Chapter 49: Collusion

The opening day of the shopping arcade was in full swing, with hundreds of visitors flocking towards the shopping malls.

Kyle watched the entire affair from the top floor office’s balcony, overlooking the front lobby of the shopping arcade, a mere five storeys above. Keith was already giddy with excitement, watching the visitors browse the various stalls. “This is it, I can smell the money!” Keith laughed.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself - we need to make sure the first light-thrower show is perfect,” Kyle warned. “Have the associates patrol the floors regularly, especially the bathhouse.”

Keith quickly calmed himself down, nodding in agreement. “Got it. I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Good.” Kyle exited the office, intending to make a tour around, ensuring everything was going smoothly according to his plan.

The shopping arcade layout was simple – he decided not to innovate too much lest unknown organizations were watching him. It was clear to him that he was not the only one aware of Galactic Era technology, which meant he had to keep a low profile.

As such, each of the companies he established had a figurehead in place to serve as the public face. If Kyle wanted to grow his influence legally, he needed frontmen to absorb the shock and hate where necessary. Of course, the locals knew that he was the main guy in charge, but that was not the case for foreigners and other district residents who would come over to patronize the shopping arcade.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Even if the enforcers and lesser nobility knew who he was and how much he controlled, it was still better to stay out of the public spotlight as much as possible. No reason to pose front and centre and jeopardize his position publicly.

Kyle reached the bottom of the lobby through an arctech elevator, feeling the cool wind that blew through the corridor of the shopping arcade. He limited the innovations within the shopping arcade to three main points:

1. Temperature Control

2. Light thrower Cinema

3. Cleaning Inventions

These three innovations are hardly revolutionary – they should not freak out anyone working with Galactic Era tech... Kyle was acutely aware of his animosity with Versia now. He had no doubt that the Ilysian Punks and those who were backing them from beyond the border would return to harass him or to take revenge.

As he walked out to the front lobby, he noticed Guang Hwa smiling at a group of reporters, his face covered in makeup to make him look like a completely different individual, lest he was recognized as Long Hua.

“President Hwa, can you tell me what inspired you to start such a large project?”

“Of course. The Golden Snake Construction Company is, first and foremost, dedicated to the betterment of the common folk. We want to improve the standard of living for everyone living in our district. However, it is not limited to just this district alone – we would like to extend our hand to everyone in the city of Raktor to come and visit once!”

“Offering free entry to the bathhouse for everyone seems to be a completely unprofitable venture; how is the company funding any of this? The cost to clean such a large bathhouse meant to serve thousands would be astronomical!” A reporter jabbed an arctech radio in front of his face, obviously trying to dig out some dirt.

“Indeed it would be if we were relying on current technology. However, we have partnered with our sister company, Anaconda Cleaning Solutions, in order to alleviate such a cost. I cannot divulge further as the innovations are a secret. However! Today, on this glorious opening day, we will be showcasing the first public screening of a light-thrower show!”

“A light-thrower show? Is it the same machine that the enforcers have been using to campaign recently?”

“Indeed it has. The enforcers have worked very closely with our new theatre company – Sliver Snakes Productions. And speaking of the devil, here he is!”

The reporters turned to see the Seven Snakes guards clearing a path as a luxurious arctech wagon pulled up, with Reese stepping out in a slick tuxedo, his hair clearly well-done and his skin glistening in the daylight.

Kyle glanced over to a Seven Snakes associate who was filming the entire thing with a lightcapturer. He walked up to the associate and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t film the reporters. Film Reese.”

“U-uh, yes sir right away!” The associate was nearly shocked to death by Kyle’s sudden approach, hastily repositioning himself to get the correct viewing angle.

The reporters immediately swarmed Reese as he got out of the wagon, clamouring and asking him questions. “One at a time, people, one at a time!”

“Reese, you have been credited with the invention of the lightcapturer and light thrower – how do you feel right now?”

“I feel vindicated. I am proud and happy that there were this many people who came out in support of my work. It has been a long hard journey with many obstacles, but I am glad to say that today is a new era in theatre and the entertainment industry!”

“Only for the next three months.”

“We need to find a more stable source of arcite ore; maybe we can set up our own energy company as well. Have you considered expanding to Versia?”

“Versia? Is it good for arcite ore?”

“Not as good as Tryas, but at least you don’t run the risk of angering the nobility here.”

Versia... I do have plans to head over eventually, but it is not the right time... Kyle could hardly leave the Seven Snakes as they were right now. With multiple legal companies in the spotlight, he knew enemies could come from anywhere.

“Anywhere that’s closer to Raktor?”

“Hmm... we had an operation in the Culdao Peaks, and I recall it used to be an arcite mine. Perhaps you could find undiscovered veins there? I know the nobles gave up fighting the goblins, so it’s a chance there too.”

“I’ll think about it.”

The theatre was already packed to the brim, with the seating capacity being five thousand and many more standing in the aisle. Reese was just about finished with his opening speech on the main stage.

“... and without further ado, I present to you the first commercial film by the Sliver Snake Productions: Princess Rescue!”

Gordon flicked the light thrower on while activating the audio playback device at the same time. The opening scene began to show on the grand white wall that was as smooth as marble, reflecting the images perfectly.

The audience gasped in awe as they saw the largest moving ‘painting’ they had ever seen, complete with audio as well as a tribal drum beat echoing through the theatre.

[In the depths of the mountain, a lone princess captured by a goblin tribe cries for help.... Who can save her?]

[Kyaaaa! Somebody, save me!] The princess’s voice resounded, drawing the audience more and more into the scene.

An evil goblin grinned widely as he stepped closer to the princess. [No one is here to hear your screams nor save yo-]

Without warning, the light-thrower machine suddenly cut off, losing power completely. The arctech radio faltered too, the audio warbling and distorting as the theatre was plunged into complete darkness.

“What? What’s going on? Is this part of the show?”

“I can’t see anything; what happened to the painting?!”

Kyle quickly grabbed an arctech radio off a nearby table, barking into it. “What’s going on? Why isn’t the backup kicking in?”

[Sir, someone sabotaged both the main and the backup arcite fuel generator. It’s a complete mess in here!]

“Fuck! Get the associates in here now to handle the crowd. Guang Hwa, grab a loud hailer and calm down the crowd!” Kyle stormed out of the projector room into the office. The entire shopping arcade had somehow lost power, with the arctech engravings originally powered by a single grid no longer working as expected.

Even the backup was not working, fueling Kyle’s worst fears. Keith was already in the office, desperately trying to call an arcite fuel company. “We need an arcite fuel generator here as soon as.... What do you mean no? I’m willing to pay five hundred thousand rakels – no, a million rakels for you to come down right now!”

Keith’s face baulked as the radio went silent, causing him to grip the table in anger. “Kyle, no company wants to help us at all! What’s going on?! It feels like they are ganging up on us!”

“Even the ones we have a contract with?”

Keith nodded, with Kyle gritting his teeth. It’s too much of a coincidence. Whoever sabotaged the opening day knew exactly what was going to happen, and there were a few people who would have the incentive to do so.

“Looks like it’s time to have a chat.”