3. Balance sheets

Aristonicus fed the perpetual motion machines with his own fingers, electrical power came off of him and he fed the machines, much to the astonishment of Alex. He tried to stand up and fell over. His knee bruised and bloody, he watched the figures go up on the computer. He went at full power, and the perpetual motions cranked at full speed. Thousands of kilowatts were discharged and the computer for the first time in its history began producing positive balance sheets for the first time ever.

“What the… how the?”

“Can you keep your mouth shut about this power,” Aristonicus said, “I told you 20%.”

Alex began laughing hysterically.

“Jesus Christ, what the fuck am I witnessing?” Alex laughed, “how much money am I entitled to.”

“20%,” Aristonicus said.

In a mere hour he generated 500,000 kilowatts earning £1.8 million in such a short amount of time.

“I think these machines are limiting the amount I generate,”

“But you need them, otherwise, well,” Alex said.

“You really think it’s good to advertise loudly I can discharge electricity like this, or that a perpetual motion machine is actually generating electricity?” Aristonicus said.

He fed his electricity straight into the grid, trying a little bit harder for another hour, and Aristonicus fell over, exhausted. £2.7 million generated in another hour, 750,000 kilowatts. Alex was ecstatic, looking at Aristonicus with hope in his eyes. There was a cheap pink blanket on one of the satin sofas.

“Thank you for today,” Aristonicus said, “there’s a toilet somewhere in here right?”

“Yeah.”

The toilet was behind, a very simple construction behind the mostly empty warehouse.

“I’ll crash out here,” Aristonicus said, “I don’t exactly have anywhere else.”

The business bank account was printed out on a piece of paper, the PC was a simple thing designed to get the job done.

I’ll buy one of those Macs later, he thought, who knows maybe other things too. A house would be nice.

He had bank accounts

He slept and Matho wondered where his friend had gotten to.

“He’s staying at the place he bought?” He said, “my goodness, I hope he doesn’t get himself killed.”

“The man is crazy, I know you want to help people, but he has gangsters after him.”

“Whatever I got to go work, and you do too,” Matho said, “I’ll have stupid people explain to me how much they think socialism means when the government does stuff,” he complained, “you got to feel for me, the Roman Empire and Qing Empire had nationalised industries, they had salt monopolies and mines, were they socialist? I’m dying by stupid Thera. I really am.”

“Don’t argue with people though, I can’t think of a more stupid waste of time,” Thera said, “people will just believe what they want to, and what is most convenient to them. Do you think people are going to admit they are wrong?”

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“I guess not,” Matho said, “but we can try.”

“That’s arrogance for you,” Thera said, “ah yes ‘we can try,’ that’s how you end up broke and without a house like Aristonicus,” she said a little too angrily, “the guy tries everything and anything, and look at him now!”

Meanwhile Aristonicus woke up at 11 am, Alex was making himself a coffee.

“The company bank account password I changed so that only us two can get to it,” Alex said with a smirk, “we made £4.5 million pounds in 2 hours. I think that’s a bloody miracle that is, hell I could get a mortgage.”

“Mortgage?” Aristonicus laughed, “we’ll do a bit better than that, you can buy it in cash, no interest.”

“No interest,” Alex laughed, “whew, you are a big dreamer huh.”

“Give me some of that dulce gusto stuff, I know it’s milk but I like it.”

“Machiatto?” Alex asked.

“Sure,” Aristonicus laughed.

He got the stuff and immediately went about powering his future. The red satin sofa still had his warm imprint, the metal warehouse was cold and frankly annoying to Aristonicus who looked at the place with disdain.

“I pissed off some really dangerous people, do you mind if I pay them off first?” Aristonicus said, “it’s to the tune of 500,000, maybe 600,000 now.”

Alex looked at the man with skepticism and pure bewilderment.

“You’re not very good with money, I take it?” The man said, “it’s not like I am, but that’s comical. Hell at least these people were smart enough to limit their liabilities.”

“Oh really, it’s a proper business then?” Aristonicus said.

“I mean yeah, you bought the rights to the business, and those guys ran as fast as they could, I stayed hoping to get paid, and I am happy that I did.”

“Alright,” Aristonicus said, “let me work a few more hours, but send this account number some money, from Aristonicus, saying the debt is paid.”

He did as much, and the gangsters he owed money to outright fell off their chairs in the local bar when they saw the money clear through in their accounts.

“Boss it says here, that the debt is paid?”

“How the fuck… did he…” the boss, a moustached man with a pistol in his holster said, “how is that possible?”

Aristonicus started the day having accrued some £3.9 million from electricity generation, he worked tirelessly providing 750,000 kilowatts every hour, for four hours. Collapsing on the sofa, as Alex jumped and down like a madman.

“You madman, you did it! You did it! You did it!” Alex said screaming as he ran around the empty warehouse.

£14.7 million pounds were made. All company debts were settled with an extra £3.7 million extra on the side to pay for whatever. Aristonicus was completely tired, it was 3 o’clock and he felt like a truck had hit him.

Matho came an hour later, wanting to visit his friend and see the situation for himself.

“Are you serious man?” He shouted at his friend, “how could you be so foolish?”

Alex stared at the angry man shouting at Aristonicus.

“Sir, if all you’re going to do is be aggressive than you have to leave,” Alex said.

“No. This is my friend, and when he’s making a mistake, I have to tell him?”

“Mistake?” Alex laughed, “we paid all our debts.”

“Paid all your debts?” Matho said, “what nonsense is this, how is that possible?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Aristonicus smirked, “thanks for putting up with me old friend, it’s nice that you were worried about me, trust me I am fine.”

“Yeah?” Matho said, “well that’s good to hear. When you next want to have a meal on our dime, tell me ok? I am always willing to help.”

“I’ll pay the next meal,” Aristonicus said, “let’s having something lavish. It’s on me.”

Matho was astonished.

“Yeah?” He said, “alright, as you wish, don’t borrow any money to impress me.”

“I won’t,” Aristonicus said, “I don’t need to.”

Matho was confused, but he left with a shrug.

I have no idea how the fuck he managed that. Maybe he dabbled in crypto or some other gambling and came out on top for once? Some people gain, and some lose everything. Speculation huh?

Aristonicus had not speculated, he had paid the mortgage for the premises, and the loans on the equipment, he then gave 20% to Alex like he promised. Even £780,000 was a fair sum. Aristonicus was extremely lethargic, and Alex perhaps thought that was the end of miracle. Aristonicus went outside again, opening the back door to a bit of ground they owned outside, before he was struck by lightning once again. Again Aristonicus was not even harmed, going back inside and working.

“Order a pizza, I’ll be hungry in a few hours,” Aristonicus said.

He worked for two hours, tirelessly producing electricity for two hours before once again collapsing on the sofa. Pepperoni pizza arrived and Alex sat next to him.

“£5.4 million,” Alex said in shock, “a ridiculous amount of money.”

“Do you want to wait a bit before I divide the company money again?” Aristonicus asked.

“Sure,” Alex said, “I might as well.”

“I might start living like a human being,” Aristonicus whispered.