FB: Chapter 16 – Rich Person

“Hello Mister Loan Shark,” I said once I had stepped away from the two high level contractors I had been speaking with.

“Miss Short Sell,” the man greeted me back in a friendly and slightly teasing tone. “I wish to call upon you for a favor.”

“If I am not mistaken, I have already paid my loan back and fee, so you want a favor from me?” I asked this question to confirm our relationship with each other. I had no idea what this man wanted, but if he was calling me then it wasn’t for a social chat. He hesitated for a long moment after my question. Clearly, he wanted to put pressure on me, but I was legally and morally clear of him, and there was no room for him to complain since I had paid him back in full and before the deadline.

“Depending on how things go, then yes. I have several people interested in Exponential and are looking into the game. They wanted an expert to discuss things over with,” he said. Before I wouldn’t have been that interested, but since I was going all in on the guild idea, this opportunity had potential.

“Investing in Exponential isn’t cheap if you want to do it properly. How much were you looking to invest?” I asked.

“Money is not so much a concern, but how we are going to get returns on that investment,” Suited Loan Shark replied.

“There are ways I know how a large organization can make money in Exponential while the opportunities are still available, but then that wouldn’t be a small favor,” I said.

“We would need to work out the specifics and have a face to face meeting. How soon can you be available?”

“The day after tomorrow late in the afternoon,” I said while thinking over my schedule. We made arrangements. After the call ended, I went online and arranged a car service to pick me up a short distance from the meeting location and drop me off. Thankfully my pantsuit was high enough quality for this type of meeting. I would sleep in my car on the way down to the meeting and on the way back. I couldn’t afford time out of Exponential.

Two days later I pulled up in a sleek black car to the meeting point while the driver went around and opened my door at the restaurant the meeting was being held in. Suited Loan Shark was waiting for me outside. We greeted each other and then he escorted me in.

The entire restaurant was empty and there was a single man sitting at a table. Suited Loan Shark took a seat at another table off to the side clearly not part of the discussion and only acting as an intermediary for the big boss at the table. The middle aged man in a high quality custom suit got up and offered his hand.

“Please call me Antonio,” the man said.

“Then you must call me April,” I replied, giving my first name. He pulled out my seat and I sat down. He then sat back down as well.

“I hope this sudden meeting wasn’t too much of a hassle,” he said.

“Not when it involves business. I take such things very seriously,” I replied.

“My associate says you are familiar with Exponential. How much progress have you made?” he asked.

“You clearly want to know the level of my character, but that is the wrong way to look at progress. Instead, I will say that I have earned over twenty million experience,” I replied. He frowned at that for a moment. “While numbers offer clear benchmarks, a high level at the start isn’t always the best thing, with how experience and skills work.”

“A nuanced answer, interesting,” he replied. He snapped his fingers and a waiter came over. I stuck to water despite the offered wine and the recommended pasta.

“No wine? There are several good vintages,” Anthony suggested.

“I prefer to have a clear head while dealing with business,” I replied, and he chuckled.

“Some alcohol does help lubricate things to a smoother completion,” he countered with a smile.

“But perhaps the completion is a bit too fast and a mess is made,” I replied back, and his smile grew wider. I could pick up on the subtext of his speech. It was a bit silly, but clearly he wanted to see how quickly I could think on my feet.

“I am looking to get into Exponential. The opportunities there appear to be quite lucrative. You mentioned you know how to generate a lot of returns from inside the game?”

“Yes. It all depends on the level of cooperation and investment you want. I am happy to sell you what I know for fifty million dollars. Or you can invest with me, and I would be willing to sell a small percentage of my future guild in exchange for my knowledge and setting up a larger group of people in game,” I replied.

“You certainly have brass balls to ask for that much,” he replied while leaning back and looking at me.

“I am asking too little in my mind. But I would prefer to work together. No great undertaking has ever been completed by a single person,” I replied confidently.

“What would cooperation look like exactly?” he asked.

“Fifty million for ten percent of my guild, two officer level positions, and one hundred dedicated capsule spots for your people in my capsule complex that is being built,” I replied.

“Capsule complex?” he asked with curiosity.

“An apartment type building designed to work well with capsules. Anti-vibration and other features are needed to ensure maximum immersion. Ground is already being cleared for the first one. I plan to build at least hundred, each one being able to house two hundred people,” I explained.

“For only ten percent a bit low, I would think more like seventy percent,” he replied.

“The money while nice, will only speed things up slightly. I also don’t plan to sell any more shares of my guild if possible. Also, those hundred people would be earning money in game. How you sell and arrange those slots would be up to you. That fifty million investment on your end, just covers their capsules,” I replied.

“Aren’t they only 200,000?” he asked.

“And you won’t see a capsule for 3 years at that price. They need to be ordered at the platinum level, set up on anti-vibration pads, with a high bandwidth internet connection. It isn’t just the capsule but everything around it. The most useful thing you are bringing to the table are your employees,” I replied.

“Why upstate New York? That doesn’t seem like a useful place to build this capsule complex. Why not a city?” he asked. I considered that question and how I should respond. I couldn’t say I knew the future.

“Inside information. I can’t share my source, but there is a very high chance a QAI node will be built in the area at a later date. Consider that tidbit a small show of good faith,” I replied.

“I see. And the officer positions? I think I would rate higher than that,” he said with a teasing smile.

“These are not fluff positions. They require real work from competent people. As for a Vice Leader position, that isn’t something I will be handing out. I need to see how competent someone is first. Even if I had a billion dollars, my planned guild will struggle against the major players out there. Governments, large corporations, and billionaires. Being able to navigate such pressures and being able to trust an individual to know what to do, are the key requirements for being a Vice Leader in my guild,” I replied.

Food was brought out. I had ordered the same as Anthony, some kind of pasta dish. “The kind of money you are talking about isn’t pocket change,” he said as we both began to eat.

“It isn’t. But you have to spend money to make money. A month from now, this offer won’t be on the table,” I replied.

“And how does a young woman like yourself know so much and have such confidence?” he asked.

“It is succeed or die in my mind. Either I will grasp my future, or I will end up dead. And I don’t plan to die. I know it won’t be easy, but that is why I am putting in the work, 12 hours a day. After this lovely dinner, I will be driving right back and getting back into Exponential. For me, problems that can be solved with money, aren’t really problems,” I explained. Anthony chuckled at that.

“If only my own children had half your passion and moxy. And if I wanted to invest more, let’s say half a billion, what would be your offer then?” he asked. I considered the question. I couldn’t tell if he was toying with me, or testing me, or both.

“Forty percent of the guild, Vice Leader position, four officer positions, and a third of the capsule positions for your people,” I said.

“Your valuations seem to be all over the place, and not even half?” he asked.

“I am not going to be cut out of my own guild that I plan to build, and I need the remaining ten percent for future situations that might arise. As for the valuation, it is incredibly high. If we are looking at a three year projection, in the first three months, I have earned a platinum, which is 20 million dollars approximately at the current exchange rate.” I took a short breath before continuing.

“That is with me being the only member of my guild at the moment. Extended out over three years, that is 240 million. But my income will only increase in the future, not decrease, even when the exchange rate goes down. My offer at fifty million was made due to short term plans that could be smoothed out by the influx of money and people. But if you want to get serious about investing in me and my guild, then I am giving you a very generous offer,” I replied.

“Oh, I was mistaken about the brass balls before. They are pure diamond. To say that you are offering me a deal at that price,” he replied.

“If I wanted to live off the money I already made, I could have done it. But I was right twice before and am pulling out considerable money from the game to fuel my plans, which slows me down. While I want help, I am not desperate for help either. If you don’t want to join me Anthony, that is your choice,” I replied.

“Not many people would be willing to turn down half a billion,” he said.

“Not many people are in my position where they consider that a small amount while not having it themselves,” I countered. He inclined his head towards me, and we ate our dinner. Once we were done and the plates cleared away, I could tell he was still thinking everything over.

“Very well. I will invest with you. Five hundred million, for forty percent,” he replied. I had to contain my shock at that statement. I didn’t think he would accept my offer. “While I might not know much about Exponential, I can tell when someone has confidence they will make a lot of money.”

“Thank you for the chance to make us both quite rich,” I replied. A second meeting was arranged two days from now. We would both be bringing our respective lawyers to lay the foundations for a deal.