Exiting The Glass Atrium, the sun's rays seemed to dance around Ken, casting a myriad of colors across his determined face. The path forward was clear, etched in his mind like the intricate patterns of the Atrium's stained glass. With each step, the clinking of his boots on the marble floor echoed the rhythm of his resolute heart. Turning to Blake, he said, "Contact Ben. I have his contract right here." He handed over a sleek, holographic card that shimmered with encrypted data, its surface alive with pulsating light. "Offer him the position of financial manager, with a starting salary of one million dollars. For now, that should suffice."
Blake, still adjusting to the abrupt shift from shadow to sunlight, took the card, his expression a mix of surprise and admiration. The card felt cool and weighty in his hands, a stark contrast to the warm sunlight bathing his face. "And the Island?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by Ken's sudden decisiveness.
"We'll address the Island in due time. But first, we fortify our position here," Ken replied, his finger thoughtfully tracing his jawline. His gaze drifted to the horizon, where the city sprawled out like a chessboard waiting for its king. "The Dark Burrow will serve as our base of operations. From there, we can orchestrate the changes necessary to stabilize the rift—and our future."
As Blake dispatched the contract through the quantum network, a swift reply came. The air buzzed with the silent hum of data traveling at the speed of thought. "Ken, Ben's on board," he announced, a hint of disbelief in his voice surprised by Ben immediate response.
Ken's eyebrow arched, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Have him meet us at the teleportation ring. It's time we returned to the Dark Burrow." His voice carried the weight of command, a sound that had moved armies and shifted the tides of power.
"Understood. And the formal ceremony?" Blake ventured, half-expecting a grand plan. His mind was already racing with the logistics of such an event, the gathering of dignitaries, the press, the spectacle.
"No ceremony. It's unneeded," Ken dismissed with a wave of his hand, already striding towards their next destination. His cloak billowed behind him, a dark wave against the light of the Atrium. "We have work to do, and no time for pomp and circumstance."
Blake nodded, falling into step behind Ken. The future was calling, and they were ready to answer.
---
Ben was waiting at the teleporting hub, a structure of steel and pulsing energy, where Ken and Blake arrived. The air was charged with the potential of distant places, the hum of the teleportation ring a constant backdrop to their conversation.
"Hey Boss," Ben greeted Ken with a respectful nod, his stance relaxed yet attentive.
Ken raised his hand, dismissing the formality. "No need to call me Boss, just call me Ken," he said, a slight smile softening his features.
Ben turned to Blake, extending his hand in a gesture of camaraderie. "Hey Blake, how are you? I don't believe we've met in person." His grip was firm, the handshake of a man measured by his large stature.
"Pleased to meet you, Ben," Blake replied, matching Ben's firmness with an equal measure of respect.
Ken observed the exchange, a sense of satisfaction growing within him. His team was coming together, each member bringing their strengths to the table. "Alright, before we teleport back to Balal, do we need to do anything here to make it easier to manage the money, Ben?" he asked, his tone indicating the importance of the matter.
Ben considered the question, his eyes scanning the bustling activity of the hub. Traders, travelers, and adventurers all moved with purpose, each on their own journey. "For now, nothing to do here," he finally answered. "We can set up an account at Balal and start coming up with some reasonable investments. The financial infrastructure there is robust enough for our needs."
Ken nodded, pleased with the response. "Good. Let's not waste any more time then. Balal awaits, and with it, the future we're going to build."
With a shared sense of determination, they approached the teleportation ring. The device activated with a surge of light, the portal opening to reveal the swirling colors of transit space. One by one, they stepped through, leaving the familiarity of the hub behind as they ventured toward the challenges and opportunities that awaited them in Balal.
---
They found themselves in the northern part of the kingdom, nearing the border. Balal, main headquarter for the Hunter Corp existing within the Kingdom of Valeria.
Ken missed the smell of the city, where he was raise, Balal bordered by a dune, where there were lower-difficulty rift that can make a stable living as a hunter at C to D ranks. Obviously now, difficulty does not matter to Ken. Compared to the capitol, Valahut City, this city has much less wealth. The Dark Burrow was just one symptom of how a singular source wealth was not being distributed appropriately.
"Blake, Ben, any idea where we need to go to establish a company and buy a building to work out of?"
"Yeah, I do." Ben replied, Blake shook his head.
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"Guide us, then." Ken asked.
"Sure thing. Let me call a cab."
As they waited outside the teleportation hub, the roads barrens, cracked, showing no sign of maintenance. A cab landed where they were waiting, the cab was run down, but it made do. The dirt pushed away from the air pushing down.
They all gotten in, and went towards a destination in Ben's mind, they had no idea.
"Where are we going?" Blake asked.
"We are going towards Balal Business Bureau, it should still be open at the moment, we'll go there to establish a company." Ben smirked, his large stature comparable to Blake hunched over in a small flying vehicle.
The cab's engines hummed softly as it navigated through the streets of Balal, the cityscape a stark contrast to the opulence of Valahut City. Buildings, worn by time and sand, lined the roads, their facades telling stories of a once-thriving trade hub now clinging to the vestiges of its former glory.
Ken gazed out the window, his eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and resolve. This was the city that had raised him, the city that orphaned him and punched him down, made him struggle, no education. Where he is now, is pure luck, but he was glad for it - now he is Knight Commander, and he has proven that he is a strong hunter.
The disparity between the wealth concentrated in the capital and the scarcity here was more than evident—it was a chasm that he intended to bridge.
"Here we are," Ben announced as the cab descended onto the landing pad of the Balal Business Bureau. The building was a relic of the past, its architecture a blend of ancient stonework and modern metal reinforcements. It stood as a testament to Balal's resilience, a beacon for those who dared to invest in the city's potential.
They stepped out of the cab, the air heavy with the scent of dust and ambition. The entrance of the bureau was marked by a series of holographic signs flickering with advertisements for legal services and investment opportunities.
Inside, the bureau buzzed with activity. Entrepreneurs, merchants, and hunters alike milled about, each engaged in the hustle of commerce and survival. Ken led the way to the front desk, where a clerk greeted them.
"We'd like to establish a company and acquire a building for operations," Ken stated, his voice carrying the weight of someone accustomed to command.
"Certainly, sir. If you'll follow me," the clerk replied, leading them through a maze of cubicles to a private office where they could discuss the particulars.
As they settled into the plush chairs, a large screen lit up, displaying maps of available properties and a list of corporate services. Ben leaned forward, his expertise coming to the forefront as he navigated the options.
"We'll need something spacious somewhere here." Ben suggested, pointing to a location near the Dark Burrow.
"Agreed." Ken added, his mind already strategizing the next moves in his grand plan to reshape the city's destiny. "Blake, Ben, please handle it. You'll be both working there occasionally, so please ensure it is up to your standard - if not, we'll make it so."
***
The clerk, a man whose eyes flickered through the data with the precision of a well-oiled machine, initiated the exchange with Ben and Blake.
“What exactly are you in the market for?” he inquired, his voice a monotone yet somehow laden with the weight of unspoken knowledge.
“We’re eyeing a spot in the Dark Burrow. A fixer-upper,” Blake stated.
“And the purpose of this establishment?” the clerk probed, his gaze piercing through the facade of casual inquiry.
“General Business?” Blake glanced at Ben, seeking affirmation.
“Indeed. A hub for trade, a center for merchants, and a beacon for services that will uplift the community,” Ben clarified, his voice carrying the conviction of their shared vision.
A spark of intrigue danced in the clerk’s eyes, the first sign of life in the otherwise stoic facade. “Let me peruse the listings… Ah,” he muttered, an unexpected note of astonishment creeping into his voice. “There’s a plethora of commercial spaces ripe for innovation, all vacant and awaiting transformation, assuming compliance with the building codes. Each carries a price tag in the ballpark of 250k. There are additional properties, though they come with existing tenants and the complexities of further negotiations. Moreover, a selection of land parcels is available for acquisition.”
“And why have they remained untouched?” Ben pressed.
Blake leaned forward, his voice a conspiratorial whisper, “The district’s notoriety precedes it. It’s deemed a gamble unworthy of the wager.”
Ben faced Blake, his expression querying, “Your verdict?”
With a resolute nod, Blake declared, “We’ll take them off the market.”
The clerk’s eyebrow arched, “Is that your final decision?”
“Affirmative,” Blake asserted, his confidence unwavering.
“I’ll relay this to Ken,” Ben announced, pivoting to engage their strategist in further discussion.
“Hold for a moment,” the clerk interjected, “Have you settled on a moniker for your venture?”
The conversation paused, and Ken, drawn by the gravity of the moment, proclaimed with finality, “Vanguard Valor.” The name resonated within the walls of the bureau, a testament to their commitment to pioneer the renaissance of the Dark Burrow.
The finalization was swift, a testament to their newfound efficiency. Outside the Balal Business Bureau, the trio stood under the fading light, the weight of their decisions palpable in the air.
Ken, with the casual authority that had become his trademark, addressed his companions. "I've transferred your starting bonuses—one million dollars each. Use it wisely. You'll also have access to the company's funds—two billion for now. The rest, a modest half-billion, I'll keep for myself," he said with a wry smile, acknowledging the absurdity and the necessity of the wealth they were amassing.
Blake's laughter cut through the tension, a reminder of the camaraderie that underpinned their venture. Ben, ever the stoic, simply nodded, his mind already calculating the myriad ways to leverage the capital.
"Blake will fill you in on the rest," Ken said, turning his attention to Ben. The message was clear: trust was paramount, but so was accountability.
"Thanks, Ken. We won't let you down," Ben replied, his voice betraying a hint of enthusiasm that belied his imposing figure.
Ken nodded, satisfied. "I'm glad to hear it. I must meet with researchers now, so the next phase is in your hands. Keep me updated."
With that, they parted ways, each to their own mission. Ken, with a list of high-risk dimensional rifts provided by Sir Leonard, headed towards the teleportation hub. His steps were purposeful, each one taking him closer to the researchers to push humanity.