The Industrialist

Chapter 29: Jonaz 2

"A business is like a tree. In the first few days or weeks, it will need your fullest attention; watering it, cultivating its soil, providing fertilizers, and more. But when the tree grows to its mature state, it can live without your presence anymore. It can bear fruit for you or provide shade.

So in a business, patience is a virtue. And hard work is a must."

- Erik Berkley

***

"Ok, what’s your number?" Lance asked, about the forecast.

"Hmm," Jonaz smiled, his teeth retainers glimmered against the penlights. "20 Zelkians! That’s per month, kid."

Lance had only a farm capacity of 12 Zelkians per month, and promising 20 Zelkians would ensue disagreeable terms. And the Mafia don’t like disagreements.

There was silence. Lance calculated but had not uttered a word for a few awkward moments.

"That’s 240 Zelkians per calendar year, kiddo," Jonaz clasped both hands close to his chest. "Remember what I told you about the consequences, kid, of any undelivered orders."

"Think this through, kid," Damian said, his voice with a hint of utter concern.

"16 per month?" Lance asked.

"Oh, poor you. You are comfortable with 16. Well, I am not. It’s either a deal or no deal for me, kiddo," Jonaz mused.

Then Lance understood what the Bartender reminded him, ’Black and white’.

"Remember, kid," Jonaz released a deep sigh. His elbows were placed on top of the table and leaned toward Lance. His witty humor had departed from his expression and only seriousness remained.

"Reputation is everything for Jonaz Enterprises." The boss mused. "It’s either I can deliver or not. I would rather be the former to preserve my name, my precious reputation. I squandered away tens of thousands of units for an investment gone bad with Valentyne. Bless his poor soul."

Lane knew the name. Vice Governor Valentyne was murdered and the Media falsely accused the rebels as they printed it in the headlines. Probably, the Mafia killed him.

"You heard the news, right? So unfortunate." Jonaz taunted. He shook his head. Lance always was confused if the boss was acting or authentic.

"Yes," Lance said, interjecting before Jonaz could continue.

"Yes, what?" Jonaz clarified.

"Yes, I am good with 20 Zelkians." Lance finally said. It’s a gamble. But weighing his options, only the Black marketers offered Zelkians to the Inlanders. And there was no other way to bypass Jonaz Enterprises for such merchandise.

"How?" Lance asked.

"Just provide me your legitimate license, your scrapper reg, could be. Then my accountants will process it in EU office. Then we can proceed as agreed."

Lance heard about fixers. It was an easy but illegal way of gaining legitimate documents from regulating bodies such as scientist-level registrations, border licenses, Merchant registrations, and more. The Sectoral Extension Units processed these tedious documents and by fixing, one would avoid longevities.

"What’s the catch?" Lance asked.

"1000 units. Of course. The common trade for fixing."

Dealing with Jonaz was like playing with chess. The opponent would always anticipate the player’s move. In their case, Lance was at the losing end. His pieces, his wits, were already consumed to the fullest. He played in a different world now with different rules.

A 1000 units was not a sound deal of just fixing a document. But he could not process it on his own. GLDs would require a financial audit that the applicant had sufficient liquidity to support the business. If approved, there will be another set of inspections or another way of milking business owners.

Power trips.

He had a little over 2000 units in his account but a factor of it (800 units) was a downpayment for his Tyllrium trade in Axiom, surmounting to 1600 units.

"Is it a deal, kid?" Jonaz extended his right arm for a handshake. However, Lance hesitated to shake the dealer’s hand.

"How would I know that you are good for it?" The same question he asked Damian when he transacted for a Specialist fee. Damian smiled at that.

"Witty. Witty. I like that." Jonaz retracted his hand and clapped once again. "That’s the right question, kid! You are learning now, aren’t you?"

"To answer your question," Jonaz continued, "I can offer you a 50% downpayment for the Fixing."

"30%," Lance renegotiated.

Jonaz’s face brightened like a summer sun. Gleaming retainers showed as Jonaz smiled. He extended his right hand again for a handshake attempt.

"Let’s do the old-school seal-the-deal, Mr. Lance of Steelpoint," Jonaz mused.

Lance clasped it and shook hard.

"Deal, kid!" Jonaz was exhilarated. "Now, unto the last agenda at hand." They released the handshake. "Let’s make this legitimate on paper, shall we? Zelkians are illegal so we will mask out transactions with legal merch. And you should have this kind of merch for documentation purposes, ya know the drill. These regulators always lookin’ for evidence."

"Tyllrium. We can make my Tyllrium business a front for our Zelkian deal."

Another business opportunity presents itself. It would also mean another opportunity to earn more units.