Kelfin took Rist's hand in the quiet hum of the elevator as they ascended to the compacts, a sense of unease still lingering within him. He wouldn’t be able to calm down until he got the smell from the lab out of his nostrils. "Are you okay?" Rist inquired, turning a concerned gaze toward Kelfin. "You seemed like you were starting to calm down." "Just hiding it," Kelfin replied, his voice low. "It's difficult dealing with children, particularly when they're scared and confused." "It didn't look like it was bothering you." To Rist, it appeared as though Kelfin had effortlessly managed the situation. "I've gotten good at faking it," Kelfin confessed, looking away. "It was kind of you to try to help those children." "They're still grieving the loss of their parents. The transfer camp didn’t waste time sending them," Kelfin said, the weight of the children's situation heavy in his tone. “If you weren't lying, they're better off here than there," Rist claimed, searching Kelfin's face for the truth. Kelfin nodded with a grim acceptance. “True. And, no, I wasn’t lying maybe exaggerating a little. The company does take its responsibility to the children seriously. But it’s not a pleasant life. You work all day. There’s little time to play. You live in a dorm and share a room with twenty other kids. No school, no family. What kind of life is that? Rist's face fell into a frown. "You never went to school?" Kelfin shook his head, his eyes reflecting a past of missed opportunities. "No. I had a tutor once I went to live with the Mors. Until then, it was only the basics I needed to do the job." "School wasn't all that great anyway," Rist mused "And Cral and I had our hands full too. Both of my parents worked until my mom fell ill. Taking care of the household became our job. What about your time in Marstat? Didn’t you go to school?" Again, Kelfin's response was a shake of his head. “I had too many problems. It’s why I had a tutor later.” His response trailed off as the elevator came to a halt, the doors sliding open to reveal the compacts. Upon arriving at the compacts area, the atmosphere shifted noticeably from the strictly monitored sections of the facility. Here, the security checks seemed almost perfunctory. The guard stationed at the entrance barely gave their identification badges a cursory look before waving them through. It was clear that the threat of corporate espionage was deemed far lower in this division. Compacts was the division responsible for producing the myriad of small, intricate components essential to countless products across various industries. Expertise in delicate, miniature work was the hallmark of this division. Any part that required the delicate touch of nimble fingers or the maneuverability of a smaller frame to assemble was likely crafted within these walls. As they walked through the facility, a pervading sense of monotony and despondency clung to the air, almost tangible. Those who had endured the tedium and confinement of their roles could be seen wearing an unmistakable veil of hopelessness. It was becoming increasingly clear to them that their current position was a labyrinth with no exit, a career path choked off before it could truly begin. Kelfin's presence, a high-ranking official, was unusual in such a bleak environment, and he sensed the desolation that stifled the spirits of these young workers. He made his way over to one of the foremen, initiating the exchange with a standard greeting. "Good morning." Noso, spun around, a startled look plastered across his face that quickly morphed into a strained semblance of welcome. "Kelfin, sir, it's good to see you." But to Kelfin, 'good' did not seem the right adjective to capture the foreman's state of mind. Noso's reaction betrayed a concoction of apprehensive and flustered. It appeared the man had grown accustomed to a certain independence, a lack of oversight that Kelfin's unexpected visit had abruptly disrupted. “How's everything been progressing?" Kelfin inquired of the foreman. "We’ve had more productive groups, but they haven’t fallen behind much. The new group is helping. Once the latest group gets out of testing, we should get caught up," Noso assured him. Kelfin's expression shifted to one of concern. “How much are you working on?” “No more than usual,” Noso replied, attempting to alleviate Kelfin's concerns. "Show me the current list of orders?" Kelfin asked, eager to get a clearer picture. “Problems?” Rist asked as the manager left. “They’re behind. With the number of kids we have, they shouldn’t be. We try not to overwork the kids,” Kelfin explained. The foreman returned with the order list. Kelfin looked it over. The list varied each month, but he’d seen it enough to know if there was anything unusual. "Everything seems to be in order as you said. So, what's the reason for the delay?" Kelfin asked as he looked up from the report. Noso could only offer a passive response: "It appears the newer kids just aren't as motivated or diligent as in the past." “When was the last time they went to the call center or out to a farm to help?” Kelfin pursued. "We haven't visited a farm in years, and the last time anyone was at the call center was before you left," the foreman recalled. “And when are you scheduled to go?” Kelfin pressed. Noso sighed, "There aren't any plans. We’re behind.” “Allowing the children to assist in other departments helps them to realize there's much more to life at Mor's Industries than just this," Rist explained. "And giving them a change of pace helps to refresh their spirits, which leads to increased productivity." Kelfin responded with an approving nod, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Who are you?" Noso asked, his gaze fixed on her improvised badge. "This is my new assistant, Rist. And she’s right," Kelfin stated confidently. "That is precisely why I started the cross-departmental training program, and why Mr. Mor himself endorsed it. Now, I want them in the call center within a month. And production had better go up once the newest group is out of testing and training." Noso nodded. "Shor, Kessa, or I will conduct random inspections to ensure adherence to all protocols. Where is Akku?" "She's currently in a meeting with the other industry leaders," replied Noso. "I want to speak to her. If she’s not done by lunch, arrange for her to meet with me first thing tomorrow morning, no excuses. Now, would you mind showing me where the new group is stationed?" “Let me show you.” He led the way to a group of kids assembling tablet connections for autos. It was something that couldn’t be done with a machine. The kids worked quietly. They hadn’t yet built up a sense of comradery. They were still working through the shock of being transferred some were grieving. Most were orphans. Some had parents Who couldn’t care for them. A few were from the lottery. Noso surveyed the scene, gave a brief nod of approval, and moved on to oversee other groups of children. Across the conglomerates, a similar model was being replicated. At the Marstat camp, designated representatives worked to expedite the integration process for these young workers, ensuring they could bypass the typical sponsorship system and receive direct placement into roles that would aid both their personal development and the company’s productivity. “How is everything going?" Kelfin asked as he observed the children's anxious looks. They glanced at each other nervously and merely shrugged in response. "Is everything going well? Do you need anything?" Kelfin pressed further, aware that many employees were often nervous when speaking to him due to his senior position. There were more furtive glances exchanged among the group. One child's eyes darted around the room, while another firmly shook his head, signaling that all was not well. "Who told you not to talk?" inquired Rist, picking up on the odd atmosphere. Kelfin's frown deepened at the suggestion that the children had been forbidden from speaking. Scanning the room, he could see that most of them were unusually quiet, heightening his concern. One of the boys stole a glimpse at the foreman, prompting Kelfin to pose a conjecture. "Was it Noso who told you not to talk?" he asked. The boy responded with a shake of his head, denying that it had been Noso. "Was it Akku, then?" Kelfin pressed. The boy shrugged, his actions noncommittal and telling in their vagueness. The group grew more nervous the more he pushed. "Her?" Rist interjected, showing the boy a picture of Akku on her tablet, which she had brought up from the company directory. The boy hesitated, darting a look at his peers. One of the girls offered a subtle shake of her head. "I'm Akku's boss," Kelfin reassured them with authoritative firmness. "She answers to me, and I have the power to override her instructions. Did she instruct you not to talk?" The boy's nod was so slight it was almost missed, but it was enough. The other children's faces turned into frowns, betraying a mixture of fear and dismay. “Not allowing employees to talk is against company policy. It’s unproductive and dangerous. I’ll make sure she changes the rule or she’ll be fired. Then we can see if there are other problems,” Kelfin declared. Turning to Noso, he gave a final directive before exiting the room with Rist. "Noso, I have seen enough today. Please remind Akku that I expect to see her in my office.” With that, he led Rist out of the room. “Let's head back to your office for a cup of tea," Rist suggested, her voice calm and reassuring. "Satil sent over some sedatives in case you need one to help you relax." Kelfin shook his head resolutely as they walked. "I'd rather not take anything," he replied. "That's perfectly fine," Rist reassured him with a gentle smile. "He said to leave it up to you to decide when you need them." "Thanks," Kelfin replied, grateful for the understanding. Rist reached out and took his hand comfortingly, squeezing gently. He looked down at their intertwined fingers and allowed himself a small, appreciative smile. These little acts of kindness helped more than any sedative could. “Why don't you lay down on the couch while I prepare the tea?” she offered her voice still gentle yet laced with a hint of authority that suggested it wasn't merely a suggestion. "I don't need to sleep," Kelfin insisted unsure if she was trying to coax him into relaxing or if she genuinely thought he needed rest. Rist chuckled softly. "I didn't say sleep, did I? Just lay down and relax. It won't be much of a nap if you only sleep until the tea is ready." Her eyes gleamed with a mix of humor and concern. Kelfin pondered her words and realized she had a point. He gave a resigned yet faintly amused nod. Unless, of course, she wasn't planning on waking him once the tea was ready. But he decided to trust her and complied, laying himself down on the soft cushions of the couch in his office. The tension began to ebb from his muscles. “Thanks for the help with the kids. You’re pretty good with them,” Kelfin called from his office. “You seemed like you needed it,” she replied while busily making the tea. Kelfin couldn't help but ask, “How did you know someone had told them not to talk?” Rist paused for a moment, considering her response. “Well, they were too quiet. No group of children that size would sit so quietly on their own, no matter what they were working on. Someone had told them not to talk, and it seemed like somebody was enforcing that rule. And with them being behind, I’d make sure they got their break times too.” Kelfin nodded thoughtfully, taking in Rist's observation. “I’ll look into it. I'll carefully examine the orders they’re filling. With that many kids working they shouldn’t have gotten behind." Rist gave a knowing nod, her expression serious. “That's a good idea, but it makes me wonder, what else would they be doing instead? There must be something more to it than just the orders.” Kelfin shrugged, his brows furrowing with uncertainty. "I don't know. I'll talk with Shor," he replied, contemplating the best course of action for the matter at hand. Rist, sensing his hesitation, offered her assistance. "Do you want me to handle it for you?" Kelfin shook his head in disagreement. "Not for this. Besides, Shor will be occupied with the acquisition of Sola Foods for a while. I'll look into it myself," He sat up as Rist approached with a warm cup of tea. "Thanks," he said with a grateful smile. "You're quite welcome. Please let me know what else I can do for you. If I'm going to be sitting here all day, I want to stay productive," she offered earnestly. Kelfin nodded appreciatively. "I'll give you more tasks to work on. But this particular matter is something I need to handle personally," he confirmed, acknowledging Rist's commitment and assuring her that he valued her assistance. Kelfin did give her things to do. And he took breaks when Rist suggested it. She seemed to be able to gauge when he needed a rest. On the way out, they traded the visitor’s badge for Rist’s personalized one. Kelfin insisted on supervising the destruction of the visitor’s badge. As Kelfin and Rist exited the building, they were greeted by Dath, who had been patiently waiting at the door for their return. ** Marstat, as the capital and the sole location of the starport, experienced an unprecedented surge in population growth, far exceeding that of other cities. This rapid expansion had widespread repercussions across all cities, as governments grappled with maintaining control and the economy teetered on the brink of collapse. Consequently, conflicts and wars erupted, leading to the merging of companies and the emergence of massive conglomerates with diversified interests spanning various industries. Seeking stability, these conglomerates bolstered the government, ostensibly operating under its authority. However, in reality, the balance of power often tilted in favor of the conglomerates. Rival conglomerates acted as a crucial check on each other to ensure transparency and integrity. The population surged once more, driven by a significant influx of unemployed soldiers and displaced workers. While welfare camps were initially established, the gradual emergence of job opportunities in other cities led to their transformation into transfer camps. Unemployed individuals were then relocated to other cities in pursuit of employment. However, as job openings filled up and individuals continued to remain unemployed, intake camps were established to accommodate those in search of employment. As debtors defaulted on their obligations, creditors sought to offload debts to individuals in need of labor. These transferees worked tirelessly to clear their debts, with their earnings allocated exclusively towards this end, except for their basic living expenses. Some unscrupulous employers took advantage of this situation by offering meager wages and implementing practices that increased the debt burden, such as exorbitant rent charges and requiring workers to purchase their own job-related equipment. In response, the government intervened, imposing limits on the fees that could be levied and the extent to which debtors could be obligated to work. The establishment of Debtors Relocation Services aimed to oversee and streamline these operations. Additionally, strict regulations were implemented, capping the duration of mandatory work to repay debts and specifying the types of tasks that could be assigned. While instances of abuse persisted, the regulations curbed the severity of the previous exploitation. ** Kelfin gave a history lesson to Rist as they waited patiently for Froll, Kelfin’s accountant and financial advisor, to organize Rist’s assortment of documentation. That he’d printed it out on paper which had to be imported from one of the far-off cities was a testament to how bad the records had been. Eventually, Froll's assiduous gaze lifted from the mounds of paperwork. He sighed, rubbed his tired eyes, and finally announced his findings. "Yes," he started, "the records indicate glaring irregularities in the handling of her debts. Her history file seems to be in complete disarray. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be tampered with. Dath is currently investigating it." With a frown knitting his eyebrows, Froll proceeded to dissect the complex matter of the debt. "The original debt amount she owed was significantly less than what you paid to clear it off,” he said. “The hospital collections department, following its standard practices, forwarded it to Tre's Conglomeration’s debt collection which imposed an additional handling fee before passing it on to the Debtors Relocation Services. The sum you paid included this additional fee and also an extra margin, required for the expedited processing of the debt.” Froll took a deep breath before continuing, “Ara’s Corp. tried to add for lost revenue since she left without notice. Subsequently, the transport company tacked on their own charges, including those covering transportation expenses, charges which were already embedded in Tre's handling fee. They also included additional fees for the food you consumed on the ship." At this point, Rist interrupted in disbelief, "They didn’t feed us on the ship." Froll tilted his head in agreement, saying, “They added exorbitant costs for the drugs they administered to suppress your appetite and keep you docile. Hidden among these charges was a so-called ‘processing fee’, which I assume was a veiled bribe they gave to the intake clerk to corroborate their story about the drugs. “The updated debt report arrived after you picked her up early. Insisting on the early pickup saved you from paying a larger amount. Mus from Mor’s legal department confirmed the binding contract you signed. Mor will support you if anyone challenges it. Most added charges are illegal or exceed the allowed amount. Everyone except the hospital will face charges.” Rist, concerned about Kelfin's involvement asked, “What about Kelfin? Since he pushed to rush the processing, will he face repercussions?” Froll countered, “No, given the processing shouldn’t take more than a few minutes and the extended time was clearly to get the drugs from your system." Kelfin, apprehensive about his prior actions, then posed a question. “What if he brings up the fact that I threatened to cancel our standing order?” “According to Mus, Mor's has already started making arrangements to bypass the intake. The lawyers will just claim he misunderstood. Perplexed, Rist inquired, "What standing order are you referring to?" “The kids for the compacts. We have an arrangement to sponsor them as soon as they come to the transfer camps so they don’t spend time in the intake camp. They send them quarterly, or any time there are enough to warrant a trip. They work until they age out,” Kelfin explained. “That’s why I was at the camp when I found Dath. I don’t normally go anywhere near there but our usual guy couldn’t make it. Since Mor’s acquired Transway Air, we’ve been discussing transporting them ourselves. Working out the logistics is taking time.” Exuding a calming reassurance, Froll looked directly at Kelfin and said, “There is no reason to worry. Everything is under control." He turned to Rist. "This took longer than expected so I haven’t finished my recommendations for investments for you. Without any other income, based on what Kelly is paying you, you should pay off your debt in about three to four years." A disgruntled expression quickly dashed across Kelfin's face, “Four years?" Lessening his concerns, Froll quickly added, "That would be the upper limit, Kelfin. once we’ve got the investments going, we should get the projected time down to close to two years.” Slightly relieved, Kelfin nodded. “That sounds considerably better. Is there anything else I should be aware of at this point?" Familiar with Kelfin's need for comprehensive information, Froll replied confidently, "If anything else arises, I’ll let you know," “Do you think we can afford to put a pool downstairs?” Kelfin ventured. "You mean one of those portable, inflatable ones designed for children?" Froll interjected, struggling to suppress a smirk. "If you're thinking of one similar to what we have outside, I would have to say no. Installing such a large pool downstairs would necessitate extensive renovations to the basement. And I have a nagging suspicion that you wouldn't enjoy having to deal with a horde of construction workers traipsing through our home on a daily basis. However, I could have a word with Hurmis about the possibility of enclosing the existing pool so you can use it all year round." After pondering over Froll's proposition, Kelfin responded with a nod of agreement, "That might be a suitable solution." Froll then glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and abruptly shifted the conversation, "Well, that's all the time we have for today." Upon hearing this, Kelfin couldn't help but furrow his brows in confusion. "I don't recall having any other appointments scheduled for today. Satil ensured that I had the day free." Froll shot Kelfin a knowing look. "Indeed, you do have another appointment. With the couch. Kelly, go lay down and rest." Taken aback, Kelfin rolled his eyes in disbelief, "That's unnecessary. I'm perfectly fine." Rist chimed in with a comforting smile, “Come on, Kelfin. I'll accompany you. Maybe we can watch a movie to unwind.” With a heavy sigh, Kelfin reluctantly followed Rist out of the room. He closed the door behind him so he never saw Froll’s eyebrows raise and Froll was too good at controlling his emotions that he never felt anything either.