CHAPTER 132: SETTING THE STAGE

The day after they decided what to do, the group acted quickly.

Valdrian Marcus and Tom bought tickets to get to NYC and meet the professor with the symbol. And Marcus stayed up all night explaining the situation to his father over video call.

At first David Chen questioned everything. His face on the small phone screen cycled through disbelief, fear, and confusion. But when Marcus reminded him of his childhood problems. The vivid dreams he could never explain. The detailed descriptions of a world he had never seen. His father began to accept the fantastical situation.

"I remember you talking about a village. About mountains I had never heard of." David's voice was quiet. Thoughtful. "I thought it was imaginary friends."

"It was real dad. All of it."

By the end of the call his father had offered to give some money to kickstart their business. Marcus felt the weight of his father's trust like a physical thing.

Irene was having a good day. Her color had returned and her hands were steady. She took Marcus to the jewelery designer she had suggested.

"They were longtime business associates with Pressley and Guns," she explained as they drove. "They make personalized designs on firearms. But we can convince them to make designs on custimazable jewelry instead."

Mr. Hudson welcomed them to his workshop.

It was a small yet well-decorated space. The walls were lined with glass cases displaying intricate jewels. Custom engravings on pistol grips. Detailed filigree on rifle stocks. His office was even better than the work area. Dark wood. Leather chairs. The smell of gun oil and money.

Hurley Hudson was a balding man in his sixties wearing glasses with a white shirt and grey pants. All in all an average looking person. But his hands told a different story. Scarred from decades of detailed work. Still steady despite his years.

"Come sit Irene." He gestured to the chairs across from his desk. "I am surprised to see you here. What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Hudson this is Marcus. I mentioned him on the phone. We want to start selling custom designed jewelry and were wondering if you might help us with our orders?"

He sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. "My eyesight is keeping me from doing fine work. I am too dependent on my employees now. Other than me I don't think we can take a job like this."

"Sir if I may." Marcus pulled out a tablet. "I worked last night a little. Even if you cannot make everything we require I did some research. Your name carries weight. I can create a feedback portal with your employees and whenever they don't want to take orders with complexity, if you direct them to your friends, it will solve our problems."

"Good thinking young man but at my age I don't want to take that kind of responsibility. It would be better if you form your own team of crafters."

"I intend to do that in the future but our current cash reserve doesn't actually allow that. I want to spend a big percent of it on advertisements."

When he heard that sentence Mr. Hudson rolled his eyes. He probably thought it was yet another teenager who thought selling things only required stupid ads.

"Look kid I don't want to..."

Marcus interrupted him. He started showing his all-night research on personalized jewelry demands and price points. Packaging options. Possible ads and where to deploy them. With each researched subject Mr. Hudson's lowered interest came back up. His posture straightened. His eyes sharpened.

"Where did you say you worked young man?"

"He was working for my dad recently but he has keen eyes for business," Irene said proudly.

"Sir even though I am young I am trying and researching ways of making money. And I believe I have a tight plan. Even if it doesn't take off to be a brand it will bring enough cash flow to eventually form my shop with dedicated workers."

"Impressive." Mr. Hudson nodded slowly. "Okay Mr. Chen run your ads. We can make most things you showed on that tablet in a week. And some can be redirected to my other associates and done in ten days. Give estimates like that."

"Thank you so much Mr. Hudson." Marcus bowed with happiness.

Thank you Aldric, thank you so much. Just by watching you I became a better salesman.

"Take this number and talk price points with him. I hope you can make it."

On the way out Marcus called his twin body. "Did you reach NYC?"

"Not yet. How did the meeting go?"

"You will see it tomorrow in your vision but it went amazing. Thanks to our obsessive researching nature and Aldric's sales tactics we landed. Now it is time to run ads."

"Good luck Marcus. And for the road I was redrawing the mind blocking machine. I will send it your way when it finishes. A good engineer can turn it into a compact machine blocking an area."

"Good thinking. It is so great talking with my other self and improving our ideas."

"How did dad take the situation?"

"Yeah about that I explained everything. He looked understanding but he will call you too when you land in New York."

"I figured. Okay see you later."

Tom's voice came through the speaker. "See you later brother from another planet!" He laughed at his own joke.

Marcus smiled as he hung up. Despite everything they were making progress. One small step at a time.