Chapter 9 Chapter 9 From 350 million to 8216 blocks

Weedon Aubrey VII was temporarily unavailable to see Holloway.He's on the southwestern continent of the planet, and he's inspecting mining projects there, or so they tell Holloway.They also told him that while he was legally obliged to explore his sunstone mine further, he could not do so until Aubrey made arrangements.A sum was transferred to his contractor's account as pro forma compensation for this "emergency". Of course, Aubrey ordered a delay in payment, and Holloway couldn't access his own account until it was processed further.He cursed a few words, and said to Isabel that it was a good thing she had brought Pendy, otherwise he would have starved to death.Isabel's thoughts were all on Mao Mao, and she didn't even raise her head when she heard this.

Two days later, Holloway flew the spaceship towards Carl's Cliff and his sun quarry.Aubrey may be there, surveying the original geological structure of the area.Before he got there, Holloway saw the traces of human activities.Emissions from industrial machinery streaked across the sky, leaving behind a ribbon of cloud.A few minutes later, he circled around the Sun Mine, looking for a place to land. My God, they are really fast.thought Holloway.At the foot of the cliff there is a small sprawling construction site.The edge is surrounded by a prefabricated anti-animal fence.Inside the enclosure, machinery was clearing the site, plowing the ground until nothing remained but dirt for the foundations of the fixtures.Robots outside the fence are digging holes and expanding the scope of the worksite, and operators control these robots from the safety of the fence.After the hole was dug, another group of robots installed a new anti-animal fence on it, and then connected it with the original fence, expanding the scope of the construction site bit by bit until the space was enough to accommodate all the equipment needed by the Zara Group.Holloway looked around at the natural surroundings, which would soon cease to exist.

"Spaceship, identify yourself." Holloway's message board received a message. Holloway raised an eyebrow. "If you say you want to reveal it, you will reveal it?" He replied, "You should reveal your identity first, friend." "Spaceship, identify yourself or you will be shot down," said the voice. "Shoot at me and I'll hit you in the head," Holloway said. "And I'm not responsible. Because you're on a mine I've found. You've got to identify yourself, or we'll see you in court, and you'll have to In a plaster cast."

After a minute of silence, the voice said: "Spaceship, you are authorized to land at the indicator light." An icon appeared on the information panel, indicating the position of the indicator light, and circled a landing point next to the large facility. "Mr. Aubrey is waiting for you." He doesn't blame me for waiting.Holloway thought.He turned on the autopilot and headed for the lights.He landed in about a minute, and he climbed off the ship, and two men came towards him.He recognized one of them as Joe Dries, a member of Zara's security team.He was one of those sheriffs that Holloway wouldn't drink with if he killed him.

"Oh, it's you," Holloway said. "I guessed it. You never like to reveal your identity. Joe, this is against the rules and regulations of the Zara Group. I can complain to you." "Next time you don't reveal your identity, Holloway, I'll shoot down your spaceship." Dries said, "I have orders to do so." "And I hold the ownership contract," Holloway said. "You don't have ownership anymore," Dries said. Holloway laughed at this: "I guess 'emergency' doesn't make sense in court, Joe, I wouldn't mind dragging your big ass in front of the judge."

"Restraint, gentlemen," said the other.He watched with interest the friendly exchanges between Holloway and Dries. "Mr. Holloway, Mr. Dries has indeed received orders to stop any spacecraft that refuses to identify himself, and use force if necessary. Mr. Dries, Holloway's ownership of the minerals here is still valid. So both of you That's right, now you can put your dicks back in your pants." Driss gritted his teeth when he heard this, but he didn't say anything.Holloway looked up at the man, and asked a little amusedly, "Who are you?" "Brad Langdon," the man said.He walked up to Holloway and held out his hand: "I'm Mr. Aubrey's personal assistant. I'm here to take you to see him."

"He's so busy that he doesn't have time to pick me up?" Holloway joked. "Of course he's busy," Langdon said.His tone told Holloway that, while responding to his joke, Aubrey was really busy, too.Langdon said to Dries again: "Thank you, Mr. Dries. Leave it to me, and you can go back to your post." "I hope to see the ship waxed when I come back," Holloway said.Dries glared at him and left angrily. "Do you always annoy people when you meet them, Mr. Holloway?" Langdon asked as they walked across the site. "I've met Dries before," Holloway said, "a lot of times, so I love messing with him."

"I see," Langdon said. "I thought maybe it was a typical anti-authority tendency." "I doubt Dries is an authority," Holloway said. "He's the kind of guy who thinks 'cops' function as 'professional hooligans.'" "He has no bad record. I read his file before approving him to be stationed here." "Funny, you really think anyone dares to speak ill of the gang's thugs in the gang's turf," Holloway said. "Makes sense," Langdon said. "So you think we should send him back?" "Don't be," said Holloway, "every day he's here the pub is safe. You're doing the people of Aubrey a great favor."

Langdon gave a small laugh. The two walked to the fenced area that Holloway had seen as he circled: robots digging holes on one side of the fence, and operators controlling them from a console filled with joysticks on the other side.As they got closer, Holloway felt a pinch in his ears, like he'd been ascending too fast in a spaceship.He swallowed hard, but it didn't help. Holloway approached the operators and realized that one of them was Aubrey.He was wearing a Zara Group hard hat.Another man stood next to Aubrey's console.Holloway suspected that the man was the real robot operator, waiting silently and politely for Aubrey to get tired of playing and get back to work.

Langdon took out a palm-sized information board and pressed it. "Here we are," he said to the message board.Aubrey at the console turned and motioned for them to come over. "Isn't it fun?" Holloway asked once they arrived.He noticed that Langdon pursed his lips in disapproval.Holloway apparently forgot that he couldn't speak first, he had to ask him to respond. "It's not for fun," Aubrey said, climbing out of the console and taking off his hard hat. "One day I'm going to run the Zara Group. My father always said that it's important for leaders to understand what their people do and how they work. That's That’s what grandpa told him, and it’s been the same for generations. Every Aubrey has to patrol the family business and experience the work at the grassroots level, which keeps us grounded.”

“So, twenty minutes of fiddling with a fence-assembling robot can make you a better leader,” says Holloway. "Half an hour," Aubrey said, sensing the sarcasm, and began to respond, "It works or it doesn't, but even if you agree, it's better to come out and do it for a while than to be fed grapes at a club Wait until Dad stretches his legs a little better." "You say so," said Holloway.It hurt his ears even more, and he swallowed again. Aub looked at Holloway questioningly, and asked, "Your ears are a little swollen, aren't you?" "Yeah," said Holloway. Aubrey pointed to a large box on the fence line. "It's a loudspeaker," he said. "Zara and other beasts can hear higher frequencies than us, and they hate noise. We play 25 kHz at 160 decibels, and they turn around and run away. " "Yeah." Holloway hummed in understanding, and swallowed again. “We used to just shoot them off with automatic rifles,” Aubrey said, “but the animal rights groups objected and it hurt our public image. So we switched to noise.” "You're really human," Holloway said. "It also happens to be cheaper," Aubrey said, "but there are side effects, and you feel them. Even though you can't hear, you still feel bad. You get migraines if you stay here for a long time, and you get migraines after a while. Nosebleed." "The working conditions are lovely," Holloway said. Aubrey pointed to his ear. "In-ear noise-canceling earbuds," he said, "filter high-frequency sounds. No headaches." "Probably you won't," Holloway said. "All fence workers have it," Aubrey said. "Great," said Holloway, "I didn't." "Oh, yes," said Aubrey. "Follow me, then." He walked forward, followed by Holloway and Langdon. "What do you think of the construction site?" Aubrey asked as they walked. "I'm surprised it's built so quickly," Holloway said. "There was nothing here a week ago." "I told you this was our number one job," said Aubrey. "I commandeered empty cranes to bring in the big machinery and poached the best workers from other sites. The day you met with us, I sent people to clean up the site. After the construction site is completed, it will be the largest long-term construction site on Zara 23, mining the quarry you found." "I found out that you've done so much without my share," Holloway said. "Uh, well—" Aubrey tried to defend himself. "Emergencies, I understand," Holloway said, ignoring Aubrey's and Langdon's displeasure at his toughness.He didn't go any further, they were far enough from the fence that his ears didn't hurt anymore. "The problem is that emergencies are by definition temporary and unconventional, and your approach here is long-term and systematic. If I don't get involved, the Zara Group will have good reason to revoke my ownership. I checked Zara Corporation's Bylaws and Colonial Law related provisions. There is precedent in the past: 'Trump v. Miller'. Trump lost the lawsuit and lost millions of credits because Miller proved that Trump was not properly involved in all his mines Well, you may mean it, you may not mean it, but in my opinion, you're pushing me into Trump's situation." Aubrey stared at Holloway for a full minute. "God save us from amateur lawyers," he said at last. "I'm not an amateur lawyer," Holloway said. "That's not what the North Carolina Bar Association says," Aubrey said. "I wasn't disbarred because I didn't know the law," Holloway said. "Really? So what did you get revoked for?" Aubrey asked. "It's not an issue right now," Holloway said. "You know I can find out if you don't tell me," Aubrey said. "Look it up." Holloway nodded at Aubrey's assistant. "Let Langdon search the Internet. The records are public and easy to find. But now I want to talk about our situation." Aubrey nodded and walked on. "Come on, Holloway," he said, "I want you to watch something." Not long after, the three of them came to a huge falling rock.That's part of the cliff that Holloway blew up that litters the river bed.Workers and machines are working on it. "Does that look familiar?" Aubrey asked Holloway. "It's not like the last time I saw it," Holloway said. "I guess so," Aubrey said. "We're going to spend millions of credits cleaning this thing up. The CEPA regulations require us to restore the area to what it is before we can exploit it. The regulations are stupid, but it's According to the official laws of the colonial star." "I thought you were applying for an ecological exception," Holloway said.He was satisfied to find that both Aubrey and Langdon were a little surprised that he knew about it.Great, Holloway thought, to make them worry about what else I know. "We applied," Langdon said after a moment, "but we rarely got approved, almost never." "In the meantime, we've spent that money on cleanup," Aubrey said. Holloway nodded towards the pile of rocks. "After the cliff fall, I dug out several sunstones the size of an egg from the seam almost with my bare hands. Chances are the sunstones you'll find in this pile alone will cover the cost of the cleanup, plus the extra profit .” "True," said Aubrey, "but you missed the point." "Being mired in ecological accident cleanup isn't the point of your complaint?" Holloway asked. "The point is that you caused what you call an 'ecological accident,'" Aubrey said. "Whether we profited or not, you still caused damage to Zara." "I didn't mean to," said Holloway. "That doesn't matter," Aubrey said. "The Zara Group has to be sensitive to ecological matters, especially when we're going to apply for an ecological exception to mine this seam. We have to convince the bureaucrats at the CEPA office 180 light-years away that we will The damage caused by mining is handled carefully, and we clean it up after mining. However, it is difficult for us to convince them that the lead surveyor of the seam has created an ecological disaster with great swagger in the first place." "Environmental groups already know your name, Mr. Holloway," Langdon said. "Their forums are full of angry complaints about you training your dog to explode." "There's no evidence I did that," Holloway said. "These people don't think much of evidence, Mr. Holloway," Langdon said. "How are you two going to go around in circles?" Holloway asked. "If you don't mind, I think it's better to talk about it." "Okay," Aubrey said, "Listen. I think your business is a public relations disaster that the Zara Group can't handle. I think it's better for us, and for your own good, to get out. I Want to buy out your ownership." "Really," Holloway said, "I guess it's impossible to expect you to buy out my share at the actual value of the Sun Mine." "We don't know what it's actually worth," Aubrey said. "Your Mining Director estimated the value to be somewhere between 0.8 and 1.2 trillion credits," Holloway said. "I remember that number vividly. I'm sure you do too." "Having said that, there are still many variables," Langdon said, "such as the purity of the sunstone, the challenges brought by the natural environment to mining, market changes, and so on." "The Zara Group has spent decades making the sunstone the rarest gemstone in the universe," Holloway said. "I think we can expect to see good results without worrying about the market." "This discovery is so large that it could create an oversupply," Aubrey said. Holloway looked at Aubrey: "Let's pretend we understand what exclusivity means in this situation, and then, talk about your terms." Aubrey looked back at Langdon. "350 million credits," Langdon said. "A lump sum?" Holloway asked. "Paid over ten years," Langdon said. "You must be joking," said Holloway. "You want me to sell it for less than a tenth of the value of the seam, and pay it all in one lump sum?" "35 million a year is not a small amount of money," Langdon explained. "Especially for someone like you, your total income last year was only 21,000 credits." "I agree," said Holloway, "but a hundred million or so a year isn't a lot of money, is it?" "We're giving you back the Zara stock," Langdon said. "Voting?" Holloway asked. "Of course not," Langdon replied impatiently.Only members of the Aubrey family own voting shares. "Class B shares." "If I have 100 million a year, I can buy as many class B shares of Zara Group as I like." Holloway said, "I can also buy some shares of Blue Sky Group, so that my investment portfolio in the exploration and mining industry will be more Yuanhua." "Jesus," said Aubrey, annoyed by Holloway's mention of Blue Sky, "let's get this over with. 500 million credits, Holloway, into your account now. Take it." , take your dog, jump on the next interstellar flight to leave Zara 23, and become the richest contract surveyor in the history of the Zara Group." "On what terms?" Holloway said. "No conditions," Aubrey said. "Langdon can transfer the money, and we can make a deal on this rock pile. But you must give up all claims and rights, and then you must leave." "How much time do I have to think about this deal?" Holloway said. "Until I get bored of you and go away," Aubrey said. "In that case, I can answer you now," Holloway said. "You take your deal with you. I don't like being forced into a deal, and I don't care if you end up being the boss of the company." .I have legal ownership, and I want to exercise my ownership and get benefits. I will not accept a buyout that is less than my legal rights for your convenience." He gestured to Bilandon with his thumb, "Although as long as someone treats you If you don't talk so flatteringly, Langdon won't be happy, and I still have to tell you, I walk the talk—try to buy me out or kick me out, and you'll see what a PR nightmare I can be. In fact , you need my cooperation more than I need your money. Remember this." Aubrey looked at Langdon. "Just told you," he said. "Well, you said," Langdon said, looking at Holloway, then pulled out the message pad and began to press, "We're ready for this situation—you're going to fly into a rage and reject us. Mr. Holloway , I just sent you the survey request, you can see it when you get back on the spaceship. There seems to be a fairly large branch extending from the main Sunstone mine. Of course we can send our surveyors to map the branch, but Since you are worried about encountering Trump, and we don't want you to be misunderstood as being intentionally empty and have nothing to do, so please go yourself. Be forewarned, when mapping the jungle, be careful of beasts." "Also, don't cause more major ecological disasters, if you can," Aubrey added. "I think I can do it," Holloway said. "We'll see then," Aubrey said.Holloway turned and left. "One more thing, Holloway," said Aubrey. Holloway turned his head, "What's the matter?" "You own the seam, and you get all the benefits of it, whether you're here or you're gone," Aubrey said, "but your contract is up in five months. When that day comes, Your time will come. You will be sent home and this company will not sign you another contract no matter how much it costs. You won't even be able to book a Zara Group boat ticket after you fuck off Yes. You are not welcome in any of our subsidiaries. I will do what I say, and the ugly words will come first.” "It's a bit of a fuss," Holloway said. "Maybe a little," Aubrey said. "You do that to everyone who irritates you?" Holloway asked. "No," replied Aubrey, "only you. You always make people angry, Holloway." "It's talent," said Holloway, "but since we all walk the talk, and now you're speaking hard, can you send me the contract money that was illegally seized? The initial survey fee for the seam is It was out of my pocket. Now that you are mining, you are obliged to return the money to me. My dog ​​can no longer afford dynamite." "That's funny," Aubrey said, nodding at Langdon.Langdon tapped the message board a few times. "Okay," Langdon said, "spend your 8216 credits wisely, Mr. Holloway. Don't spend them all at once." Holloway had already walked away, and he smiled back. Joe Dries was waiting by Holloway's ship. "You didn't steal anything, did you?" Holloway asked. Dries smiled. "I'm going to miss you, Jack," he said. "Don't be sentimental, Jo," said Holloway. "I'm not going anywhere just now."