To implement my rather ballsy plan I had to first discuss its feasibility with an expert.And that was where Nizar Razafy came in once again. Not too long ago, I’d met him to discuss the possible need to extract our agents from the countries they monitored.He sat before me looking just as brainy as the last we saw. That being the day of the chief’s execution. Nizar had been chosen by Matthias as the most competent person to head up the ministry of information, I thought it was a terrific choice as well.“Uhm…You needed me, sir?” he says, fear largely staining his voices as he shrinks into his seat, pushing up his spectacles as he avoids my gaze.“Yes, I needed you, Matthias has briefed me on the, RDOS proposal. You did a good job contributing quite largely to its feasibility.” I say in praise, he lifts up his head, now a lot more willing to meet my gaze.“Thank you sir, I was only doing my job,”I nod, hurriedly dismissing the platitudes in favour of moving on to my major concern.“N
Exciting news is what it was. I’d previously dismissed whatever possibilities lay in the Aridoria or Zephyria making contact to take me up on the deal I offered. Seventy-million dollars for the best quality cargo ship they had. But when I heard they’d made contact three days ago it’d been the highlight of my week.Even more exciting was that they weren’t just declaring that they were open for business, they’d formally invited me to their nation. This would mark another historical moment in Schelarian history, the first ever State Visit.Although, I was ecstatic at the prospect of being so publically recognized, it would be the first time the I was outside of Schelar in this life, and to a country I’ve never been to in previous lives either.This action had me mixed feelings. On one hand, it would be great exposure for Schelar, I would no doubt be seen, filmed and captured in the media of a country where the internet is freely accessible. The news of my presence in the country would s
The boy who ruled.Is what the newspapers called me bright and early on a Sunday morning. I’d read many headlines from the stack of newspapers that had been brought to the room and they all said the same about me. The boy who ruled. I idly wondered if they media houses had all come together to and cast a ballot on what to dub me.After we were taken from the Airport to meet Bernardor, I found myself being greeted by a large extravagant ceremony held in honour of my visit. In past lives I hadn’t gone on many state visits, but I had enough sense to recognize the proper respect of etiquette the Aridorian Government had shown me by organizing a formally welcoming ceremony despite the shady view the rest of the world had of me and my administration.Though I did not expect the ceremony that didn’t mean I wasn’t prepared for it. As custom of State visits, I exchanged gifts with the President. I’d gotten him a nice () and he in turn had presented me with () I was flattered really.After much
As promised, Bernador had sent a file with information on all the cargo ships available. We were allowed to choose three out of the thirteen ships. I was still in vacation mode so I took advantage of my peppy mood and went out to see the ships in person. So we flew out to the nearest port.Niaina and Johannes, Bernardor’s awfully handsome chief of staff went along with me. The man carried with him a little slim black note that only held a few pages, he was coming along to record the choices I would make, it would be necessary as their value would equate how the trade negotiations would go.Normally, a single cargo ship with around 7000 TEU would cost around seventy-million dollars. I wasn’t much at all for a country to afford usually, but with extreme poverty plaguing Zephyria , I had banked on them jumping at my very fair and opportune deal never did I expect Aridoria to express an interest.The fact that they did hammered in the fact that I’d been making moves with things I was alre
Perhaps I was an impulsive shopper and I just didn’t know it since about everything I ever needed was provided. Either way, I couldn’t technically afford the large ships, not all three of them at least.If I forced that we have the three ships the deal would have to be adjusted in a manner unfavourable to us in the long run. Schelar had to bring in another export to cover the costs of the three ships that totaled the cost of four hundred-million dollars.Of course I could just cover the costs instantly with Schelar’s federal funds, but that would instantly put the nation into a massive recession as the profits from trade would take a while to be assimilated into our revenue. There was also the little fact that we were export much of our agricultural produce to Aridoria, it was absolutely necessary the plan for rapid development with agriculture went off smoothly and swiftly. According to my minister of Agriculture it would cost much more than four-hundred-million dollars to cover the
A rather awkward silence prevailed, amplified by hands and eyes looking for everything except one thing to lock on to and interact with.Despite my usual self, I’d yet again found myself feeling uncomfortable in silence. A state I thrived in. The last time I’d felt this way was with Luciano right after I’d pretty much flipped off President Nawab of Zephyria .Then I felt uncomfortable and tense because I sensed I was about to be told things I didn’t want to hear. Things that didn’t sit well at all with me. Things I didn’t want to realize.However, this time was different yet just the same in the amount of discomfort it gave me. I can’t remember how many times I’d thought of walking right out of the room but I imagined quite vividly how much more awkward that would make things when I inevitably met again with this person.With my eyes trying and failing to read the contents of a magazine I’d forced into my face, I gulped as I finally amassed enough courage to take a peek at the woman s
“I wore your favourite.”I could see that and I couldn’t deny it made me feel attracted to her even more with the colour staining her appearance.Aina had stolen my attention and time away from Niaina and Vao the moment Bernador left the premises. I had much to talk to the two about but she’d confidently dismissed the two ministers. How troublesome.She stresses, reaching to the back of her packed up brown hair and takes off the purple hairclip letting her hair fall at its length. It’d grown longer from the short bob it was a month ago when I first met her at the funeral. I find my young body reacting enthusiastically to the new look. Over a century and my tastes hadn’t changed.“You look good,” I understate.“You look like you don’t want to see me.”I barely keep myself from wincing at her accusations. “I don’t have any reason to feel that way, Aina. Don’t you think you’re reading too much into things?”She shook her head, letting the hair fall equally onto both sides of her shoulder
I’d received a reception almost as grand as the one I’d gotten when I landed in Aridoria. Matthias and Luciano stood out front, ready to receive me while off in the distance many people spectated and cheered my arrival.It felt good being praised like this. I waved to the crowd with a true grin slapped onto my face. Though, the cynical side of my mind ask the other about the possibility that the crowds were merely cheering to receive some form of immediate relief like the LGA in Sofia, after all, these were mere commoners, they had little to no knowledge about the success and growth I’ve been orchestrating for their sakes.I shook off the doubts as I got into the car waiting for me, even if it were the case, it only meant that my image as the youthful, caring leader was shining through into the hearts of Schelarians everywhere.I was more inclined to be optimistic about it though. If they crowds weren’t arranged and a notice of my arrival was simply given, it really needs no explanati