"Esmond, son… are you sure about this?
Everything I've seen tells me you're bound to drive yourself into financial ruin…"
James wanted to stop Esmond from making a foolish decision by creating a city far away from the central hub of the state.
Adelaide had the infrastructure and more importantly, population to keep it functional, however the land Esmond proposed to build the new city would be taking up part of a Natures Preserve.
Positive the construction of the new city and its proposed site would be hated publicly; James believed the only saving grace would be the jobs it would offer the State and the ecofriendly design of the city.
"It'll be a city made from ecofriendly materials while also being run on renewable energy, the whole place would be first of many ecofriendly cities.
The plans clearly show the incorporation of the Nature Preserve and lay out of the city which is spread out to allow for the free growth of the environment without it being entirely disturbed.
All of the smaller towns will also see an improvement in the region.
We've made sure to keep the Whalers Way Sanctuary alive and well with part of the area being saved for sightseeing and public assess before the rest of the developments change up the area." Esmond seemed so sure of himself, and the plan as large part of the materials would be coming directly from the space.
Eddie had already taken over a mining company in Australia that was about to default on their repayments to the bank.
Because a few banks understood the incoming problem to the Stock Market, many were trying to recuperate the money that was seen as lost.
Stonehill Family Mining happened to fall under the might of the banks hammer and were about to close down when Eddie came in and bought up the business while retaining the former personnel.
As it was a family business that operated the same mine they bought when their family moved over from England just after World War Two, they had a better idea of the business operations even if they weren't successful.
Deep scans done by Carter of the region showed large reserves of minerals deep into the ground.
Esmond wasn't concerned whether they could access it or not, what he wanted to do instead planned to have the mining machines bring out the materials mined from the space.
Seeing no point in damaging the planet further, Esmond wanted the materials to come from the space but if anyone came snooping, the information about the materials deeper into the ground would come in hand.
The Hill Family, who happened to run and formerly owned Stonehill Family Mining, were overjoyed by the care their place was being shown, while also being overwhelmed by all of the equipment reaching their doors.
They needed to be trained on how to use the new machinery, but the place where the mine was established needed a massive infrastructure update.
People would be called to work at the mine, since Esmond wasn't going to leave it completely to the machines and Carter's control to bring over the materials, so what the people would be accessing would be purposely created.
Thinking all the work done till now would easily cover his movement in the shadows, James brought Esmond's mind back to reality before he fell deeper in into his misbelief that everything was fine.
.
"*Sigh* My dear nephew… you haven't answered my question…"
"Uncle… I am positive that this won't send me into ruin, rather I'll be able to make a ridiculous amount of money.
More than I'll be investing in total."
Esmond was assured the city would pay off, not just by design of the city but the various purposes it would have within the area.
The Liguanea Island that was off the coast of Sleaford would become a launching site for the rockets that would be fired into outer space.
Eventually Esmond would make his plans for space exploration known to the world, but he wasn't overly concerned what others might have to say about the launch site.
.
Obvious he wouldn't be able to talk Esmond out of his ridiculous plan, James was going to plea to his daughter for some help, but it seemed she was communicating with her rivals to help Esmond.
'My poor daughter…
What has this bastard child made you into… *Sigh*' James found it hard to see his daughter laughing and smiling with her love rivals.
He knew why Mei had come to Adelaide, obviously decided by her father, Zhao, an old friend of James, but seeing her close with Amelia made him wonder if his daughter had accepted the girl.
Even Layla was obviously mixed in from what James could see but it just happened to worry him further for his daughter.
'I need to tell Lisa everything!' coming to a decision to call his wife once Esmond and the rest had left, James decided to entertain the group for a little while and listened in on the conversation happening between his daughter and her love rivals.
"If we can create the first forms of entertainment that will encompass the city, don't you think we could help create it into a city unlike any other." Layla built of the topic of discussion that was going on between the three girls.
Previously they were trying to understand the theme of the businesses they wanted to try and open within the new city after seeing the presentation of the place on the monitor.
"Esmond said the city would revolve around his car brands, so there would be a racetrack connected to the industrial park where the car brands main headquarters would be.
With that and the inclusion of the launch site for rocket launches… I'm not entirely sure about what else would be good to build at the foundation of the city."
Amelia was trying to figure out what would be a drawing point for the city, however it seemed May had more than enough ideas in her mind.
"If we can get the right approval… the islands off Memory Cove could be turned into luxury resorts or designated locations for musical festival.
The land near the Almonta Beach could be made into a smaller town that could eventually expand, but I was thinking of using the islands off the further reaches of the beach…
How about creating a theme park?"
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While the girls continued with their own discussions, James asked Esmond another question after he noticed the large sum of land near the Innes national park.
"Esmond… whats with the large land purchase near Inneston and the surrounding region?"
"Ahh… well…" not wanting to say the truth, Esmond rubbed the back of his head, which James picked up on immediately.
"You know… that hand rub at the back of your hand… it's your 'tell'…"
Esmond looked shocked that his uncle knew about his subconscious reflex, but he wasn't prepared to say why.
"Tell me or else… Esmond Manston…" James's voice became firm and authoritative once he figured out Esmond was trying to avoid the subject and topic as much as possible.
"Fine…!
Would you believe me… if I said I was going to create a seaway…" Esmond went on to explain the purchases were the location of the second site to the first city.
Connected through an underground highway, people from Sleaford would be able to drive over to Inneston without having to drive up further into the mainland before driving down another peninsula.
The whole process would take hours, but Esmonds plan would cut down the travel time by a great deal while also building the foundation for a railway system that would connect the first city and distant towns with Adelaide's railway network.
Other ideas included a ferry that would also operate at the same time, while slower it would be a cheaper and more scenic journey.
Hearing Esmonds idea, James didn't know if he should slap his dear nephew and student or would it be better to ignore the whole absurd plan.
But James knew better than to discard his nephews' ideas.
"… When will you implement this… 'Seaway'…?"
"Once the railway network is nearly complete from the First City and connected to Port Wakefield, if not Adelaide, I would start the construction for it.
Probably by 2016.
But it depends on the development of the city."
Esmonds answer wasn't what James expected because it showed him Esmond planned for a great deal of work to be done on the land.
James had nothing else to say and ended up letting his nephew do as he pleased for now.
After Amelia, Esmond, May, and Layla left his office, James picked up his phone and made a call to a friend far away.
.
"Zhao…
Your daughter seems to have found my dear student and nephew fairly easily…"
"HA!
See old friend, even our children have the same level of competitiveness we had when we were younger!
Be glad!" Zhao, the father of May, was shouting through the phone so much that James believed his friend could shout straight from Hong Kong it could be heard.
"How can I?
They are fighting over a stupid boy that's somehow gotten them to get along…"
James words shut down Zhaos joyous mood immediately as the worst had happened.
He didn't wish to accept what he heard so Zhao tried his best to ignore what his dear friend had said but it was too serious of a topic.
Once he calmed himself down enough, Zhao asked James what they should do to deal with the problem.
But James wasn't seeing eye to eye with his friend on the problem, whereas he saw it to be a beneficial situation in some way.
They continued to talk about their daughters and their love lives for a little while, after which James brought up some important information for Zhao to get involved in.
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"A new city?
Are you sure he can pull it off?"
"Why do you think I've called you?
Would I honestly call you to talk only about our daughters miserable dating life…" the snarky and sarcastic James was getting on Zhaos nerve who was ready to curse out at his friend.
"… Without me… you're just a lonely miserable bastard.
Be grateful I am in your life Trudy!" Zhao purposely called James by his old nickname that would always trigger an angry react.
And on cue, James lost his temper and the two began to curse out each other, only stopping after a dozen or so minutes when they just gave into senseless foul swearing.
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"Just tell me simply… would you get involved in the earlier stages?
I'll make sure you've got some decent locations to purchase up." James wanted to create some capital for Esmond already, completely aware the whole project would cost a ridiculous amount.
James however was deeply unaware of the financial machine wizard that was Eddie, who also had the help of Carter and the other A.I Spirits.
Also, all of the quantum computers that were in the control of each of the A.I Spirits meant Esmonds wealth was extremely large and diversified.