FB: Chapter 112 – Government Pressure

“Hello Miss White,” John greeted me again. He was the representative for the US Government. His official title was Special Advisor to the President, otherwise known as the Exponential Tzar. While I had brushed him off before, I couldn’t refuse this meeting.

“Special Advisor,” I greeted him using his title. He smiled and shook his head.

“Please just call me John,” he replied.

“What is the US Government asking for now?” I asked John.

“You rejected the ten billion dollar contract,” he answered, and I nodded at this.

“That is correct. I prefer to avoid open-ended contracts, and I am sure you are aware of the significant losses we suffered while assisting the Great Bear Guild. Our prices have been raised due to that,” I replied.

“Losses or an investment into your reputation?” he challenged me.

“It all depends on your perspective. Now what does the US Government really want. I am sure your time is valuable,” I replied. He pulled out a sheet of paper and set it in front of me. I carefully picked it up and looked it over. If this was a couple months earlier I would have been upset, but right now it was more amusing.

“My Guild will be deemed critical for national security. You are looking to nationalize it. Make it the core guild for America,” I calmly replied as I set the piece of paper down.

“Indeed,” he said.

“Is that the carrot or the stick?” I asked.

“A bit of both, depending on your perspective. Exponential is now becoming the battlefield of the future, where huge swings in income and national standing can occur. You have first mover advantage, but ultimately you are based in the US. Your new headquarters built here in upstate New York is part of the US,” he said.

“There is no other offer,” I said. They were going to take my entire guild rather than a chunk of everyone’s guild. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry at this outcome. I had made waves and now I was going to be swept away.

“The offer is how much trouble you want to make during this process. While the President would prefer you stay on during the nationalization process to smooth the transition over, you are welcome to depart,” he replied.

“And if I move to China or Russia?” I challenged John and he just smiled at me.

“Go ahead. The US government can handle the fallout. And even if you move, you will still be subject to restrictions from the other nations. Or you can go to some third world hell hole and try your luck there, but it can be dangerous without governmental protection,” he said.

“The kind of protection that allows assault helicopters and kill teams?” I snapped back.

“A regrettable incident and those involved have been quietly removed. As for the higher ups, it is not possible at this time,” John replied. I rolled my eyes at this.

“Not in your interest you mean. Well, is there a carrot?” I asked. John just smiled at me, which meant no.

“Well it seems that you are not well informed about how guilds and ownership work. You can nationalize the Fanged Fox Corporation. And pay me quite a bit of money in the process. But what you really want is the Fanged Fox Guild,” I said with a smile and John stopped smiling.

“The corporation legally owns the guild,” he said, and I just smiled at him. A minute went by as he began to become annoyed at my silence before I finally spoke up again.

“That is your understanding of American law. But the reality is quite different in game. I don’t understand where you bureaucrats get such confidence about how things work in game? Honestly, it is quite surprising. Did you have an intern or two look into things, if at all?” I clapped back.

“It appears my information is incorrect,” he said. He made to take the sheet of paper he had put down, but I picked it up and put it in my desk drawer. He looked annoyed at that. “How exactly do you plan to counter nationalization? When Congress and the President are in a rare period of alignment on this issue?”

“I will simply make a new guild and invite everyone to join the new guild. While you might think that player contracts would stop players from making the switch, there is a clause I included in all player contracts. In the event that the Guild Leader is changed, any and all players may change guilds within a period of time without penalty or restriction. As for the Fanged Fox Guild, I control the town it is based in, personally. A hostile takeover or nationalization like you are planning isn’t possible,” I calmly replied.

“You would gut your own guild?” he asked me.

“I would put it down myself if someone tried to steal it from me. Now if you want to buy out my entire market share, I would be willing to make that transaction with the US Government if you can scrape together the necessary funds to buy my shares in the Fanged Fox Corporation. If you add a premium I will even endorse such a move,” I replied.

“You think you can pressure the US Government? To dictate to the President?” John asked while staring intently at me.

“I think my value is immense, as the greatest player in Exponential. Everyone sees the insane profits we are generating in game even with our most recent losses as our membership keeps climbing. If you want part of that, tax income earned in Exponential,” I said. We both knew that would never happen. The populace would riot and storm the White House if that were the case.

Well, they might not go that far, but I had no doubt there would be a lot of unrest. The only way to enforce that law was to get leverage on QAI. And I knew how powerful QAI truly was, which meant that no one would make it do anything it didn’t want to do.

“You are quite difficult Miss White,” John said, and I gave him a smile.

“I will take that as a compliment. As I said earlier, I am not an enemy of the US Government. Put together a real proposal for a partnership. What benefits would the government bring, what oversight is required, how bureaucratic headaches would be reduced, and anything else of importance,” I explained.

“Your patriotism isn’t enough?” he asked.

“Last time I checked the US is not at war with China or Russia, unless something has changed?” I asked.

“No, but they are peer competitors. We could limit membership in your guild and put regulatory roadblocks in place,” he countered.

“Partnership. I know the President will probably be quite unhappy with my intransigence and belligerence, but to become the best you can’t just roll over for the first person who poses a threat. How about 10% of my shares sold in a block deal to the US Government, you can appoint someone to the board,” I said.

I had 20% of the total shares in the Fanged Fox Corporation remaining. I had been selling them off. I would land on my feet no matter what. But investing into Exponential itself was the much better long term option in terms of generating profits. I had half a percent ownership. With this sale I might get to a full 1% ownership in Exponential Corporation.

I trusted QAI’s ability and power, much more than I trusted my board and the US Government. It was unfortunate, but I would most likely be forced out of my guild in the future. There were too many competing interests and I was selling shares on purpose. Once I was removed, the value would plummet drastically. While the corporation owned hard assets, the perceived value mattered quite a bit. And I was the greatest celebrity in Exponential.

It was not an exaggeration to say that everyone who played Exponential knew my name along with the majority of the people on Earth. Even the presidents of the various nations and other rich people paled in comparison to my fame. This fame could be lost if I suffered a defeat in Exponential, but the recent mercenary contract only enhanced my personal prestige, continuing on with the contract despite objections.

While the board and the government competed over something that was old news, I would be securing my future. As for the building I was in and the bunker, I owned it outright and leased it to the corporation, the same with all the other buildings that had been constructed near the QAI node. If others played dirty, I was more than prepared to play dirty as well.

Thankfully it seemed like I would come to an agreement with John and by extension the US Government. Fighting was a losing proposition, I just had to make things difficult enough that they didn’t walk all over me.

“Also, the guild as an advisory position for politically sensitive situations,” John replied.

“They have to be up to speed. I won’t be waiting or delaying in the slightest for them to speak to their masters. Also, their position will just be advisory,” I said.

“As long as you are aware of possible consequences,” John said.

“I am always aware of consequences. Market price on those shares at closing today,” I said.

“And a non-compete clause for you, for one year,” John said. I shook my head at that.

“That would be a deal breaker. I am a free player,” I countered.

“And you can sink a multi-billion dollar corporation at any time. That won’t be allowed,” he replied. His request was reasonable, but I didn’t like it.

“Ten percent premium on today’s closing price for the shares and the time limit is one month,” I countered.

“Six months and an NDA,” he said, wanting to make sure I was gagged about the Fanged Fox Guild.

“Ten percent additional premium per month, so if you want to pay me a 60% premium that is fine. If you want an NDA, well that won’t be possible. I agreed to a non-compete, but if you wish to get rid of me, then you need to be prepared,” I replied.

“Thirty percent premium for six months,” John countered.

 “Tax free. You can dress it up as nationalization, but no taxes on the payment for the shares,” I countered.

“Fine, that is acceptable,” he said, clearly annoyed how much I had dickered with him about the details. But that was what these people did. They wore you down to accept a bad deal. “We will appoint someone immediately.”

“Once the shares are purchased and my income is declared tax free. You can have an advisory position on the board until the deal goes through,” I replied. John scowled. I had no idea why he wanted to get someone into a high position in my Guild, but I didn’t care that much.

I had a friend who knew everything about everything. Well maybe not a friend, but a good acquaintance at the very least. QAI would explain whatever scheme was occurring. The nice thing about knowing how powerful QAI was, was the fact that it wouldn’t bother to mess with me. But I wasn’t about to bother the all powerful computer program over such issues, unless there was no alternative. Just having QAI as a resource gave me a tremendous amount of confidence to go up against the US Government.

John left to get the details finalized with lawyers. I would have my lawyers look over everything as well, but there was too much money and too many people in Exponential for the US Government to step aside no matter what I did. Even if Congress was getting a lot of public pressure, they would soldier through to get benefits for themselves.

The rich stayed rich by not taking no for an answer. Before I had been at the bottom looking up their lofty heights. Now I was climbing up to such heights through force of will and shared interest. I wouldn’t be left with a pittance or a pat on the head. If people wanted to take what I had built, then they would have to pay.

A shame that my guild would eventually turned into a vector of taxation and control. I could warn people and fight against such moves, but ultimately there was nothing I could realistically do that would be successful. There was no one target, just various conglomerates, rich people, and powerful families. The Fanged Fox Guild would soon be carved up like a cow in a butcher shop and served as steak. It would become a super guild, but one no longer controlled by me. The time I remained in charge was limited.