Heavy pounding on the doorframe woke Mark from a fitful slumber. After his discoveries last night, Mark had returned to bed and fallen asleep in minutes. Now someone was banging on his door as if the world was ending. Well, too late.
Getting up Mark moved to the door and opened it. Jonathan stood there fully dressed in his armor, with a serious look on his face.
“Hey. We're meeting downstairs in the lobby in five, it looks like Mr. Gob is on his way here and he’s bringing company”
Mark nodded and closed the door, turning to get ready. Daphne was awake and had heard the conversation, so they were both out of the room in minutes.
Making their way down in the elevator was a nice change. When they got to ground level the doors opened and they walked out into the lobby.
Mark did not expect to see a good portion of the logistics team waiting calmly at the front entrance to receive people. No sooner had Mark and Daphne moved to stand next to their fellow leaders, when several cars pulled up outside their building.
Mr.Gob was the first to step out, followed shortly by a young woman. And honestly, she was stunning. Her features were defined and delicate. Mark could easily imagine she would turn heads wherever she went. He wasn’t up to date on fashion— if it still existed— but she was wearing clothes that he would have expected a runway model to dress in, which matched her Eastern heritage well.
Behind them, several more people got out of the cars. As the two of them approached, Mark saw Ethel smiling at the woman.
Gob was the perfect gentleman, as he led the woman towards them. His shining armor made him appear like a knight escorting a princess.
“Good morning everyone, I hope we didn’t arrive too early. I would have been here sooner but took the liberty of researching your current allies. So as best to work with you all. This is Ning Wei, she works within the guild’s finance district and will be helping you all to get everything in order while I deal with the front end”
Mark didn’t get it until Ethel stepped forward with a small graceful bow.
“Ning Wei, it's lovely to see you again, my child. We are so grateful for you and your father's help in getting us sanctioned”
The last piece fell into place. Mr. Gob had somehow found out they had been working with Mr. Xiaolan Wei and must have asked for further aid. By the look in Ethel’s eye, she was not at all surprised by her turning up here, in fact, from her happy demeanor, it was a good opportunity.
Ning Wei responded with an equally elegant bow towards Ethel, a reserved smile appearing on her face. She was soft-spoken almost to the point of shyness.
“Mrs. Wilson, your empire served to nurture the fields in which we grew our fortune, we would never turn our backs on your generosity”
Ethel just wore a satisfied smile on her lips.
“Well then, come meet everyone. This is my grandson, Jonathan, you be working closely with him”
Mark had to say. Mr. Gob came at them from the right angle. Ethel probably would not have accepted any interference in the more sensitive areas of their development. In fact, she did exactly that. Mr. Gob had brought with him many different experts in their fields, but they were relegated to advisers only. Her exact wording was.
“If they are not signing on with our Order, then they are better off teaching my leads where to go from here. I don't need anyone distracting my kids”
Mr. Gob was not spared this scrutiny either, even if it was the job he had been hired for. Ethel allowed him to work with her on certain things, but as soon as she saw him work she let up. Honestly, he was brutally efficient, advising and directing all divisions, almost at the level of Ethel but not quite.
And just like that, their day began once more. Mark didn't even have time to grab coffee before he was dragged to the operations room.
Luckily someone came around with breakfast, or he would have rioted.
The day moved swiftly and by early lunch, they had gathered everyone in the penthouse. Jonathan and Ning Wei were chatting quietly amongst themselves, going over the numbers for a third time. Mark had met her once during the day and his first impression was almost spot on, she had a quiet and calming demeanor, except when it came to scrutinizing their funds with a sharp eye. All he could tell was that between the two they were in good hands.
Mark couldn’t feel enormous amounts of Mana or Aura coming off her, so that led him to believe she was either a healer or she hadn’t managed to raise her level very high.
Mr. Gob had compiled everything into a report and by the end of the day they’d have a wider picture on how they compared to other new factions. He spoke now taking on a thought-full cadence.
“Right, that's it for now. Honestly, it’s impressive how much you’ve all managed in such a short time. Now we just keep doing what we are doing and we should be good. If any problems come up. We’ll address them then. Finally, have you guys thought any further about my other offer?”
Everyone looked around at one another. They hadn’t discussed it expressly but they had caught Karter and Ethel up to date on the offer to help them with their ‘classes’.
Ethel spoke up now.
“I’m of the opinion it would be too soon in our relationship for something like that. Perhaps we revisit-”
“Before you all make a decision, what about if I were to sign an exclusivity contract with your faction?!”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Mr.Gob blurted out.
For the first time in a while, Mark saw Ethel was well and truly surprised by the developments.
“...I was under the impression you worked for the Guild”
Mr. Gob slowed himself and shook his head.
“I’m an independent contractor, and I don’t make this offer lightly. I’ve done my research, that's why I took so long to get here. Even going so far as to contact some of the people you traveled here with, from Prospect Park. You are exactly what I’m looking for to push our knowledge about the system to new heights. I clearly need to earn your trust, so if I were to stop taking on other clients, would that help?”
The man seemed like he had made up his mind right then and there, but there was no hesitation. Mark wouldn’t count twenty-four hours as a long time, but perhaps he was working on a different time scale to them.
Once more the room lapsed into silence, only for a very different reason. It was Karter who spoke up first.
“Information is your business, if you sign an exclusivity contract with us, you won’t be very effective in your field”
Mr.Gob nodded.
“Honestly, information handling is only a pet project. Putting myself in the best position to watch the development of the system paths is my main goal... And I believe you are all one of my best chances to observe that. The connections I’ve made will remain, they’ll just be at your disposal, but being the first to piece together the abilities of the system is groundbreaking”
A passionate light entered Mr. Gob’s eyes as he spoke about the system.
Mark looked around and saw that almost everyone was on board with this
Ethel seemed the most content with the answer as she said.
“If that's how you feel, I can see no reason to turn you down. What about the rest of you?”
Mark was hesitant but had to admit it, with the exception of their first meeting, the guy had been truthful to his word. That didn’t mean Mark trusted him, but he saw the benefits this guy could bring them, especially if he was willing to go so far.
Slowly, people gave their support for the idea, Mark was surprised to see Jonathan was one of the first supporters of this, Sam being the second.
When they got to Mark, he gave them a silent nod.
The vote was unanimous. Karter spoke up then.
“Alright, we’ll do it, however, as a start, it may then be beneficial for us to limit the numbers. Also if we are going to be working so closely a proper name would be appreciated”
Karter probably didn’t want Gob to know their full roster, just yet.
Mr. Gob nodded, with a satisfied grin.
“The people I’m close with know me as Gibby, and sure we can start with just a small group, and go from there. How’s four people sound?”
Sam hummed.
“Mark, could you link us up?”
As soon as he did, Sam's voice came across.
‘How do we decide who starts us off?’
Ethel responded right away.
‘Sadly, I think Chloe should sit this one out’
That was understandable, Chloe's abilities were frankly game-changing, so Ethel probably wanted to keep her as their hidden card. When they entered the city there were only rumors of the prophet, and now she seemed happy to lay low and let them fade.
Chloe was the next to ‘talk’.
‘Ethels right, I need to remain an unknown right now. However, I have a recommendation. My thoughts are that Sam, Jonathan, and Mark should do it. Cara would also benefit greatly from this, but we should stick to three people for now.'
Before Mark could even respond Sam followed it up with.
‘I agree, it should be the three of us.’
Mark looked dryly at Sam.
‘I trust him the least out of all of us’
Jonathan sent a feeling of agreement down the link.
‘Exactly, that's why you should be the one to do it, you'd have a better grasp on what he's doing’
Sam following it up with.
‘Look, you said he saw our attributes in the store right? He already knows which of us to watch out for. The fact that you kept him from seeing your attributes is proof enough of your strength. We are the best options here.’
Chloe spoke up once more.
‘He will be a huge boon to your growth, but the decision is yours at the end of the day. It’s your attributes he would be seeing.’
Mark mulled it over, looking up at Gibby. The guy had been watching the silent conversation attentively. As of yet, Mark had not felt him use his Aura once throughout the day, and Mark had been watching. The offer was tempting, but the last time he had willingly shared his attributes with someone it hadn’t turned out so well.
It was a risk, but he felt he would regret it if he didn’t take it.
“Fine, Samantha, Jonathan, and I will be the first three to test things out. When would be best for you Gibby”
Gibby looked like had had struck gold, not bothered at all by the fact he had only named three.
“This evening, I still have some things to do both here, and at my shop. We’ll do it here, so you are all more comfortable”
Ning Wei had not spoken up during this whole conversation and probably didn’t understand a good majority of it, but she did register when Gibby had decided to work for them exclusively.
Mark trusted Ethel, and by extension, Mr. Xiaolan and Ning Wei. However, what she pieced together, only time would tell. She would be working closely with them so he would probably be seeing her around.
Ethel took out a tablet and furrowed her brow.
“Damn, we finished everything I set out for today already? Hmm…”
Sam was up and out of her seat in seconds, she looked at Mark and tapped her wrist silently.
He looked down at his phone and saw the time was close to two in the afternoon, he stood up as well.
Sam waved toward everyone, heading in the direction of the stairs.
“Okay, great work everyone. I’m heading out to class, see you all in a couple of hours”
Mark was already moving to the door and he saw Jonathan retreating to the open window, pulling Ning Wei closely behind him.
Ethel looked around like a fox hunting prey.
“Now wait just a minute all of you… Boe fetch!”
She pointed at their escaping forms.
By now Daphne had developed a sixth sense for this and was already almost out the door, while Chloe seemed resigned to her fate, remaining seated next to Karter.
The sounds of Boe darting out from under the table and clattering through the room could be heard, but Mark didn’t turn back to see the poor victim he had caught, lest he hesitate to abandon them, and get trapped himself.
Sometimes in battle, it was best to know when to retreat. And this was one of those times.