Chapter 15 - Seeing Max again. (1/2)
Having left to the Vulcan mining Co. that just came into his name, just after his breakfast, Balthazar was quite early to the board of directors meet. It was still an hour before the stipulated time.
He decided to have a look through their operations and understand what they were involved in and how they could improve. A quick look through the doc.u.ments provided by Alfred gave him a clear picture of it.
They were only involved in handling the mines and ores and production of raw ingots, smelting and refining activities. They have access to large number of mines over few moons and planets in their solar system and a few neighboring ones.
”Supervision of mining operation can be used as an excuse to visit a large number of celestial bodies nearby,” thought Balthazar. He also noticed that a few attempts were made previously to collaborate and compete with other firms in metal fabrication, steel making, etc., but were unsuccessful.
All in all, it was quite successful with a high production and getting an yearly revenue of more than 200000 million credits. Of it more than 70 % was retained as profit, making it a prosperous company.
The board soon convened for the meeting. The most part of the meeting was to introduce him to the board. He learned that majority of the shareholders of the firm joined it when their own firms were bought and merged into the firm.
The recent tussle at the frontier caused a natural surge in improvement of war efforts, increasing weapons production requirements and in turn any mining industry would see more opportunities. The meet continued to discuss a few plans toward these efforts before being dismissed at lunch time.
He immediately boarded a shuttle home and had his lunch in route. He was very excited about meeting Rudra. The previous day, he hired a service to clean up the upper floor of his complex which were abandoned.
It took nearly two hours for the travel back home. He immediately met with Rudra and team and they went to the complex in his hover car. He hadn't seen it before either. They soon reached the street in which the complex was.
Being the market street, it was quite crowded. The complex was a bit toward the far end of the street which was bad. But right beside it was a famous restaurant. The main issue they noticed was that the cyber drome was probably within a kilometer radius from the complex and would be their competition.
”It has more than enough space,” said Slaine as he got into the complex.
”Yes, enough for about 50 spaces for common V.R. consoles on each of the three floors and also for a few VR interactive rooms,” said Rudra walking around.
”The internet coverage is quite good in these streets and the same for power supply.”
”I can see only two thing which might cause an issue. One is that our space is from second floor to 4th and the only entrance is from the first floor or the lift. It is just a convenience issue. Second, it is quite close to cyber drome. They have been popular for ages now.”
”You are always worried about the silliest things, Lizzie,” said Rudra.
”Yeah. Those aren't even problems. We are getting out of cyber drome. So, it will oppose us wherever we set up shop. And we can always have a couple of detachable escalators setup by the sides of the entrance on the ground. Those are easily operable, and we can maintain them ourselves,” said Slain calming his sister's worries.
”Yes, we also publicize our shop a bit before the opening, set up a discount on the first few days to rake up customers,” added Harry.
”I will get the equipment required. My cousin can get them at a discount,” said Nancy. She had a brother working as a shift manager at a supermarket nearby.
”We first need to make a proper list of all the items that we need and decide a proper and viable floor plan. We need to have it done for at least for the main floor and can decide on the remaining two later,” said Lizzy.
”Yes, we need to do that first sit down and decide on that.”
”I can also get the required stuff from the electronics and electrical store below. He rents my complex. I can see if I can get some discount off him.”
”Cool! We also need a proper name for the cyber cafe. Something catchy and interesting,” continued Balthazar.
”How about the Bel's Cafe.”
”That's a horrible name,” said Balthazar before anyone else could comment on it.
”Cafe V.R.?”
”That already exists and is quite well-known franchise. We would be sued,” said Rudra. ”We need to make sure it is not already in use.”
”Maaan! That reduces the options by a lot.”
”How about cyber club?”
”Exists”
”V.R. club? V.R. lounge? Cyber lounge?”
”Let me check? Exist, exist and yeah, exists,” replied Rudra.
”How about Dreams Cyber Space?” asked Balthazar referring to Rudra's shop's name that he remembered.
”That is possible. Dreams with Z, Dreamz,” said Lizzie.
”Ok. Then, the name is Dreamz Cyber Space. No issues?”
”Yes. Let us stick to it.”
”If we can open it up by 21st, we can sync it along with the release of vita nova,” added Lizzie.
”I thought the game was going to be release on February 1st,” said Balthazar.
”Oh, that is the main game. They are bringing their bio-feedback equipment to operation from 21st. Most of the V.R. features, like the V.R. hubs, online shopping, etc., other than the games can be done from 21st itself. They want to let the people have an interactive experience without using console before the game is launched.”
”Wow, that is quite considerate of the company.”
”You don't know?”
”What?”
”There is a rumor that this is actually tech made by Scions of Minerva for bio-feedback warframes. But they are having trouble to make a bio-warframe that can perfectly mimic humans. There seems to be some kind of espionage of the tech by the V.R. company.”
”Yeah, I also heard something similar. It was that it is being used by military for warframe training.”
”No. There is no such training on warframes in the military,” said Balthazar putting an end to the gossip.
”Let us stick to the task at hand. Before all that, we need more manpower. Any flier or advertis.e.m.e.nts must include that.”
”Furniture should also be taken care of. Some food and drinks too.”
”Wait you guys. Before all that we need to do a bit of financial planning. Bel is our sponsor here. How much can you put in right now?”
”I can spare up to 50 million credits right now,” said Balthazar. He had received more than 500 million as his inheritance plus he also saved up to 20 million in his service. But he couldn't place all his money into the cyber cafe.
”Oh! We might be a bit underfunded,” said Lizzie. They have already had plans of going independent before and made enough calculation. They need at least 70 million to have a decent start by her estimates.
”No. No. No. You are adding up the rent of the complex too in your calculations. We get that for free. We can have the first floor up and running by 21st,” corrected Rudra.
”Well, submit your resignations to David. We start work right now,” said Lizzie pulling in Slaine and Rudra with her.
They immediately submitted their resignations to cyber drome and started to work on the floor plan. In an hour, they managed to confirm on a proper plan and list of equipment required for the cyber cafe.
Balthazar transferred the 50 million amount to Rudra and left them as he had to report to Salazar by 5 p.m. today. Every one of them had distributed the work among themselves and proceeded with it. They wanted to setup the shop before tonight so they could start on publicizing from the next day.
Balthazar left them and quickly made his way to the mansion. After reaching it, he quickly made his way to the hall. He met Robert there who seemed to be waiting for someone.
”Hi Robert. How are you holding up?”
”I could do better. Heard that Max is going to be coming to asklepian today.”
”You waiting to get a look at him?”
”No, it probably would be night by the time he comes. I am waiting for Walter.”
”Oh! I need to talk him too. I will sit along with you here.”
A few minutes later both Walter and Salazar came together from the dining hall. They immediately noticed both Robert and Balthazar were chatting together on a couch. As soon as Balthazar saw Walter, he directly went to talk to him. He wanted a talk with him for a long time.
”Hi Walter, can I talk to you in private for a moment?”
”Come with me,” he gestured to Balthazar.
”You too,” called Walter to Robert.
Walter along with the three of them went to the sixth floor of the east wing. They went into the Patriarch's room as Salazar waited outside. Winston was waiting for them inside.
”Finally, here,” said Winston as they came inside.
”What is this about?” asked Balthazar looking at them.
”Max had been summoned to come to the mansion by tonight.”
”Robert told me.”
”If he comes back, I need you both to be calm and not let out any signs that we suspect him.”
”That's a given,” replied Robert.