22/02/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 49

It's done, First.

Izuku looked over at his phone. He frowned when he read the message. It seemed tired. Are you okay, Mei? He sent rather than asking what she had finished.

I'm fine

It's just that…

It's finally finished.

I'm a little sad about that.

But… That just means more babies to make now!

Izuku smiled. She was back to normal. You've finished?

The injectors, the drug dispensers, the cleaners and the storage compartments

And put them all into the existing design

He read the last two messages several times. While he might have hoped dad would have recovered fully, he'd seen what pursuing that goal cost. The helmet would be a massive help to his father and make things more comfortable. That's fantastic! Izuku sent and then he sighed. I feel like I haven't done enough for you. Mei had done so much for him with her creation.

If she hadn't made it… well, the Doctor would have made something but Kyudai admitted that this sort of engineering was not his forte. It wouldn't have been so good. He'd even told him that Dad had very much liked the first design over what he had created.

What could he do to thank Mei? He could pay her more. If the new injectors worked as he was sure they were going to then… It would mean so much for his Dad and Izuku knew, better than he used to, how much this stuff cost. But that was a one off. And… it would mean things were over, and while he didn't talk to Mei much, he liked her enthusiasm, and he didn't want to lose contact with her when she had helped so much.

You've done plenty First!

You were a very patient client.

Izuku looked at the words, ignoring the other messages that came through.

You were…

No. That said it was over. He felt the same sadness she did.

I don't want to be a previous client, Izuku sent to her.

The little dots that told him she was actively creating a message stopped. Izuku could imagine the look Mei would be giving her phone even though he's only spoken to her for a few minutes. They had gotten together online since then. She'd be examining it, as if trying to pull off the layers of meaning from the screen.

I know I didn't do much with this but I want to continue working with you. It was fun.

This might have started out as an investment but… Mei had good ideas and she made useful things. His light vest! When he compared the version he had now, to the original version he could see the evolution in her designs.

Wait…

What do you mean? Mei replied.

I want us to continue working on projects.

You do?

I do. He really did. How did he make that happen? First though, we need to discuss this one. Can I be the sole owner of the designs? The design was for his father and while Izuku knew that part of it might be able to be used for other people, at the moment, he wanted it just for his dad.

There was a pause. He could almost see Mei looking at her phone as she considered it.

I want to First, but I can't give sole ownership. The response was actually regretful. Izuku could tell. He was regretful as well.

Not even if I pay you? He replied. He had to pay her for the plans. He knew that. And he probably should have told her that first.

Oh, if you pay, then you can be the sole owner

Now how much are they worth?

Izuku wondered the same. She'd been working on it for years, and while he had given her some extra money, it was not anywhere near enough to cover her time, even if she wasn't of legal age to work.

I've been working on it for three years.

But at least some of that is R&D

Though clients usually pay for that.

He wondered if she was talking to someone? Obviously companies had Research departments but he didn't know how smaller groups handled it. If the company was just selling one idea, as happened, then they would have had to do their own research and development but that was costed into the price of the idea or object and they were usually trying to sell it to a lot of people. He wanted to own the plans, which meant all the costs were his.

How about 1 million yen?!

Izuku almost choked. He couldn't afford that. But… It was probably a fair cost. It was probably under cost actually.

How about I own the plans but you can use components in future? Izuku offered the alternative.

LOL! First, I wasn't serious with that cost.

I've worked this for fun and you are the first.

Plus this has taught me so much!

Every baby does but testing this one has shown me what it takes to develop them properly.

I mean for use by people at work.

He nodded at that. What field did you want to go into? It was pretty obvious but he thought he should ask. They hadn't done career counseling or anything at school yet but the teachers had hinted that they should be thinking about it.

I want to make babies!

But that will mean I have to go into Support.

Which isn't too bad

I will have to have my own company

But the High Schools help you set that up

At a fee.

Which you have to repay

Izuku read the lines back. There were huge support companies, and merchandising companies for Heroes. It was one of the things that kept Heroes popular in society. But the Heroes themselves ran their own companies, even though technically they were public servants. It was complicated.

He hadn't realised that Support Companies could operate the same way but it did give him an idea.

How about I get your company set up? As part of my payment for the plans. A plan was taking form in Izuku's mind.

First, a company costs a lot to set up, Mei replied.

And it's complicated.

That's why the High Schools do it for you.

Izuku thought back to his first lesson in investment with his dad. His dad had definitely said that he could set up a company so the amount of money must be enough. I'll check, he replied. But let's say that I can. What would the plans cost then?

Let me think

I'm not in a position to make money off them now

And you said I can use components right?

Right, Izuku confirmed.

Then… this was made for your dad…

Which actually makes components far more useful to me

I doubt there'd be many people needing a life support helmet

Which brings the cost down.

But I do need to recoup some of my time.

Izuku looked at the last message. He was pretty sure Mei was talking to someone while talking to him. Probably her parents. That was okay. He was a bit nervous about doing this. Dad might have said that it didn't matter if he lost all the money but he wanted to show something for his investment. The helmet was a good outcome but he had the feeling he could get more outcomes if he continued to work with Mei. The light vest for him was fantastic and while some of her other inventions were rough, they had potential. Not everything works. Even so, he knew, if this was the investment he was making with Dad, they'd be talking to Mei together.

That makes sense, he typed. Dad said to go low with offers, and then work your way up. Mei would be doing the opposite, going high and coming down. Let's separate the two, but make ownership of the plans dependent on me getting you that business?

What are the two? Mei asked.

Surprisingly there were no follow up texts. There was definitely someone holding her back from typing given that Izuku knew she'd be trying to work out what he was talking about.

Ownership of the plans and the business itself, he replied.

Okay.

The response was a bit subdued but Izuku pressed on.

Fifty thousand and the business registration, he offered.

The dots appeared after a second or two. Five hundred thousand and the business registration.

This took me three years, First.

Izuku bit his lip. He didn't have the money for that. But then he remembered that Mei would be going in high. At least she would if they were negotiating now. So he had to be equally ruthless. But in good faith.

It did, he agreed. But you never asked me for payment, he reminded her. He had given her some payments. Not much but he had given her some extra money.

True.

The response was subdued, as if she was having to admit something she didn't want to. Had she not told her parents she was working for someone else? He couldn't think about that now. It wasn't his problem. That's what his dad said when negotiating. You could sympathise with the other person but you had to focus on the outcome for yourself.

Izuku waited. While technically it was his turn to advance a new offer, Mei had admitted hers was too much so she should adjust hers first.

Three hundred thousand and the business registration.

There was about three hundred and fifty thousand remaining of the five hundred thousand his dad had given him. He could probably pay that if the registration was cheap but…

He didn't think it would be. After all, if High Schools helped Support Students set up a business but then expected them to pay that money back, it couldn't be cheap. It had to be out of reach of most of them but necessary. Fifty thousand yen didn't sound like it was unachievable.

She'd come down two hundred thousand so he should go up… Dad had said anything up to half the amount but you could go as low as a quarter. He'd try that. He wanted to be generous but he wanted to be sure he had enough to register a business. Does your Mum or Dad know how much it would cost to register a business? Approximately? Izuku sent through before he sent another offer.

There was silence for a few moments. Well… the conversation was silent but the little dots weren't there. He'd probably surprised them. He smiled to himself.

The dots reappeared.

Dad says about 100,000 yen.

He nodded to himself. That was useful information. Thank you, Izuku sent back. One hundred thousand and the business.

What? You are serious about the business?

How are you getting the money?

Can you really do that?

Izuku laughed. Yes, I can do that. I told you didn't I? Dad is teaching me to invest.

No, you didn't!

He frowned. He was sure he'd explained. Oh. Well never mind. It wasn't something that was important to now.

So this was an investment? That question seemed like it came from Mei's father.

It was, Sir, Izuku wrote back. And I would like to keep investing.

First…

Izuku wasn't sure what to say to that. There was no follow up.

All right son, let's see what we can work out.

He wasn't sure he was going to like negotiating with Mei's father. It almost seemed as if she was cheating but for the moment he would see where this went. Dad had told him another rule of trade and investment. He had the money, which meant he had the power. He didn't have to agree with whatever was suggested. And he could always talk to Mei later.

What do you want to get out of this, Son?

Izuku looked at the question. What did he want to get out of it? He closed his eyes briefly as he thought. He'd already gotten his main goal out of it. The helmet for dad. He could walk away now but… He liked talking with Mei. She had good ideas and she saw the world as it was. He thought she would be a good investment.

Mei has already helped me more than I can say with the helmet. It has already meant so much to my dad and with the drug dispensers it will mean even more freedom for him. I can't thank her enough for that. Izuku wrote. It was true. Now that this project is finished, I want to keep working with Mei because I like working with her and I want to see what else she can invent, develop or make better. I believe her company will be a force in the future and I want to help with that.

He pressed send. The words were the truth though they sounded a bit corny. Izuku gently put his phone down after the message was sent. He took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. He really did want to keep working with Mei, even though she would likely go into Support and produce items for Heroes.

He smiled slightly. He might be able to convince her to go into medical support. There were lots of victims out there who would no doubt benefit from support items. Mei could become their supplier instead of for Heroes. But support items were something that were meant to be only used by Heroes but in practice, versions of them could be used by the public or by those society called villains. Infact, the right support item would keep many people from being declared a villain.

There would be income in that.

And respect.

She might have to go into Support for Heroes but that would give her contacts and ideas which could then be used for the greater good. His phone beeped.

Your honesty is appreciated son, but where are you getting the money from?

Izuku read the message. At least the answer was easy though probably not that common place. My dad is teaching me to invest. We invested some money together but I had another lot of money to invest by myself. The helmet was the first investment and it will help my dad but I think we can go further. And Mei has made some other items which are just as good.

There is a chance you will lose your money, Son. The High School might not allow her to have her own company.

He hadn't thought about that. It's a risk, Izuku agreed. But at least Mei will know that I'm serious about investing in her, and can later accept my investment.

I definitely will, First!

Even if the School says I can't have my own company.

I can fold theirs as soon as I pay it off

And go back to ours!

He cocked his head. That was Mei back on her phone, though… Ours?

Of course, ours!

If you get me a company and you want to invest

Then it's ours!

It wouldn't be right if it wasn't.

He smiled at that. It made him feel warm. She wanted to work with him too.

All right son. How about this? One hundred and fifty thousand for the plans. You set up the business, and then say another one hundred thousand as seed money for the business?

The suggestion seemed reasonable but it would completely wipe out all the money he had left. He wanted to have some extra incase setting up the business cost more.

One hundred thousand for the plans. I set up the business and supply one hundred thousand as an initial investment, Izuku countered. That gave him fifty thousand yen extra in case setting up the business cost more. It was putting all his investment eggs in one basket but the life support helmet was a good investment. He was sure his dad would approve of it.

Deal.

Izuku smiled. He felt a weight lift off him.

I'll leave you two to work out the important details

He blinked. What did your Dad mean by that? Izuku asked.

:D

We need to decide what to name the company.

Oh… That was true. He hadn't thought about that and his mind went blank.

First…

Hmm?

You really are the best.

Izuku cocked his head at the phone. What did she mean?

When you set the company up, set it 49/51 ownership and you take the 51.

Because I couldn't do it without you.

But it will be your company, Izuku said.

I'll have operational control, Mei agreed. But it wouldn't happen without you.

So make it mostly yours.

Especially since you will be paying for it.

And you are going to fund the initial R&D

He didn't know what to say about that. He took a deep breath. Okay. It was only one percent after all.

You really are the best, First.

And you know, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Izuku smiled. It felt good to have friends.

-ted-

There you are, proof that money can buy you friends :D Or at least, highly complicated equipment to help your supervillain father.

This will obviously have consequences into the future... but butterfly wings... small and then something will have to give.

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

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