No Longer In The Little Leagues
Richard took a good look at Jacobstown as the sun rises, it was a collaboration of skyscraper ceilings connected by a series of built bridges. On top of each of the peripheral skyscrapers was a small congregation of homes forming miniature neighborhoods. The wider skyscraper tops within the middle of the town were joined together by large platforms. This acted as the trading district within the town and everyday in the morning; the Allied Broker Association, otherwise known as the ABA, would set up shop in the morning to trade goods they found with the townsfolk.
Unlike most towns, Jacobstown was one of the few outskirt towns that does not allow the ABA to set up shop permanently within their town. The town's official sheriff Marc Glover, refused to allow it. He once told Richard why when he confronted him. Marc tried to explain to Richard something that day, Marc said "Business is essential for economic growth. However, they do not see us as people; to them we are credits. I will not allow any corporation to ruin the moral ethics of this town."
Richard still didn't know what he meant by that, he just assumed Marc was worried about loosing his title. To Richard allowing the ABA to set up a permanent shop within the town was something so obviously needed, that it didn't require much thought.
Richard remembered what Kyrarra told him about his business no longer being the same as he remembered it. "Kyrarra, I want a financial status report for Gears in Motion". Kyrarra did as Richard asked and she asked him to put on his goggles. When Richard did, a monitor appeared from within his goggles and projected numbers that surprised him.
He knew that Elisa had invested his un-needed credits wisely but had no idea how much he owned. He had enough credits to be on par with residents from many of the more wealthier districts that were under the Capitol's control. He wondered why he was never told this by Elisa, but Kyrarra reminded him that she had constantly tried to get his attention over the past year but he was so busy, and she was so soft spoken that he never heard her.
Richard then wondered why Kyrarra never mentioned it before this and Kyrarra told him that he never asked. He thought whether or not that mattered, to which Kyrarra responded "In truth I didn't want you to know, I didn't want the credits going to your head." Richard was surprised that Kyrarra thought that, even though he programmed her to think that way.
He never realized the extent Kyrarra would go to keep Richard focused on what really mattered. Richard wondered why Jake stuck around, he made half of all the profit earned from the business. Kyrarra tried to explain "Jake is... He lives in the moment and doesn't save or invest his half. He lives well; but the majority of his money goes to paying for parties, liquor, and the like". Richard smirked at that, he knew that Jake lived that kind of life but it was humorous to find out just how much that lifestyle was costing him.
Richard removed his goggles and went to the trading district to meet up with a broker who was also a long time customer and friend of Richard's. As he approached the hussel of the marketplace he looked for Daniel, but he seemed to find him first. Daniel was standing on a crate calling Richard over, to which Richard did so after a while of maneuvering through the crowd. Daniel was a short kid, roughly fourteen or fifteen in age, and was dressed in a red headband, a brown leather jacket which was open revealing a brown shirt underneath, brown work pants, and boots.
Although young, Daniel had an eye for finding things of value and a disposition that made him likable by the customers. He was the ABA's youngest broker. He exchanged pleasantries and talked to Daniel for a while, then Daniel said something interesting. "Hey'd you hear what happened in Harlington? Aparently there have been a string of murders. Then the mountains to their east blew up from abnormal sulfur levels within the tunnel. Shits going to hell in a hand basket down there. Sucks to, that's where the ABA has got us heading to next".
Richard raised a brow "Us?". Richard then looked around and eventually found Tim flirting with one of the women in the adjacent stalls. He was a man with attractive features, which he used to his advantage to sleep with women. Slightly taller than the average man; he had short white hair, blue eyes, a grey tank top, grey faded jeans, and boots. He had two weapons that Richard recognized instantly, since they were weapons that Jake made.
He owned a short sword that had two reinforced parallel blades, set a small distance apart from each other. Richard could identify it by the sheath he wore on his back. And he also owned a laser revolver powered by a very potent battery, giving him almost unlimited ammo charge. Daniel went on to say that Tim was actually a very good bodyguard and has made his ventures from town to town a lot easier. Richard mentioned to Daniel whether or not he planned to leave anytime soon, because he had to go to Harlington anyways. Daniel liked the idea to travel together but still had a few hours to spend at Jacobstown, since business was good.
Richard agreed to wait for him, it would be preferable to travel in a group. Especially after what Dan had told him about the district. He started to put the pieces together as to why Elisa was able to get the pass so cheaply. Probably not a lot of travelers going there right now due to the commotion. Richard decided to go and make use of his new found wealth and walked over to the orphanage in the town and walks up to Janette. He knew her since they were kids when Nelia, her mom, used to run the orphanage.
She was a very attractive young woman now though. She had short blonde hair, big brown eyes, and a full figure. Richard would never try and seek her out in a romantic way though, he practically grew up with her and her mom when he was one of the orphans here. To him Janette was one of his best friends, and he looked out for her. Janette was shocked to see Richard at the orphanage, for a better part of nearly a year he hadn't stepped foot out of Jake's house.
Whenever she messaged him he always just told her he was busy with work and to not worry. Richard pat one of the orphan girls on the head and took out a small heart shaped music box. He made it a while ago for a customer but they cancelled their order. It seemed fitting to gift it to someone who can truly appreciate it. The girl wound it up and the heart shaped pocket sized music box opened up to reveal a small mirror and started playing a beautiful melody, the girl ran off and showed her friends what the "nice man" had given her.
He then walked over the the counter. For a while Jannete and Richard talked and exchanged gossip. Then Richard mentioned that he was glad he came here, that the orphanage brought back fond memories of when he and Janette used to play here together. Janette went to speak up, she wanted to tell Richard that the orphanage is going to be destroyed since they don't have the funds to keep the maintenance up and pay rent. Rent to own a lot in Jacobstown was relatively expensive since the amount of available space in the town is finite.
When she opened her mouth though Richard stopped her and told her that he was already well aware. "The reason I came here was to help you out, it is the least I can do considering everything you and your mom did for me".
Right after that, Kyrarra transferred the funds to Janette's computer terminal and it notified her that the orphanage had received a donation from Richard Thomas Charles. Janette was unsure that Richard was aware of how bad the damages and how far behind on the rent they were, she knew there was no hope. Janette and Nadia would need almost three thousand credits to break even, which is almost an unheard of amount of credit on an outskirt civilian salary.
When she opened the donation though she was so shocked her mouth fell slightly agape for a moment. Richard had donated ten thousand credits to the orphanage. To Richard though, thanks to Elisa, that amount of credit was nothing. He was happy to help, and he couldn't help but smirk when he saw how surprised Janette was. "Whatever is extra split it with Nadia and buy yourselves something nice, you both deserve it" Richard said. Janette walked over the other side of the counter and hugged Richard, and told him thank you. Then she let him go all of a sudden and asked "Does this mean that your finished with your business?". Richard knew where this is going "Janette, I'm not abandoning the business". Janette still full of hope said "That's fine, you don't need to. Mom just wants to know when your coming home".
Richard tried to cut her off but she raised her voice a little, not wanting to hear what she knew Richard was going to say. She continued on "your business is in town Richard, you don't need to live there. You have family that loves you." Richard snapped at Janette finally "I have no family! You and Nadia had looked out for me but my family has forsaken me." Janette was very upset from hearing that and Richard tried to resolve things. He started to say "Janette; I'm sorry but". Janette interrupted him though by smacking him across the face. The sound could be heard throughout the open auditorium of the orphanage. Janette then shook her head and ran out of the orphanage.
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