FB: Chapter 110 – Fallout

I listened as the board debated on my actions at our new company headquarters in upstate New York. Most were on video call instead of here in person. A change to the corporate rules. But I didn’t mind. I wasn’t going to travel myself, due to the risk.

“Are you even listening to us?” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud asked me. I hated the man but couldn’t do anything about him just yet, but plans were already in motion. I might be the most powerful player in game, but in the real world, I was quite helpless until very recently. Money could buy a surprising number of things when you had enough of it.

“You are all upset by me taking the drops and the loss of money in accepting the contract. My response is what I told you already, I did the killing, so I get the drops. As for the loss from the contract, we now have a reason to justify our sky high prices. While reputation is a bit harder to pin down, we are now known for completing our contracts no matter what, even when difficult,” I stated.

“And you think that is enough to offset the loss of over 3,000 platinum? Do you like gifting money to Russia?” another board member asked with a glare.

“No. But the NPC response was greater than expected. A high level team was dispatched to counter our presence. Still, that is an excuse. As the guild leader, I made the decision that our reputation was more important. Our victory will leave a deep impression that will protect us for quite a while. Allowing time for growth and to recruit the most skilled applicants. Our internal polling shows that guild satisfaction has increased after our victory. People like being on the winning team, and we need to recruit wide swathes of people to fund the guild. Consider it a customer acquisition cost if you want to put a budgetary term on the expense,” I explained.

People liked being part of the winning guild. While nationality and other factors played a factor in the guild people joined, there was a large group of people that could pick any guild. Those people who did grunt work, grinding out levels and money, and giving a chunk of that to the guild for the chance to wear our uniform.

And one thing people liked doing was picking a winner who didn’t back down. That was reputation was far more important than these people might realize. If I had backed out of the contract, then my reputation and the guild’s reputation would have taken a hit, impacting our long term stability.

“And you acted recklessly, costing over twenty billion dollars. Twenty billion,” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud repeated. Everyone went quiet at the amount. It wasn’t pocket change. Everyone looked at me for a response.

“I feel that the money was well spent. While all of you clench up at the thought of spending that much in a contract, you better buckle up unless you plan to replace me as Guild Leader and Lead Champion. I will not be micromanaged or wait for approval. I understand your concern, but I made the decision in full knowing how much would be spent,” I said while looking at the board members present and teleconferencing. I held up a hand to stop any of them from speaking as I continued.

“That is the problem the large corporate and government guilds are going to face. Being able to react quickly and winning. If you think you can do better, then replace me. Just be aware, you could appoint a corporate suit in my place and the guild would collapse,” I stated.

“We aren’t looking to replace you, we are looking to reign in your reckless actions,” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud declared. What a hypocrite, but I didn’t let my emotions show on my face. Even if I had proof, these people wouldn’t care. They only cared about money and their personal interests.

“That is the learning curve of having a guild as a business. Time was our enemy, now we are positioned strongly for the future. Being hesitant or wanting to sign off on my actions would defeat the purpose of having me lead the guild and being able to pivot quickly,” I stated clearly.

Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud gave me a small grin. Everything before had just been the foreplay. Now he was going to straight for the jugular. I had no doubt he had worked everything out ahead of time for whatever he had planned.

“What about a Guild Sanction? If we wish to expand the Guild beyond a million members, that is required. While you might have done well previously, your recent missteps and the issues with the Human Emperor make getting such an item impossible,” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud stated. Like a dog that had learned one trick, he seemed quite proud of his in game knowledge. Everyone turned their attention back to me.

Another weak point that he was striking at. “A Guild Sanction has many complications associated with it. Getting one won’t be simple, even for other guilds. Let me explain to those might not be familiar with a Guild Sanction. Its purpose allows a Guild to have more than a million members. Right now we have a Guild Charter, which I earned, allowing us to have up to a million members,” I explained.

“To get a Guild Sanction one needs ten thousand platinum, five nobles as part of the guild, an upper noble at or above the rank Earl. It goes Lord, Baron, Viscount, Count, Earl, Marquis, and Duke. I am currently a Viscountess, two ranks below the rank of Earl. Such a rank grants control of a city, which is complicated because all cities in the Human Empire have NPCs controlling them. Finally an Imperial Quest must be completed, since all Guild Sanctions come from the Human Emperor,” I explained.

“And your relationship with him is quite poor, isn’t it?” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud.

“His relationship is poor with anyone who enters his line of sight. As the most prominent player in Exponential, I have been an easy target, but that is in the past. The Guild Sanction might seem difficult, but there are steps one can take to make the requirements much easier, including the Imperial Quest,” I explained.

“And what steps are those?” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud.

“Secret,” I replied with a smile, and I could see the rage in his eyes. “Since many of you own shares or are part of countries with guilds of their own, this is considered information that I will not be sharing with this board. Just be aware that I have a plan to attain a Guild Sanction,” I replied. I didn’t have a plan, but I would come up with one. It wouldn’t be that hard and I needed a piece of bait, since meetings were no longer being held in person.

“Unacceptable. I call for a vote, for this information to be evaluated with the board,” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud said. I rolled my eyes and didn’t hold back.

“Go ahead. Vote. If you dare. I am amending the vote to also include my forced resignation as Guild Leader and Lead Champion as part of it,” I declared.

“You can’t do that!” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud said.

“You will find that out as Guild Leader and CEO, I can amend votes. While I will recuse myself from voting as was agreed on, I can amend the votes if I so desire. If you want to sink everything to get the information, then go ahead,” I said with an intense stare.

The silence stretched out while everyone waited to see which one of us would blink first and back down. I knew it wasn’t going to be me. I was content with walking away. What I wouldn’t do was be controlled and manipulated in a way that I didn’t accept by a person who had tried to have me killed. A death of a thousand cuts was worse in many ways to an immediate death. But sometimes one had to take a step back to get revenge.

“Very well,” I said, giving in first. I was very careful to manage my expression to show frustration and anger. Both emotions were true, but not in the way this piece of human excrement expected. “I would be willing to meet you in New York City to discuss my plans for a Guild Sanction in person.” I made it seem like each word was like pulling nails out of my soul.

Everyone was looking at me with either disappointment or greed. They thought I was weak, and I was sure that Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud would try to capitalize on their opportunity. That was his mistake, thinking that since I was a young woman, I was weak and foolish.

If he actually had any intelligence in his brain, he would know to refuse. One does not become the top player without determination and strong mindset. The immersion settings had hardened my mind. The Murk Swamp had burnt out any sympathy for those who weren’t willing to work hard themselves.

He only saw a weak young girl. He wanted to dominate me. To show me he was smarter and better. Just like he had done with Beth. I had seen people like this all the time in my past. Now the tables were about to be reversed. I was Foxy Blight and no one tried to kill me and killed my friend without consequences.

“Very well. I will make this sacrifice in order to build a bridge of understanding,” Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud declared. He was clearly grandstanding, but that was fine. With his agreement everything was in place.

It was amusing that the twenty billion I had lost and he was complaining about was the price of his head. As long as it could be purchased with money, then it wasn’t a problem that couldn’t be solved. Exponential was coming to dominate the real world. This lack of understanding would take time to manifest in the minds of these individuals. But their loss was my opportunity.

The meeting soon ended, and Anthony looked over at me. I considered him carefully. It was time to let him know what assassination attempts and blackmail earned. “I would like you to travel with me for that meeting. I have no doubt he will drag it out as far as possible, but that is fine. I am in no rush either,” I said.

“I am surprised you gave in so easily,” Anthony said. I shook my head.

“One step backwards to take ten steps forward. You will understand in time. Just be patient and you will see how I handle things. It will be quite enlightening,” I explained.

“I will make sure to keep my calendar clear for that day,” Anthony said. I liked the man, but he was the type that needed a casual reminder to not cross me. Even if we parted ways. Also he had been with me since the beginning, I also felt it was poetic to have a mob boss character see my plan come togeather. It was one thing fighting legally with business, but with his connections he might get ideas. Better to help him get rid of such ideas before they took root.

Once people saw weakness, they would pounce. He was waiting to see what would happen with my first misstep, but this was not a misstep. Doing the most optimal move would not always lead to the most optimal long-term situation. One had to create a perception of imbalance, to take advantage of an over extension. A feint to create an opening and then smash my opponent into the ground without mercy.