Chapter 140 - Contact from Walter (2/2)
”Hey! How much did you managed to get on the first of a completely new business which isn't related to your actual occupation? I am pretty sure that I could get more if I decided to set up a security provision group, but I can't do it as long as I am a member of the armed forces,” said Balthazar.
”Hmph! We can talk about it later, then. Come to my office. We can have dinner here,” said Winston ending his call. He was still unconvinced, but he knew that this wasn't the way to get his grandson to give it up.
”Ah! He still has time. He has enough money if he wants for now or even if anything happens to me, he still has John's inheritances to get through temporarily,” thought Winston as he decided to concentrate on the matter at hand.
”He is really confident about that game, isn't he,” said Arthur as he was sitting opposite Winston and heard everything.
”Ya. I don't understand this sudden interest in games.”
”You know he never had a proper chance to try out what he wanted. His parents' death might have changed his priorities and didn't give him a proper chance to explore his interests the usual way most kids do,” said Arthur.
”I never thought of that. He had always been a bit mature and calm about most things,” said Winston as he also thought about it.
”Let him try it out. It is nothing big, if he successful, it is another source of money, else he would sooner or later realize that he isn't suited for it. It is not like he is pouring a lot of money to sustain it right? Whatever money he put in, he got it more than that when he won the challenge with Max,” said Arthur. ”He has made a profit off it, whichever way I look at it. I believe you can let him off for a year at least.”
”Yes. I guess so,” said Winston. Arthur's reasoning had convinced him more than his own thoughts. ”I guess I was too close to it to realize that he had done a reasonable work at it.”
The buzzer at his door had rung and he could see that Balthazar had already reached the office while they were talking about him. ”Well, let us keep the talk limited to only the trial tomorrow, not Walter's message or anything else.”
Currently, most the family and the members of table of Ouroboros were preparing for action. Walter had managed to contact them with the information that they best prepare for a fight. Rupert had managed to get some information about Asuragana ShouryaPrasad who currently is in liaison with the knights of the old republic and is governing the actions of Nirbaadh pirates at the top.
Walter just told them that they had to be prepared for action as Rupert suspects that he might be coming to meet Asuragana Ranapratap and Dharmapratap. So, it was considered a very good chance to capture and probably even get some information about the knights' bases, etc. Even Evelyn Price and Harvey Price were informed, and they had a bunch of trusted high-ranking military personnel on alert.
Walter was also informed about the situation with Robert and Balthazar to which he simply requested someone to be on the same planet observing them from a distance in case any unexpected forces attack. Other than that, he didn't talk anything about them. Arthur was one of the elders of the table of Ouroboros who was closer to both Winston and Walter and was co-ordinating their efforts.
”Ah! Come in, Balthazar,” said Winston opening the door. ”So, what brings you here?”
”I wanted to..” started Balthazar but then noticed that Arthur was seated in the room. ”If you guys are busy, we can reschedule.”
”Oh! We were just chatting. Come in,” said Arthur. ”I wanted to talk to you too. How are you doing?” he asked as he got off his chair and pulled Balthazar in.
”I am fine, Arthur. I just wanted to catch up with Winston over dinner,” said Balthazar looking at Arthur awkwardly. He couldn't say that he wanted to know his grandfathers experience or that he was asking for tips as that would be unethical as the person had to learn about these themselves and not ask people who had already gone through it. So, he chose to deceive with the dinner excuse as Winston had already invited him for it and hoped that Arthur would leave him alone with his grandfather.
”Good! Winston has just invited me for dinner too. Let us talk. How is your new organization faring? The Dreamz Cyber Space? right?” asked Arthur seating himself back.
”It is actually going pretty good. The new somnium tech has brought a bunch of new customers. It requires high speeds compared to the common home connections for a good experience in gaming. So, it is actually going better than I expected.”
”Heard that you also have set up a gaming workshop? How is that?” queried Arthur.
As Balthazar started to explain about it a small alarm rang at Winston's desk. Winston quickly check it and his expression became much more serious. It was an alarm from Walter. It was a rare alarm that would be sent to Winston in case the other was in mortal danger.
”Bel. Arthur know why you are here. He intends to help. Arthur will contact you via those new headgear while you are on your plane. I can't tell you mine as I am the Patriarch and some idiots might try to subjugate me if they find out,” said Winston in a serious tone. ”Get out. Have dinner at the hall.”
Arthur also looked confused and concerned at the alarm and the sudden change in Winston's mood As Balthazar went out of the room, he immediately went beside Walter to check what message he got. He was shocked on looking at the alert. It was sent to all parties currently involved in the mission including the Price siblings and even members of the armed forces.
He found it hard to believe that Walter with all his experience had been in such a situation. He believed it impossible without the other party being tipped off by someone of their actions. Yet, it seemed unlikely as Walter wouldn't select the alert that informed everyone. But the most confusing and alarming thing was not the alert but the message that accompanied it.
”STAY CLEAR FROM THE UNHINDERED. EXTREME DANGER.”
Apart from that, Winston also received a small mail indicating him to send someone to him at a safe location. Apart from that, Walter requested the person to be sent to be his predecessor, Daniel who headed the table of Ouroboros before Walter. Daniel stays most of the time in seclusion counting his last few days. Asking him to meet was completely unexpected as that would imply a secret that couldn't even be told to Winston and even Walter isn't sure how to act on it.
”What the f.u.c.k happened? Why Daniel thought?” thought Winston but he quickly contacted the old man and informed him.
”I don't know what happened, but I think we best keep our calm and do as he suggests. I will inform the others that I have sent reinforcements for Walter at a safe place and they needn't worry for his safety,” said Winston as he started to compose a mail for the others.
”Tell them that he is still injured and will inform the others about what happened. If he called for Daniel, it is definitely something that we can't let the others know. We need to give them time for a story,” said Arthur. ”I hope that the knights are not planning anything crazy again.”