(Just an FYI, I made a slight change to the last page of the previous chapter. Swipe right a few times and look at it before reading so you don't get confused. Sorry for the inconvenience. I also really gotta stop making each chapter longer than the last XD. Enjoy this extra long boi.)
As Tyler and Xander were wrapping their heads around what they gained from this mission, Tyler had made his way back to the dining room. Once he got there, Khan entered the room with his men.
"Lock those bastards in the prison. We'll deal with them later." Khan's men detained the King and his court before escorting them away. He then turned to Tyler. "Draco, or actually it is Lord Draco now. You have done a great service for this world. It would be my honor to serve under you."
Tyler nodded. "We are friends. Unless it is in a political setting, feel free to call me Draco. Now, for my first decree as sovereign ruler of this planet, I proclaim you, Khan Ardel, Governor of Kessel. You will be in complete control of Kessel only after the leaders and vice leaders of Limitless. As long as you do your very best to improve this planet, you will have our full support and protection. Be sure to remember that we can remove you from power just as easily as we put you in. That would only be necessary if you abuse your position."
Khan bowed. "Thank you Draco. I don't know if I can ever repay you."
*You have helped Khan Ardel achieve his dreams. +12000 reputation.*
*Congratulations! Your reputation level with Khan Ardel has increased to Honored.*
*Your guild has removed oppressive rulers from power and gave the planet to its people. +40000 guild reputation to Kessel.*
*Congratulations! Your guild's reputation level with Kessel has increased to Exalted.*
Tyler laughed. "It is good to know that I'll have a man like you on my side. Let us get down to business. I have gained quite a lot of resources from the treasury. As per my promise, I will be giving you quite the budget to work with. My first investment will be in the form of 50 million credits. In addition, I plan to sell the unrefined spice and I will transfer the profits to you according to our agreement."
Khan nodded. "That is extremely generous of you my friend. I will make sure I put it to good use. What of the mining operations?"
Tyler sighed. "This is where things might make you unhappy. I want to make this planet self sustaining and also turn a profit. Thus, I need you to prioritize your spending on improving the mining operations. This includes giving fair wages to the slaves that are currently working there, installing essential facilities and housing, and renovating the mines themselves to reduce the amount of hazards and pollution. In addition, I would like for you to construct a refinery for the coaxium so we can maximize our profits."
Khan appeared to get visibly irritated. "I can not agree with you on this one. Why should I prioritize the mining operations over helping my people?"
Tyler scoffed. "Khan, you are thinking in the short term. Although it would be very beneficial to Kessel if you used the funds to help the people, it would prove to be a poor choice in the future. As I said, I want this planet to be both self sustaining and profitable. Investing in the mines will bring in huge profits in the long term. As we expand the operations, we can create jobs for your people and bring in even more revenue. In addition, I believe that it is fair to say that the people that are suffering the most right now are the slaves in the mines. They are your people too, right?"
Khan looked defeated. "I have to hand it to you. My way of thinking is flawed. I must work on that in the future. Regardless, I'm sure that there will be plenty of leftover funds to improve the cities as well. That is my primary goal but I will need plenty of funding to do that. I will follow your recommendations. If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do."
Tyler smiled. "I'm glad you have come around. It is important to think about the bigger picture. I'll leave you to it then. I will send for you soon as you will need to make an appearance in the Galactic Senate once we become members."
Khan nodded. "Safe travels my friend. I look forward to a profitable relationship!" He then set off to start barking orders and distributing governmental positions.
Tyler turned to Xander. They both grinned. "Bro, we just leveled up 4 times! And please don't tell me you gave all of the credits you found to Khan."
Tyler laughed. "Don't worry, we still have about 20 million leftover. And that isn't all. We have some refined coaxium. With it, we will be able to power an entire fleet! In addition to that, we also have about 10 million credits in unrefined spice. We will get about 8 million from the sale since we are sharing 20% of all Kessel related profits with the government."
Xander's jaw dropped. "Dude, you're talking about that sum like it is nothing! We are fucking rich!"
Tyler shook his head. "You might think we are rich now, but wait until we start investing in the guild. From what I gathered, starships are not cheap in the slightest. We also need to purchase a guild hall on Coruscant."
As he finished saying this, he got a call from John. He picked up. "Hey, what's up?"
From the video feed, John was currently in a transport. Probably on his way to Coruscant. "My group and I just reached level 10. We are en route to Coruscant. What are you up to? That doesn't look like Coruscant."
Tyler laughed. "Bro, you are way behind in the news. I just took over a planet!"
John's jaw dropped. "Wait… WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT PLANET?"
Tyler let on a playful expression. "Oh, nothing major. It's a little place called Kessel. Maybe you've heard of it?"
John shook his head. "I don't know how you did it but I won't complain. How is the guild doing?���
Tyler sighed. "Aside from the Kessel thing, there is nothing that you don't already know. Oh, this is Xander. I met him at the Jedi Temple and we have been working together. He is a vice guild leader." Xander waved from behind Tyler.
John rolled his eyes. "Hi Xander, I'm Napoli. Nice to meet you. Anyways, I'll make sure I bring an extra pair of underwear because I haven't the slightest doubt that you have more surprises up your sleeve. Talk to you later dude."
"Later." Tyler hung up. Now, he had to do something important. It is time to allocate his attribute points from leveling up four times! He decided to put 3 in strength, 2 in defense, 3 in dexterity, 3 in stamina, 2 in vitality, 2 in intelligence, and 5 in charisma. Now he looked like this:
Draco, 17 years, Jedi Knight
Level 14
EXP - 11%
Mandalorian Human
HP - 1010
MP - 860
STR - 12 + 2
DEF - 6
DEX - 18 + 3
STA - 14
VIT - 13
INT - 8 + 2
CHA - 13 + 2
Free Attribute Points - 0
Tyler turned to Xander. "We should head back to Coruscant ASAP. I have some important things to take care of now that we have funds. I need you to buy a huge guild hall in the upper levels of Coruscant. Here are 10 million credits. Get the best one you can."
Xander was shaking a bit as he received the credits. "Yeah, I'm on it."
They then departed Kessel. After navigating through the Maelstrom, Tyler opened a comm link with Xander. "Actually, I'm going to make a stop before returning to Coruscant. I'll let you know when I am done with my errands."
Xander sighed. "What are you? You are describing interplanetary travel as if it was going to buy groceries."
Tyler laughed. "Well, it seems like we will need to do that too! I will secure some resource channels for us so that we can provide our guild mates with the necessities." He then docked into his hyperspace transport ring. "Anyways, LATA BITCH!"
As he said that, he jumped into hyperspace. Xander could only shake his head. "Damn. What have I gotten myself into?"
The journey from Kessel to his destination would take about 20 hours. This meant that he had 5 hours to log off and take care of himself. 8 in game days or 2 real world days have passed since the game launched. This showed just how painstakingly slow the leveling can be in the game. In fact, most players aren't even level 10 yet.
When Tyler logged off, it was 8 in the morning. His mom had already left for work. Her day job is an executive assistant at a big financial firm.
Upon remembering this, he got an idea. 'What if I got my mom to be a guild representative?' While this might sound weird, it would actually work quite well. Her real job is an executive assistant. That job entails constantly interacting with people and keeping a high level of organization.
With a little bit of adjustment, she could probably even act as Limitless's representative in the Galactic Senate! This would solve a huge problem that Tyler is having. He has no experience in politics!
While this is also true for his mom, she has extensive experience in dealing with people. This is a very valuable skill because let's be real, people SUCK!
As he was formulating his plan, he let on a maniacal expression. How twisted does someone have to be to want their own mother working for them? That will have to be found out in the future.
After going through his routine and an extended workout, he decided to read the news. You never know what useful information you can find.
"Mystery Investor Behind New VR Game Introducing New Hardware"
Tyler was shocked as he read the article. Essentially, there is a new technology being released to replace the headset. In simple terms, something called the Life Capsule is going to be released to the public next week.
This might not sound like a big deal but its capabilities are impressive. It allows for the user to remain in a virtual environment for 7 days of real time. It was also designed with the purpose of being used with Galactic Expedition.
That means two things. First, the device will provide the necessary nutrients needed by the body to remain in peak condition. It would also stimulate the user's muscles to keep them from deteriorating.
The other thing is that it will allow for someone to remain in game for 28 days! In addition, those 28 days would be experienced in only 7 days of real time. It essentially prolongs the user's lifespan by up to four times.
Aside from discussing the specifications of the Life Capsule, the article also discussed how many large corporations are keeping a close watch on the situation. If the capsule delivers as advertised, this is a huge money making opportunity.
There are endless opportunities in a virtual space. Aside from those that would choose to create their own virtual space, Galactic Expedition has a major untapped opportunity. Tourism!
Many of the sights, experiences, foods, beverages, and cultures that exist in the game have never been seen by the general populace. In addition, there is a whole galaxy full of them! It would just be a matter of time before everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Due to this, investors felt immense pressure to take the leap of faith. Being one of the first investors could be extremely profitable or become a huge loss. Only time will tell.
After considering some possibilities, Tyler came to a decision. He needed to expand his guild at light speed. The more players he has, the more systems Limitless can control. In addition, Tyler currently holds 100% of the shares for his guild.
He has read plenty of novels where some stupid and arrogant MC refuses to let investors into their guilds. Although this might make sense in older VRMMO games that are based on a singular planet, there was a whole galaxy up for grabs in this one. In addition, these investors held real world resources that people such as Tyler did not have. It only made sense to establish some relationships with these corporations.
(I am thinking of using a particular real world corporation in this novel. I am not making any money from this and it is totally fictional. Pls don't sue me.)
While finishing another protein shake, he finished thinking through his plans. It would be quite wise to partner with some major corporations. It would be quite beneficial to have some famous designer brands, restaurants, or resorts on his future planets.
In addition, it might even be wise to attempt a partnership with various industrial corporations. These groups have expertise in areas such as space exploration, transportation, mining, weapons production, and robotics. These are just a few examples of fields that could strike it big in Galactic expeditions.
After a few more minutes of scheming, Tyler noticed that he only had about 30 seconds before his starfighter would drop out of hyperspace. He quickly went to his room and logged back in.
When he opened his eyes in game, a familiar sight greeted him. The swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace was glowing around him. The appearance will probably never get old. It could almost put someone in a trance.
A few seconds later, he dropped out of hyperspace. What stood before him was unbelievable. The planet he arrived at was a gorgeous green world that had fluffy clouds floating across the skies. Various large bodies of water could be seen surrounded by huge forests and plains.
Surrounding the planet was a huge ring. The most surprising thing was that the ring did not consist of rocks, ice, and debris. It was actually man made!
As he entered the system, a voice sounded over his comms. "This is the Security Force. Identify yourself."
Tyler smiled. "I am here to do some business. Where should I land?"
"The headquarters is located a few minutes galactic east from your position. You can disengage your transport ring in orbit and land in the hangar."
"Thank you." Tyler flew his fighter for a few minutes and a huge building that was built on the ring came into view. It towered over all the other structures. As he passed various sections, he could see the skeletons of various large ships being constructed.
He disengaged from his hyperspace transport ring and landed in a large hangar.
*New Location Discovered: Kuat +100 EXP*
Kuat is a planet located in the core worlds. It is also one of the earliest members of the Galactic Republic. It is best known as the home of the Kuat Drive Yards. As one of the largest corporations in the galaxy, they would go on to design and produce the fleets for the Galactic Republic, Galactic Empire, First Order, and Final Order.
For organizations with tremendously deep pockets and a need for excessive firepower, the Kuat Drive Yards was the place to go. For reference, the Venator-class Star Destroyer, the standard republic cruiser, costs 59 million credits.
Another reason that the Kuat Drive Yards was the place to go for Tyler is that it is the biggest starship yard in the entire republic. Since his guild is registered with the republic, in addition to being a citizen of the republic, he can only purchase starships from either neutral, or republic affiliated corporations. For those that choose to associate with the CIS, they would most likely do their business with Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Incorporated. They are located in the Nimban system that lies in Hutt Space.
Tyler hopped out of his ship and had R2 follow him. A quality droid is quite tempting for many. As he approached the entrance to the headquarters, an attendant rushed to meet him. "Welcome. My name is Cerri Tillian. I am at your service. May I know your name?"
Tyler puffed out his chest a bit. "I am Draco, a Jedi Knight and the guild leader of Limitless." He would have added that he is also the sovereign of Kessel but he didn't want that news getting out until he secured his seat in the Senate.
Cerri's eyes widened as she heard who the man was. Limitless was huge news across the galaxy. Everyone was at the edge of their seats, waiting to see what they would do next. She knew that if she did a good job tending to this client, she may see a huge bonus!
She resolved herself. "It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Draco. I'll take you to meet with a representative immediately."
A few hours later, Tyler got into his fighter with R2 weighing about 8.7 million credits lighter. He would have to return the next day to retrieve his purchases. Now he had to go to Coruscant to deal with the Senate.
After a quick 5 hour flight, he entered high orbit over Coruscant. He then called Xander. "Yo. Did you purchase a headquarters yet?"
Xander sighed. "Yeah, I bought the property for about 7 million. The place is being renovated to contain a large hangar and some other facilities that we will need. It will be ready tomorrow."
Tyler shook his head. "I should have expected as much. Anyways, meet up with your friends and I'll find mine after my dealings with the Senate."
Xanded nodded. "Sounds good. See you soon." He hung up. Since he couldn't land in his guild hall yet, he would touch down in the Jedi Temple. While he was coming down, he called up Goby to give him a ride to the Senate building. He also tossed him a few extra credits to have him wait.
Tyler entered the Senate building. Just like last time, an attendant rushed to greet him. "Draco, welcome to the Senate Building. How may I help you today?"
Tyler grinned, making the attendant nervous. "I am here to have my system join the Galactic Republic."
The woman's jaw dropped. It was not every day that you get a neutral system trying to join a galactic governing body. She needed to inform Supreme Chancellor Valorum immediately! "Please, Lord Draco, follow me to a private reception room. I will come get you once the Chancellor is ready for you."
Tyler nodded. "Thank you. I am in a bit of a rush so if you can inform him that I have urgent matters to attend to, I would greatly appreciate it. A guild won't develop itself you know?"
She opened the door. "Yes of course. I will return shortly. Thank you for your patience." Tyler stepped into the room and she closed the door behind him. While he waited, he decided to give Khan a call.
Khan picked up. It looked as if he hadn't slept for weeks. "Draco, how are you my friend?"
Tyler laughed. "Khan, you do realize you have subordinates for a reason, right? Go and get some sleep! That's an order! I can't have a sleep deprived governor!"
Khan sighed. "There is just so much to do. I guess I'll have to dish out some responsibilities. I still don't know when I can sleep though. There aren't enough hours in a day."
Tyler shook his head. "I know exactly when you can sleep. I need you to come to Coruscant immediately. Sleep on the way here. I need you well rested to stand before the Senate. They will likely call for an emergency meeting tomorrow to vote on our membership."
Khan nodded. "I'll organize a transport and fighter escort at once. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tyler nodded. "See ya." He then hung up just in time for the door to open. The attendant had returned. "The Supreme Chancellor is ready for you."
Tyler got up. "Lead the way." He followed her to an elevator that is guarded by two men and behind a blast door. They took the elevator all the way to the top floor of the senate building.
Once they exited, they entered a grand hall situated outside of the Supreme Chancellor's Office. The door slid open revealing a luxurious office. The carpets were red and there were ornate, bronze statues on pedestals lining the walls.
At the large desk that was in front of the window, there were five chairs. Behind the desk sat Supreme Chancellor Valorum. In three of the chairs in front of the desk sat Mas Amedda, Vice Chair of the Galactic Senate, Silman, aide of the Supreme Chancellor, and Sei Taria, aide of the Supreme Chancellor.
Tyler rolled his eyes. 'It really is amazing how quickly they can move when they actually want to. Now that I think about it, maybe I should try to thwart Palpatine's plans! That is quite a ways down the road though. In addition, the Clone Wars could be very profitable if I can get my affairs in order.'
Shaking out of his scheming, he walked over to the empty chair. As he did, the Supreme Chancellor rose from his seat along with his entourage. "Ah, Lord Draco! It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you and your guild."
Tyler put a smile on his face and shook Valorum's hand. "The pleasure is all mine. I hope we can establish a prosperous relationship today that will outlast us both."
Valorum nodded. "Of course. That is the goal of the Galactic Republic. Please, take a seat. Tell me all about why you are here today."
Tyler nodded but internally he was rolling his eyes. Valorum knows exactly why Tyler is here. This is just a basic strategy in negotiations to put the host in an advantageous position. Nonetheless Tyler took his seat.
After sitting down, Tyler said, "Then let's get right to business. I have many matters to attend to. In case you haven't heard, I am now in control of the Kessel system. I got rid of that overbearing monarchy and am heavily investing in the development of the planet. Most of the people there are suffering."
Valorum raised his brow. "This is news to me. Kessel has been under the control of the Yagura Family for many generations. I will spare you the interrogation. All that matters is that you are the sovereign ruler now."
Tyler shook his head. "Actually, I appointed a governor to handle everything on the planet. He is still under me but for all intents and purposes, he is the acting ruler. His name is Khan Ardel. He is actually on his way here as we speak. We are hoping to join the Galactic Republic."
Valorum smiled and clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! This is great news! Kessel has many valuable resources on it. I am sure that it will be quite easy to pass the vote for the Kessel system to join the republic."
Tyler chuckled. "I am glad. I was worried that this would be a difficult process. Would we be able to have the vote tomorrow? If it is as you say, I am sure that the voting process will be quite brief."
A bead of sweat rolled down Valorum's face. "You do know that you are asking me to call for an emergency meeting, right?"
Tyler nodded. "Yes, I do realize this. I am confident that the senators will be glad that you did. With how my people are suffering, they will welcome us with open arms and send humanitarian relief in hope of striking a trade deal."
Valorum sighed. "You really do have this all figured out. I can't tell what your motivations are for joining the republic but from what I can see, a prosperous relationship lies ahead."
Tyler laughed. "Indeed Chancellor. Is there anything else you need?"
Valorum nodded. "There is just one more item to discuss. Aside from Governor Khan, who will be representing Kessel in the senate hearing?"
Tyler smirked. "The representatives, aside from Governor Khan, will be Vice Guild Leader Xander of Limitless, and myself as both Guild Leader and Sovereign of Kessel."
Valorum smiled at this. With Tyler there and a convincing story from the governor, he would not have to do any schmoozing to sway the vote. "That is fantastic news! I'll send out the notice for an emergency hearing to be held immediately. Anyways, I would invite you for dinner but you seem to have places to be."
Tyler thought for a moment. "You know, the thing that is great about being the one in charge is that the party doesn't start until you walk in. Unfortunately, I am already quite late for said party. I will have to defer your invitation for a later date. It would be great to have an opportunity to meet some of the many senators and representatives in the same place."
Valorum sighed. "That is quite alright. I'm sure that various senators will be knocking your door down to become friends once they find out about the resources your system possesses. I'll see you out then."
Tyler rose from his seat. "Thank you Chancellor." "Of course Lord Draco. It is my pleasure." Valorum and his staff walked with Tyler to the elevator. They shook hands again and said their goodbyes.
By the time he reached the lobby, people were already giving him looks. There were also some players finally in the crowd. They were also giving him looks. Then he noticed the news report that was being given on one of the holo screens.
"Breaking news. The Galactic Senate has called for an emergency session to vote on the inclusion of Kessel in the Galactic Republic. It is rumored that the new guild, Limitless, is behind the change of attitude of this neutral planet. Wait! This just in! Draco, the guild leader of Limitless has been spotted in the Senate building! It appears as if he just concluded a meeting with Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum. That is all for now. We will keep you updated as the news comes in."