"Hello! Mr. Black... I've heard some rumors recently. It seems someone is spreading unfavorable news about us in Pearson! People are saying that Forest Bank was taken over by a bank with poor financial status and that it might go bankrupt again at any moment. The depositors are getting nervous. This morning, even my neighbor Mrs. Audrey was asking me about it..."
The next morning, right after Carter entered the bank office for a weekend break, he received a call from William, the manager of Forest Bank.
"Alright, I understand. I'll arrange to send you a hundred thousand in cash shortly... By the way, do the rumors specifically name Black Bank?"
"I haven't heard that yet, but I think it's implied. Given your situation with Bass and the others..."
"I get it. I have two tasks for you: First, reassure our clients. Don't worry about the money; let those who want to withdraw do so, but inform them that the rumors are false. Tell them that since the change in ownership, Forest Bank has enough capital to protect the rights of its depositors.
Second, closely monitor the unemployment rate and price changes in Pearson. That's all for now. Hang in there!"
After hanging up, Carter called Goodman over.
"Arrange for three cars, and for security... Never mind, I'll call the police station for some extra personnel."
As the merger with Forest Bank progressed, Carter felt increasingly agitated. Various issues kept popping up, just like weeds in a field—cut one down, and another would spring up.
"Hire four more security guards; our current team is not enough."
After finishing his call with the police station, Goodman suggested.
"Four might not be enough; let's hire eight. With the frequent cash movements to and from Pearson, we need to guard against Bass and his gang trying something desperate... Take care of this for me. Also, call Patterson to ask about the requirements for setting up a security transport company."
Carter's speech quickened with the increasing workload:
"Trifali called yesterday, saying business is booming but logistics are falling behind. The poultry farms around Douglas are small, and we don't have enough trucks. There are nearly four hundred unemployed households here in Douglas. I'm thinking of outsourcing the transport of chickens to them. The wild boar meat can be handled similarly in Pearson..."
"Alright, but using household vehicles for transporting chickens would be inefficient and costly. How will the restaurants handle this cost?"
"Don't worry about costs now. Our primary goal is to protect local employment."
Since Julian's warning the previous day, Carter had realized he was being misled by Bass and his ilk.
Just like the saying, "Never argue with a fool; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience," his goal was to capture the market, not engage in a destructive banking war. Even a victory would be pyrrhic.
By stepping out of this capital contest mindset, Carter saw the real issue was income and employment.
As long as the citizens had jobs, they would have income to repay loans and save money, which the bank could then utilize...
Although banks couldn't directly invest in businesses, with Patterson's backing, Carter wasn't constrained by the old rules.
Let them restrict loans. As long as he could solve Pearson's employment problem, the bank's issues would vanish, and Bass would be significantly weakened. Wait, he was also at a disadvantage...
It was his territory, after all!
"Got it. Anything else?"
Whether out of a sense of "Douglas protectionism" or understanding Carter's logic, Goodman accepted the plan without much questioning.
"That's it for now. Oh, and we can ease up on loans. For businesses on the brink, if they're creditworthy, extend them some money. Start with a hundred thousand, and we'll see if more is needed later."
"Alright, I'll pass on your thanks."
Having allocated two hundred thousand dollars, Carter still couldn't relax. Douglas was manageable, thanks to the new hires and Trifali's recruits. This should significantly reduce unemployment.
For the rest, they could hunt wild boar and sell it to him, ensuring they wouldn't starve. Loans would help curb unemployment in Douglas for now.
Turning to the documents Goodman brought from Forest Bank, Carter reviewed Pearson's profile.
Pearson, located in the south-central pine belt of Georgia, had little more than Atkinson Avenue running through it. It was neither near a lake nor the sea. Though it had pine resources, it couldn't compete with the northern forests of Georgia.
Even in agriculture, Pearson's terrain, unlike the flat lands of Douglas, was more like enlarged terraced fields. The scattered farmland made for an inefficient setup.
The city's industrial structure was extremely single-dimensional, making Carter frown. Pearson's economy relied heavily on a limited number of industries.
While Douglas was also poor and mostly agricultural, its flat land and the north-south Route 23 provided better commercial opportunities.
Pearson had only one main road, not close to Route 23. This east-west Atkinson Avenue connected Waycross and Sylvester, over a hundred kilometers away. This meant Carter's burgeoning highway commercial zone model in Douglas couldn't be replicated in Pearson.
This realization was enough to make Carter feel at his wit's end. What other industries could absorb the local workforce?