One week had passed since my meeting with Tanya, and our conversation was still fresh in my memory, prying deeper into my thoughts and dreams.
"Nirvana" was neither a text or subtext word used in any writings of this world, meaning whoever the otherworlder was, he meant for the title of his movement to be symbolic.
I couldn't piece together what his intentions were no matter how hard I tried, for I felt that my involvement in whatever his plans were, would yield very little profit.
"He's got me beat!" I exclaimed, staring at the multiple pieces of paper that laid all around my table.
Numbers were scribbled all around, from top to bottom to signify the financial recordings of Ethos's yearly revenue.
I couldn't offer my full attention in solving the present dilemma since I was conflicted about my own situation.
These days, I felt submerged, constantly felt the urge to uncover the secret behind the Nirvana cult so as to be able to prevent further interferences.
"Are you actually even trying to work?" Rosemary criticized, staring at me in mild discomfort.
I couldn't blame her for her reaction, since what I had been these past couple of days was "unsettled".
'Anyways let's just try to solve the problem at hand, huh Milo'
Constantly worrying about something out of my reach would yield no solution whatsoever, rather it would only work fowards impeding my progress.
"Now back to the matter at hand" I began, adjusting my seat for better balance.
I then resolved to cross-check the records I held, alongside past documentations and was surprised with what I discovered.
"This is all wrong" I muttered, swiping from page to page at the figures in my hands.
As It stood, Ethos was barely making enough profits from their trades to keep the city affloat, for another year.
It was so obvious, that anyone who saw the financial records would conclude the same.
It then occured to me, that Ethos actually never had any other source of actual revenue, except the taxes generated from trades and rental incomes.
Even though I wasn't versed in finance, I could already tell that with the current pacing of their yearly profits, they would eventually have to pack up.
"I have to speak with Tanya" I demanded, getting up as I gathered the useful records I could hold.
"What did you find" Rosemary inquired, chasing after me lightly as we both headed to the main office.
Tanya was speaking with Grant, handing out instructions to him regarding something.
I couldn't make out what it was, since they mostly spoke in whispers, but as I got closer, the word "Soon arriving" hung fron Grant's mouth.
I waved off the meaning of it, setting down the records in front of Tanya as I stood there, waiting patiently for her to discern the purpose.
She leaned towards the documents finally, sifting through them as she got a rough idea of what it was about.
"Did you know about this?" I asked, pointing at the present year's financial recordings.
She nodded and smiled, clasping both palms as if she had been waiting for the moment I'd bring it up.
I shaked my head in disbelief, feeling karma dealing me a defeating blow.
She had brought me all the way here as a collateral substitute, knowing I would someday come accross the core problem Ethos was facing, and have a possible resolution for it??.....
"That's just laudable!" I yelled, laughing as I crashed on the seat besides me.
"But you did it didn't you?" Her eyes glimmering in delight as she spoke. Almost like a strange entity, she had read my mind once again.
Grant and Rosemary just stood besides us, feeling loss the entire time at the pacing of our conversation.
I felt they must have gotten used to the sudden drift in our interactions.
'If I wasn't staying with you, I'd definitely had suspected you were from my world' I concluded in my mind.
"But why haven't you found a solution yet" I reprimanded, clicking my teeth as I stared at her.
She reclined slowly, motioning towards the papers sprawled all over her desk.
"Ah.... That's kinda true"
Minus the fact that she operated one of the most influential and independent trade unions in this world, she was also an informant for basically every top member of society, including this world's underworld society.
So in summary, she was more lazy than busy.
'Something I can relate to'
"Well from the look of things, not only will Ethos lose its stand as the current leading trade union, but also all forms of income responsible for keeping the city operative" i paused, stopping to let Tanya make a summary.
"A system collapse huh" she surmised, tapping rapidly on her desk.
According to the research I had done a while back, Ethos wasn't even the current world leader in terms of trade, they had long been overtaken by Renovis- a southern trading union that surfaced a few years back.
And the reason they were able to do that in such a short time, was what I wanted us to inculcate.
I looked over at Grant, the head of my position, trying to get him into the conversation so as not to claim his post from over-intervention.
"What do you think is the module for businesses" i enquired, remembering a quote from a business outreach i had attended in my past life.
He scratched his head, probably searching for the more appealing answer he could offer.
"Profits. The inherent purposes of business is to make profit" he replied finally, leaning backwards at the brown shelf behind him, his weight causing it to creak.
I shook my head in disagreement, not surprised by his reply whatsoever.
"That's not it. Sure businesses are created with the idea of making profit, it's not the model on which it's built." I replied, waiting patiently for the elephant in the room to address the issue.
"Problem solving through product creation or service offered" Tanya addressed nonchalantly, probably disappointed by Grant's incomplete response.
"That's it. So with that in mind, what do you feel Ethos is lacking in comparison with other unions". I questioned, getting tired of having to follow the slow pacing of the conversation.
"A redefining brand" Rosemary answered, unsure about her response.
But it was the most accurate reply I could ever ask for.
'Thank god this is wrapping up fast'
Ethos center piece during its formation, probably was that it was built on the idea of an independent organization, free of influence of any rulership or authority.
But sadly, that was the only idea.
Just a singular brand that they didn't even consider the extent of it's uniqueness.
Now, other trade unions had implemented their idea, generalizing the brand and limiting its distinct nature.
"What Ethos needs, is a new idea that would pull more attention to itself and solve its problem of reach." I continued, feeling their lingering glares beg for my conclusion.
"And do you have something in mi-" Tanya paused, staring intently at her desk as she rubbed her chin.
I doubted the possibility of her being able to come up with a solution just from my short explanation, but surprisingly, she did.
"Is it regarding the issue at hand" Tanya asked, before giving herself the reply she desired.
"How did I not think of this all this while. Grant, I want you to reach out to the best artificers in the city. Do you have any idea how it would work, Milo?" Tanya asked, staring at me as if she expected me to just easily accept what she had just done.
"You must have a mind reading skill, you know that right?"
I was genuinely concerned about her train of thoughts at this point, to be able to decisively pinpoint whatever I was thinking.
She laughed, before gesturing for Grant to proceed with the instructions she gave.
"It's been on my mind for a while now" she confessed, trying to override my suspicions with humility.
If in fact, what she had in mind was what I was thinking, then we'd have to pull it off before the top class dignitary we were expecting, made his way to Ethos.
"And what exactly do you have in mind" Rosemary asked me, peering into the eyes of the wrong person.
"It's a messaging device that will solve long distance communications" I replied, staring at Tanya in hopes of a reaction.
But she just quietly sat there, tapping away at her habit.
I left soon afterwards, hoping to meet up with the artificers Grant must have gathered, to select the most optimal candidate.
My birthday was in a week, and still my workload kept piling.
I stopped by the large window before the entrance, staring outside towards the tree at one corner of my view. We were already locked in at the start of the last season of the year.
The one similar to autumn, as I watched flowers fall to the ground and winds pass gracefully.
"Times are getting riled up huh!"