Lily was startled by the new voice that appeared.
Jensen frowned but didn't ask Xal'Zyraeth a question at least not in front of Lily.
"Ignore that, we have to take the next step… don't worry I will find a way to take care of your uncle." Jensen said.
Yes, he did not plan to reveal that he had already killed her uncle.
Honestly, he couldn't really tell how tense their relationship actually was just from hearsay.
"With your awakened status and all your advantages, you should be able to take control of your family's company." Jensen continued.
Lily nodded in understanding.
"I want a general run down on the businesses the Baker Company control." Jensen asked.
She nodded again and immediately began explaining, "Restaurant chains, Inns, and Bars all in the outer part of town."
Towns like Oakland Town are usually split into three parts: outer, inner, and core.
The outer part is where most Unawakened live, the inner part is for the Awakened, and the core is reserved for important government buildings.
That said, it's not a strict rule… it's more about how much you can afford. If you've got enough money, you can move to the inner part.
No one's really stopping you.
Businesses like Baker Corporation tend to set up in the outer parts since they mostly cater to the Unawakened.
"We have 15 locations, 3 hotels, 4 restaurants, 4 bars and 4 QSRs (basically fast food)."
"I thought you own this building as well?" He asked.
"No, this apartment is a standalone that my father got for me." Lily explained.
"Okay, go ahead," Jensen nodded for her to continue.
"We are currently trying to expand to real estate, but the competition and bigger organisations are affecting our funds so… we have been stuck."
'That explains why that kid didn't have mercenaries with higher levels and more stuff… They are tight on funds.' Jensen thought.
He had been wondering why that kid didn't have more stuff, but he didn't focus on that because he was running from level 4s fighting not to mention the spatial rings from Xal'Zyraeth and the two level 2s.
"We make an estimated revenue of 8 - 12 million GS from the Hotels annually, 4 - 7 million GS from the restaurants, 2 - 4 million GS from bars and 3 - 5 million GS from the QSRs…"
"Total of 17 – 28 million GS per year." Jensen nodded.
"But after expenses the net profit is typically 1 – 3 million GS per year." Lily sighed, "I control 35% of the shares so I make 350 thousand GS – 1 million GS per year same with my Uncle."
"We have similar shares, so our 5 investors are the deciding factors." Lily explained, "Our best bet is to simply buy them out and we gain controlling share."
"Couldn't you have done that… you make almost a million on average?" Jensen asked.
"It not that simple, even though I do make a million on average, I have expenses and also pay taxes."
"With my uncle and I both bidding for the shares, the investors a holding out for the highest bidder… they are hoping to sell as high as possible."
"Also, with our current bid for expansion I am barely making a third of what I used to make, and I am currently digging into my savings."
Now Jensen was genuinely confused… even if she was making just 100 thousand GS, her house was paid for so were her cars.
(A.N: Guys I will now be using this '#' as a symbol of Gold Slip.)
Not to mention she spends most of her time in the office, so she was mostly likely eating on the company's dime.
What exactly was she doing with her money that cause her to dip into her saving, this information was something he couldn't have gotten even if he asked around so he decided to ask her directly.
"What are you doing that costs you more than #100,000 every year?" He asked.
"I have a few people on my payroll, like Mr. Tim and the other two guards he rotates with." Lily cleared off he confusion.
'Honestly I thought she was sleeping with him or something.'
"Their kids go to very good schools here in town that I pay for and also the occasional bribes." She continued.
"You are that scared for you life… did you think your uncle would truly kill you?" Jensen asked trying gauge the extent of their relationship.
"Kill… no, but it not beyond him to try to sabotage me."
"Sabotage?"
"Nonlethal food poisoning to stop me from attending conferences or even sending me into intensive care or coma."
Jensen nodded in understanding.
"Is the expansion also one of his plans?"
"No, it actually mine. While the expansion affects me, it also affects him even more." Lily shook her head, "He is unable to bribe as much not to mention help his son as much even though he is now an awakened."
"So, he is trying to stop you."
"Not really, he knows it would destroy both of our savings but that is good by him since it would also affect the saving of her investors."
"So, you guys can buy their shares for lower prices." Jensen immediately understood their plans.
They were trying to squeeze the shareholders until they had no choice but to sell… while both sides waited to outbid each other the moment the investors finally broke while also keeping the selling price low.
"Wouldn't your shareholders guess this?"
"Oh, they might have, but there isn't much they can do they don't have deciding votes neither can they hold on for as long as we can without severe losses."
"Can't they simply sell to outsiders?"
"They can't, My father made sure of that in their contract." Lily smiled fondly as she spoke of her father, "They can only sell to current shareholders so between us or themselves."
"But none of them has enough money to buy out all 30%." Jensen nodded.
"Yes."
He removed one of the spatial rings on his finger and threw it to Lily which she caught easily.
"That contains almost 2500 low grade mana stones." Jensen said, "Although market price is #1000 per low grade stone you should be able to sell them for more."
"Add that to your funds and buyout as many of the shareholders as you can." Jensen ordered.
"Don't worry in a few days we will be getting more money so don't bother trying to save."
Jensen did not bother telling her that he already killed her uncle and he planned to pretend like he didn't know he was dead.
"Once you have controlling shares, try to kick your uncle out as fast as possible."
"I wouldn't be able to buy the shares in your name because of my father's contract."
"I know and I don't care… buy it in yours… same thing." Jensen smiled at her. "You own it and I own you."
Almost on cue her communication device suddenly rang.