Chapter 151 - Leverage (2/2)

”I will definitely contact him. Thank you,” said Balthazar in surprise. He took his headgear and plugged it into an internet port as he sat down on a sofa. As he got online, he opened up his mail and followed up the link sent to him by Elias.

He ended up in the workshop that he had previously met with Elias and his team. Elias was immediately notified when Balthazar entered his workshop. He turned around and came to meet Balthazar.

”Hi kid, I am glad that you came to the place quickly. You on the plane?” asked Elias.

”Yes, I am. Richard just informed me that you wanted to meet,” answered Balthazar.

”Good. It is about the proposal that you came up with. I got a better method to get funds for this project,” said Elias. ”I came up with it after I heard about your guild and activities in the new game.”

”How did you get to know about that?” asked Balthazar in surprise.

”It was Ellie. She had tried out the game and told that your guild is doing well. It seems that you are quite famous in the game. Shadow Tyrant, right? How is it going?” asked Elias.

”Oh! She must have heard that Shadow Tyrant owned Crimson Realm and made the connection. In this way, anyone in the family would be able to make the connection,” thought Balthazar.

”She started playing the game as well? I hoped that she would contact have contacted me,” said Balthazar.

”I will suggest that, but she isn't one who likes to play the game a lot,” said Elias. ”She did ask me to call her once you visited and would probably be coming right now. It was actually her suggestion that allowed me to think of this. She says that the game is a good source of income and there are many who would put a lot of money into games. I have never been much into those things.”

”She is not wrong. The game is quite addictive and apart from just the experience of the game, we already have plans to participate in competitions and the like and a real-life experience in fights is quite useful in the game due to the nature of somnium tech. That is the reason for my fame,” said Balthazar.

”It is not just the gamer folk but a lot of people in different walks of like can make a living out here. It is quite a good source of income,” continued Balthazar.

”I am glad to hear that. Honestly speaking, I am not really sure about the amount you would earn and I know that you wouldn't be able to give me proper figures in these early days. I want to know that if we create a decent framework for the practice of your members, how much funds are you willing to appropriate to us?” asked Elias.

”That is a hard question to answer, right now,” said Balthazar nodding his head.

”Ellie seems to think that you would have sufficient funds without much issue. I had informed her of your proposal hoping that we could get her help temporarily, but she suggested that it is best to talk to you for this. She seems to think that you wouldn't have much issue with it,” said Elias.

”Well, she seems to be much more confident than me,” said Balthazar. Though he had an idea of the amount that was spent by super guilds in developing a proper training in virtual, he hadn't the slightest clue of the amount that would be required to support his own proposal.

”It is not that I am not willing to do it, but I actually have no idea how much you would need for this. I have a decent amount saved up,” said Balthazar.

”Hahaha. You are a colonel of the military. I can guess how much you have saved up. It surely isn't enough. I need ten professionals and they would take at least a million credits as their salary per month. I doubt that your savings would even pay for that. At the very least, I need at least five to start up with the proposal or the warframes before the competition,” said Elias waving his hand.

He didn't have much confidence to begin with. He had already asked Richard who told him that Roberts assets received from his parents and Walter was already vested in quite a few projects and he wouldn't be able to provide much in the short time that they had. But he was informed later that Robert was willing to put in his own savings that he made as a surgeon to support this, but it still wouldn't be enough.

”Don't worry. I just hoped that we could have a head start on this. I have already informed of your proposal to the elders council. It is just that some a few idiots are delaying the process because the suggestion came from you. They are using you and your past of leaving the family as an excuse. They won't be able to delay it for long. We will surely be able to simulate the other things that you asked like shooting,” he continued.

Balthazar quickly put his hand on Elias shoulder before the guy continued his talk which he found both undermining and irritating. ”I can do that. What else do you need?” he asked.

”You can provide ten million?” asked Elias in surprise. ”We also need equipment. People willing to test it and they would need hazard pay and all that. The total would at least be an amount of 50 million for the first month to start it up,” said Elias.

”Fine. I hope you can start it up soon enough. I will transfer you the amount immediately,” said Balthazar. He suddenly had a doubt. The guy only talked of things that would be required for the security proposal and nothing about training environment for the game. He had an amount of 70 million left from the amount he won in the challenge with Max. He thought of using it for this for training of guild members or at least start it up and would later have to provide funds from his earnings in the game.

”The 50 million would allow for creation of the training environment, too right?” asked Balthazar as the doubt popped up in his mind.

”Oh! I can't really give you a definite answer on that. All the things I mentioned was for your proposal and creating the warframes instances in samsara framework. It would be beneficial for the elder selection and the fact that you provided your own funds would also be advantageous to you. The fact that the proposal came from you along with the funds to develop it would limit the rights to your creation to you, Robert and myself. Even if the elder council wants to deploy it, they would have to consult us. Isn't it great? Even after Robert becomes an elder, he needs leverage to make effective use of that position,” said Elias with a cunning smile.

”Oh! You plan to use it as leverage for funds, right?” asked Balthazar immediately understanding Elias intentions. He had called for Balthazar mainly for this purpose. Funds are something that a researcher always required. Without them, he would stagnate and not able to progress much.

”You understand me well, young master, Balthazar,” replied Elias with a nod. ”As for the other thing, I don't know much about games to promise you such a thing, but I am sure Ellie would be able to help you. She is supposed to have been here by now.”