Cole found his grandmother waiting for him along with Tehilla, but there were in a private room with a round table and on the other side was a man with a bald head and a snake tattoo on the side of his neck.r

He was flanked by three others, and the way they were dressed was a little peculiar for Cole, as they were wearing the kind of thick clothes you would expect from people who spent most of their time in deep space. Cole took his seat in between his grandmother and Tehilla, while the guards spread themselves around the perimeter.r

“I got your message late, but I’m here Grandmother. What is this about?” Cole asked, not even bothering to pay attention to the people on the opposite side of the table, a power play, and one it seems the Matriarch approved off if the smile on her face was anything to go by.r

“This is Kassid and his pirate crew, they’re…. old business partners of mine that I had embedded in the Aleron Highwater colony. They kept an eye on things for us, most of all they oversaw my affairs there for a percentage.” Cole nodded his head, then asked.r

“Is there a reason you wanted me to meet them?” the Matriarch nodded her head, Cole was asking all of the right questions and he was not being subservient about it. In this business, the need to make a proper impression was always required, regardless of gender. As long as you showed that you had a spine, then the opposing party would not be careful not to take you for granted.r

“There has been a revolt in the colony and power has reverted to that hands of the Aleron Highwater family. Never the less, I still have extremely valuable assets that are entrenched there, after all the headquarters of the black market bank is there, and I own 12% of it’s shares.”r

Cole’s eyes widened to really epic proportions as he was so shocked by what he had just heard. Even though it was an urban myth, people with their hands in organized crime and those heavily invested in smuggling, piracy and other criminal ventures off world used the black market bank. It was responsible for keeping goods safe, transporting them through blockades and customs, basically it kept the criminal underworld afloat across many planets, stations and colonies.r

“If that’s the case then your individual assets should be a whole lot more than what the Night family can even muster.” Cole said, very surprised by the revelation, twelve percent shares in a multi Galaxy organization was not beans, it was insane money.r

“Those shared have been in my family, for generations. It wasn’t even up to twelve percent, just a measly two. The ten is what I gained after my father passed and left that 2 percent we my inheritance. Never the less, the black market bank is compromised with this revolt, stocks would drop and there would be losses. That stupid best would cost me a fortune and my reputation.r

So I asked this gentlemen here to take care of the problem for me, they’re supposed to go snuff his life out and let the British consulate there take over, until things stabilize and we can still make a play for more power. But the Aleron family is cursed with madness, this new Highwater king needs to be stopped, but they refused and are asking for absurd amount as the cost for undertaking this venture, and guess what they don’t have a guarantee of success.”r

Cole chuckled, it didn’t make much sense in the long run, especially as he didn’t know what cost they had asked for. But to carry out a job without guarantee of success and then demand conpens6 just for carrying it out…. That was too much. But it seems the Black Market Bank was in fire straits and these pirates were taking advantage of it.r

“What are they asking for just to attempt this venture, and why are the rest of the leaders of the Black Market Bank not helping?” Cole asked as he took A drink of the cup of water in front of him.r 𝓫𝓭𝓸𝓋𝓁．𝓬𝓸𝓂

“Over 50% of them had out thief shares up for sale cheaply, that alone has affected out income stream, but in the end they had cut their losses and abandoned a sinking ship. I’ve bought most of the shares bring mine up to 47%, making me the principal share holder and now CEO. There’s no one else to help…. Just me.”r

But Cole was still waiting for the answer to his question. “And what is their price?” he asked again, getting with his head towards the pirates that had been extremely silent so far. However this time it was Tehilla who had answered him, looking ever pristine and calm as she sat on her wheelchair.r

“They want 20% of the Matriarch’s total shares within the Black Market Bank, plus they also want to take over the shipping and smuggling business and would like to set their own rates.” Cole furrowed his eyebrows as he asked.r

“Aside from really needing to kill time guy, and they having the ability to do so, do they have anything else on us that would give them the balls to actually make such ridiculous demands?” Cole noticed the leader of the pirates furrowing his eyebrows too as the snake tattoo on his neck flexed and seems to come alive, Cole raised an eyebrow at that bit of intimidation. Tehilla on the other hand didn’t miss her stride as she continued explaining.r

“Ships! They have ships or a fleet of twelve ships with two of them being Gunship class cargo ships, along with one Destroyer flagship. The rest are a Corvettes and Gunships for combat.” Cole nodded his head, by all means that was quite an impressive resume for hardware, but he had just gained the ability to make ships of his own, it was only a matter of time and resources before he would be able create a fleet of his own that would stand up to any other fleet.r

“You don’t have any ships in space Grandmother?” Cole asked, not too sure why his grandmother had this much money and had been sitting on it for so long without feeling the need to do anything or help anybody out with it.r

“can we source out the transportation to a legal company, at least for a little while until we can get a manufacturing plant ready?” Cole asked this question, with the intent to let the pirates know that it wasn’t as if they were out of options, plus as it stands all they needed was a little time to get it up and running, it wouldn’t be too hard to get a merchant company with the stones to go through pirate space, and with some connections, chief amongst them the new ones Cole would have undoubtedly have made with his new fame and fortune, there would literally be nothing in their paths should the merchants need to deliver goods.r

“We have a transportation company already Cole, we just lack the ship’s to take it to the next level. However we could source some from the military, if we can give the United Nations a hefty donation and perhaps some information, then perhaps they will be ‘grateful’ enough to lend us a Frigate class cargo ship and a battalion for protection.” Tehilla answered as Cole started laughing.r

“The law protecting a shipment of illegal and contraband goods…. How ironic. But tat solves the problem of transportation and protection. Which brings us to the original problem…. What do we do about this Aleron King guy? The price out fair gentlemen of Fortune here are asking is way too much, would you care to renegotiate?”r

Cole asked with a smile as he leaned back against his chair and picked up the menu to order some food. The Matriarch was silent, Cole and Tehilla had handled this situation marvelously, the sheer arrogance of the two was enough to convince the pirates that they really were not needed. The Matriarch knew that, but they were a means to an end, a necessary evil as she would not want to send anyone she confirmed valuable to go deal with the Aleron boy.r

“You are asking us to kill some sort of super being, not matter how many guns we have, we can’t best that guy. He doesn’t die, so if you really want us to kill the devil, then you will have to make it worth our while. We can ask for less…. Maybe 5% but you will also give us a 100 million in cash, once you’ve done that, then you will get his head.” Cole scoffed and just said one thing.r

“Then I guess your services are no longer required, please see yourself out.” He said as he went back to looking at his menu.r

“How care you! Do you know who I am? Who’s going to help you kill him, who!” Cole raised an eyebrow.r

“its Simple really….. I’ll Kill Him Myself.”r