Let's open up a bar?

"What and why a bar?" A dumbfounded face is plastered on Adam's face as such a left field topic just shut down his brain for a second.

"Simple. A bar is where people congregate and talk, with the aid of alcoholic substances, the tongue rolls easier. And the only way to deal damage to Horatio Howell, is to damage his foundations, the overworld Howell Company, and the underworld Howell Family."

Both Adam and Old Jack sip their coffee. One is mulling over the information while the other just wanted to wet his tongue.

"There's 2 ways you can do this. Open up a legitimate company, and be as big as Howell Company, swallow up their businesses and run them to the ground. Howell Company provides a substancial financial aid to Howell Family, with the company bankrupt, Horatio would have lost one of his arm. And without that massive funding, the Family would have no money to keep running."

"True, but that would take, how many years? And would he still be alive to see that day? So, the remaining option is..."

"Establish your own underworld organization, disregard all laws and kill them to the last man. Fight fire with fire. Beat them at their own game. That sort of stuff."

"I don't know about this. I don't think I'm suited to this kind of work."

"There's basically no difference in you managing your logistics company to managing a bar. Only on a little scale and your EQ has got to be high. That's it."

"Not that, the criminal organization part. I'm not sure if I can even manage that. I mean, I never pick fights with other people, I'm not tough, I may have a hot blood but I'm a coward at heart. And I'm most definitely not a criminal."

Old Jack looks at Adam sideways. "Adam, for every organization, there's rules and regulations. And an underworld organization is no stranger to that. In fact, they live and die by it. They adhere to, the Code. And every underworld organization has their own Code. When you manage to establish your own organization, be it the size of a gang, company, or Family, you can make your own Code. And not every underworld organizations are filled with criminals. Well, not the heavy crime criminals. Just normal people that have a step outside of the laws, such as shoplifting, jaywalking, cyber hacking, tresspassing, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, looking at people the wrong way and many more. Now do you understand Adam?"

"... I have several questions, but I mostly understand. So even if I do intend to make it, I can set up my own Code and restrict the recruitment. That could at least ensure what kind of company I would associate myself with. But then comes another issue. Where can I find the people?"

"It all comes full circle, Adam. The bar. People mingle at the bar, all kind of people. For someone that managed to create a fairly successful company, you're pretty slow right now."

Adam held a hand to his head and sigh. "Probably the injury did manage to do something to my head. I can't think properly nowadays."

"I did the scans and read the readings, your brain is mostly untouched, there are no abnormalities in your biological functions. It's probably psychological. You did survive a headshot. Your body is probably still adjusting."

"Okay, back to the bar. Say I agree and open up a bar. How and where do I get the funds and where would I even open up a bar?"

"That's all taken care off. I got a friend that gave me the deeds of an old shop at the edge of Old Keer City. He struck gold on some stocks and went to retire on some tropical beach. A few renovations here and there and you could set up a bar. Funds? I still got some leftovers from my old workplace."

"That seem awfully convenient. Old Jack, why are you helping me this much?"

Old Jack look at Adam and smugly grin. "Bah what do you know? I've been planning this for a long time! My body is too tired to manage a bar and a clinic. You just came at the right time!"

"Well, thanks Old Jack. I sure am lucky to have been saved by you." Adam drank the rest of the tea and stood up. "Let's go check the place?"

"Well well well.. You seem pretty eager. Let's go." Without finishing his tea, Old Jack picked up some keys from the drawers and they both walked out together.

The slums at night aren't that busy. It was quiet and there's few people passing by. People that worked all day is too tired and too poor to enjoy some nightlife. While people that worked at night has already left for work sometime ago.

You can easily figure out when you're out of the slums. The air started to get fresher, the atmosphere started to get lighter, the traffic started to get heavier and the night isn't as quiet since people are walking around trying to find some place to hangout. And the security is a lot better.

Few people would care to look at Adam's face since body modifications via cybernetics is becoming more popular. While most that have cybernetics replacement were because of injuries, some would have it as a fashion statement, a trend. Cybernetics implant that lets you change the colors of your eyes, hair implats that can be programmed to change the texture and the length of your hair, cybernetic foot for people that have smelly foot problems, basically almost anything you can think of.

The old shop Old Jack talked about was right at the edge of Old Keer City, where a mix of people would pass by. It was a 2 storey shop in the middle of a block. The neighboring shops looked decent and maintained despite the old age of the whole block itself. Near the block is a small park with a small lake and a bunch of trees lined up near the park path itself. The block itself is situated between the residential district and the office district, so a stream of customers would be guaranteed. All in all, it was definitely not a bad place to open up a bar.

"Well Adam, what do you think? Not a bad place right?" Old Jack is grinning while leisurely walking towards the park.

Adam is observing the environment still and had to agree. "Yes, it's definitely not a bad place."

Adam stopped and looked the shop from afar. "Guess I'm gonna open up a bar."