Chapter 12:

My enterprises in Albania continued to take a lot of my time and attention. I got a message from my favorite family there that were, let's just say, flexible in their lawfulness. "The other families want a meeting. They say they want in, but they'd say that also if that had other plans."

I told them a time and place to go to a specific bar and tell the bartender that they are there for a meeting.

They arrived early and scouted the area. They politely talked to the bartender. He was authorized to say, "I will get a phone call with the actual meeting location. I don't know more than that."

I picked a closed office as the meeting location. I had a series of wards, and of course my security team there. There were nine families, plus my affiliated one. I mentally kept track of them by assigning each a number, with my affiliates as Family 1.

My wards and security team looked for intent as well as magic. I already had a ward temporarily make explosives temporarily inert and sharp things temporarily no longer sharp. These could be done with first year spells, except for the finding of the objects to be transformed, which would be more advanced. I was under no illusions that my previous muggle weaponry attacks would work again against wizards once they think about specific defenses.

The son of the leader of leader of Family 2 was identified by the wards as a wizard. My screening security asked if they could speak to him privately, but first asked him, "Does your father know about you?" He shook his head, which in England would mean no, but in Albania yes. "Please say yes or no". He said "Po. Yes.".

A well dressed security wizard working for me asked, "I would like a private word with both of you before the meeting." The Family 2 boss gave a gesture to the others saying it was OK.

The security wizard silently setup a silenced area and asked, "Who knows about magic?"

"We two do. The non-direct relations and other associates just know that I have some special skills."

"So, the statute of secrecy is intact in Albania?"

"Yes. The ministry here does little else, but they make sure the statute is kept."

"OK, then this will be between those of us in the know and you two."

They rejoined the others and gave a gesture indicating that everything was still ok. The group was led to a table. They seemed surprised that they weren't searched and disarmed. The security guard who looked each of them in the eye and read their surface thoughts noted that they understood that it wasn't due to naivety that they were not being searched, but likely it was some sort of trap to see if they would attack. The security guard was being a little rude in their culture by looking them in the eye like that, but noone objected.

I said, "Gentlemen, please sit down."

I had waiters serve them drinks. The waiters were all actually security wizards.

I continued, "Since you called for this meeting, I await to hear what is on your minds."

Family four said, "You have increased the scale of opportunity here. At the same time your enterprises are drawing people who otherwise might have gone abroad, reducing some of our money making opportunities. We are flexible as to how, but we want to prosper."

I replied, "There are a number of ways we can cooperate.

I am going to be paying for a public works program to assist my enterprises and Albania in general. In 1993 I am going to spend $4 million, that amount increasing as the size of my enterprises increase. I will offer you 15% of that program to provide security and facilitation. The nine families can work it out themselves how to divide the task and payments. I'll help if you cannot come to an agreement on how to divide it."

Family 6 replied, "25% and you pay any bribes needed separately,"

I answered, "20% and I'll pay any bribes. I'll also pay any eminent domain at above fair market values, and you'll help convince anyone recalcitrant. In addition, you can nominate workers for these projects, but I'll only accept and keep the ones who do good work. Any others would be paid out of your part."

The families conferred and Family 4 said, "Agreed. What else are you offering?"

"For you to help with my global operations and be paid accordingly. You'll each be paid to be on call, and for each operation conducted. I will go over with each of you, your special skills, contacts and geographic operating areas."

Family 4 answered, "Very well. We agree. We need to establish trust in each other and see the money flowing. We want to work with you, you want to work with us."

I then had food served and arranged to meet with Family 2 soon afterward.

I got a detailed explanation from them of how they avoid problems with the magical ministry while still using magic for their non-magical activities. I detailed some ways that each of our magical organizations can help each other. I added, "You can identify wizards among the expatriate Albanian community that might be amenable to doing similar work. This will help setup magical smuggling. Mostly this smuggling is not illegal objects per se, but avoiding import duties or trade restrictions."

The Prime Minister met with me. He said, "You have reversed the flow of workers. Some who aren't earning much abroad are returning, even going into debt to do so."

I answered, knowing that the Families worked out an arrangement that noone would be charged more than half their wages at my enterprises and limited to 6 months. "They all have been hired in advance, will have enough to live on after their payments and only need to pay for 6 months."

The Prime Minister said, "The ones from Kosovo can get here without payment. I am happy for them, but I do not like the idea of the dream of Kosovo itself being lost by losing its Albanian population."

I said, "I can setup some piece work arrangements for them to do in their homes there, and the Albanian border guards can help them keep track of Yugoslav guards for smuggling back and forth. I can also give some community aid to the villages in dollars or deutsche marks."

He answered, "I appreciate all that you do. I am going to fast track you becoming a citizen of Albania."

I answered, "Thank you. Of course I am also maintaining by British citizenship."

The Prime Minister asked, "Do you think it is feasible for Kosovo to rejoin Albania?"

I said, "It is complicated. If they fight now, they would have the advantage of doing so while the Serbs are bogged down with their other wars. However, it will not be good for Albania's future role in the world.

The West wants to make friends with Russia who will want to help the Serbs. It will not help our relations with Romania, Bulgaria, or Greece. We cannot take on the world and expect to win. The world still regards us as a crazy isolated nation, which they might equate to a rabid dog. We have no allies. China might be cooperating with us again, but they will not save us if we are invaded.

Give it several years. I'll send money there. Eventually, Yugoslav wars will end. At that point the Kosovar war might begin. It sounds like it would be the worst timing for us, but it will not be. By then, the Serbs will be regarded as rabid dogs, while we will be a fine upstanding citizen of the international community. In the years to come, we publicize to the west any oppression in Kosovo. By the time the Serbs cross a line, we will not only have international support, but maybe direct intervention to defend Kosovo. By then we'll have more money to provide weapons. The West will only intervene if we can hold off the Serbian army, not just because we have grievances.

In Macedonia and Montenegro I think the best we can do is help them come to Albania."

The Prime Minister said, "It doesn't sound like too hopeful of a plan. Maybe more direct aid would help the Albanians in Yugoslavia."

I said, "I can give some money to help people where they are and to give them jobs if they come to Albania, indirectly, but my enterprises cannot be even indirectly linked to guerrilla warfare.

Also, consider if you want to fight, you need strength, and that means money. Let us build up the economy and in several years more options might be available. We need to recognize relative strengths versus our neighbors as they are today and understand that we do not have the resources to fight them.

In addition, we need a clean safe image for tourism. That will become an increasingly important part of the Albanian economy. We are close to having cruise ship visits. Private security will make sure that tourists are safe. We also have beaches. Just a few years ago the Yugoslavian coast was crowded with beach tourists. By summer 1993 we can be ready for a lot of them to go to Albania instead. We'll build up tourist infrastructure and keep them safe. Any hint of Albania joining the war will destroy its tourist economy."

This enterprise was taking a lot of my attention, but I was hoping it would soon mostly run itself and the money will flow to my coffers. At some point I'll need to teach Draco how to run the enterprises.

Moving my cheaply made, but decent quality, enchanted devices was another challenge. For magical ministries with trade restrictions, smuggling is only one step. Selling the goods is another.

For some countries the law wizards found a way around their restrictions. We bring in components, legally or smuggled. A master enchanter in that country does the final steps of completing the product. They regard it as domestically manufactured and it is all legal.