The Mech Touch

“

”Taking part in your ventures is considered a risk, Ves.
Not everyone is willing to take a major gamble that will decide how they will live out the rest of their lives.
It ’s mostly the younger and more restless Larkinsons who have decided to follow you to the Ylvaine Protectorate.
The Larkinsons who decided to remain in the Bright Republic are mostly those who are already content with their lives and station.
They ’re not ambitious for anything greater and they ’re not in the mood for an adventure. ”

”Understandable.
I take it many of them decided to stay for the sole reason they are already tied down by their families, right? ”

Raymond nodded.
”When you are a husband with numerous young kids to take care of, uprooting your entire life in order to pursue an uncertain future is the last thing you want.
This is actually the main reason why many Larkinsons who are neutral in the dispute within our family have decided to decline our invitation. ”

”How many trueblood Larkinsons have followed us? Those who share our blood, I mean? ”

”I ’d say about ten percent so far.
Almost none have reconsidered, though.
A steady number of Larkinsons in the Bright Republic who haven ’t joined us at the start are still signing up with us.
I think this situation will persist over the next years as more and more younger Larkinsons grow up and want to take part in a more exciting venture. ”

”There ’s also the Larkinsons who are still serving their tours in the Mech Corps. ” Ves recalled.
”I imagine that some of them will likely defect to us once they finished their commitments. ”

”That ’s why I suggest that you keep our doors open to the ’other ’ Larkinsons for the foreseeable time.
None of the Larkinsons who approach us come with bad intentions.
It behooves us to accept their applications as they come. ”

Ves thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement.
”That sounds fine.
I ’m about to talk to my grandfather Benjamin about the future of the Larkinson Family.
Do I need to know anything before I call him? What we ’ll decide will very likely affect our direction! ”

”Benjamin will tell you all you need to know.
Just keep in mind that Ark and him are in the neutral camp who decided to stay where they are.
Both of them have lived a full life in the Bright Republic, and they both feel they have a responsibility to lead the rest of the family. ”

That was something Ves had already expected.
Though disappointing, he agreed with their stance.

Where Ves was taking his side of the Larkinson Family was anything but stable and conventional!

In this regard, he was more than happy to pick up the Larkinsons who were still young and retained their ambitions.

At least Ves wouldn ’t feel guilty if he led them to disaster!

He cut off his call with Raymond shortly afterwards.
After a brief moment to collect his thoughts, he pulled the trigger and called his grandfather.

Since he had already been notified beforehand, Benjamin Larkinson picked up his call in an instant.

His grandfather looked much more fatigued than before.
His projection practically oozed exhaustion! His grey-white hair and wrinkles had grown even more intense, making him appear as if he was one step closer to the end of his life!

Fortunately, seeing his grandson ’s projection lifted some of his weariness.

”Ves.
I can ’t tell you how happy you ’re free again. ”

”You look..
overworked.
Are you still hanging on, grandpa? ”

”Don ’t worry about me.
I still have plenty of years in my bones.
I won ’t drop down tomorrow because of what has taken place.
The Larkinsons still need a steady hand at the top to guide them through our current..
difficulties. ”

Ves looked steadily at his grandfather ’s projection.
Despite his age, his customary formal attire still conveyed a lot of strength.

He was still the bedrock of the Larkinson Family!

”What ’s your take on the split? ”

”I have already discussed this issue extensively with Raymond.
We ’re on opposite sides of the negotiating table, after all.
Both of us agree that a split is inevitable.
The problem is that the ’old family ’ and the ’new family ’ both disagree on who gets what. ”

”What are the most important points of contention? ”

”It all boils down to two broad categories. ” Benjamin raised his finger.
”First is the issue of identity and heritage.
Our Larkinson Family is a very successful military family with a very stellar reputation in the Bright Republic.
The old family wants to retain sole possession of the Larkinson name.
They ’re afraid that the new family under your lead will do something that will tarnish the honor of the Larkinson name in the Bright Republic and abroad. ”

Ves wanted to rub his ears.
”What? Those selfish conservatives want to strip us of our very own family names?! Are they serious?! ”

”It ’s a very major sticking point to them, Ves.
Honor is everything to them! You ’ve already proven yourself to be a Larkinson who doesn ’t shy away from upending tradition. ”

”We ’re never going back to the Bright Republic! ” Ves angrily exclaimed.
”We ’ll be going far away from the Bright Republic in the future! Whatever we do won ’t affect the old family at all! ”

”Plans can change. ”

”Let ’s not go into this right now. ” Ves forced himself to calm.
It wouldn ’t do to yell at his grandfather, especially since it wouldn ’t do any good to his health.
”What is the second point of contention? ”

”The distribution of assets.
I think it ’s pretty clear that the old family will retain possession of the Larkinson Compound and most of its existing assets. ”

”I ’m not interested in the real estate portfolio of the Larkinson Estate. ” Ves confirmed.

”The only asset that the old and new family are arguing about is how to split up the shares of the LMC.
Currently, our family owns 25 percent of the LMC.
The old family wants at least 20 percent of it.
They claim that you owe much of your success to your Larkinson heritage, so they are entitled to some of the fruits of your labor. ”

”THAT ’S ABSURD! ”

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