thank the city for reminding me of that." Victoria chuckled lightly before her expression turned more serious, letting out a small sigh. "Actually, I have tried my best to help... This is, after all, one of the most popular shops in the city. Unfortunately, the city really needs to maintain its regulations." "I understand," Emery replied, his tone even. He had no interest in being drawn into a confrontation in the middle of the busy city main street. The Qin heiress approached closer and whispered, "It's really so unfortunate… but reopening is not impossible at all… if, for example, you and your workers are willing to work under another prominent Golden City family…" Emery smiled and turned to Victoria, his tone laced with feigned innocence. "Ah yes… that is a good idea. Can you recommend any family that's... prominent?" Victoria's expression briefly faltered as she realized she was being mocked. Her frown deepened for a moment before she regained her composure. "Well... you can always go find your Karat friends… if they haven't killed each other yet," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. As Victoria and her entourage left, Emery watched the final preparations for closing the shop. He took a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the situation. Despite having decent sales, two-thirds of their transactions came from customers from other planets who could easily find alternative shops out of convenience. The loss of the shop was a significant blow, both financially and symbolically. It wasn't just a source of income; it was a testament to Terra City's growth and success. Now, with its closure, Emery faced the daunting task of maintaining morale and ensuring the faction's stability. To address the immediate issues, Emery called upon Cedric and Aeon. Together, they set up new designated pickup points in his workshop at the Golden City apothecary center. The only place within the city that was outside the council's jurisdiction. With the assistance of VIA, Emery scanned all five years of transactions and sent notifications to their buyers about the temporary relocation. Unfortunatly the apothecary center could only serve as a temporary shop, it lacked the traffic and visibility needed to sustain its business. Emery knew they required a more permanent and strategic solution. Cedric suggested partnering with another shop and sharing the fees. However, Emery was skeptical. He believed that as long as the dispute with the city council remained unresolved, no other shop would be willing to risk association with them. Relocating to Terra City or Zodiac City also posed challenges. Both cities had limited populations and restrictions, which would stifle the potential growth of the Merlin shop. Emery needed to find an alternative location that could not only host their operations but also attract a steady stream of customers. Emery decided to take stock of his remaining resources, inventory, and funds. After a thorough review, he discovered that he had nearly 150 million spirit stones in the remaining funds. Cedric, noticing Emery's thoughtful expression, asked, "What are you planning?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶 Combining these funds with his personal savings and those kept at the Terra faction, Emery calculated that he could gather around 300 million spirit stones. It was 200 million short of the total debt owed to the Nephilim but Emery had no intention of paying even a single spirit stone to them. Instead, he devised a bold plan to expand his business and strengthen his position. Emery sent messages to his allies, and the following day, he gathered Karin, Helena, Winri, and the three other Master Apothecaries along with 30 practitioners who had been working with him for the past five years. They all met in the apothecary center workshop, filled with anticipation and curiosity. He stood at the front, his expression determined. "We won't be able to reopen the shop for at least two or three months," he began. The group exchanged concerned glances. "However," he continued, "let's use this chance to open up a new branch!" Emery shared an aggressive plan to expand their operations by opening another main branch in the Alpha Quadrant. This plan had been on hold due to how busy the Merlin shop was but now seemed like the perfect time to implement it. The strategy involved transporting all equipment and stock to Centauri City, where Nyx and the Proxima faction were ready to assist him. Additionally, Emery planned to open three smaller branch shops in Terra City, Zodiac City, and Utopia City. He was determined to invest all the funds necessary to properly establish these new locations until the time came to reopen the Golden City shop. The room buzzed with excitement as Emery's team eagerly embraced the ambitious expansion plan. Their enthusiasm was palpable, and everyone was more than willing to support such an endeavor. Another day passed, filled with the hustle and bustle of preparations. Despite the frenetic pace, Emery remained vigilant, always aware of the looming threat from his enemies. In the midst of these preparations, Emery received a message from Tessa Karat.