The Industrialist

That night. Underground Rebel Camps. Southern Wall.

***

Joe was rather ecstatic about another opportunity to farm. His Zelkian farming was growing, almost doubled its capacity for over three months.

"Plant nursery, boss? Is it possible?" Joe said as Lance disclosed his Aiveez farming plans within the camp.

"Yes. It needed space and I will be transferring to Hypervista," Lance said.

"Wow. Mid-classer now!" Joe tapped Lance’s shoulder. "You have grown fast, boss! Don’t forget to invite me for a meal, eh?"

Then the rebel turned back to his farming. Joe used his metallic gloves to pick one Rattus from the cage to feed them to Zelkains. Without the gloves, they would gnaw one’s hand.

Lance had decided to increase Joe’s compensation from 100 units to 200 units per month. The fair exchange provided a win-win situation and Joe accepted without further dispute.

The Rebel camps continued with their Rattus harvest inside the confines of the tunnel. Also, the farm doubled its demand for food supply. Thus, the rebel members would garner 200 units total of captured Rattus on average per month.

He had been inside the Rebel camps countless times and the members treated him fairly like a full-blooded rebel, a Truthseeker as what they called themselves. However, he had no idea about the Rebel activities or their schemes against the Government.

"George, do you happen to know their plans within the walls?" He asked. They stood right before the array of metallic caged farm Zelkians and were entertained by how Joe deftly held the Rattus for the Zelkians to feed. At first glance, the scene would churn stomachs. Despite of, Lance tried feeding Zelkians too, and what happened was rather embarrassing.

The Rattus creature wriggled and managed to free itself from the kid’s grasp.

"Not really. Damian knows much about the activities. But I heard the soldiers about infiltrating another robotic police manufacturing industry in SteamHaven."

"Infiltration? That’s dangerous." Lance said.

"You know them. Jefferson wanted to weaken the police force through these attacks. I don’t know if it’s effective but the soldiers believed so," George responded.

"I have heard stories that the Corporation is planning big." George continued. "Large sum of Government money was allocated in Weaponry Manufacturing. Jefferson has been anticipating the location of that weapon. He is afraid that it is for mass destruction."

"Here in the City? It can’t be?" Lance asked.

"Not within the walls, but for the Outsiders."

"The Outsiders are no threat to them. Why would they do that?"

"I don’t know. Ask Jefferson. All I know is the Government is preparing for an all-out sweep of all Outsiders, citizens that are unregistered by Axe Central."

"Well, I have a lot of things to talk about to Jefferson. I too, feel something is going on big in the high ranks." Lance said.

***

Jefferson called for a council meeting. Lance had suggested that they should be involved too in any business meeting, especially involving rebel members. Jefferson was a good leader. To lessen his stress from leadership, he somehow delegated the decision-making to the Rebel Council, especially if matters not pertaining to military schemes.

"Thank you, council for your presence. This meeting calls for a Council’s decision and Lance had been a great contributor to our cause." Jefferson announced.

The Councilmen nodded in agreement.

"He had something to share again." Jefferson continued, "This is in connection to our last meeting about our Salt mining. Even though it costs us a few able bodies, rest their souls, we garnered significant money for our operations. The cost of our comrades lives, saved lives too here in the camp." Murmurs grew between the councilmen. "Ahem... He wanted to share about how the poison bombs are made."

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Jefferson ushered Lance in front of the circling Council members. Lance was banking that the discussion would go smoothly, and he had pressing matters at hand.

"For everyone’s knowledge, the 2000 units we gained from that transaction had purchased our weapons in the black market and ammo, and food, too," Jefferson said before Lance spoke up.

"Jefferson, this boy contributes to this community but his endeavors are dangerous. I am not risking the crew anymore." The woman council spoke.

"Our Salt production had contributed to preventing another incident of Death by Thirst. There are risks, my dear councilmen, but Salt will prevent thousands of deaths due to thirst this coming Demetrian season," Lance explained and it silenced them.

"Well, you did not come here to gloat, aren’t you?" One councilman said. "Continue with your business at hand."

Lance cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

"I would like to transfer my plant nursery here in the camp."

Murmurs loomed from the councilmen. A bitter expression plastered on their faces. Lance anticipated that the Rebel Council had always second thoughts on paradigm shifts. Their ways were old school.

"Nursery? It’s going to consume space, would it?" one councilman raised.

"Yes, of course. But we had to farm vertically to save space." Lance responded.

"Enlighten us again, what are these plants?" the rather older councilmen spoke. He must have forgotten about the poison bombs that he presented weeks ago before the Salt mining.

"Aiveez, sir. Its nectar will produce the needed ingredient for our poison bombs. It is not harmful to us but only to the Abominants."

"And what would be our benefit? It should benefit our cause." The woman council spoke.

"You plant the Aiveez. You harvest them in bottles. Then I will produce the bombs. Then we will trade the bombs to the Outsiders."

’Leverage manpower to materialize business expansion.’ Lance thought about the teachings of his father. For all his business transactions, added to his responsibilities as a Scientist, he could not operate them successfully alone. He needed to leverage manpower and what he needed to do was only to manage them.

"Outsiders used guns and it’s effective against Abominants," she retorted.

"Not to the higher levels, they don’t. Besides, poison bombs have a 20-meter blast diameter. The blue mist will kill Abominants instantly as they inhale it."

"Who is willing to tend the nursery?" Jefferson asked.

"Joe. I will pay him. We already had an agreement."

"Hmm, the Rebel camp needs also to be paid for the space you consume." the councilwoman said. "You know that we are increasing our plans against the Government and such plans need operating budget. The Rebellion needs to earn."

Disdainful as it may sound, he had no choice but to succumb to their demands. However, compared to a legal business setting, there were much more costs just to operate. The perfect example was with Jonaz Enterprises which needed Document 2304 for tax purposes. It cost him 1000 units for fixing.

"How much is the rent?" Lance asked

"200 units for the Zelkian, and your nursery also at 200 units. That’s 400 units in total per month." The councilwoman said.

"Done. Sounds fair to me," Lance said. "Well, I am here to open another opportunity for us, for the cause. If you want to oblige."

"What is that?" Jefferson asked.

"Chopped food wastes. Homestead Green wanted a supply of chopped food waste as they used it in farming. Maybe our members can accommodate the collection and I will handle the delivery and trading."

Smiles streaked onto their expressions. They were rather enthusiastic when they smelled money.

"How much would be per weight?" Jefferson asked.

"According to my source, she purchased them for 4 units per kilogram. But we can offer it to 2 units per kilo just to appease their budget constraints."

"What is their expected volume?" One councilman asked.

"They have an existing supplier and she can squeeze me of about 1000 kilograms per month. That’s a gross profit of 2000 units. I can offer 50-50 for our monthly transaction. I will handle the delivery fees and the rebel members, my comrades, will handle the collection."

There were curt nods between the councilmen and some indistinct whispers and conversations. They tend to talk more to themselves than to decide what they need.

"It’s a fair price." The old councilman finally said after a few minutes. "We have decided that we can go with the transaction. I will have the men collect the food waste in Commoner sectors."

They had an agreement. After that, they had minute conversations that Lance had little stake in it. They ended the meeting but after everyone dispersed, Lance opened something.

"Do you all know about ’The Circle’?" Lance asked and it halted everyone.

"How did you know about them?" Jefferson asked.

"I heard from someone else."

"The Circle." Jefferson hesitated. "We call them the Vicious Circle. They are the ones responsible for everything happening in Axe Central City. They are the reason why the Rebellion should fight even further."

"Who are these people?"

"I think he needs to know," the oldest councilman spoke.

"Ok, Lance." Jefferson continued. "We are not certain of anything yet but we heard this from your father. These are the people responsible for why Erik joined the rebellion. Levi Menks is one of them, probably the leader of the Circle. Then there’s Governor Lassiter, then Chester Leric, Secretary of CBD.

The members of the Awards Committee, of course and some Government officials that we are trying to identify."

’Jaqi’s father is one of them!’ Lance cursed inwardly.

"Something wrong, kid?" Jefferson asked.

"Then what is our next move?" Lance asked. He was more inclined now to join the cause, to be more participative in their endeavors. His blood boiled hearing his name - Levi Menks.