AQR1: A Peerless Genius from Two Cities [COMPLETED]

69: Plan of Action

Mabilis na kumilos sila Calix at ang mga tauhan niya matapos umalis ni Emy sa Purple Boutique.

Ilang araw lang, nabili na niyang lahat ng mga nanganganib ng magsara na mga businesses sa Grey City under Emy's name. Then she made sure the businesses would function gaya noong hindi pa nagtataas ang tax.

No repricing and no lowering of wages.

Other business people thought Emy is commiting a money suicide. She had too many businesses bought at pasara na ang mga iyon dahil sa economic crisis nila sa Grey. But she still working them like the usual.

Pero aminin man nila o hindi, it also affected their business. Lahat ng customers nila, nagsipuntahan na kanila Emy. And that starting to not look good on their part.

Emy, on the other hand, is still not yet satisfied. She's still seeing people on the street na sobrang hirap dahil sa tax. Hindi niya kailangang palimusan ang mga ito. What they need is to have jobs which don't make them feel the taxes that much. Kaya naman humingi na siya ng tulong mula sa mga kaibigan niya.

Alessandra immediately summoned the Black Council members at once.

***

"I can't believe my father is falling for this kind of scheme." Sabi ni Haow.

The five of them are already in the council room kahit na maaga pa at wala pang mga miyembro na dumarating.

Natahimik lang naman silang apat as it is so hard for them to comment. Lalo na at alam nilang lahat ang nangyayari sa loob ng palace.

"And even your high and mighty husband is just letting it to happen." Naniningkit ang mga mata ni Haow habang nakatingin kay Emy.

She just rolled her eyes at him.

"He's currently busy sa lahat ng mga bagay na pinagagawa ng Emperor sa kanya. If not, do you think ako ang naririto ngayon para gawin to?"

Natahimik si Haow. But he was still unconvinced.

Maya maya lang din ay nagsipagdatingan na ang mga miyembro nila.

Of course, they had no idea na ang pagpupulong pala na ito ay para sa Black Council. Hindi rin naman kasi sila sa headquarters nagpulong.

They held it in Lucy's residence since yung tatlo ay sa loob ng palasyo naninirahan.

It was Alessandra who began the meeting.

"We need your help, friends. Our Grey City will crumble if we are not going to do anything in this troubled times. We need more jobs for our people. Jobs where in they won't feel the tax increase at all."

Agad na nagbaba ang ilan sa kanila ng mga paningin nila.

"We heard about Milady's deed in the market. It was remarkable, of course. Pero not all of us can handle not to do something about our businesses dahil sa pagtaas ng tax. We also need to survive."

"Don't worry about your taxes. I'll handle all of it."

Collective gasps can be heard all over them. Natahimik sila and looked at Emy.

"This isn't just a simple matter. I know how it will affect my bank account. But one of us has to sacrifice or else, the Grey City we know won't be the same anymore months from now.

"And since I have the money, ako na ang aako ng pagsasakripisyo. I am willing to do as much for our people. All I am asking you is to lend me a hand to continue your businesses as before and give jobs to our people. They need them especially now.

"I swear, I will do everything to convince the Emperor to lower or remove the taxes. Pero habang ganito pa ang sitwasyon natin, aakuin kong lahat ang taxes niyo."

Yes, Emy is simply that rich.

Back when she visited the Royal City, isa sa inasikaso niya ang pagbebenta lahat ng ari-arian niya na naroroon. What else are the uses of those for her? Hindi niya na maaasikaso iyon dahil sa Grey City na siya nakatira.

From the businesses to the jewelries. She had them sold. At maswerte siya noong mga panahong iyon, she took advantage of an auction at talaga namang sobrang tataas ng value ng lahat ng mga iyon.

All because of the suggestion of a friend.

She was indeed lucky to know that person. His ideas are always on point.

Anyway, because of that, she literally had to split her money in three different banks in Grey. Lahat iyon ay si Atty. Park ang nag-asikaso.

Bukod pa doon may pera pa siya sa Ming Province mula sa kinita nila Liu Fu at Choi Kang mula sa Black Liquid. At ang nasa bangko niya dito sa Grey City mula sa Purple Boutique at sa iba pa niyang businesses as Samantha.

As for Shin, he's unaware of what she had done. Ang alam lang niya ay kinailangang ibenta ni Emy ang businesses ng mga magulang niya. He thought she badly needs money. Kaya naman lahat ng ginagastos ni Emy mula ng bumalik siya dito sa Grey ay padala ni Shin para sa kanya.

She was indeed rich as hell. Kulang pa ang isang lifetime para maubos niya lahat ng mga ito.

Kaya naman kahit akuin pa niya ang taxes ng mga tagaGrey City, okay lang. She's willing to sacrifice that much as she has means to do so.

***

After they did that meeting, inulan na ng mga job offers ang mga tagaGrey City.

To their surprised, even the Ming Province, Roseteria and Beikwong ay nagpadala ng sulat kay Emy, offering jobs to the Grey people.

The three sub-cities have also increased in taxes. But unlike in Grey, their national budget doesn't have to be divided into two. Kaya naman when they heard Emy needed help, they immediately heed her call.

For the Ming people, Emy is one of them. As for the Roseteria and Beikwong people, they owe her much from the last war.

Soon, Emy and her friends equally sent people in these sub-cities so they could have decent jobs. Yung mga pinili namang mag-stay sa Grey, they allocated them to those people who pledged their help.

***