DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Las Lindas and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Chalo/Chalosan and SoulKat.
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Chapter 13: Big Banking
I was a little bit nervous.
While we managed to get a proper legal advice from Mr. Bruford, the man more than happily accepting the chance of joining our case in the eventuality Alejandra tried to escalate things to a proper trial, I still couldn't help but feel anxious over what felt to be a countdown for some big issues to unfold before our own eyes.
Everyone at the farm was aware of the situation, and, despite some confusion regarding the way we came in contact with a high quality lawyer to counsel us through this problem, were quick to accept that the situation was only going to shake the boat, but not flip it altogether. We had contingencies, plans about plans to aid other plans to avoid losing on this important matter.
The moment the bank decided to visit and present the issue that Alejandra had raised with its representatives about the current debts of the farm, the conversation was going to take an immediate serious approach. We couldn't afford joking around, these people were going to take anything that can be used to milk any form of money they can take out of this opportunity. They weren't overly greedy, just serving the main priority that was to further expand the liquids of the bank itself.
I could tell that Mora felt even more nervous and paranoid when Minos asked for a day off as he had to visit a friend that lived out of Gossamer. While the timing would easily suggest something bad, I was quick to jump at his defense and mention that he had said something about this very friend having a thing to ask for his help in a sudden and somewhat awkwardly inopportune way. I wasn't sure myself how that worked with him, but I just rolled with it since I had been around the big guy for long enough to know when he was being truthful about something.
We were lacking a part of Las Lindas, but that didn't mean we weren't going to succeed with the impending problem, and I had to keep around Mora a lot more than usual to keep her from breaking down for the nerves. And by that, I mean 'snapping at either Miles and Rachael because of their usual antics'. Taffy helped too, making it so that her boyfriend didn't try anything too brazen around the Cow Prime, but I had to personally intervene whenever Rachael seemed to tease at the older woman.
Sarah tried her best, but she was still the youngest of the two siblings, and 'trying to keep Rachael from making a mess' wasn't something she was much experienced with. At least she was trying, and it wasn't the kind of trying that worsened the situation even more than it needed. Everything held just fine as the date finally came and everyone was prepared for a war. At least in a metaphorical sense.
The same couldn't be said about Alejandra. Large high-tech vehicles that were normally used to destroy skyscrapers were now hovering around the premises of the farm, and giving quite the threatening disposition of the entire circumstance. I hummed quietly as I stood beside Mora, the woman being the one that had to personally oppose what was going on.
Approaching the entrance were three individuals that, albeit tied by nothing more but the current event, were going to be working together against us. With the blue-eyed woman walking faster than the bank representative and her associate as if excited by the 'clear win' she just scored, I couldn't help but smile as my attention was aimed mostly at her. But at the very bureaucrat that had joined her for this endeavor, the one that worked for her company.
I could also see Tootsie atop one of the vehicles, this one clearly one of her creations. There was just too much of her mind into it that it was just impossible to say that it wasn't one of her 'fun projects'. A big Eggman-like transport unit with… advance mechanic arms and other equipment installed within.
The representative of the bank, the man that had been sent to be the bank's perspective on the matter, was Mr. Osgood. The elder was a professional banker that had served the Gossamer Agricultural Bank for decades now, his loyalty and efficiency yet to be equaled by anyone working for that group. The Owl Prime was slightly shorter than me, but still holding himself with respect and legitimate pride. He was wearing a formal set of clothes, with matching black jacket and pants which were complimented by a pristine white shirt and a red tie that was well-placed around his neck. He was quite impartial and he had been asked to lead the bank plenty of times as presidents came and went as quickly as they took the office.
Finally, the last element, the one that I had to thank a lot about and that I wasn't exactly sure how to approach at the moment. Standing quite close to Alejandra in terms of height, the figure that calmly approached had a sense of respectfulness and formality that was rare to find in someone as young as him. He had a broad body, but very far from competing with Minos. The Wolf Prime had dark hair and yellow eyes, with the pair of orbs hidden away with professional sunglasses. He was wearing an open dark-gray jacket, with a light brown sweater, and matching pants.
There was quiet at first as both groups greeted each other with tense peace. It was Osgood that broke the silence, looking at Alejandra and offering her a serious look.
"Ms. Coldthorn, may I ask what you are hoping to do with all this equipment?" The elder asked with a tone that seemed more concerned than else.
"I'm only waiting for what happens next. Don't you have a couple of papers to show already?"
"He doesn't," Mora quipped tensely, just barely holding her fury under check. The representative managed to spare only an inquiring frown before his attention was stolen away by a folded letter that the woman was now handing him. Osgood blinked, checking on the content on the letter with a quick paced look. Confusion turned in realization, and a tiny grimace was visible through his beak.
"It would seem like you have prepared for my visit, Ms. Linda," The old man admitted, still frowning at the paper. "Yet I find the suddenness of this admission particularly late before the pending deadline of the loans."
"That's because it shouldn't have been something the farm had to notify," I explained with a calm tone, drawing the elder's attention to me. "The event holders should have contacted the bank after checking for issues of this kind and making sure that this kind of problem was solved."
Osgood sighed. "Now that I think about it, that should have been the case."
…
"What are you three talking about?" Alejandra asked in confusion, her mind catching on fairly quickly that something 'incredibly wrong' was happening instead of her moment of glory.
"I believe, Director Coldthorn," The Wolf Prime beside her started to say. "That they might be referring to a specific event that will happen fairly soon and that, by the looks of it, offer a legal blanket to any competitors to it."
Her lips twitched at that explanation, causing her to briefly glance at her attendee and… quickly realize through his comment what we were all referring about. With her eyes going wide open at the news, she looked back at the bank representative with a scowl.
"This isn't possible," The woman refused to believe the entire situation. "The Gossamer Harvest Festival is meant to include only those farms that have managed to give an excellent performance as an agricultural company among others."
"Which is the case," Mora shot back, almost sounding too eager to deliver that unexpected blow on her current rival. "Las Lindas is the farm that is making enough money to place second in the rating. With the farms here having long turned self-sufficient, it's rare for activity like ours to actually exist."
"There has to be a mistake," The CEO remarked, expecting some agreement from the banker.
"Not really, Ms. Coldthorn. There is good enough proof of this, and I can't expect this to be a fake considering the man that prepared this document," The Owl Prime remarked, finally turning to stare back at me and Mora. "Still, I have to say that I would have never imagined for someone like Eugen Bruford to offer his assistance on this occasion."
Alejandra quickly realized who the elder was talking about. Many knew Bruford as an unflinching Lawyer that lost just two cases in his full career of three decades of duty, both of which happened around the beginning of his rise to the current reputation he had.
"B-but that isn't possible! That man only works for the Sto- Stone family!"
She finally noticed about this connection as she said this, her gaze narrowing in true irritation and anger right at me.
"You- You are… the former heir of the Stone Advanced Farms. The son of Arthur Stone, the second CEO of the company," She revealed with a furious tone. "So that means that you are not just a vagrant that was taken in by Mora."
I mean, I had been put in situations that painted me as such but...
"I was kind of a vagrant, just not a poor one," I replied with a tiny grin. "I had long relinquished my connection to that company, and what is left are a few bonds that have resisted through time."
I saw the CEO's subordinate nod unconsciously at this last, and I glanced upward to where Tootsie was perched and listening to this conversation. In an effort to exploit the novelty, Alejandra decided to make a gamble by trying to set Mora against myself because of this huge reveal.
"Shouldn't you be surprised too, Mora? Your little toy is actually a rich child-"
"I was surprised when he told me. But I know that I can trust his word when he says he is no longer tied to the rest of his family," The farm owner interjected. "And he is not my toy. That's my partner the one you are talking about."
"He… told you beforehand?"
"Declan is my boyfriend, you moron," Mora sharply reminded. "While he could have worked a little more on his timing about these news, he has yet to lie to me about this. He has only told me the truth with no reason for me to actually doubt his word."
I nodded as she emphasized our relationships by wrapping her right arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. I felt a little bit more determined as I felt her chest pressing close to my arms in that exact moment.
"S-Still, this is unfair! I will make an appeal to this- the rule that has been used is a clear exploitation of the lack of study between the laws and-"
Before she could finish that sentence, the noises of an engine coming from nearby alerted us all to stare up in the sky and… notice a golden-colored airship hover above our heads. The expensive cruiser softly resumed its landing procedure, eventually settling for the patch of grass that stood right beside the main path of the farm. A ramp extended silently to allow the vehicle's occupants to descent, and… from there, two individuals appeared. The first one, the one that actually started to walk off the plane and towards us, was quickly recognized as Minos.
He was back… by a couple of hours earlier than expected. A little behind him, an initially unfamiliar figure appeared as the figure finally followed the Bull Prime's example. The shadows parted way as we were given a full sight over a celebrity nobody would have ever expected to find before. Humming eagerly as she seemed ready to play around just like usual, we were greeted with the leader of the Newer Continent herself and the current regent of the Queendom of Prism, the High Prime herself.
The red-haired Bear Prime had a light-brown fur with a lighter spot around her left eye and, speaking of her eyes, both were mostly closed, enough to keep their colors hidden to anyone looking up to her face; She was wearing a blue Chinese dress with silver details, that didn't seem to have nothing underneath it. Lady Ambar was going commando, and proudly so with the eager grin on her face. The woman's pattern was one of incredible grace but eased restraint.
"It would seem like the situation had indeed taken the most amusing turn possible," The redhead commented mirthfully, while patting at Minos' left arm. The gesture had me frowning questioningly at the Bull Prime to try and understand that they seemed close to one another despite him never saying anything about it. "And I can tell that you have managed to solve most of the legal problems, Mora and… Oh my."
I tensed up, my eyes narrowing as I stared at the giggling form coming from Lady Ambar herself. This wasn't the first time I met her. It's been so long… and yet I could still remember the time when I was really young, a child, and I would end up being cornered by a giggling woman that would pull me around, hug me tightly and urge me to play with her daughter.
"Declan Stone, it's been… a decade or so since I last saw you. You were an adorable little boy..." Ambar mused eagerly. "And you have grown into a fine big boy~."
I felt a shiver go down my spine at that nickname since it brought up a couple of embarrassing memories of the past, but I was quickly reminded that we weren't alone as Mora tightened a little bit her hold over my back. The Bear Prime took notice of this, and she giggled at the sight instead of feeling deterred by it..
"And I can see that Minos was indeed correct about your closeness. It makes me happy to see such a strong couple," The woman ultimately added. "In fact, I wouldn't mind to test and… see this strength by myself."
This time, the redhead's gaze was aimed at Mora, getting a swift blush out of my girlfriend with that smooth line, while also warranting a frown targeting the highly-amused girl for that blatant flirting to my girlfriend. Mora might be a tough and clever girl, but not someone that I was just going to leave on her own about this kind of circumstance.
Seriously, I had forgotten how lustful and perverted the high Prime herself was when she wanted to have fun and 'fun'.
"L-Lady Ambar, surely you have to agree to my claim. This farm isn't worthy of being a competitor to Alexandria-"
"Quite the contrary, Ms. Coldthorn," The woman's associate commented. "While our productivity is in constant growth, we are not the only competitors in this part of the continent. As Ms. Linda has mentioned, most of the farms here in Gossamer have a focus on self-sufficiency and don't sell products as a 'farm' like Alexandria does. The same doesn't apply to this place, and, as such, we're bound to accept competition this year."
Speechless and annoyed by that opposing comment, Alejandra stormed away with Tootsie following shortly after, the Cow Prime angry at herself and other factors. It didn't take long for the rest of the demolition vehicles to be removed and for Mr. Osgood to leave the premises with the unpleasant thought that now he will have to mend some paperwork to not have this mistake repeated.
Alejandra's 'unknown' worker remained despite the fact his boss had just left. He glanced at me with a calm look, and I smiled back at him.
"Ms. Linda. Would you mind if I indulged in some tea and cookies? I find myself famished, and I believe there is much that you wish to know about your current situation with the whole Harvest Festival."
The brunette blinked in surprise at that request, failing to compute words as she didn't know how to handle this development. I gave her a glance and nodded.
"I will deal with him. He is the friend I told you about, the one that alerted us of this entire situation."
The Cow Prime's eyes widened in surprise at that brief explanation, but instead of asking for more answers on the spot, she leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, whispering that she wanted to know more about the situation once I was done with that discussion.
Silence soon gained traction as we were left alone and I let out a quick sigh as I regarded him with a nod.
"We can speak freely now."
The Wolf Prime returned the nod with a tired sigh. "I believe it's been quite a while since we last saw each other, Mr. Stone."
"I can say otherwise, Mr. Sirius."
Vincent Sirius was the grandson of one of the farmhands for my Grandfather's farm. The two men had both worked closely, going as far as intertwining their families in a sort of traditional situation where all firstborns were to spend their childhood together.
When I was born, Sirius had been six and that made for some difficult way to catch up to him. It was a strenuous friendship that suffered because of the age gap early on. By the time we both were beyond ten, we had developed a closer bond as we were capable of understanding each other's plights easily compared to before. High School, College, teachers, girls- we were both in good terms, as if brothers in all but blood. But then… things had to happen and I had to leave.
Last time I saw him, he was still working for Stone Advanced Farms… but I could see that my departure had forced him to leave the company as the scandalous events that led to me to disappear had started to shift some blame on the leadership.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head at the faux formality. "Please, don't even try to act with that degree of formality. It sounds so… awfully wrong. I might not like how freely we tended to speak, but I miss your truthful mannerism."
I chuckled. "I'm sorry that it got you this much annoyed."
"None of that," He replied quietly. "Nonetheless, I have to ask. How have you spent these years away from your home?"
… "As good as I could with just a little bit of money."
"I thought you still had access on your bank account," The man pointed out and I sighed.
"I might have something like that, but then I would have given away my position since I know the account is still tracked even to this day."
Vincent frowned. "Your father?"
"No… surprisingly enough, it's mother. I don't believe father wishes to have anything to do with him," I answered neutrally. "My words and my actions did leave him quite hateful."
"It wasn't your fault-"
"It isn't," I interjected flatly. "Never for a moment I thought about considering myself in the wrong. He deserved what he got. No matter how harsh this sounds."
"Still, if it's your mother that is still searching for you… do you believe that she is trying to break off from Arthur?"
"She is still married to him," I pointed out with a sigh. "It's been long enough for her to have at least considered this option a lot of times. Yet she didn't. I… I don't wish to badmouth her since she took my side when that fight happened, but I feel like she really never broke free from his control."
…
"I will keep in touch," Vincent commented calmly. "I believe that, if some surprise from the past was to ever come out the more this farm becomes famous, you will need all the help to avoid your new chance at a stable life to be ruined by it."
I sighed. "I swear, you try to appear so tough and yet you are still the kind kid that Grandpa Gid would always bribe with mint-flavored candy."
"T-That was almost three decades ago," The Wolf Prime rebuked. "At least I wasn't the brat that kept on crying for a full day when he was told that Santa was real."
"I had many hopes to meet the jolly old man. But I believe the worst bit of that scenario was that I imagined father being Santa in disguise," I remarked with a nod. "That mental picture was scary for a child like me at the time."
We shared one last chuckle, with Vincent mentioning that he would need to take his leave now, else making his boss suspicious about his true allegiances. I didn't waste time myself as I returned inside the house, now curious to see how the situation was unfolding with the High Prime now in the building.
Ambar's visit wasn't a long one, mostly because someone like the High Prime couldn't certainly linger too long in a single place.
After making a brief virtual lesson of history about the Primes' lost homeworld and the monumental last day of the galactic war that would then culminate in the creation of Neo-Earth with Sarah and Rachael as her sole spectators, the woman spent a private conversation with Mora to speak about the reasoning behind her aiding us over what had happened with Alejandra.
When that discussion came to an end, I expected just two individuals, which was the number of individuals that had begun that conversation, to come out all at once. Except it was just Ambar at first and… then it was the turn of Mora as she followed by a floating pale-white humanoid flying just beside her. Petite frame, ethereal form, and wings that seemed connected to the ring with a purple gem around her waist. Bright green eyes stared curiously all around, stopping just as I came into her line of sight and got her utmost focus.
A Nanozell spirit, and a cute one too.
Mora was close to walk away towards the kitchen without her newest ward, but she paused just in time to notice what had distracted the Spirit to this degree. Before the woman could have inquired about the staring contest.
"What's your name?" I asked kindly, getting a distracted blink out of the tiny spirit.
"Digit," She replied quietly and I nodded.
"Nice to meet you, Digit," I muttered, finally getting her to react. She blushed a storm all so suddenly and panicked.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare like that."
I chuckled calmly. "It's alright. I guess you were just surprised-"
"It's just that it's the first time I see a human."
I frowned at that, giving her a confused look. "Really?"
She nodded approaching me some more. "It's just that I didn't expect for… someone like you to be there."
"I'm quite the surprise," I admitted mirthfully, getting a snort out of Mora. "I'm Declan."
"Nice to meet you, da- Declan."
...What was that?
Before I could ask for clarification, I was pulled away by Mora as a giddy Digit, now endeared by the entire situation followed us around the house.
Note to remember: trying to find some time alone with a Nanozell Spirit wanting to be in the same room as you are isn't that easy. Not at all.
AN
Prepare yourselves! The High Prime is here and-
Hello~!
Dammit, Ambar. Let me introduce you properly.
I don't need any of that. I see that you have yet to bring me up so I had to jump in to this opportunity.
I suppose this will be… fine?
Ha~, I wonder how much can be done with these circumstances. I hope you are ready to make Murphy go full ham on everything in a… fun way~.
Don't invoke his name! He is a powerful entity of escalation, madness, and friendly fire that isn't.
Good reference.
