Title: My First Trading Partner is An Awaken
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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A ring from his phone cut through the stillness of Mister Fernandez's office, startling him from his mental thoughts.
With a quick glance at the caller ID, he recognized the name of Dr. Filbert Garcia, one of his friends during their university. Eagerly, answered the call as he was anticipating the result he wanted from the doctor.
"Buddy, it's me, Filbert. I hope you still remember me, boss." The caller on the other end of the line speaks.
"Of course! How can I forget the brain of the group," Mister Fernandez exclaimed.
"Good news for you, bud," Dr. Garcia exclaimed, his voice practically excited on sharing the news. "Remember the gold coin you submitted for analysis."
Mister Fernandez's pulse quickened at the mention of the coin.
"Please, tell me more," he urged, his voice anticipating.
"After conducting extensive tests, including carbon dating and other methods of analysis, we have determined that the coin dates back approximately 28,000 years," Dr. Garcia revealed. He too was just excited with such discovery.
Mister Fernandez could hardly believe his ears. "28,000 years?" he repeated, his mind struggling to comprehend the significance of the discovery.
"Yes, indeed," Dr. Garcia confirmed, his tone brimming with excitement. "It's a remarkable find, buddy. If this is a coin used at that time, this will revamp the history of the country or even the rest of the world!"
Dumbstruck!
It's the only thing that he can do right now. As a businessman, this kind of importance means money.
The gold coin he had purchased from that young man Henry, seemingly a simple kind of token, was in fact a relic from a time long forgotten, a tangible link to the distant past.
"Thank you, Filber, for sharing this incredible news with me," Mister Fernandez said, his voice choking with emotion. "It was just a hunch, so I had submitted a coin for analysis. I didn't think that such a result would be uncovered."
"Well, the thing is, there is a leak from my side. I'm sorry. You know me when I get excited," Dr. Garcia said.
"Tsk. Tsk. So what happened?" Mister Fernandez frowned.
"I'm not sure if it's good news or bad news for you, but one of the coin collectors who got the news wanted to buy it for 2 million pesos," Dr. Garcia replied.
"Oh… 2 million pesos!" Mister Fernandez didn't know that the gold coin had such value. "But 2 million for a coin!"
"Yes. However, I said that it was not mine. Would you want to get the collector's number?" Doctor Garcia asked.
"Alright. Let me have it," Mister Fernandez said.
He called the said coin collector. In the following morning, he had traded the 12 gold coins to the coin collector for 60 million pesos.
For someone who usually sleeps with money, it was a small amount but he knew from the perspective of the many, or the common people, this amount alone can uplift anyone from poor to richness.
Thus, is the case why he wanted to manage his own shop. To keep his feet on the ground and not be too indulgent with money and its related implications.
The coin collector goes by the name of Alfred Soriano, said that if there are more of those gold coins, he still wanted to purchase it with the same price.
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Mister Fernandez's mind raced with intrigue as he observed Henry walking towards the clerk. He can see anyone from his office but not the other way around, as his office is made up of specialized bullet proof glass in low key design.
"Where had Henry acquired such a valuable coin? Was Henry even aware of its true significance? It seems not as he was satisfied when he traded it with only the standard price of the 21 carat gold coin."
These are the thoughts running in the mind of the PAL Jewelry owner.
In just a moment, Mister Fernandez's clerk relayed that Henry Ramirez had requested to speak with him. As a seasoned businessman, Despite his curiosity about the origins of Henry's gold coins, Mister Fernandez maintained the 'mind your own business' behavior.
He kept his curiosity under control although He had established a network of informants and contacts, keeping a watchful eye on the black market and extending his reach into the city and adjacent cities.
As Henry approached, Mister Fernandez greeted him with a warm smile, concealing the underlying currents of inquiry swirling beneath the surface.
He didn't do business with a loss. In a single gold coin he acquired from Henry Ramirez, he actually grossed three times.
Since someone wanted to buy it for 2 million a piece, he decided to increase the purchase value of the coin too, just to make sure that Henry would sell his gold coin only to him
"Greetings! Mister Fernandez. I had 40 gold coins here, can you buy them?" Henry said.
"Hey, have you already used the amount you acquired?" Mister Fernandez asked frowning on how the young man spent his earnings.
"Well, yes. And I need some money to buy the property adjacent to our house. We would like to try hydrophobic farming along with my dad." Henry didn't keep it secret.
As F-rank awakened already, he knew that he was not an ordinary human anymore. He steps on a higher realm and has tested himself physically. It took him a while to control his new strength and speed assisted by his brother Dylan.
He didn't mind revealing such a plan in advance to the more ccomodating owner of the jewelry, since it will not be a secret anymore.
"Hydroponic farming? Well, you truly need a higher start up capital with it," the middle aged man had some understanding about the said project.
"So I need to make more money by selling these to you," Henry said referring to the gold coins in his shoulder bag.
"Great timing, young man. The good news is that your coin has earned me a lot over the past days, so I decided to increase the price per gram of your gold coins only." Mister Fernandez said.
"He is calm and unperturbed," Henry thought as he 'heard' Mister Fernandez's heartbeat.
Unbeknownst to Mister Fernandez, Henry's behavior is already in higher state. Henry is already enhanced and he has difficulty controlling his strength as of this moment. In that effect, Henry too had enhanced his senses and as his conclusion;
"This Mister is not deceiving him," Henry thought.
"Oh, how much will the new price be?" Henry asked calmly.
"3,000 pesos per gram, Henry." Mister Fernandez said looking at the reaction of Henry but he was disappointed in the young man's calm face. "Yep, he was too calm now. What happened? Did he know something about the true value of the gold coin?"
He remembered that Henry still had this excitement when the young man traded the gold coins from their last transaction. Yet, now he was not.
"3,000 pesos. That is 700 pesos higher than the market price. Since Mister Fernandez is being generous, I would not decline his offer." Henry said.
"Good, good. So let me check your coins first and verify it as usual. I'll issue checks for you now, young man, if that will not post some problem." The PAL jewelry owner said.
"No problem for me. I might earn more funds from you, Mister Fernandez." Henry said calmly.
It only took him 30 minutes to check details of the gold coins and he determined that it was the same gold coin he traded.
"21 carat gold with a total weight of 4,240 grams. That's 12.72 million pesos in total." Mister Fernandez said as Henry also nodded in agreement.
They ended the trade with satisfaction as Henry exited from the jewelry shop. He immediately proceeded to DSH bank to transfer the fund and also withdraw the needed money.
Henry Ramirez strode purposefully into the DSH Bank, his mind abuzz with anticipation. He had just concluded the withdrawal of 8.5 million pesos.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ramirez. I trust the transaction went smoothly?" Manager Felix said.
Henry returned the smile, his eyes alight with satisfaction. "Indeed, it did, Manager Felix. Thank you for your assistance."
The manager gestured for Henry to take a seat, his expression attentive. "It's always a pleasure to assist you sir Ramirez. Now, tell me, what prompted this significant withdrawal?"
Henry leaned forward, just like what he revealed to PAL jewelry owner, he also told it to Manager Felix.
"I've been eyeing the adjacent lot to my home for quite some time now. It's the perfect opportunity to expand my property and use it for my dad's business."
Manager Felix nodded, his interest piqued. "A wise investment, Mr. Ramirez. And may I ask what ventures you have in mind?"
"I plan to develop the property for hydroponics farming. That's why I needed more funds." Henry said.
The manager's smile widened at Henry's plans. "Yeah, That will need a lot of money. If the property is big, maybe your withdrawal will not be enough."
"It would seem so." Henry said.
His business is done in the bank and he was exiting from the bank when he heard the declaration upfront. Immediately, he hid himself from one of those pillars.
"Everyone down on the ground, now! This is a robbery!" The words rang out with a chilling intensity, sending a wave of fear rippling through the bank.
Customers and employees alike froze in terror as they obeyed the command, their hearts pounding in their chests
"Don't hurt us, please!" One of the customers also exclaimed from terror.
Manager Felix stood frozen behind his desk, his mind struggling to process the situation. In all his years as a bank manager, he had never encountered anything like this.
However, he was brief with such a situation so he still managed to calm down.
His eyes flickered to the two security guards stationed outside, only to see them being overpowered and handcuffed by the masked assailants. The sight sent a shiver down his spine, knowing that any hope of external assistance had been dashed.
"Robbery?!" Manager Felix's voice wavered with disbelief as he finally found his voice, "Oh gosh! It's really robbery on my watch!"
His hands trembled slightly as he raised them in a gesture of compliance, his mind racing with thoughts of how to keep everyone safe.
"Move to the hall, everyone! Cooperate as this was only a robbery and not a massacre. Follow my instructions and you will be safe! Now move!" The leader of the robber repeated.
"Where is the bank manager?!" The leader of the group asked. "I will not repeat once more! Where is the manager?!"
"I'm here! Don't hurt the customers please," Manager Felix with his calmer mind approaches the leader of the heist who l, just like the others, is wearing a mask.
"Sure thing. We would not like that either!" The leader said. "Shut the hell up!"
The leader shouted as he clearly heard the customers who were in the halls as his fellow robbers pointed the guns to the hostages.
"Let's go! Open the vault, manager. Please do cooperate. Although we don't commit murder, we kill. So do fucking cooperate." The leader emphasized.
"I am and I will." Manager Felix said with distressed. It was his first time to be pointed with a gun on his face, thus he still panicked.
The three robbers were left to oversee the hostages while the leader and the other two along with manager Felix moved to the vault.
"Open!" With the firearms in the robber's hand, he pointed it to Manager Felix to open the vault faster, and he did.
He was also forced to fill the bags with money along with his other colleagues. They had filled the black bags in only less than five minutes and as they did that, they went to the room near the comfort room.
With all this ordeal, they didn't manage to notice the presence of another man lurking and observing them. Meanwhile, the hostages are afraid and trembling not knowing what will happen to them as the three burly men pointed their gun to them.