Chapter 511

“No way!” Arthur said, staring at the amount written at the bottom of the document. The bureaucrat that had handed it to him seemed entirely unconcerned at Arthur’s incredulity, but the sheer volume of zeroes at the end of the number made him wince. “Oh, wait. This probably has some kind of conversion, right? It’s in your local currency and it’s like the Yen? Lots of zeros….”

The man smiled, pointed at the document. Arthur’s jaw dropped when he realised that the amount denoted was actually in US dollars. That made the Clan Head shake his head, pushing the document back to the man.

“I can’t do this. Literally. We don’t have enough,” Arthur said.

“Then you cannot run.” The man said, simply. “No Clan’s or Guilds can enter our Towers, not without full registration.”

“Shit.” Arthur grimaced, stared at the number. “Why are we here then?” He growled at Uswah, whose eyes flashed with irritation. She pointed back to the man who looked at ease and maybe even anticipatory. “What?”

“There is another option. The second one.” The bureaucrat pushed a new document over, causing Arthur to stare at the new number at the top. This document was much longer than the previous one, because it had a bunch of stipulations at the bottom, much more than the first.

“What is this?” Arthur growled. The first number was still painful, but it was something they could afford. Or so he was told – he’d barely glanced at the money that was in their current and savings account. He knew more of it was in other accounts, being ‘put to use’, but liquid funds would cover this. Even if it left very little behind.

“The second way to have a Clan. Requirements.”

“Can we pay and upgrade to the first level later?” Arthur asked, automatically as he kept reading down the document. Curious if it was something he could agree to for a short period. It was, as he had suspected the moment the man had pushed another longer document over, basically a training, investment and recruitment plan. It not only included requirements within the Towers, but also external investment in the country.

“I don’t recognize these names,” Arthur said, pointing.

“They are small towns and cities,” the man said equably. “We change them, as necessary, depending on the organisations coming in.”

“You want us to open training centers and staff them with people – preferably locals – in the middle of nowhere?” Arthur said, frustrated as he thought of the cost involved.

“You will receive a portion of the taxed income to help subsidize these locations,” the man said, smiling. “So if you train your people well, it will actually be a net positive.”

“Eventually.”

“Yes.”

Arthur let out a huff of exhaustion. He took a photo of the document, texted it over to Mel who sent a reply to him that consisted of two words.

“Do it.” Arthur muttered as he echoed the messaged. “Fine. I guess my COO thinks this is the way to go. I don’t know if it’s a good idea, but what do I know? I just hit things…” he grumbled. It wasn’t a terrible idea, getting a secondary team here. And starting out in a small series of villages would be pretty good, it would help create pretty loyal Climbers. However the process…

It wasn’t going to be fast.

“Let me sign it.”

Suprisingly, the amount of paperwork after that was reasonable for setting up a Clan. At least, in Arthur’s limited experience – which meant three countries in total. The amount of effort he would have to throw into this economy, the funds they would have to dedicate would be a pain; but it was better than nothing. Still, it took until they were back in their hotel rooms, the massive suites near the top of the hotel that they had taken with Mel and Uswah present that he was able to ask the questions he needed.

“How can we afford it? If we have to invest…?”

“The MacKenzie’s,” Mel said, startling Rick. The man blinked, staring at Mel who gestured at the boy’s crotch. Or, well, his phone, since that was what he fished out moments later. “Your father has a notice for you in there, I believe. Lots of details, but they’ve wanted a way in here. We’re it.”

“How…?” Arthur said, slowly.

“We buy the land, rent it to the MacKenzie’s on a twenty year lease, they rent it back to us at a minimal cost. There are other caveats on it, with suitable price increases; but if we fall or slow down; they get back the land and a way in. If we don’t, they get the land in a new country with a good tenant that owes them,” Mel explained. “In the meantime, they have a reason to have a person in the country who can start working the government to relax their rules further. Or grant them further exceptions.”

“And this will work?” Arthur said, surprised.

“Their lawyers believe it will, and they’re willing to fight the government in court. Worst case, by the time it all works out; we’ll have been here for a few years,” Mel explained.

“Whose idea was this?” Arthur asked.

“My father’s,” Rick muttered, flicking through his phone, his eyes darting from side-to-side as he read the emails. “I know his style. Mother’s more… direct.”

“That…” Arthur sighed. “Never mind. Just remind me not to meet her.”

“You won’t. You’re not worth her time.” A beat, then he added. “Yet.”

“Yay, me!” Arthur said, sarcastically. Then, to Mel he added. “Setting all this up why you’re here?”

“Yes. I got here earlier, and have most of it ready. We just needed your signature and everything else will be ready. Once you have caught up on the rest of your responsibilities, we’ll enter the Towers.”

“So, tomorrow?”

“You’re joking, right?” Mel said, eyes narrowing. “Do you know how many documents I need you to sign?”

“I could just rubber stamp them?” Arthur made the motion. “Though, I guess we can say double click, hitting the tick?”

“No.”

“Awww…. That wasn’t a bad rhyme.”

“Do your job, Clan Head.” Uswah cut in, growling. “Let your team rest too, they deserve it.” She nodded to Jan and Yao Jing who looked the worse for wear, tired at least and eyeing one of the bedrooms furtively.

Realising what they might be wanting to do, and figuring the sound proofing was inadequate, Arthur growled. “Fine. Meeting room.” A slight beat, before he added. “After I have a shower.”

“I can wait that long,” Mel said serenely.

Yao Jing, looking at Jan, muttered. “I can’t.”

Not surprisingly, that was the cue for Arthur to beat a hasty retreat. Gratitude that his Yin Body at least saved him for whatever that was. Really, was all that necessary?