Exports from Starfort

Lox looked up from the newspaper he was reading upon hearing the door open. A man wearing a thin coat of dust had entered the building. A thought crossed his mind, but he still kept the smile on his face.


I'm going to have to sweep that up...

"Good day, Sir. My name is Lox. May I assist you with anything? Are you looking to purchase anything? I can direct you towards our store, which is just through that door behind me, and across the garden. If you're looking for a place to stay, we do have some rooms available."

He continued after a short pause,

"If you have some business with the master of this place, you will need to sign in. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance."

Lox nodded at the request and opened up the cabinet behind the desk, then paused.

"What sort of goods are being exported, Sir? Surely you understand that the business world is one of paperwork...and we have many different forms here. If you were to fill out the improper form...that could be quite bad for both of us."

It was at this moment that Mentus came in through the back door. He looked at the guest sideways for a moment, scratched his head with his tail, and then remarked,

"Ah! Yes! I remember you, small one (he said with no mistake of irony). You're the one who commands the giant scorpion."

He flew around Z a few times, rustling up his cloak, before sitting back on the desk and chewing on a pen he'd taken from the desk. Lox sighed and shook his head.

"My friend, why don't you help us out here. This man has come here to speak with your master. Will you summon him?"

"I suppose I can...he's out in the garden...but I'm sure I can get him."

"Good."
Lox returned his attention to his guest.

"Now, Mr..." he glanced down at the registry, "Carter, would you care for a drink while we wait?"

Lox muttered aloud as he thumbed through the forms,

"Let's see....for minerals and stones...and for the purpose of transcontinental trade...you would need--"

"Get him a TC-G13, Mister Lox...the grey one."

Zandrophin had walked in the back door whilst Lox was digging through the filing cabinet, wearing a greyish-green kimono, Rose following close behind him.

"Ah, Master Z. How are you today, Sir? I trust things go well for you. Strangely, I hear little about Starfort these days...is your new gym working out for you (no pun intended)?"

He walked over to the desk and Mentus poured two cups of tea, one for Zandrophin, and one, albeit much smaller, for himself. He then draped himself over Zandrophin's shoulders as the pair drank calmly.

"Now, if you'll just take this form and fill it out, we can get started."

He gestured towards specific places,

"Take care of these, and then we can discuss more concrete terms. Would you like to sit here or discuss this outside?"

Zandrophin gestured towards a set of chairs in the lobby as Z spoke. He sat and listened to what his town had to offer...now Zandrophin had to find out what he could provide in return.

"No doubt such items would sell rather well here. Resources are always needed, and a few shiny things keep the more opulent ones in line."

From the desk, Lox snickered slightly at the comment. Though naming no names...he knew that phrase was aimed at certain people.

"Now...we come to my end. What is it you are seeking to get out of this deal? If you're looking for something from the individual cities in Asemon, I'll need to do some digging. If you are looking for something more...exotic, I have access to resources from all over the world, I just need to know what I should reserve for you. Did you have anything in mind?"

Zandrophin studied the bits Z had laaid on the table. He picked up one of the Star pieces and tossed it to Lox.

"Check it."

After a short while, Lox replied,

"It's real, Sir. Not a bad specimen, either."

He threw it back at Zandrophin, who snatched it out of the air without looking at it.

"Thank you, Mister Lox."

He returned his attention to Z.

"You know it's dangerous to carry these things around, Master Z. Keep them close if you plan on returning with them. As for what you want in return, feel free to fill in any materials in the bottom section there. Money is easy to transport...but you must understand that you will have to take that up with the rulers of those areas. Pyron City isn't *technically* under my jurisdiction...but I do hold some sway here. I'd be more than willing to sell those items here, and you would get a cut of the profits as my supplier."

He continued,

"If you want foreign goods, I'm going to tell you now, as I do with all others, there is a service fee involved. The CTC, at its core, is still a business...and I have employees who would gladly *try* to skin me alive for not paying them. If that interests you, we can speak further on the subject."

Zandrophin nodded in consideration of the requested items.

"Perishable items require special care, Sir. The cost is hiked for such things. Mister Lox, check the current rates...taking transport from Pyron to Starfort into account."

"200 poke/ton for produce....500 poke/ton for seafood. Salt is still considered a commodity...so around 70 poke/ton."

"Thank you, Mister Lox."

Again, he returned his attention to Z,

"Now, of course...if you want to set up a long-term shipping and transport schedule, there is a discount for that...a steady customer rate, if you will. I've procured such a deal with many others who've come this way, and it is more enticing to those that wish to utilize my company's services for longer than one shipment."

Zandrophin clasped his hands together.

"Excellent. If you would just mark that section at the bottom there, detailing that this is to be a long-term accord, we can get that form finalized. Now, there is an upfront cost for this deal...as I have to contact my suppliers elsewhere and broker a deal with them, of 500 poke. Unfortunately, until that fee is paid, I cannot commence any sort of transport."

Once Z had marked the required section, Zandrophin signed his name at the bottom next to Z's.

"And with that, I do believe this deal has reached its endgame, unless there was more you wished to discuss?"