The Industrialist

Chapter 70: Circle?

Homestead Green Sector, Dome Central Agricultural Sector

***

Janet had been informative ever since he set foot in her office. She just wanted to talk about things—she was like Jaqi.

She was also kind to share the approach of in-vitro crop propagation. Jaqi wanted to augment processes in propagating crops in vials, easily stored and no longer for the need of uncontaminated soil.

She wanted to use bacteria to propagate plants. Janet advised to proceed with bacteria selection first, one that would stabilize the media and support plant growth.

Janet assigned Lance to crop selection. The best crop used in Industries that would easily grow by the use of the selected media.

As this conversation continued, Lance threw intelligent questions that surprised Janet about plant propagation.

"Uncontaminated and highly nutritive soil is a challenge in making crops to be prolific. How did you manage to produce so much soil with this volume?"

"On your way here, you have seen a large metallic tunnel-like tubes crossing from end to end. That is our soil decontamination and filtration chamber," Janet answered.

"What is the ingredient to make the soil amenable for planting?"

"Decomposed chopped food waste, of course. We had accelerated decomposition in one of the large tube chambers and ground them for proper mixing with filtered soil," Janet said.

"But you don’t have to worry about sand filtration, Mr. Berkley," Janet continued, "in your project, you will only use bacteria as the seedling’s supply for nutrition."

"What about chopped food waste? Do you need more supply?" Lance asked.

"Well. I can accommodate. Why do you have a source of such waste?" Janet asked.

"Yeah… I mean I can look for it. You said earlier about dirty jobs right and I am ought to look for ways to earn. This is how I operate. When the opportunity presents itself, I am likely to grab it."

Janet clapped her hands softly.

"Jaqi, please ponder this example of a Scientist. Not only that he invent something useful, but he is a businessman too. Independent individual, aren’t ya?" Janet’s voice raised.

As the information exchanges progressed, Lance understood the process. Such knowledge greatly contributed to how he would improve his plant nursery back in his apartment.

But above anything else, what struck him the most and would be his priority bucket list was the probable location of the Lost Engineers – Arcanium Mountains. They must have known his father before he was alive and probably would assist him in reviving Bay City.

Lance was uncertain if he had time to be Jaqi’s partner. Seemingly, the project would demand a precious fraction of his hectic schedule and frequent meetings with the Lerics.

He was unsure if it was amenable to him or not. Seeing Jaqi, made his heart melt all the time, thumping hard and slowing it down in obvious respites. On the obviously positive side, spending time with the high echelons could be his primary source for data gathering.

If Jaqi wanted to contribute to the greater good without regard for selfish interests, Lance was unsure. Probably, Jaqi wanted another project to level up her rank, using him for her to accelerate the time frame.

However, team projects formulating and executing prototypes for patents posed an advantage. Two brilliant minds were better than one. Jaqi would be declared as project leader.

Hence, the rewards would be directed to Jaqi and the offer to level up ranks. While Lance, as her subordinate partner, would only be awarded with units without the possibility of ranking up.

He had read the by-laws imposed by the Corporation Ordinance: Protocols in Scientist Ranking schemes. Agreeing to it, he was still undecided.

Undoubtedly, many would kill to partner with Jaqi. Who would not like to partner with a beautiful, young, aspiring Scientist? Not to mention her fame and her family’s name.

They had a brief conversation with her Mother as a work urgency needed her utmost attention. She also complained about a system malfunction in one of the equipment inside the Dome.

Janet had clear annoyance about budget constraints, pushing his technicians to conduct band-aid maintenance solutions, and had minimized expenditures of new component spare parts.

"Lance, you are a scrapper, right? I will be needing this…." Janet wanted an alternative solution for her preventive maintenance - fabrication of spare parts and replacing easily worn-out components.

Their equipment was state-of-the-art, uncommon to rare-level components were clearly used for the majority of equipment compositions.

These were new-generation Service Factory Robots. More industrial-grade and heavy-duty compared to the Residential Maid Service robots he recently dissected for scrap collection.

However, even state-of-the-art equipment would still need preventive maintenance.

"I would rather get from Scrappers like you and buy such spare parts. I can’t understand the Economy nowadays, pushing production hard to the ground."

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"Mother, it’s been almost a year since we had heard talks about budget constraints and a falling economy in the coming months. You should have prepared for the worst," Jaqi said.

"You don’t understand, my dear. These were already allocated budgets from the year before. The budget should be sealed for my use, it’s my freedom and responsibility. However, the Governor rescinded all budget allocations for further review. There was a freeze in expenditures for three weeks. Then the new budgets were released, however, only half of its original amount remained."

"What is happening in our Economy, Mother?" Jaqi asked.

"They are much more discreet, nowadays, Jaqi. The Circle is…." She shifted her gaze to Lance and redirected her conversation. This time, she was not subtle, "Governor Lassiter may have troubles with production exigencies in SteamHaven and rebel activities on a rampant now."

’Circle? What Circle?’ Lance thought. Her statement and how Lance connected the dots clearly presumed that a conniving group exists in the upper Echelon, pulling strings for their selfish benefit.

"You have mentioned about the Circle. What is it?" Lance asked.

"Nothing, Mr. Berkley," her nonchalant demeanor was a little shaken. "I want you to see how we process the leaves into packed products. Come!"

***

Lance’s apartment, upper Zone, Steelpoint.

***

_____________________

[Currency] – 4050 units

[Recent business transactions]

***

[Zelkian gross income] – 2400 units (20 zelkians @ 120 units each)

[Zelkian operating expense] – 400 units (for Joe and food)

[Zelkian net operating income] – 2000 units

***

[Tyllrium gross income] – 2700 units (30 pc @ 90 units each)

[Tyllrium operating expense] – 950 units (For Damian and Joe)

[Tyllrium cost of trade material] – 1200 units (40 units each)

[Tyllrium net operating income] – 550 units

_______________________

Jasper generated the report as Lance instructed. "Congratulations, Master. You have reached over 4000 units for your third month of business transactions without pending payments. You are now officially a Mid-classer."

It was luck that made these transactions a success. Jonaz and the Mafia had maintained their business relationship on good terms despite the territorial wars with other Mafia groups. Grebert continued with his Tyllrium trade. He had been asking again about the salt supply, however, Lance declined.

"Your Hypervista unit is waiting for you, Master and you will be a full-blooded Mid-classer."

Before transferring he needed to talk to Jefferson to accommodate his nursery in the Rebel Camps. Well, maybe the Rebel Council for that matter.

’Ugh! Hectic schedule. I will face them next week,’ Lance thought but knew the urgency.

"It does not matter to me whatever my classification is." He sneered.

"I know that, Master. But it’s a great feat. Your illegal exploits had paid off."

Lance scoffed at the thought of illegal exploits. He must convert them to legal business transactions to eliminate the idea of imprisonment. It’s only a matter of time before Jaqi’s father or the Homeland Special Units would come knocking at his door.

Veering his thoughts to something legal, Lance preferred to dismiss the conversation and change the topic.

"Jasper, tomorrow will be a big day," Lance said as he placed his groceries in the corner of his apartment’s kitchen.

"Would you care to share, Master?" Jasper asked.

"My co-TOR will be put to a test in the factory. Kranian Industries of AmdonCore Northern Sector."

"Ah for your RoFlo project production. Fancy. Would Doctor Zee assist you in this endeavor?"

"No, I think. He is busy with Vice Gov duties. They told me to just proceed there and somebody will accommodate me."