Wishing for time, but not really having any. Down to the docks to check on progress and get a first look at my new boats. How’s that for ridiculous?

The good news was that Brin was back with me. He happened to love riding on the driver's seat in the carriage, so we were quite a sight rolling down the street in our fancy carriage and fancy suits. I had never experienced anything like what the next hour brought to me.

I was led on a tour of my new holdings, some purchased and some leased. There was a lot going on and a lot to see. I was quite surprised when our first stop was a dockside frontage which contained our new offices. Timmons and Byrne were there, waiting for us. I took a moment before this storm started to instruct Amos and Sheriff, and Brin. Brin was instructed to protect the two of them; anyone starting trouble with them would have to deal with Brin first. With that, I sent them off to change and visit the slave camp. Lucinda needed to accompany them. We need to insure things were going smoothly.

I also instructed that our three rabble rousers were to return to Langdon House with them. They would remain here as slaves for as long as needed to repair their mental outlook. I dismounted and joined Byrne and Timmons. The tour started with our new offices. The offices were actually rather cramped, but Timmons explained that it was just going to be a front desk, a duty desk if you will, with two small meeting rooms for interviews and such.

Behind the meeting rooms was a decent-sized space. I mentioned we should put in a kitchen and table to feed the crew. The second floor was entirely bare and would be filled with sleeping pallets for the visiting crews to crash on. I asked that we post signs saying “No Sex, Booze, or Food allowed” to keep things safe and sane. I also decided to forbid gambling, because that, too, is best done elsewhere. I wanted potbellied stoves added for heat. I wanted to ensure the windows worked for the hot times of year. This place would be the only thing I’d see that I’d have much opinion on during this tour. Everything else was way outside of my knowledge zone.

At that point, we entered hyper-warp. I was mounted on a horse and taken on a tour of boats, warehouses, and even the remodel site of a brewery - John Byrne had gotten that for a song. Financial crashes are a boon and something I had learned to leverage in modern life. Some people constantly got wiped out in these crashes. I had learned to be the predator waiting to take advantage of that weakened state.

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After all that touring, being nothing more than an observer and cheerleader, I needed to get back to being busy again. I wanted to take advantage of things while I could, so I commandeered the next of our leased wagons we came across. We loaded half of the remaining ore and, with the proper guard mounted, took off for the bank. It was time to feast on the weakened players again. Clara was still in tow but I think her head was spinning. It didn’t help that she was shite on horseback. Byrne and Timmons tagged along to ‘enjoy the show.’

I have to admit that I couldn’t blame them. Both of them had been on the rude side of the bankers, more often than not. Now they were in the catbird seat and they wanted to enjoy it. Frankly, I was feeling predatory and didn’t care what the bankers thought. It was time to accelerate my advantage and nothing provided a visual like a line of men toting bags of gold into our secure ‘vault.’ I have to admit I use the term ‘vault’ loosely, but it was a secure room and I made damn sure they knew that I held them personally responsible for its security. More importantly, we walked through the bank like we owned the place. Confidence was ultimately what we were selling and confidence couldn’t be faked.

I handed the manager a list of the accounts I wanted set up, the list of signatories and amounts, and my reporting requirements. Coming from the modern world, my compliance requirements were far stricter across the board than anything they’d ever heard of. My next meeting with the bankers would be an entirely different ballgame, but right now those bags of ore had them entranced. The fools didn’t realize that half of those bags were mostly sand - honey traps, if you will. I was still running the long game.

With my bank accounts refreshed, we stopped by to see Mrs. Byrne and have a cold ale before I went for my business meeting with Widow Langdon. I had to deal with those three slaves also - not the most pleasant of tasks. Heck, I wasn’t even sure who was where anymore and I spent the short ride out to the house contemplating that.

We hoped to leave the day after tomorrow, which encouraged me to decide a few things. I wanted all of the passengers up here tonight. They could set up here and I could get a small grip on that. Timmons had to focus on trip mode and, after I met with him and the captains tonight, that would be all that they did. John Byrne was left with the warehousing in his hands, however, I’d committed enough to that account today that he could hire as required. Most of all, tomorrow we’d have a large picnic for dinner and pass the word to everyone at the same time - we sail at first light Wednesday morning.

Sadly, I expected a delay and Thursday morning might become our reality. Nevertheless, I wanted everyone to strive for better and I couldn’t expect that if I didn’t ask for better.

It was time to deal with my new estate. 'Once more into the breach,' as the saying goes. I was dropped off in front of the house. I checked myself over and walked in through the front door like I owned the place.