Jessica sighed, stretching before heading back to her car.

At least, after she managed to calm down from her… Eventful trip into the world of local government.

Plus, it had been unexpectedly easy to get in contact with all the local distributors and bring them all on board. Apparently, getting the Mayor's approval opened doors.

A LOT of doors.

Anyway: Shipments of basic materials, check!

Was it needed? Probably not, at least not while they were both in this world… But it was best to establish this entire mess while they were here to handle any issues along the way.

Raw materials for John's Crafting Chests, contacting some out of Town vending machine companies (ALL the automated stuff was from out of town, unsurprisingly), asking the local banks to get ATM's set up, and now…

The Fleeless market.

There was a plan for this, to eventually make that spot a community hub for trade… But it needed something basic to get started.

Thankfully, though unfortunately for the individuals involved, there were PLENTY of failing businesses and small shops around this hell hole.

With a bit of effort, it shouldn't be TOO hard to convince some of these places that were near shut down or bankruptcy to shift their materials and location to another already licensed retail spot!

Had several benefits too!

The new employees and shop owners (For small places, the roles basically overlapped) would increase Doe's Park's population, widen the customer base for the other facilities, and turn the new marketplace from an empty grid of stalls into something attractive for new sellers and part time traders.

And after risking (At least) her life talking to the local governing system to acquire all these licenses, Jessica was going to ensure those documents would be USED.

Still, she had some standards for this mess.

Only small mom and pop stores, no chains or franchises. Not just to support the community, but to avoid large amalgamations of Belief and influence such massive organizations would accrue.

Only rented stalls, not ownership. Doe's Park was THEIR place, in the end… Plus, John would likely modify the Fleeless market a LOT, and restricting his construction plans due to early birds claiming the best spots felt unwise.

And finally? Agreement about being 'Non Hostile' and to avoid discrimination. Your customer could be white, black, gay, old, young, demonic, alien, dead, undead, redead, and follow (near) any religion that doesn't require killing everyone and eating everyone (Some of the religions out there did NOT work well with the 'Do Not Be Hostile' requirement), and you would still need to offer them service.

Of course, if you were Hostile ANYWAY then security would handle it… But best to prevent problems in the first place by making the condition clear and straightforward before anything gets signed.

Right, let's try to get some services too… A laundromat, hair cutting place, one of those equivalents to the Dollar General Store that exist in this place…

Finding a parking spot near a worn looking Barber shop, Jessica put on her best face and prepared to meet a few people.

Even if they weren't interested, they may know someone else down on their luck looking for a second chance in a location with low property renting fees!

~~~Pocket System~~~

The older woman blinked. "Are you kidding me?"

Sigh. "No ma'am."

She narrowed her eyes. "I ain't giving my Soul to nobody no how, you know? I told Mr. Jemson last week, lovely fellow he is, I said: 'Hard times or not, I'd rather keep my Soul thank you very much', I said! And despite his teeth and that horribly depressing outfit he was very professional and such but I stand by it! My Soul, not for sale!"

Keep smiling. "Perfectly understandable, but as I said before: I'm just finding people who would be willing to rent out some stalls in a marketplace I am setting up. Your flower shop is lovely, but I assume from the signs…"

The old lady snorted. "They tolds me I shouldn't go hard into corpse flowers 'cause of the smell, but I said the rarity of the things… Well, Mrs. Corsonan was right, damn her eyes and times may be a bit tight, but I said that no one would drink my blood no matter how hard it gets to paying rent." She blinked. "And not my Soul either! Have I told you what I said to Mr. Jemson?"

Just… Keep smiling. "I believe you did, Mrs. Barkins."

The woman gave a solemn nod. "Lovely fellow, Mr. Jemson. Would be married already I have no doubt, despite the horns and his skin condition, I said beauty is more than fangs deep but young people today are so pessimistic that true love doesn't even enter into it, do it? Stop trading Souls, I said, and go out and meet some people! There's a woman out there for you I said!"

Damn it, where was that informative pamphlet she had prepared. "That's… Lovely. Would you like to see what we at Doe's Park are offering for you to move your flower shop over?"

The woman absently accepted the document. "Like I said, because I said so just the other day, I did: No Blood bartering, no Soul trading, no flesh peddling here! I'm an honest flower shop, I am, and in a town like this you gots to have standards! In fact I told the very same, I did, when I was on that lovely holiday down in… Down in…"

Mrs. Barkins stared at the 'signing bonus' for moving her business and the ongoing stall renting fees.

Silence.

Sweet, glorious silence.

After a few moments, the woman awkwardly coughed. "It would only cost this much to rent a stall there?"

What? "No, that is how much I am going to PAY you to relocate to our park. The costs for operating a stall is in the other table, right there."

Mrs. Barkins seemed gobsmacked. "Huh." Then she glanced down to the religious symbol around her neck… And hesitated. "When I said 'Soul not for sale', I never said a bit of rent would be off the table…"

Oh for! "You are not required to sell or rent out ANYTHING if you are interested in our offer! Like I said, I am just giving another choice for your future locations, since you are closing this place down anyway."

She gave a firm nod. "I'll arrange a moving truck."

Oops! Quick, stop her! "BEFORE you get on that, do you know anyone else who might be interested in joining our Fleeless Market? Small businesses that would be willing to relocate on short notice?"

The woman blinked. "With these incentives?"

Yep. After all, it was the butcher's shop that told Jessica about this woman's failing flower business in the first place.

The florist paused, then considered. "Well, the Largons had some harsh times and Madison's place didn't do well last month, maybe the Kendalls too…" She hummed. "I best make a list. Wait here while I tell Dora to call the Smith brothers to start arranging the move and I'll write them down before you leave!"

~~~Pocket System~~~

The gruff man grunted. "No."

Jessica blinked. What? He had seemed so into this before! "But why?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I gotta be nice to… Certain people?"

Um. "Ideally? But at the very least, non-Hostile and willing to do business with everyone, yes."

He snorted. "I'd rather go bankrupt."

Huh. "Well, thank you for your time."

Ass.

~~~Pocket System~~~

The woman in red tilted her head. "I thought I told that nice Mr. Jemson that my Soul was off the table?" She then tilted her hips and gave Jessica a once over. "Although I DO approve of his new approach of going the honey trap route… Rawr!"

Thankfully, Jessica's recent exposure therapy sessions to resist supernatural hotness came in handy once more! "Like I told you over the phone, I'm not actually…"

The shop woman's eyes glinted. "And I wouldn't want you to get in trouble for not succeeding entirely after all, and you ARE such a pretty thing…"

And that skirt was showing just a bit more leg and… NO! FOCUS! "I GOT PAMPHLETS, PLEASE READ THEM!"

~~~Pocket System~~~

She ended up calling John to let him know she'd be back the next day.

Eventually she DID manage to leave that perilous woman. Even got a few contacts and places to visit.

And a personal phone number, but uh… Anyway. Back to work!

She was 100% focused, no more distractions!

~~~Pocket System~~~

Her voice was sin incarnate. "An 'Adult Swimming' area, you say?"

Jessica's mouth was a bit dry, but she managed to nod and hand over the pamphlet without her hands shaking.

A hum. "This Hostility clause… Would it apply if the 'intended harm' is between two consenting individuals of legal age and standing?"

Oh dear. "I believe that would fall under 'Roleplay' and be exempted…"

The dominatrix hummed. "Then a few of my… Associates… May indeed be interested. I can see why Mrs. Scarlette sent you our way."

Gulp!

~~~Pocket System~~~

John blinked at the most recent note. "Huh? Oh… Wait, how long have I been down here doing this?" It felt like it had been MUCH longer than a couple of hours. Had it?

He read the message and blinked. "Guess the Adult Swim area is going to get a LOT larger now. Wonder why the new facilities over there require so many rooms with such odd structural layouts?"

Meh, it wouldn't be a problem to ensure the ceiling hooks and clamps be set up here and there, that they could withstand such heavy loads… Why did some of these rooms need extra efficient plumbing, drains, and…?

Anyway, it would be simple enough to ensure it was prepared. "Everyone, I'm going to take a break. Alright?"

The squads of iron golems mostly ignored him as they continued restructuring themselves into patrol teams and reinforcement squads, not to mention the small teams of tiny defenders that were attempting to become something like a stealth/ninja/spy team (And yes, John had lost track of them LONG ago)...

But at least the eight or so group leaders gave him their nods, thumbs up, or pumped sword in the air.

Which was good enough. "Aside from that, my sister got me the properties over our underground Park… Well, most of it anyway."

Best shift those bits around to make sure it doesn't exceed property lines.

As for the top, it was mostly all meadow and gardens now. Some trees and bushes, some strategically placed rocks to act as a defense against rampaging demons or suiciding trucks, a few defensive locations the Iron Golem teams could use during battle… Oh.

Oops. "Should… Should I have told sis that I deleted or altered most of the roads up there?"

Aside from the streets that led to the parking complex and the shipping docks?

All of the other routes within his property were either removed entirely or turned into a reinforced underground tunnel to avoid messing up his whole 'Sunny Dale' meadow theme with stupid cars driving everywhere.

It should be fine, yes? People could easily bypass his Park by going under it on the two major roads, or easily access a spot to park and give a bit of a walk!

It would be fine!

…It might be fine.

Crap, he completely altered the water and sewage pipes, and fully upgraded the electrical lines too… Damn.

Sigh. System, get the paperwork needed for this kind of alteration, fill out as much as you can automatically, then send it to my sister.

[[Confirmed.]]

No point in trying to get away with this or avoid the consequences. Not when his own Pocket was a backstabbing spy who logged everything. Aren't you?"

[[...Still processing prior requests. Estimated time till completion is…]]

Yeah yeah, whatever.

John walked out of the Security Department (Now connected by Bound Doors to basically everywhere in Doe's Park) and wandered over to Doe's Dough.

Which uh… Took longer than expected. "Excuse me? Thank you. Just coming through… Pardon me!"

As he wove his way through the vine covered golems (WHY did their bodies feel warm!? Aren't you made of metal!?), John began to have a growing concern as he moved through the crowded pathways.

Maybe… Maybe he had made a few too many defenders today. And yesterday.

This might be an issue.

Huh.

No problem! If there were too many, he would just make a bit more space for them! Double the parking space in the parking complex would be a good start. And he'd expand the size of all paths and the excavated caverns for each of the four sections, Collect more material to open up some more room a bit more below…

After all, there was always room to go DOWN!

As John happily hummed and continued restructuring the world around him, he considered how lucky it was that the hellmouth was more a dimensional portal entrance rather than an actual path downward to some sort of underground hellscape.

Because if it HAD been below the soil, both his new [[Home]] and Doe's Park would have broken into the place a LONG time ago!

As another massive neighborhood space opened up, he suddenly felt a warm but unyielding hand clasp his shoulder. Huh? "Yes?"

The woman rapidly made hand gestures.

Oh! "Sure, I don't mind setting up training areas and combat zones! Would everyone like some places like that? Maybe with different terrains and stuff?"

A LOT of iron women (AND some men!) nodded.

Well alright then! "Done!" Plus it would keep the iron crowds from flooding the whole park when they weren't on shift.

Too bad other visitors wouldn't be able to join in.. An Iron Golem could repair itself with enough access to Magic, but people (And demons and Bills) were a bit squishy and couldn't exactly compete with something on that level.

Or could they? "What do you guys think about making one area for something like paintball games? You wouldn't get to use your swords and maces and war hammers and stuff, but it would allow you to challenge visitors without… Uh. Squishing them."

Oh! They seemed VERY interested! Cool! "I'll make duplicates of all the ones open to the public so that the Adult Swim girls and guys can also compete. Just because some people can't handle a bit of iron flashing about is no reason to exclude any of you from a fun sport!"

Besides, sexy metal men and women fighting paintball while nude? Might turn out to be a popular event!