Chapter 53: New Neighbors
Max and Anna left the third floor of the dungeon after having a meeting with dwarven king. As they were walking through the safe zone, trying to decide what they wanted to do for lunch, Max noticed that safe zone actually felt ’busy’.
"Seems like things are getting pretty active around here." He mentioned.
Adventurers had set up a few mats on the ground and were selling their wares to each other. One man had a grill set up and was cooking something that smelled tasty. A few people and even an Orc were waiting in line to get some for themselves.
"I actually have something I wanted to bring up." Anna mentioned.
Max turned and gave her his attention. "What’s up?"
"In the past week a few adventurers have approached me about acquiring land in the safe zone."
"Oh yeah?" Max asked, intrigued.
"Yes, and even more have asked the gnomes, who then informed me." She said while quickly flipping through her clip board and then showed it to Max.
Taking the clipboard, he found multiple applications that had been submitted with the request of leasing land. He quickly skimmed through the plans.
3 different people wanted to open Inns, while 2 wanted to open taverns. 1 fella even wants to open a massive inn that sits above a tavern.
"Oh, an alchemist wants to open a shop." Max said in surprise.
Anna nodded. "There is also a herbalist, a couple that wants to open a café, and a woman who wants to open a hair salon."
"It seems like there is a decent amount of interest." Max said while quickly running through DP projections and trying to quickly determine how much money he can make.
"That isn’t even half of it." Anna continued. "There are also over a dozen merchants who want to open shops to sell the things they pick up from their trade routes. And then I have had at least 30 requests forwarded to me asking if small residences will ever be for sale."
"Ah, I imagine there are some people who are tired of staying at an inn."
"Exactly." She agreed. "Not only will leasing to these people earn us a good amount of DP but those who are making long term plans here obviously intend to stay in the dungeon for a good a while."
"Let’s set up some meetings for the business. As for residential property, I will talk to the gnomes about building a block of apartments or something. I doubt the average adventure will want to lease a chuck of land and build a house, but who knows."
"Sounds good." Anna muttered while writing on her clipboard.
Max noticed when she suddenly stopped walking and writing and then looked to the left.
"Ah, what are the chances?" She said more to herself before speaking to Max. "This is Mr. George. The man that wants to build an Inn above a tavern."
Mr. George perked up when he heard his name. He immediately recognized Max and Anna.
"Any news on my application to lease a plot of land?" Mr. George asked.
"We were just discussing it." Anna replied.
"I hope you can get back to me soon." Mr. George said. "I used to run an establishment at the Goblin Mines dungeon but now that is no more. You are also starting to run out of places where adventurers can sleep in the safe zone. I know some adventurers have already talked about setting up tents outside the dungeon."
That wasn’t something Max wanted to see. "Don’t worry Mr. George, tomorrow at the latest, we will provide you with several lots of varying prices for you to choose from."
The future Inn/Tavern owner was pleased to hear that. He was already imagining the new establishment he would be running.
"Great, great. Hey, I heard that it was also possible to rent automatons. Would it be possible to get a price on those as well? It would make cleaning the rooms a lot easier."
"I will make sure that information is prepared for you Mr. George." Anna replied.
Max started to think of the best place to put such a large, tavern/inn and was quickly checking several locations off of his mental list while his wife continued to collect basic information that would help them tailor their proposal to Mr. Geroge’s needs.
As they finished their conversation, Quin the Swordsman wandered over. His main reason for showing up was to give a report to Max on the third dungeon level. But seeing what was being discussed, he became a bit interested.
Once Mr. Geroge was sent away, Quin asked the question that had been on his mind. "Where do you plan on putting the new inn?"
It was both an easy question to answer and difficult. It wouldn’t be hard to find a place for Mr. George, but what about the next person, and the person after that. If Max wasn’t careful his sanctuary level would easily turn into a chaotic mess.
He needed to take his town planning seriously if he wanted this place to eventually grow into a city.
Quin joined Max and Anna for lunch while they kept discussing it. By the end of the meal a decision had been reached.
They would set aside portions of the safe zone to act as a residential area. Another section would be set aside for commercial businesses. Then they would plan to put the taverns and restaurants on the edge of the commercial area where it bordered the residential area.
That was the current plan, who knew if it would need to be adjusted in the future.
"I have already talked to the gnomes, and they have no issue with running construction projects for the adventurers. Whoever signs the lease can construct their own buildings as long as they meet our safety standards, they could higher adventures to do it, or most likely, they will pay the gnomes since they can do it quick, easy, and cheap."
"Good thinking." Max said to Anna. With the land and automaton rentals plus the gnomes construction costs, they should be able to earn a good amount of DP.
Quin followed the pair for a little while and they decided which section of open land would become the new commercial district, but the swordsman was eventually drawn to the arena where he watched the adventures test themselves against various enemies.
After deciding on the commercial district, the residential district was determined. Anna was already contacting the gnomes to start drawing blueprints for the apartment buildings that Max had described to her.
With both areas temporarily decided on, Max and Anna walked to the hidden observation room that let them watch over the dungeon.
They had only been seated for a minute when a young gnome wearing a suit similar to Max’s walked. "Boss, I have been looking for you."
"What’s up?" The Dungeon Master asked.
"There is a visitor who is hoping to set up a meeting with you."
"Oh, that shouldn’t be a big deal." Max said, while wondering why this gnome was reporting to him. Those sorts of requests are funneled through Anna. "I am sure we can find some time to meet them tomorrow."
"Who is asking for a meeting?" Anna asked, because usually when someone enquired with a gnome it would automatically pop up on her clipboard, but for some reason, this time it did not.
"Lady Winters." The gnome answered.
"Ah." Max recalled. That was the mother of the first mage attempting to clear his dungeon. He remembered that her and her daughter had been renting rooms at the mage tower.
"What is this in regard to?" Anna asked.
"Several mages from the Academy of Magic have been meeting with her today after they arrived yesterday. They have been asking several questions of the staff."
"Such as?"
"What sort of training the dungeon provides. If there are any deals on supplies if they are purchased in bulk, and whether outside organizations were allowed to maintain permeant facilities inside the safe zone."
Max and Anna looked at each other. They both thought that it would be a lucrative meeting.
"Go ahead and schedule a meeting in the morning." Anna told the gnome before it scurried away.
Both she and her husband would make sure to be there. It was an opportunity not to be missed.