Chapter 198: Chapter 196 - Sara and Sophie's Business
Sara mentioned a new place she had been building, a club. So that the younger generation of people can discuss the future of Fort Bot and create more business opportunities. She had invited Sophie to come. The rumours of Sara going to the specific club spread. However, soon the nobles found two problems. One, it was very hard and expensive to get a hold of a ticket to enter, and two Sara was only going to the female-only events once a month. In their disappointment, they gave up themselves but kept an eye on the new club, and they sent their sisters or their people to get to know her and attract her. Sara did not want to create a unisex opportunity because then the nobles might find partners there and spend their money on them. Keeping the females and males away would allow her to take from both sides.
Soon one of the noble's sisters brought news that made the club extra popular, Sara and Sophie had made a bet and lost, and now they had to attend the male side once a month. The nobles suddenly gather more interest in the club ever since then, they have been attending to impress her. However, the 1 gold coin was far from how much they had to spend. Inside there was high-end paintings and painting competitions, instrumental area and other facilities that cost a lot.
Not to mention competitions that required betting. Sara and Sophie would also from time to time, discuss and offer their ideas. The ideas were, of course, backed and taken from the Star Merchant Union's short term growth plans to give the nobles an opportunity. This was in the form of giving them a glimpse in the needs of what Star Merchant Union will need in the future and possible items that would become high in demand. Some could take advantage of it, as Sara or Sophie could let them know that she thinks a specific herb will become more popular. This way, the nobles will gather it from their subsidiaries and sell to Star Merchant Union in bulk. They will make some money collecting cheap and selling higher than market value. The Star Merchant Union will save time and therefore money. Not to mention Sara will gain more popularity and she would make more money by bleeding the same nobles dry in her club. She had already made a rule that it was a place for the youth-only so that she could manipulate them and not be tricked by cunning old men. She had been taught by Emily to fight on an uneven plane with all the advantages. She was going to do just that.
The best ambassador of such opportunities was one of the first women to join their club. She was initially there to court Sophie for her brother. However, a few sessions in, she got a taste of good fortune from Sara. She used her influence to gather some resources for cheap and sold it to Star Merchant Union, gaining a lot of wealth quickly. With wealth comes power, and yet she stayed by Sara and Sophie listening to them religiously for her good fortune. Her loyalty to Sara and Sophie surprised everyone, she from that day became a representative of them. She had become their loyal subordinate, bowing down to them, not something a noble would typically do. Since then, she has gained more power. Sara and Sophie also realized that they could gain loyal supporters this way. Something that they have been thinking about making an effort to achieve consciously. They did not want to wait for it to happen as a by-product of their activity.
With an entertaining club that had recreation opportunities, building connections and insider information about Star Merchant Union made the club rise in popularity. However, this also increased Sara and Sophie's suitors, but with solid-backing, they were protected.
Nonetheless, many faction and powers tried to extend their hand and showed their interest in a union of marriage. They were all denied. However, the younger generation did not give up. Some very adamant about courting them, while others, stopped bothering them too much. They had realized the value of Sara's club. They would rather keep their eyes and ears open there, waiting for exclusive opportunities each month rather than annoying Sara and Sophie.
They were not going to risk losing their shot to participate in such important places. After all, they could get a lot of wealth and after getting that they could get anyone. However, any tree that outgrows the forest will face the harshest wind. Many people were not satisfied with Sara and Sophie's club. Some people started their own club. However coming second to the market made their work harder, not to mention they did not have opportunities to make money like Sara's club. So they went for the unisex model. However, soon the news of the place turning debauched came up, and no noble wanted to be seen there. They tried to create rumours about Sara's Club.
But Sara quickly caught the one spreading the rumours and stated that these people wanted to ruin the image of the nobles in her establishment and made the nobles deal with them publically.
Their recent planning was to force Sara and Sophie into a corner. The more influential nobles gathered up and banded together against her. She might have a strong backing if all of them acted at the same time she would not be able to say anything, they represented the top.
After all her profits were huge, from the number of people entering the club every month alone she made the same as top influential businesses in town. Not to mention that she took a cut of every bet placed there. Premium painting equipment and sound instruments were at extra-cost compared to free ones there. As nobles, they would not settle for the ordinary and go for the extraordinary. Therefore, she only needed to open the door of her club twice. Once for the male youths, once for the females to make more money than most businesses in the town.
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone