Integrated Circuits

David nervously held the papers in his hand. "Prince, um, here is—"

"Wait," said Kazi. Not yet. The deep details weren't going to convince him. The prince required a broader understanding of their plans. "Integrated circuits will take up half of our focus. The other half will be for phones, cameras, and appliances. Even a fan-favourite: coffee." Kazi winked.

Prince Yuzin was very much listening, even though he didn't show it. "...a new type of coffee machine?"

"With settings for all the many kinds. Cappuccino, espresso, and latte with just a button. By storing information in this tiny circuit and giving it instructions."

This time, the prince opened his eyes and unfolded his legs. He shuffled off the desk and circled over to his seat. He sat down and put his hands on his lap. "Continue," Prince Yuzin said.

'Now we're getting somewhere.'

"The largest industry is of course sports and war. Why? Because it serves as excellent entertainment that funnels right into the biggest money maker—the Heavenly Tower."

"Mhm."

"On Earth in the modern era," Kazi clarified, "the industry that has risen the most is electronics. Televisions and cell phones have changed communications and information sharing forever. With a small click of a button, someone can make any type of coffee. With another small click, someone from China can talk to their friend in the Americas. It is the ultimate convenience and convenience is what the people of all worlds desire above all. Convenient clean water, convenient tools, and convenient entertaining sports."

Prince Yuzin leaned forward. "And you can make it possible how?"

"With a phone," Kazi answered. "An advanced computer-like walkie talkie in very simple terms. It can snap photos. It can connect anywhere and everywhere. It can share information between people."

"You want my support for the mass production for this phone."

They did not wish to be bought. To do that meant to reveal the blueprints of their factories, thereby risking their monopoly. The Unorthodox Sect was a distant second place in factory and labour for a reason. The same reason why the Alhambra Guardians were tight-lipped regarding their cafes and bakeries. Cooperation was a must. Convincing the prince was a must.

"Six years ago, the Wild West guild invented the walkie talkie," Prince Yuzin began. "On a technical level, it is a fine replacement for when messaging features are disabled for new players. Yet at the end of the day, it failed to penetrate the public guise. The people of this world prefer Lady Fatima's Dove Pigeons. Her birds can bring letters in a matter of minutes with near unlimited range. The walkie talkies were limited to a single dimension. Do you understand?"

David didn't, fidgeting and glancing at Kazi who seemed unfazed.

"In the White Abyss, magic reigns above all. Tell me, how many factories are necessary for the plan? Ten? Twenty? Fifty?"

"Thirty-four," Kazi said, "to manufacture a hundred thousand phones in six months."

"Six months of no profit. Six months of bleeding my accounts."

"Wait, wait," David interjected. "It's not six months of waste. For example, i-in agriculture, integrated circuits could be used to monitor soil moisture levels, control irrigation systems, and optimize crop yield. A-and whose in the agriculture field? The Alhambra Guardians."

Prince Yuzin stared at him, puzzled. Agriculture? That came out of nowhere.

"The phone is a big product but it's not our biggest product," David emphasized. "That would be our confidential, highly multi-purpose integrated circuit. Even if they study it, it will take them decades to fully understand the integrated circuits. We can take over the agriculture field in another way, alongside the Alhambra Guardians, and you get a piece of it."

'Who the wives of the Emperor interact with for important meetings. Nice going, David,' Kazi thought. He was right to bring him along. Showing that there were two bright men was better than one.

"They're very quick to make too," David said. That wasn't entirely true but whatever. "We can sell them at high prices for a quick return. The devices are all very portable and simple to use."

"Be more specific," Prince Yuzin ordered. "You have bold claims. Taking over even one portion of the agriculture industry is nigh-impossible. Lady Fatima, that tycoon, knows everything. Owns everything. She started with wheat and has spread to everything else like a virus."

"In regards to business," Kazi agreed. "But technology? The science of agriculture? I don't think so, My Prince. Our tools manages waste at a high level. I'm sure the Guardians and everyone else in the industry will appreciate that."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Because it is. With your keen business skills, My Prince, I am sure we could snatch a good piece of the agriculture industry if we cater to those outside the Alhambra Guardians."

With his keen skills and outreach, with such a device, it was indeed possible. Temptation took ahold of Prince Yuzin. "You are certain?"

"Very. The numbers play to our favour. Our devices stop the chances bad crops by ninety-seven percent. Imagine it: nearly every crop at a field is in pristine condition and every single one of those fields owe you."

"You...are quite ambitious. You think well too. I like it," Prince Yuzin said. "Except one issue. Neither of you have any backing. If this fails, who is going to fall? Us. The Imperial Sect, my Ministry of Revenue. So tell me, just how much are you willing to invest in this project of yours?"

"A hundred million points," Kazi declared.

Prince Yuzin narrowed his eyes. "Oh?"

What Kazi was saying was, "I am willing to take the burden of cost too. I am not just a charismatic face, I care for this." That specific line of thought was their biggest hook. Kazi had money, enough to supply the factory and its workers for a solid year. Moreover, he was still climbing the Heavenly Tower and still accruing points. Depending on how much he could gain, he could supply up to two years of operation even without profit.

Two years. That was too late. He needed to be faster. 

Kazi gestured at David to hand over the papers. Prince Yuzin took the papers and began flipping through. The documents focused on two aspects; one, the logistics, including the number of workers and types of workers; two, the patents of the devices they planned to manufacture, specifically the phones, televisions, and the agriculture sensors.

"It's very elaborate," Kazi explained. "I have very specific criteria for workers."

"Engineers and carpenters," Prince Yuzin said. He flipped to the patents and nodded along. "Very ambitious. I like it."

'Found it. A tick.' 

Kazi turned on his one-hundred-watt smile. Prince Yuzin looked up from the paper again.

"This world lacks the automation of the modern era. David explained to me how factories function here. If they're the same as the Unorthodox Sect, then we're looking at very messy, dirty environments akin to that in the early 1900s. For the projects I'm planning, I can't have ordinary workers. I need the best."

Name dropping the Unorthodox Sect caused the prince to glance over for just a second. It was a minor thing, barely relevant to his overarching point. If there was a second hook, however, then it was this. This was it.