RISE OF EROS

Noticing that they had misunderstood things, the three women released a sigh of relief. They had learned that the Cannaris empire was promoting the creation of shopping centers in all the big cities of the country.

Unlike them, the Cannaris empire was doing it on a national level, so it's not difficult to discover. The empire may be the most powerful country in the region, but that does not mean that its neighbors do not have some spies to know what is happening.

Even the kingdom of Tampilla, which is an important ally, has some because in this world no one can be trusted, especially when interests are at stake.

It was for this reason that when Daphne, Diana, and Ariza heard about the movement of the Cannaris empire, they immediately thought that Andrew wanted to expand and spread the idea everywhere.

Ariza is still too young to be aware of these matters, but Daphne had proposed to her daughter that she should be exposed to the affairs of the kingdom so that she would prepare to accept the position of queen in the future, that is why she was always present at these meetings and knew what they were talking about.

Andrew observing the expressions of the three girls, couldn't help but wrinkle his eyebrows and ask in confusion, "What's wrong?" Hearing Andrew's question, Diana answered him without hiding anything.

"We learned that the Cannaris empire is promoting the creation of shopping centers in all its major cities," Diana said in a heavy tone and then Andrew understood.

Not only did he understand what was happening, but Victoria, being an intelligent woman, also understood. They weren't stupid and it was obvious to deduce what these three women had thought, and although it bothered them a little that they were doubted, they also understood their reasons.

Andrew was the only one with this idea and he had provided it to them recently, and suddenly another country appeared which coincidentally is where Andrew comes from with the same idea and on a larger scale, it is natural to be suspicious.

Fortunately, unlike the emperor of Cannaris, they were sincere and instead of becoming suspicious and damaging the relationship they had built, they went directly to him and asked him.

There is a big difference between being suspicious by moving stealthily to keep an eye on the other party and being suspicious by confronting the suspect. The second option demonstrates the sincerity of the other party in giving you the opportunity to explain yourself and not hide anything.

Andrew valued that and for this he was secretly happy. Then, he started asking questions about what the empire was doing. Since it was such a big movement, it was easy to find information and these ladies didn't hide anything from him.

They told him how the empire of Cannaris was building shopping centers and contacting local merchants to join the project. When Andrew heard this, he was silent for a moment.

Everyone knew that he must be thinking something because of the serious expression on his face, so they didn't interrupt him. After a few minutes, Andrew heaving a sigh said, "Well, honestly, I knew this would happen sooner or later."

The three women were curious about what Andrew had just said and wanted to ask, but Andrew spoke first and explained, "Well, the mall's information is already relatively public, since the merchants have started to be contacted, so I don't think it so difficult for others to learn it."

"That's true, but it was too fast," Daphne commented and Andrew agreed, but he suspected what the reason could be and without hiding anything he said, "That's true, but I think it's because of me."

"What do you mean?" Diana asked immediately and Andrew responded, "When I left the empire it wasn't on the best of terms. Although it was not in a dispute, honestly, it was not entirely peaceful."

"Besides, I still have business in the empire, so it is normal that some spies followed me and found out about our project," Andrew continued to explain.

Upon hearing him, the three royal ladies understood what he was saying and could not blame him for that, but they were still worried that they would lose the initiative because the empire was carrying out this same project at the national level, something that they could not implement in the short time like them.

Andrew understood the women's thoughts and quickly reassured them, "Don't stress yourself. Although they have the capacity to do this project massively, that does not mean that they will do it better than us."

"Why?" Ariza asked this time and Andrew continued to explain, "It's simple, they don't have a star product or store." Andrew's response confused them and Andrew, noticing it, continued talking.

"Think about it, would merchants move their businesses to a mall that doesn't guarantee them more profits?" Andrew asked rhetorically as he continued his story, "To set up a shop in the mall, they have to pay rent. Why would they do that when in the stores they own they earn the same money?".

The three royal women seemed to understand what he meant, but at that moment Daphne who was the most experienced asked, "Still, if the imperial family promotes it, they will get several businesses to join, right?"

"That's true, but in the long run they will only lose," Andrew responded and then added, "Many can give some face to the emperor, but when they notice that they were not generating more money and on the contrary, they were spending more, they will withdraw."

Andrew could see from the girls' expressions that they didn't seem to understand, so he continued to explain, "Malls work because they have well-known companies and products, but also special and new products."

"Nobles may shop at the mall and become popular, but after they see that there is nothing new, the only attraction will be that they can find all things in one place," Andrew continued.

At that moment, as if Daphne understood exclaimed, "So the merchants won't find meaning in their shops in the city," to which Andrew nodded and complimented, "Then the merchants will have to make a decision. They stay in the mall and close their stores or they leave the mall and keep their stores."

At that moment Diana also understood and said, "Leaving the shopping center is more profitable for them because the stores are their property and in the shopping center they are only rented. That would put them in the hands of others."

"That's right. The empire did not study the situation well, they only thought that they could group different companies and make a lot of money from the rental, but they forgot to find added value," Andrew said smiling.

Daphne and Diana understood what he meant, but Ariza, being still inexperienced, couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't that mean we have the same problem?", to which the others looked at her with pity.

Ariza, seeing how they were looking at her, blushed, because she knew that she had asked something stupid, but she didn't know what. Daphne and Diana sighed in resignation before the princess, a little disappointed.

Andrew, on the other hand, looked at the two women and, denying, reprimanded them, "Don't be so strict, she is young, she can still learn, isn't that why you allow her to attend these meetings right?"

Leaving them with that question, he looked at Ariza and explained, "Little Ariza, our shopping center does have these products, they are my beauty products, my massage house, and my wife's fashion store."

Although Ariza is young and inexperienced, she is not stupid, so with those words, she understands what he means. Seeing that the girl had understood quickly, Daphne and Diana nodded happily.

Certainly, they were disappointed that she didn't catch it from the beginning, but they knew it was due to her lack of experience and youth, so seeing that she caught things quickly made them happy.
Continue your journey with empire

After that matter was completed, they talked for a while about how the construction of the shopping center was progressing and the companies they had managed to convince to join the project.

In this last part, they were facing some difficulties, since not all the merchants agreed to join since this project looked very good on paper, but they wanted to see if it really worked.

The reasons were the same as Andrew had previously stated. They have their own stores, so they didn't see the reason to establish another one and even more so to have to pay rent for it.

When Andrew heard Daphne and Diana's concerns, he just smiled and with a wry tone said, "Don't worry. Those who join first, give them preferential treatment, lower the rent."

The girls didn't understand and Andrew added, "Don't be anxious to find companies to join. To those who trust you and join, give them a small benefit, and when things start to flow, the others will come on their own, but at that time do not be lenient."

When they heard this, the three girls and even Victoria were surprised and scared at the same time, because now they discovered that Andrew was one of those who held a grudge.

Although they understood, they did not dare to say anything, because Andrew's idea was perfect. Only Ariza, who had established a close relationship with him, dared to comment, "Brother, you are dark-hearted."

Everyone looked at Ariza after that comment and none of them could stand it and started laughing out loud. After a few seconds that they could calm down Andrew said, "Little sister, that is a lesson you must learn. If someone shows you kindness, return it for 10, but if someone mistreats you, mistreat them for 1,000."