Chapter 448

“Get a loan,” Mel said, hands behind her head. "Then you don't need these people."

"The government already made offers to set us up with Bank Negara."

"You want to use them? Terrible rates and the government will know everything you have," Casey said. "Prime Bank can-"

"Know everything you do, if you have accounts with them," Rick said. "And neither are international. You should use a bank with international branches, especially if you're expanding."

"Malaysia tak ada such banks lah. Not local. And the rest are run by Guilds or bigger Clans," Casey replied. "HSBC, Hong Leong, OCBC.. all kena bayar lah."

"Stop that. I know you can speak properly," Rick growled at Casey.

"But it makes you mad, ah? This is why you shouldn't use the American." 

"Enough!" Arthur growled at the bickering pair. "I already told you both, we're here to finish up the deal. What you can offer, how much for the percentage you get. Understand, I'm never selling you all more - so whatever you get is the max percentage at 10 and 15. That's it."

"If anything, we dilute you later," Mel smirked. "When my shares and the other Clan members vest."

Arthur leaned in, whispered. “Vest?”

“Remember? I explained – we get options, later, we get the right to buy,” Mel muttered back to him.

“Oh, right! Why do we have so many names for the same thing.”

“Business lah.”

Turning back to the other two with a bright grin, acting as though he hadn’t shown his ignorance, Arthur waited. 

"You get non-voting shares though," Casey said. "Right?"

"Everyone gets voting shares," Arthur said, touching the tablet where details of the suggested structure sat. It had taken him a number of hours of having it all explained to him, over and over again before he had come to an understanding of what he could do, and what the company would do. "I just get a lot more."

The company had multiple share types, from non-voting to voting, though none of the non-voting shares were being distributed at the moment. He had the premium share types, which gave him a hundred to one ratio on all votes, while everyone else was being sold or given basic, one to one shares. So long as he kept enough of his own shares or distributed more shares to himself - and paid for them, obviously - he would always have more control. What the other share types would do would give them a stake in the company - and some minor say.

"I'm not happy about that," Casey said. "I still think we should have more say."

"But you're going to have to trust me." Arthur shrugged. "Which is what I'll have to do with you. Or when we're in the Towers."

“It’s not you that I’m worried about.” She gestured to Mel, and then the bodyguards at the back. “It’s them. The rest of the Clan. What if they vote stupidly?” 

“That’s why I get more shares.”

"So long as we agree to renegotiate when you can have heirs, I'm fine," Rick said, firmly. "Then, it won't just be you anymore."

"Which is in what? Three Towers? Five?" Arthur asked, again.

"Numbers vary but three's the minimum. It has more to do with passing your various milestones," Rick said. "At least, for Guilds."

Casey shrugged, not having more to add to that. While Guilds and Clans were common, the subtle differences between the two types and the sheer lack of publicly available data meant that a lot of it was best guess. In a few dozen years, there'd be enough examples and information out there; for now, people were still holding things close to their chest.

Annoying.

"You sure you can't make your family give more information about what's to come?" Arthur asked Casey. 

The woman shook her head. "Once we close the deal, I might be able to get more; but not till then."

“I’m asking around, and there’s more information about guilds floating about; but a lot of disinformation too. It’s hard to get actual verified info.” Rick grimaced. “The Guilds over in the West purposely pay to make things difficult, so that it’s impossible for others to understand what is going on. There are a few places we can buy proper information, but it’s expensive.”

“How much?” Casey asked, and Arthur was once more reminded that she was a rich girl. Throwing money at a problem was an automatic reaction for her. 

“Ownership shares in the Guild. Sometimes even officer roles.”

“Not a chance,” Arthur said firmly.

“You know, they do that because the information can let the guilds grow even faster, optimize their…”

“The control over up-and-comers. Buying up or making guilds satellite branches of the main ones, such that the ones at the top never have to worry.” At the surprised look the others shot him, he snorted. “I do read more than just the monster and level wiki’s, you know.”

“Fine. So the deal is the deal here. Between the three of us and any of your Clan members who get options, and what?” Casey frowned. “They eventually get to leave?”

Arthur gestured to Mel, this being an area of discussion between them.

She straightened, speaking firmly. “If a Clan member leaves, or they die, the shares go on sale automatically. First to either of you if you’re below your percentages and then, if you are maxed out; the Clan.”

“You said options…” Rick said, hesitantly.

“Basically, anyone who joins get options, anyone who completes a Tower gets vested and when they leave, they can sell. Each Tower completion gives more shares.” 

“Won’t that just give incentive to join and then leave?” 

Arthur took that question. “So? We want a lot of people joining early, but if they want to go, let them. We need people to complete Towers, and with so many newbies joining, the ones who are good will continue. The rest won’t matter.” He paused, then added. “Anyway, the goal is to get them through the first Tower, to increase their survivability.”

“And the government? Will you sell to them?”

“I’m trying not to; but we shall see.” Arthur sighed. “It’s the government, you know.”

Casey tapped the table, the one who had hesitated the most thus far. In the end, she nodded. “We’ll need to work out the details, make sure anyone else who joins can’t get more than their fair share. I still want the option to increase our allocation; eventually, but I can live with this as a start.”

“There isn’t going to be a change.”

“Not now.” Casey smiled. “But who knows in the future?”

Arthur noted how Rick didn’t contradict her and sighed. Maybe making this deal was a mistake; but he could not see how to push back against the government, get more funds into the business and build what he needed without this. 

Frankly, as helpful as Mel was, she was still one person. Even if she was one who had more experience than him.

“Deal.” He said. “So, bagus?” Once he got acknowledgement, he grinned. “Then let’s talk more important things.” At their puzzled expression, he leaned forward. “The next Tower run.