The dance of business negotiations was one of advantage and disadvantage, the gap between predator and prey. Fluffy illusions and tepid emails sent over a 2007 desktop were a thing of fantasy. Without leverage over your opponent, they could gouge your pockets for more than you're worth. Not only that, but your opponent could even take your offer and give it to your rival for an even bigger price tag. Then you're stuck playing a silly game of who wins the princess.
Business moguls learn very early on, that the best way to subdue another company was through an uncompromising and unrelenting force that skirts on the edge of the law in terms of legality. You corner their market, you buy weapons for crazed rebels in xyz region and watch as they wreck your opponent's properties and holdings, or you buy up every last one of their rivals, warping their business into unrelated industries, and leave the sole survivor in a place that could be busted for monopolistic practices.
The list of methods went on into the hundreds and naturally as a normal person, I had no access to the more sophisticated methods that were used for swallowing the really big fish. But I believed that I had enough to take on a small minnow that had no kind of political backing.
Eorzea was not a world of raw bloodshed and rampant murder over sect resources. You couldn't be a young master from some random clan, going around and smacking people in the face. Rule of law existed here. Even amongst the pirates, they had a code, and couldn't push too far, else Limsa Lominsa would seriously crack down on their operations, disrupting a delicate and unspoken truce. Naturally, businesses were held up to an internal standard of their own.
However, corruption was rather simple and even more pervasive. Often, the people with the strictest moral systems were the easiest to fold when the cards were down. They just needed the right excuse.
"I'm afraid I cannot sell out the Harbor Herald to your Daemon Company, Mr. Winter."
This one was no exception. The owner of Limsa Lominsa's newspaper was a young man who seemed a bit wet behind the ears. I didn't know what that meant exactly, but in my head the saying fit him. Malik Aubrey gave me a stern look that I didn't feel was as tough as it seemed on the surface.
"Do you consider yourself to be a man of integrity, Mr. Aubrey?"
"Of course I do. For this reason, I cannot sell you the platform for Limsa Lominsa's free expression. The peoples depend on our unwavering word to be informed and stay vigilant of the truth around us. The responsibility is heavy, not one that we are willing to lightly shed."
Lightly shed, as in he is indeed willing to sell for a good incentive. If you drown the rest of his words, the ultimate essence becomes a massive billboard on his forehead saying "For Sale". I just needed the right justification or rather, the young man needed to fear saying no.
I had many tools at my disposal and felt a sense of ease wash over me. Even without my Aether storm, I was calm and collected. This was the benefit of being fully prepared, no matter what this guy had to say, even if he suddenly revealed himself to be an imperial spy, I could react.
I sat back into the depths of Malik's sofa, one of two within his small and unimpressive office. I let my shoulders relax and conveyed my thoughts. One at a time. If I went too fast, he wouldn't fold the way I wanted him to.
"I consider myself to be a man of integrity as well Mr. Aubrey. It is only because I consider myself to be one that I sit before you today instead of overwriting your paper as an average Ul'dahn merchant would."
First I played on prejudice. Limsa Lominsa and Ul'dah, despite having a prior relationship due to their shared history in the Alliance for a decade or so, both city-states have gone through a different bout of leadership. The citizens of Limsa Lominsa had somewhat favorable views of Gridania at the moment, but only because they started beefing up their military, while Ul'dah, lead by a hornet's nest of occluded potato-sized bastards, refused to do anything that wasn't in their interest.
In short, Ul'dah wasn't playing ball. I could tell that my words hit a bit of a nerve, as Malik's dark eyebrow twitched slightly. No matter the era, everyone had a bit of patriotism in their hearts did they not? My country is better than yours because I understand it better. I needed to paint myself to be on his side. As an ally, there would be thoughts that he could share with me, that normally he wouldn't with another hostile force. Yes Malik, your country is so much better. It's so good in-fact, that you should sign the dotted line and really display your confidence for me.
"Should I be thanking you for behaving with basic decorum, Mr. Winter?"
"Of course not. All I've pointed out, is that our moral compasses align. Selling the Harbor Herald to me wouldn't be selling out on her readers. In fact, it's simply securing her future."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Wet behind the ears. I wouldn't dare try to use something so obvious on a seasoned veteran, but on this guy? I could feel his tone change a bit from his earlier stance of being ready to kick me out of the office. The wheels were greased properly, now I just needed to slowly move the cart on the tracks.
"I'm here to ensure the paper's future. As both of us know, times have become trying as of late. Pirates are swarming in their death throes, Primals once more walk the lands, the Empire has begun to stand upon their walls and despite all of these forces, the Harbor Herald continues to march on as if ominous winds do not yet blow."
Half of what I said was just vague bullshit, but when delivered with enough confidence, what choice did he have but to believe it? Eorzea didn't have internet. He couldn't do a quick Google search to see if the Empire indeed had stopped licking their wounds or if the Primals were actually walking around, rather than sleeping more often than not.
Information was power.
"Though the challenges to the star are great, I do not see how this at all relates to the security of our Harbor Herald."
I had a knock out blow that I could throw here, but I had to hold back. Patience was the key to a predictable victory. If I did this wrong, then I'd end up with him asking to be an editor-in-chief after I bought the paper, and he'd be privy to my schemes after knowing what I promised to put the paper in my hands.
"In such trying times, I expect the cost of the Herald's operations to escalate in a rather abrupt manner. And if the Empire indeed has not finished their conquest, then it only makes sense that in war-time, your paper will be pushed to a breaking point instantly. Not only would you need to protect from the material threats that target you and your reporters, but you also must protect from the financial threats that come along side an inflated war economy."
This was all just a bunch of fluff. Save up well in peace times and you will fear nothing in war times. Slim down your staff, secure a grant from your local government, the ways to save the paper on his own were endless, but here, in this Age of Calm, I didn't expect him to take any of them. No one believed that another Calamity could come. 6 elements thus 6 Calamities. Why would there be another?
"We are thankful for your concern, Mr. Winter, however this Harbor Herald has weathered harsher storms."
Unlikely. Very few have weathered the Primals and lived to tell the tale, let alone the Empire, that would've taken Eorzea entirely if not for the father of Dragons waking up, packing their bags, and sending them back home.
"Mr. Aubrey, if I may be frank, I do believe you have underestimated the dangers that your paper, your employees, and likewise you are exposed to."
"Me?"
"Yes. Your brother is Holin Aubrey, correct? I've heard whisperings that he planned to enter the Maelstrom and work hard for the sake of Limsa Lominsa's people."
"You can't - this isn't... How could you possibly know about my brother?!"
Malik stood up strongly from his chair with a dark look on his face. My words there were just a probe. I didn't know everything, but thanks to Y'shtola, who was partially responsible for the structuring of Limsa Lominsa's Maelstrom, I had access to their register. Such a strong reaction could mean either Malik cared strongly about his brother or he was worried about how someone he didn't know got information this under wraps.
Either way, it played into my hands.
"Mr. Aubrey, the Daemon Company is an organization that inquires and investigates truth. Naturally, we have our own information network that reaches far and wide. We are tied to no government nor larger organization. But that is besides the point."
A non sequitur. There was no reason to explain how my company was unbiased. But enough words overtook his inquiry into how I learned about his brother. What could he do? Verify my claims? Good luck buddy.
I could see Malik silently and carefully watching my moves with eyes filled with wariness. His posture was still tensed, as if ready to lunge at me. I hoped that the other newspapers would be this easy as well. A calm businessman was a dangerous one.
In response, I tilted my head and shifted my eyes as if trying to recall a memory, intentionally showing my thoughts. I stayed relaxed in the chair, I had to convey that I was at ease. And in truth, I was.
"Just like I know of your brother's intentions, I'm also aware that your family are being watched by some manner of Garlean entity. Unfortunately, I do not know which one. They are eyeing the truths that this paper reports on, and how best to sink your ship, for lack of a better saying. Your brother, as far as I know, seems to be a point of leverage that they do intend to use."
I could see the color drain from his tanned face. In the Age of Calm, many had begun to think that war was over. The tough times and the bad times. It was easy to forget the dangers that sat on the realm's doorstep at this very moment. Not only could there be no more Calamities, but register for danger had fallen so low that the Eorzean Alliance had slipped into complacency.
"..."
He had fallen silent. I didn't know how to interpret such a thing, so I continued with my babbling. Come on Winter! Bring it home!
I slightly spread my arms as I spoke, a slight amount of grandeur slipped into my voice. I intended to throw out my first attack here. If he fell over in one blow, then he was too fragile in the first place. If he could withstand this, then I would need to retreat and see about taking over Gridania's Raven before returning and pressuring a take-over with the excuse of public interest.
"I don't mean to be crass, but Mr. Aubrey, you are incapable of defending the Harbor Herald, or truth, as long as the Empire can target your and twist your arm into submission. Unlike the Daemon Company, you have no insulation nor foundations. Allow me to take the Harbor Herald. You claim to be a man of integrity do you not? You should know, in this very case, the proper and correct thing to do is hand the paper over to me. My Daemon Company can protect the people in this building and withstand any storm thrown our way. Not only that, but just like we knew of the threat approaching your paper and your brother, we would see any threats far faster than you ever could. In our hands, the Harbor Herald could last for all of this 6th Astral Era and not just until war comes and swallows Eorzea whole."
"N-None of that is for certain! How c-could you possibly know any of this to be true?!"
"Please, relax Mr. Aubrey. I do not blame you for doubting my words. However, I'd have you know that the fact of the matter is, I am aware of more than you are. Not only do you not know who I am or what my Daemon Company represents, but you also are unaware of my network or contacts. I share this information, not just in good faith, but also to prove to you that my Daemon Company is indeed as strong as I claim it to be."
I leaned forward, keeping eye contact with the wet behind the ears business owner.
"I'm not asking you to play blind faith here. Perhaps your brother wouldn't enter the Maelstrom. Perhaps the Empire would run all the way back to Ilsabard. And perhaps the moon would descend from the sky. However, despite all these hypotheticals, the fact remains that your paper is vulnerable. It's smart and just to move it out of such a precarious situation and into a position that's more favorable to the people who rely on this paper for truth. The Harbor Herald deserves to last through all of the ages. Not just this one."
Another couple lies slipped in. I didn't know what killed the Harbor Herald in between 1.0 and 2.0 of Final Fantasy XIV. Maybe the Moogles took over and became the new news agency. The Daemon Company also wasn't unbiased. All three papers had to be consumed to push forward my interests and move the realm with my own influence. The media was just a weapon for me to wield. I also couldn't protect the people in this building what-so-ever if the Garlean Empire reignited their war machine. As of right now, the Daemon Company was just a baby that hadn't gotten its first meal. But only by swallowing little fish, could we eventually grow to swallow big fish.
"I-..."
'Mhm, squirm then! What wins?! If you were really a moral person, you'd hand this paper to me for free you little bastard! Go ahead, try to twist my arm! I'm already losing 100k gil over this!'
It wasn't an exaggeration. My pockets were seriously running dry with all this rampant spending I've been doing, trying to set up my future finances. I needed immediate cash-flow and Sun Tap was only just getting started. I probably could get the Raven for free thanks to my intimate connection with Kan-E, but I'd love to grab the Harbor Herald right away if I could. Taking the Mythril Eye in Ul'dah would be hell without the other two papers to back me up.
I stood up and walked towards Malik, I was slightly shorter, but it didn't stop the young man from taking a step back. His eyes were shaking slightly and he didn't look to be standing straight. I leaned forward, putting my hands onto his desk. Predator and prey had been firmly established, and I didn't like to play with my food.
"Mr. Aubrey, do not consider this a hostile takeover. For the paper's sake and for Limsa Lominsa's sake, the Daemon Company is here to help. Entrust the Harbor Herald to us. Under our wing, I promise that this paper will forever stand as a beacon in the dark. The light that shines and brings truth to port and banishes lies and corruption into the depths of the sea."
I suddenly held out my hand after spouting a load of nonsense. Did what I say even make sense? Banish corruption? Who? Me? Wasn't this corruption right now?
After staring at my hand for what felt like hours, but probably translated into 20 seconds, the poor bastard shook my hand.
"I...You have a deal, Mr. Winter... I would like to leave my Harbor Herald in the hands of the Daemon Company."
I held myself back fiercely from making a sly quip or painting a nasty smirk on my face. I struggled to keep a poker face, but I could intentionally wear another expression instead. I smiled simply and replied.
"I thank you for your trust, Mr. Aubrey."