The advantage of time was mine, but there were rules even I couldn't ignore. Jumping back and forth wasn't a solution. Investments take time. I couldn't just go forward, find the right moment, and expect things to fall into place overnight. I had to be patient—let the businesses grow on their own.
The plan was clear: move forward in time, see what would succeed, then go back and invest. But from there, I had to wait. Let my investments take root.
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**The First Jump – 10 Years Ahead**
I stepped forward in time, ten years into the future. The city wasn't drastically different, but there were subtle changes. New businesses had risen, technologies were creeping into everyday life, and some of the smaller traders I had known were gone.
I took my time, walking through the markets and speaking with merchants. Conversations revealed the shifts happening beneath the surface—innovations in communication and trade. Machinery was starting to emerge, and merchants who embraced these new methods were succeeding.
After a few days of careful observation, I took note of the businesses that were thriving and the ones that were struggling. It was clear that the future belonged to those who adapted.
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**Returning to the Present**
Once I had gathered all the information I needed, I returned to my original point in time—ten years earlier. This was where I needed to act, investing in the businesses and industries that would succeed.
"Gerrard," I said as I met with him in his office. "We're going to start investing in these up-and-coming industries."
He raised an eyebrow but nodded. "You've always had a sense for where things are going."
We set up the investments, but from that moment on, I had to wait. I couldn't just jump ahead and check my progress over and over. The businesses needed time to grow, the investments needed time to bear fruit. Patience was key.
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**The Waiting Game**
Months passed, then years. I didn't rush the process. I allowed my investments to grow, watching as they gradually took shape. The small, nascent companies I had invested in slowly grew into something larger, expanding as trade routes flourished and technologies advanced.
It wasn't immediate, and it wasn't easy. But that was the nature of building something lasting—it took time.
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**The Second Jump – 20 Years Ahead**
Twenty years after my initial jump, I moved forward again. The city was transformed—factories lined the streets, and the businesses I had invested in were thriving. The technology I had predicted was now central to trade and commerce.
But the world had changed in ways I hadn't fully anticipated. The industrial revolution was just beginning, and new players were entering the market. I saw that my earlier investments had paid off, but there were new opportunities on the horizon.
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**Meeting a New Agent**
I decided to return to the present again but knew that Gerrard, loyal as he was, wouldn't be able to manage the complexities of this new industrial age. He was getting older, and I needed someone younger, someone with a sharp understanding of this new world.
After a careful search, I found a young lawyer named Benjamin, whose keen understanding of banking and industry would be invaluable. We met in a quiet corner of the city, where I explained my vision.
"You're offering me more than just a partnership," Benjamin said, leaning forward. "You're offering me a future."
I smiled. "Exactly. A future that we can shape together."
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**End of Chapter**
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colinh45