Chapter 143 | Business Shaping Up
’Should I go?’
Dexter hesitated for several seconds before shaking his head.
’Well... it won’t hurt to find out.’
Dexter crossed the street toward the old woman’s gate.
She was a small, white-haired woman with her pale blue eyes. Up close, she looked to be in her seventies, but her posture was straight and she behaved younger than her age.
"You must be Dexter," the old woman said, smiling warmly. "I’m Lucy."
"Good morning, you must be Old Lady Lucy" Dexter replied politely.
"Ah, Seems like Tessa has told you about me," Lucy said, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"How are you finding the neighborhood? Hope there’s no problem like the previous time?"
Dexter shook his head. "Apart from the monster outbreak, everything’s been fine."
Lucy nodded thoughtfully. "All right. These things happen." She paused, wiping her hands on her apron. "Oh, Tessa informed me that you’re an Arcane Chef. Is that true?"
Dexter raised an eyebrow, glancing at the old woman. He slowly nodded. "Yes. I am."
Lucy’s smile widened. "Tessa also said you two are planning to go into business together. Selling food at her father’s bakery."
She chuckled softly. "It’s a really nice idea, actually. A really nice idea."
Dexter frowned slightly.
Tessa had only mentioned the business idea once. He had assumed she was joking. But it seemed she was serious. And now that the old woman across the street knew about it, the idea had clearly gained momentum.
Moreover, Dexter had to admit he needed a platform. He couldn’t just set up a stall on a random street corner and start selling Arcane meals.
The bakery was an already established business with loyal customer base, and a reputation in the neighborhood. It was the perfect testing ground.
"When are you starting?" Lucy asked, her pale blue eyes curious.
Dexter rubbed the back of his neck. "I plan on doing the business, but not today. Definitely this week, but not today."
Lucy nodded. "Tessa hasn’t stopped praising your cooking," she said, laughing softly. "Now you’ve made me curious. I wonder just how delicious your food really is."
Dexter chuckled. "When we finally open, I’ll prepare a portion for you. My treat. You’ll be the first customer."
Lucy’s eyes softened, a gentle warmth replacing her sharp eyes. "Thank you, Dexter. It’s been a long time since someone spoiled this old woman."
Dexter smiled. "You’re welcome."
After exchanging another goodbye, he turned and walked back toward his house.
As he pushed it open, a familiar voice drifted down from above.
"Hey, Dexter."
He looked up. Tessa was sitting on the wall again, her red hair tied back with a strip of cloth as her green eyes brightened with mischief.
Dexter rolled his eyes. "You’re in trouble, Tessa."
Tessa blinked widened, her freckled face expressing false innocence. "What did I do this time?"
Dexter furrowed his brows. "First of all, today’s Wednesday. Why aren’t you in school this morning? And don’t tell me you’re on a break."
Tessa’s eyes rolled around rapidly and then her eyes lit up ws she spoke.
"Um, we were supposed to go for an excursion today, but my dad doesn’t have money to pay for such an expensive excursion. So I decided to stay at home." She smiled brightly.
Dexter stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. "That’s a believable excuse."
Tessa puffed out her cheeks indignantly. "It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth!"
Dexter rolled his eyes. He knew she wasn’t going to tell him the real reason, and he definitely knew she wasn’t going to school. He decided to drop the matter.
"Second," he said, turning to face her fully with his arms crossed. "You only told me about the idea of going into business together. You never told me you’d already implemented a full-blown plan."
Tessa’s smile widened into a grin. "Oh, I forgot to tell you." She swung her legs casually. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to approach you after coming into your home the last time. I thought you might be angry that I entered without your permission."
Dexter remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Tessa, reading the disapproval on his face, scratched her head awkwardly. "Look, it’s actually a simple business plan," she continued quickly. "I feel we should test the waters by making twenty portions first. Twenty portions of whatever food you want to make. Then we see how the twenty portions go. If they sell well, we can decide whether to increase or reduce the daily portions for selling at the bakery."
Dexter uncrossed his arms. He considered the plan and felt it was feasible.
Twenty portions was a manageable number he could cook that in an hour to two hours with his Great Grandmaster Foodsmith skills.
And if each portion sold for even five thousand dollars. the same price the Akane Restaurant charged for a Grade-One meal—twenty portions would generate one hundred thousand dollars in a single day.
The numbers were insane!
And that was just ghe conservative estimate.
If his Grade-Two or Grade-Three meals commanded higher prices—and they should, given their vastly superior quality and taste the revenue could be even greater.
"Fine," Dexter said. "But we start small. Twenty portions. Grade-One meals only."
Tessa’s eyes lit up. "Really? You’re in?"
"I’m in."
Tessa practically bounced on the wall. "Yes! Okay, so when do we start? Tomorrow? Today? Right now?"
Dexter held up a hand. "Not today. I have somethings to do and certainly not tomorrow. Let’s start the day after. That gives me time to prepare ingredients and figure out the logistics."
Tessa nodded rapidly, her red ponytail bouncing. "Day after tomorrow. Got it. I’ll tell Dad to clear a space in the bakery for a food counter."
Dexter nodded. "Good."
Tessa nodded her head and then spoke. " I assume you don’t have containers to place the food in."
"
Dexter shook his head. "No, I plan on purchasing those at the market."
"We have a few," Tessa said, swinging her legs. "My dad bought extra this week. Maybe you can use some to pack the food inside."
Dexter pursed his lips, looking at her. After a moment, he shrugged. "Alright then. I assume you’ll be either at the bakery or at home?"
Tessa nodded her head like a chicken pecking grain. "Yep!"
Dexter glanced at her, a fleeting thought crossing his mind—why did she never have any friends over? She was always alone, on the wall, in the bakery, or playing chess with old Grandma Lucy. But it wasn’t any of his business.
He waved at her. "I’ll see you later."
He turned and walked back into his house.
After washing his hands, he changed into clean clothes, a dark shirt and joggers, and slipped on proper shoes.
He walked to the living room where Lyra was sprawled on the couch, the beast egg cradled in her lap.
"I’m heading out to get some things for the renovation," he announced.