Chương 76: Chapter 2.13: Moves and Manoeuvres

Favius narrowed his eyes and stared across the table. Well, he obviously hasn't given up on trying to teach me something. Or even just testing me. Favius rolled his shoulders and leaned back in his chair. Steepling his fingers, he nodded to himself. Let's start at the beginning, because at least one answer is obvious. He smiled. Feeling the eyes of everyone upon him, he reached out and picked up a piece of goat cheese. After chewing and swallowing with deliberate slowness, he replied.

"As for the issue of enforcement, Father, that is not something I need to concern myself with."

"Oh?" inquired Marcus, mirroring his posture.

"Indeed. After all, that is the reason why you are involved in this project. Surely you have the means and abilities to ensure that any agreement our familia makes with others is honored." Marcus's expression remained unreadable for a moment, but Brutus erupted in laughter. He stretched and intertwined his hands behind his head.

"Well, Marcus, it appears that your son has understood the power of delegation well before his time. You are truly blessed." Marcus couldn't help but chuckle. Shaking his head, he made an acknowledging gesture.

"Indeed. Perhaps I ought to put more effort into the tricks and traps I prepare for my heir." Favius's smile grew tight, but inwardly he couldn't help but grin. That went well.

"And your political expertise alongside the franchising ought to handle the Temple of the Hearth Mother as well. After all, we have discussed the issue of normal sales. But for the Temple and other close allies, we should be offering better conditions. Like selling the hives for three copper senati while demanding ten percent of their profits for ten years. And should they be willing to stand beside us, we'll train a limited number of beekeepers and woodworkers." He looked around.

"Also..." He paused for a moment and took a sip of wine.

"Favor them with access to future improvements."

"Future improvements?" Serran murmured, running a hand through his short beard. He exchanged a look with Marcus.

"The entire system... it is similar to vassalage."

"Yes, but it might work. Especially if we keep the terms generous and offer other benefits. Tell me, son, do you intend to make the training exclusive to such allies?" Favius narrowed his eyes and looked at Serran. Well, not like I need to do everything myself.

"Urania. What do you think?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Well, the same logic still applies, right? People still have an incentive to steal. So maybe we should demand a few silver senati and a blood oath to train anyone, alongside the higher sales price for people who aren't allies." Everyone considered the idea in silence, and one by one, they all nodded.

"Well," Serran continued, "much depends on your claims of possible future developments. Yet with your track record..." He trailed off at a look from Marcus, but Favius tilted his head to the side. Picking up an olive, he considered.

"Well, future innovations are certainly on the table. If most of our bees survive, we can select and propagate the best swarms, for example." He nodded, but before the conversation could turn back to the business, Caliga cleared her throat awkwardly.

"If you say you want to train others in our arts of beekeeping, I've got to ask... which arts? Our beekeepers barely understand what they are doing themselves." Marcus raised an eyebrow, but Favius waved dismissively.

"You see, the trick is that our customers won't know that. In time, we will gain expertise. And as long as we gain expertise faster than the people we are teaching..." He trailed off as the adults chuckled. Marcus shook his head.

"Those are certainly rosy prospects." He took a sip of wine.

"If this works, it might be that the Ovinius Loran branch becomes renowned as beekeepers, second only to the priests of the Hearth Mother." Brutus chuckled.

"Such an achievement would certainly be impressive." Yet Favius couldn't help but notice the dryness in the man's voice. He knows that compared to my future plans, better beekeeping is a joke. Marcus nodded and looked at Favius.

"However, son, you haven't replied to my final question. How do you propose we deal with our intrusion on the monopoly of the woodworkers' collegium?" Favius paused and froze in thought. The thing is, I could throw out ideas, but sometimes admitting ignorance is the right move. And I am truly ignorant about the politics of the collegia. And I already told him that those politics will be his responsibility. He was about to speak up when he noticed the side of Serran's mouth twist.

The instant the Majordomo noticed, he suppressed the smile. But it was too late. Favius narrowed his eyes. This. This is not just a political question. There's some kind of trick here. Slowly, he studied each person. Marcus's expressionless face. Urania's eyebrows, narrowed in thought. Caliga idly chewing a piece of pear preserved in wine. Finally, his eyes settled on Brutus. The cultivator's lips twitched.

"Well, Marcus, it seems that even this ambush was insufficient to defeat your son." Marcus's face turned into a broad smile.

"So it would appear. Yet I do believe—and correct me if I'm wrong, son—that you have only discovered that it is a trap without knowing its nature." Favius breathed out and shook his head. Brutus turned toward him.

"The truth is that the collegium is concerned with construction, the making of furniture and vehicles, as well as fine woodcarving. Beehives and most of the work done on the estates of the familias? That is what they deem vulgar carpentry."

"Indeed," Marcus interjected.

"The collegium graciously grants everyone else an exemption to pursue their sacred monopoly in such cases. After all, sheds, hovels, and anything practical are beneath the dignity of a master artisan." Favius couldn't help but sniff. Urania nodded along, but Caliga looked between her Father and Favius with a disgusted expression.

"That... that's just stupid." Serran made a weighing gesture with his hands.

"It is a compromise that was arrived at historically. The collegium does often push for more, but it has only so much influence."

"And practicality outweighs all else," Brutus summarized. Favius nodded to himself. If there was an intended lesson... Well, the Temple of the Hearth Mother was the only actual question. The one about enforcement was on delegation. This lesson... If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. He scratched his chin. It was probably about asking the correct questions in the first place. Well, not that that is a novel idea to me.

Favius knocked his knuckles on the table, and all eyes fell on him.

"Well, if your questions are settled, Father, I took the liberty of writing up a little contract for our familia's beekeeping company." He turned over a wax tablet and pushed it toward Majordomo and Dominus. Yet their attention remained on him.

"I will certainly read it, but please. I've always found it useful to hear from a person what they want before studying a contract." Favius nodded, and suddenly the memories came back to him. My Father, my Earth father, always wanted me to study business. Not that I ever had much interest in management, but just from living with him and from his stories, I picked up a lot of stuff. And there was a time when I wanted to found a startup, so... He briefly glanced at the wax tablet.

An actual lawyer probably would laugh at my proposal. But then again, no way they have truly sophisticated contract law here. Favius steepled his fingers.

"Fundamentally, we will share ownership between..." He pointed to his chest.

"Myself." Across the table.

"You, Father." And to the side.

"And Caliga."

"As for what ownership means, it's split into shares. One hundred of them. You need more than half the shares of the company to make binding decisions, though optimally those would be made in consensus and not via majority. And each share corresponds to a hundredth part of the profits." Marcus hummed, but Serran's expression was much less restrained. His eyes were wide open, and his mouth gaped only slightly, but still he shared a brief look with Brutus, who smiled broadly. So he was right.

They really don't have the concept of shares in a company here. He recalled the conversation. Brutus had told him that the norm was to have fixed payouts in exchange for investments and that the owner would receive any excess. Marcus looked to the side at Serran, who instantly straightened and schooled his expression into something more neutral.

"It's certainly an interesting idea. It's novel..." He trailed off, and Serran continued.

"But I do not see anything fundamentally wrong with it, Dominus."

"Indeed, indeed." Marcus gestured before taking another sip of wine. Serran followed his example, and Favius smirked as Marcus's servant stepped up and refilled their cups. Looks like one of my traps actually landed.

"Let us say," said Marcus, "that I am provisionally willing to go along with this."

"Good." Favius smiled.

"All three of us will have different roles within the operation, as you can see in the document. I have already outlined your responsibilities, Father. You—" Serran chortled.

"You hear, Dominus? Your son has already outlined your responsibilities." Favius froze in an instant. Fuck, that wasn't a smart way to say that. Brutus was laughing silently while Urania and Caliga were observing the exchange with the kind of expression one might give a boxing match going on in the background. Hell, probably another lesson about being more careful with words. Probably best to just push on.

"Yes, responsibilities. All holders of shares will have rights and responsibilities. If they sign the contract," he added quickly. Marcus nodded.

"Quit fretting, Boy. Tell me what role you intend for me."

"Fundamentally, you are supposed to manage the politics and provide investment." Marcus nodded.

"That seems to be in line with my humble abilities."

"Exactly. Political matters will be your domain. Fundamentally, you have a veto and an advisory role when it comes to politics and the consequences of my plans. You will also manage the necessary connections and distribution."

"On the financial side, you will provide an initial investment, and you are obligated to maintain at least the last year's level of investment unless the workshop has been making losses for five years in a row."

"Oh," he added with a raised finger, "and you're required to reinvest thirty percent of the company's profits each year back into the company." Marcus nodded and drew the document over, reading the section Favius had described. Serran studied him.

"The reinvestment clause. It seems rather excessive in the long run, should this prove profitable, does it not?" Favius tilted his head. He's not wrong. Early on, I need investment for scaling things up, but, well, a negotiation is different from dictating terms to someone.

"You're right, Serran. Maybe... let us say that every five years, the obligatory investment falls by ten percent. So within fifteen years..." Serran nodded before looking at Marcus.

"I don't see any issues here. The ideas are certainly novel, yet even if we weren't negotiating with your son—""You would advise that I take the deal?" Marcus nodded before Serran could finish.

"Very well, Favius. Let us furthermore presume that I am interested and nearly convinced. Yet I can't help but notice that you haven't mentioned what share I shall receive." Favius smiled.

"Forty-nine of one hundred shares."

"An interesting number," replied Marcus.

"A necessary number to maintain a balance of power," Favius replied.

"After all, you yourself told me that within an organization, stability is a supreme virtue." At this, Marcus threw his head back and laughed out loud.

"Well spoken, son. Well spoken indeed. So what do you want for yourself and your sister?" Favius smiled at Caliga.

"Well, why don't we let your daughter say what she wants?" Caliga nodded eagerly and spoke up.

"I'm gonna be the workshop boss." Favius nodded when she briefly glanced at him. Well, the Earth term would have been operations manager, but that doesn't neatly translate. He smiled gently. And workshop boss fits Caliga much better.

"I will oversee the daily affairs, the workers, and the production, and make routine decisions." She thrust her chin out.

"For a share of twenty percent." Marcus's eyes settled on Favius.

"Leaving thirty-one shares to you. So two out of three parties would be capable of overruling the last one."

"Well, such contracts require a balance that allows practicality while still favoring mutual consensus."

"So if consensus matters so much," Caliga ventured, "why shouldn't I just ask for more?" She looked over at Marcus, who chuckled.

"A good question. Many are prone to the folly of attempting to negotiate for more at every turn. Yet..." He gestured broadly.

"That is the folly of greed. Fairness ought to be answered with fairness. And the virtue of wisdom is required to know when you are offered a good deal, where pushing the terms would only harm your relationship and prospects." Caliga blinked rapidly and tilted her head to the side. She sniffed with a trembling lip.

"Would you really get upset if I tried to negotiate for more?" She almost whimpered. Favius swallowed down laughter while Brutus rolled his eyes. Marcus favored his daughter with a stern glare.

"Caliga, this might have worked a few years ago, but you are too old for such tactics. At least in such an obvious form." He sighed.

"If only your Mother..." He shook his head.

"No matter. The real question is: what else do you demand besides your shares?" Caliga smiled broadly as Favius nodded.

"Well, my role in the venture is more strategic and related to innovation. And managing changes and new ideas." Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"That is a description worthy of a Senator. It can mean everything without committing to anything." Favius smiled.

"Well, Father, that is exactly why I formulated it that way." Laughter erupted around the table. Serran nodded and pulled the wax tablet over.

"So, what I'm reading here implies you want to direct the workshop, develop new projects, and do the long-term planning in terms of technology, processes, and management structures." Favius kept his expression perfectly cordial, a neutral smile on his face. The last two words. Everything else is good and needed, but the last term gives me the legal framework for some ideas of mine. He recalled the last excursion with Serran. Some really important ideas. If they're just going to swallow it...

"Yes," he said.

"Essentially. While Marcus's role will be mostly negative in the form of vetoes and preventing damage, my role is the opposite. Active, creative, and positive."

"And I am neutral?" ventured Caliga. Favius shrugged.

"That might be stretching the metaphor too far, but yes." Caliga grinned at him.

"And also, as long as the two of us work together..." Favius shared her grin while Marcus shook his head.

"You might overrule me in anything but the management of political damage. Allow me a moment to consider this." He gestured to the spread of food, and while his siblings and protector dug in, Marcus and Serran put their heads together and whispered. Favius leaned back and let the flow of pneuma calm his nerves. Come on, there's no reason to be nervous. Surely they will accept it. Otherwise, Marcus wouldn't have been so positive and playful. Well, there's only one last hurdle if they agree.

Favius picked up a bowl of stew made from meat preserved in butter and garlic and chewed on the intensely flavored piece of pork. Five minutes passed until Marcus nodded.

"Very well." He gestured at his servant.

"Antonius shall draw up a contract in wax, and we will sign it this evening."

"Oh." Favius raised two fingers, an apologetic smile on his face.

"I nearly forgot. I also need the right to have up to ten percent of my shares actually paid out in cash each year." Both adults narrowed their eyes.

"As I understand how those shares work," said Serran, "you should already be entitled to that." Favius shrugged nonchalantly, but his mind raced. My plans for the management of the workers. And also... He swallowed as he recalled the faceless absence of his girlfriend. Or maybe my wife. I don't remember so much about her, but I remember what she did. Organizational psychology and innovative management. And if I get a constant payout...

He grinned, partially in response to the memory, partially at the adults in front of him.

"Well?" Marcus and Serran exchanged a look. Finally, both looked at Favius.

"It is far from good manners to add terms and conditions when a contract is all but done. Yet..."

"Yet?" Favius asked, studying their stony expressions.