Chapter 3313 Purchasing the Neighborhood
In the afternoon, Matthew left Shawn to teach Caleb and Cole while he headed to the Martial League.
On his way earlier, Matthew had spotted an old, rundown neighborhood with a "For Sale" sign hanging on the gate. He had been planning to build a martial arts academy, and this place seemed perfect. The size of the land and its proximity to the Martial League made it ideal. All the buildings were already constructed. All he needed to do was hire a crew to renovate the old buildings and reinforce the exterior. Standing at the entrance of the old neighborhood, Matthew dialed the number on the gate, and soon, a skinny man in casual clothes approached him, smiling as he spoke. "You must be the one interested in buying this place, right?" Matthew nodded.
"This isn't the best place to chat. There's a cafe over there. Let's talk inside."
The skinny man led Matthew into a small cafe and ordered two cups of coffee before introducing himself. "I'm Slick, and this neighborhood is currently under my name."
"Let's cut to the chase. What price are you looking for?"
Slick grinned. "I like straightforward guys like you. Here's the deal. The entire neighborhood is 100 acres. If you give me 300 million, we can transfer ownership as soon as tomorrow."
A hundred acres for just 300 million was a steal. But this neighborhood had a dark history. A few years ago, someone had died here. Since then, the residents reported strange, terrifying noises late at night. And a month after the first incident, another tragedy struck. The entire area became known as cursed ground. It had been abandoned for years, and no one dared to buy a place, even though houses were being offered for as little as 50 thousand. People feared something bad would happen as soon as they moved in. Matthew took a sip of the coffee and said quietly, "It's not worth it."
Then, he pulled out his phone, found a news article, and placed it in front of Slick.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
"You know how bad the reputation of this neighborhood is. If I don't buy it, no one else will for years. Plus, the buildings are already decaying."
Matthew's gaze rested on Slick, who looked unsure. "I'll give you 200 million, all upfront."
"No way, at least 250 million," Slick shot back, his expression changing instantly.
Slick had originally invested 600 million into building this neighborhood, hoping to make a fortune when he sold it. But then the tragic incidents happened. Originally, each house was priced at over a million, but now, even at 50 thousand, no one was interested.
"Deal," Matthew said with a faint smile.
Slick suddenly looked regretful. Matthew had started at 200 million, and Slick had instinctively raised the price by only 50 million. He realized he might have undersold the place, but there was no turning back now. The deal was done.
With a bitter smile, Slick shook Matthew's hand and pulled a contract from his bag, writing the amount as 250 million. "How about a down payment of one million?" Slick asked, looking at Matthew.
"Sure." Matthew reviewed the contract and then signed his name.
"Mr. Larson, how long will it take you to gather the funds?" Slick inquired after seeing the name Matthew had signed. "By tomorrow morning. Bring all the necessary paperwork."
"Sounds good." Slick was eager to close the deal as soon as possible. This neighborhood had become a thor in his side, and he couldn't wait to be rid of it.