Going Deeper
The next day, in the morning. Proteros, Blackflower Boutique.
Fox sat in the computer backroom with the neighbor above and his semi-partner, Fabiola. They were discussing the final talks of the sale from the old man's floor. It wasn't a small matter. The old man was adamant in receiving a considerate but not exaggerated amount upon seeing the boutique's business. After all, it was bound to make fortunes if it kept expanding. It wouldn't be 'fair' if the old man received just a normal price.
But that was what the old man thought, and illegal procedures. Fox and Fabiola weren’t about to let the old man have this much, at all.
The old man extended his arms downwards to gesture, becoming serious. “700,000 credits is a fair price for my place. It is wider than this and has more space in the building. Its stairs are still in perfect shape, and they can be customized for the clients’ comfort! Why would you not take this?”
“The initial price is about 300,000 credits, sir,” Fabiola debated, somewhat repeating words she’s already said. This time, she was a lot more continuous, following up with, “400,000 credits for an empty space that still needs to be renovated generally will cost us higher than that number.”
“Then, I’d like to get back to my price of a million. Have that, and I’ll get the things done in 3 to 6 months.” The old man crossed his arms and laid back. Fox looked on, supporting his left cheek with his knuckles, while his elbow supported on his knee.
This was a different Fox, not like the one from before, who at least had politeness. The old man briefly looked at it, not wanting to terrify himself into ‘basically giving it for free’, as he repeats in his mind like a mantra.
“We can’t wait so much. The opportunities we are presented with are generous, as you can tell, kind sir.” Fabiola continued still, rubbing that dark, grumpy soft spot hidden in the depths of the old man’s being. She half-puppy eyed him, “The Blackflower Boutique will seek professional, cutting edge technology to bring about the remodeling in just a few days. Even a week would be a bit too much, let alone all those months.”
“I’ll leave it to 650,000 credits…” The old man’s eyes widened as he seemed to realize something. He sat up and looked at both before rapidly focusing his eyes on Fabiola, “If you let me have 1% share of the profits, which will increase 0.5% per year for 18 years. Then, we can think on what to proceed when the time comes.”
“Let me stop you there.” Fox lifted his left hand, showing his palm to the old man. The latter had finished, but Fox’s ‘late’ intervention somehow stopped all building momentum, which had made even Fabiola consider.
Looking at Fox, the old man had a bad premonition. Fox sat upright, accommodating himself a bit better before opening his lips and speaking after a momentaneous pause. “What you are presenting us is the direct rent-free service in exchange for money here, and then more in another year until we have spent enough time working with the place to claim its rights.”
“I propose something else,” Fox didn’t speak of the old man’s offer, letting the latter cool off and for his attention to be drawn elsewhere. Fox offered, casually, like offering a cup of tea. “Transfer all rights to me with the total price of 7.1 million credits. 3.1 millions which I’ll pay at the end of this year, and the rest throughout the next, 1,026, year. I have the document here, all we need is to sign it. There’s the screen, so you can copy it to your devices and send it to your lawyer.”
“…” The old man felt stupid for that premonition from before. He thought, ‘7.1 million credits in just a year? This… when we’re so close to the end of the year… only about a quadrimester away from receiving just 3.1 million credits. Furthermore, this is without taxes, isn’t it?’
The old man hurried Fox to let him read the document. When he arrived at certain articles, his eyes widened. He looked at Fox like he was unearthing a treasure. Then, he shook Fox’s prepared, gloved right hand while looking intently into those polycoria eyes. “But of course!”
Fox smiled. The short-term huge gains one can accept in the matter of just hearing them could never lose to a dying old man who was 2 to 3 decades from leaving this world. Fabiola was a bit taken aback, interchanging her pretty, big eyes between the two men.
A while later, the old man left and returned with 3 suitcases. One had the keys and new documents to the rights of the flat, another for the necessary signatures from Fox and Fabiola, and the other had documents that needed all parties’ signatures.
The latter was for the congruence in the clauses according to the GHH, Green Humanism Harmony; OML, Oscard Market Link; and the IWS, Intellectual World Security. They not only put both parties, the buyer and seller, into a harmonious conclusion. These all added the records of Fox’s ownership, in partnership with Fabiola, of a larger business. With this, he could formulate his own shipping/delivery system and service without having to contract private companies.
Of course, that would be hella expensive. But if the old man at the farm taught him something, that was to shit and piss in the business’ folk who only want to grab, grab, and grab without a care.
Fox bid the old man farewell, who received a promise that could never be broken. Furthermore, with these documents uploaded to the IWS global infrastructure, shared by all satellites, the old man couldn’t be scammed.
This old man could only be terribly contented.
Still at the computer backroom, Fox organized the paperwork, giving him a headache, with Fabiola at the side behind him with crossed arms. Finishing piling them up in another suitcase, he looked at the young lady and asked with a polite smile, “What is it, Fabiola?”
“If you could have at least told me about this. Why not?” She demanded an answer. Fox grinned a bit, purposely showing her pity. “I did. You got your shot. And you did very well, but that’s not what I want. Not that way, at least.”
“Watchu mean?” Fabiola cutely asked, still with crossed arms. Fox tousled her hair, making her grumpy, but also secretly girly deep inside. He said, “This boutique will conquer the entire building. Let’s not have time for lengthy bickering and fear of money expenses to broad our space. Let’s just give ‘them’ a good sum and send them off. This is our boutique, aye?”
“Aaaah!” The lass understood, at last. She nodded like a chicken pecking on rice, but looked like a rabbit with her upper teeth showing.
“Alright. I’ll stay until night and then leave. Won’t take much this time, so get the calls done yourself, ‘kay?” Fox said, leaving the room. Fabiola nodded, already knowing his drill. She started messaging her parents, contented to tell them the victory her ‘elder brother’ achieved.
… Fox kept the paperwork after confirming everything was primarily saved in his system account in the Piya Sanctum District thrice. Only then did he hide the paperwork in a secret stash he built before Fabiola became engrossed, hidden in the back storerooms. Then, he went out.
This time around, the team would operate in Lymaospasó. Usually, there’s nothing ever going on there. If it wasn’t because it is the largest area with forests, fauna, flora, and had more than 77% of the water Lýmoca uses, many would forget about this state, the largest in the country and even the entire world.
There were news of a contingent organized crime group trying to settle down there. As the most important natural habitat in Lýmoca, where many animals are protected, and pests and plagues are studied to further get rid of them from the country. It could not be allowed to have criminals there.
Thus, the PSD employed more than 40% of their 3rd Grade forces there, which numbered to more than ten thousand special agents. If the payment for even the lowest tiered missions wasn’t above the half a million number, there was no way PSD would be able to pay their agents to do this.
Fox went on a mission to exterminate said criminal band’s contingent, but not so simply. And since Fox showed exemplary work before, he was the one to decide how to ‘warn’ any other criminal group, be it from Lýmoca or not.
The team ‘worked’ for 3 days, with news of a ‘newfound’ tribal people found in Lymaospasó being discovered. The reason was simple. Meat and a skin was cooked and put in spikes from its northwestern shores, even showing flattened eyes and noses without bones in human skin masks.
However, the response from the world to this ‘troll-like’ event was rather… comical. ANS announced they wanted to make contact, so they directly sent experts to investigate. This happened a few days after Fox returned from the assignation.
At first, it was silly. But when footage of national guards stopping and being shouted and shouting back to some ‘leaftree’ people propagated on social media, it made Luis frown. After considering for a bit, not wanting to cause trouble for his country, he sent a letter, which he immediately made public, to the ANS government.
It was a simple ‘request’ to not intrude into their territory, and that the so-called newfound aboriginals hidden from the world were not real. He went on to further remind everyone of the relationship between both countries, accentuating the need for each other’s understanding.
Unfortunately, several prestigious universities and even an academy from ANS declared the possibility that those people were from ANS origins.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
This was a blatant insult, and Luis didn’t need to respond for the Lys invested in knowing their geopolitics and even the senate to vehemently discuss this ordeal.
Just as Luis was considering a brief press conference, Lesly sent him a video. It was from the senate. Of the few that joined their cause at the beginning, when Luis prepared to drop from the LV and NSH’s plans, they all entered the parliament groups in both lower and upper chambers, but their numbers were really too small.
However, now, and at last, they were showing what they’ve been piling up in their chests, full of fury and a desire, all this long.
In the senate chamber, a slightly chubby brown man with fatherly beard and tummy flung his arms around after hearing the ginormous opposition badmouth Luis. It wasn’t for not only not allowing ANS to enter as they pleased, but because Luis should have welcomed them with red carpets and fighter jets flying above in welcome.
“They are talking about our land like it was always theirs! The leaftree is still there! And you, country-sellers, are worshiping this past humiliation today! No, I will not approve of this! You can’t see the damage you’re doing to your own people because money, your god, is blocking your sight, but not mine! Not my people’s!”
“Senator, conclude your speech!” A senator in a higher position sitting beside the senate president sharply screamed, as the DOH’s senator, from Luis’s party, had already reached his time limit to talk.
“I will!” The senator nearly shouted back but kept his composure in order. He lifted his right hand, though, annoyed. Meanwhile, the senate president, Omar Preon, side eyed the person who sharply did his job for him. The senator continued.
“I’m making this calling. Lys, please hear me… We shall not let these people come and take whatever they want from our lands again! This is our sovereignty!” The senator concluded with the same person beside the senate president cutting sharply in, and the opposition deafening, booing and hurling lengthy insults. Their noise filled the senate. So much that the left fist he raised became visible.
The senator’s words and the burning fire in his blood were what Luis never showed, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel it, too. Luis Heartez shared it on all his social media, receiving some backlash, especially from the opposition’s inconsiderate words. With their position, reducing to such harassing was quite something, but afterwards, as more people saw it, it became a sensation.
Unfortunately, the world didn’t revolve around popular opinion, and Lýmoca was one of the most obvious examples. Despite the sensation on the internet, the senate and chamber of deputies all voted after the last exchange was transmitted.
There won’t be a ‘stop’ to the foreigners from coming and searching for the tribe they were looking for.
Even then, Lymaospasó’s governor, a middle-aged woman from the DOH political party, installed national guards to watch these people’s cargo when coming in and out. Similarly, PSD sent 80% of their 3rd Grade special agents to ensure nothing important was ‘touched’.
A week later, most ‘research’ teams left, with most of them carrying black, huge bags with them back onto their ships. Leaving to never return.
When Luis read these reports, and that the items and resources the foreigners took were all some stones that weren’t discovered before, with cravings and markings of some things, he felt his heart was pierced.
ANS, and the few other countries from the Dawn and Twilight supercontinents that attended the ‘public calling’, aka public invitation, to research this new tribe; offered no word nor explanation whatsoever.
After contemplation, he decided to keep that information away from the Lys’ ears and hands. What one didn’t know… Of course, by an unknown impulse, he recorded it all with more solid methods.
. . .
A few days later. It was now the 9th month, 1st week’s 2nd day.
In the presidential precinct, Fox met with Sona. She was busy before, so she couldn’t test Fox from what he’s learned. Now, a couple of days later, she could. Moving to a desk in a library, a silent place, they didn’t engage in flirting or gazes, or a simple smooch; this time.
Sona gave Fox 2 paper sheets and a pencil, whereas he had to answer 50 direct questions with the perfect answer, or else. Fox didn’t know what that ‘else’ meant, much less Sona. Only one thing was certain, it no longer led to naughty times. It ‘clicked’ between them.
At last, Fox answered everything and gave his test to Sona, who nodded without end until she read the 50th question, all perfectly done. She lightly smacked her lips before looking at him, keeping the tests to the side, “Well now. Oral, last test. Name the most influential names from the current congress, executive branch, and judicial branch.”
Fox nodded, prepared for this. His lips moved as his left leg repeatedly jolted up and down with his hindfoot elevated into the air, “The executive branch has the president, Luis Heartez, 2 terms president of Lýmoca. His presidential secretary, Roam. The vice president, Lesly Rivera, whose amazing secretary is Sona Heartez, also the president’s sister.”
“Which is pretty, resilient, stubborn, and likes to wear formal dresses that makes her feel like she deserves her place, when she doesn’t need to.” Fox said with a polite smile. Sona lifted her eyes, smiling in the same way back.
“The senate and deputies…. The legislative branch.” Fox mulled a bit, relaxed. “The senate president is Omar Preon, a man who has long been so, and very influential. Senator Gracial Feks, whose aides are deputy Aron Mades and Nayeli Saf. Senator Ol’ Pak, who has always been… well, not much of a Ly despite being a Ly. Less of a Ly than me, even.”
Fox nodded to himself, badmouthing senators like it was nothing. He wouldn’t stop now, “Her lackeys and half her neurons are deputy Santo Gonzalo and deputy Jime Tuola.”
“Senator Sebastián Lara, who only has 1 trusted aide, Clara Metelti. They are both neutral, like Gracial Feks and his aides. The former is a middle-aged man who has ‘thrilling’ experience in Lýmoca’s political world, while the latter is the youngest deputy in the world. She was just 18 a few years ago, but she was deputy since the current president’s first term.”
“Oh, the president of the chamber of deputies, Benito Metelti. He has been a senate/deputy president in the various terms since decades ago, nearing his 90s already. His granddaughter, Clara Metelti, is an excellent show of the Metelti’s incredible political skills. Mm, especially his wife whose political skill match them, Linda Zebel, rest in peace for what I know. So much respect for one person…”
“Sigh, now those strange fellas,” Fox leaned back on his chair. Sona nodded in understanding. She rested her elbows on her knees, leaning over, and waited for him to speak. His voice in lengthy explanations was just too, so damn soothing to hear, to say the least.
“Ju- di- ci- al— branch,” Fox pouted a little before smelling his philtrum, a bit pensive. “Their Supreme Justice Minister, the ‘head’ of the Supreme Court Justice, Vanessa Valyer. She has repeatedly destroyed any plans the president had… relating forming new projects, programs, and even reforms before they were even committed. Not even a tenth of the population know about this…”
Fox was a little pensive again before continuing, “Supreme Court Minister Javier Laran and Supreme Court Minister Jennifer Paws are her most influential aides. Javier is an old comrade of hers, and they’re in a solid, good fellowship. Jennifer Paws is the youngest minister in the history of Lýmoca.”
“While many think her knees are red behind her pants and tights, and her tongue is only able to move with 50% of its strength, her personal qualities are above exceptional. Right, the president supported her. How come she betrayed him so easily?” Fox wondered towards the end of his words.
“Sigh~…” Sona limited her disappointment to shake her head. Fox nodded and said no more, ending it there. Sona smirked, speaking with a teasing tone, “You forgot one person.”
“Huh? Which? Butler is not in those powers,” Fox tilted his head to the left, inclining it to the right. Sona smirked even harder, “You.”
“…” Fox was stunned, his underchin showing. Indeed. In a way, not only was he a person who responded to the president under direct orders, at least on de facto, he has also aided other political party members realize about ‘the change in the skies’.
He shook his head and accepted it like a champ. Fox and Sona stood up after the test, feeling quite relaxed; in a good mood, even. Sona walked to him and held his left wrist, pressing her thumbs on it as she faced him with her chin tilted upwards. “Fox, can I talk with you?”
“Mhm, you can.” Fox blinked, patiently staring at this woman. She nodded with a semi-quick-and-slow, thoughtful blink. Sona failed to speak after 2 deep breaths, finally succeeding in the 3rd. “I want to end our relationship. It’s been something. Gladly talk about it with my future self in retrospective. But it’s been solidified enough… and you’re ready.”
“You don’t have to soften it for me,” Fox didn’t hesitate for a moment. He placed his gloved hand atop hers. In comparison, his hands were simply big enough to cover her fists with his palms and extended fingers.
“It wasn’t that impossible to figure out, you know? Luis wanted me to have any attachment to this place. Maybe not to him, not the country I had to form part of in times of need, and maybe not through ‘intrafamilial’ new bonds. He wouldn’t use that to tie me, as it wouldn’t work. My file…”
“Yes, I know, you’re a horrible mess.” Sona smiled from the left corner of her mouth, as if directly pulled by the hooks from her heart, appearing even motherly. Fox nodded a bit before carrying on, “He wanted me to think of this place, and there was you.”
“Ah, so you’re saying my pussy is that attachable?” Sona smirked deviously. Fox looked at her face with wide open eyes… before bursting in laughter. His smile went from ear to ear, showing sunk, charming dimples, and a few tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
“Well,” after laughing it off with Fox, Sona smiled proudly. She held his wrist and placed it at the side before resting her chin against his right shoulder. “The way you talk about my brother. Don’t tell me you’re going to start respecting him? Don’t answer, I know the immediate answer right now, and for the next several months… But I’m not sure about later than that.”
With those meaning words, Fox blinked profusely as Sona concluded, “It started as an occupational hazard, but we ended it like this—. I wonder if he’ll fume, knowing he couldn’t make you mad like you’ve done to him— oh… so many times, mmhm hehe.”
Fox grinned really hard upon hearing that. Sona stood before him and accommodated his ordinary clothes, which didn’t need fixing. “Remember this, no matter what, against my brother, Lesly is your biggest ally, always. You’re pretty much alone and hold no value. Die now, and those whom ‘support’ you and your deeds will watch porn in an hour or bed their partners at night without a problem.”
Fox tilted his head at the crude but truthful words. She clearly cared about him. Sona spoke again before hugging him, burying the top of her head on his left chest, “But if you do more… Maybe there might, perhaps, be someone out there to mourn you. At least just a day… a year. You know?”
Then, Fox embraced her shoulders, hugging her back. He thought for some time before closing his eyes, leaning his face on her head as she hummed lightly; feeling comfort.
…
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Let It Rain's note: And here I thought the third volume would be like 30 chapters… =).