500 million. That was a lot of money. It was kind of difficult to picture how much that kind of money was.
The average Arican lives on 50,000 a year. Of course that was the average. aning half of Aricans live below that. I personally was one of them for as long as I could rember. For my country n were expected to last 73 years.
Combining these two statistics paints a pretty ugly picture. That ant that on average, if a person started working at 18 till he retired at 65 that person would only earn $2,350,000 across 47 years. And that number was bullshit on itself.
No one started out earning 50,00 a year. For new graduates I didn't even know how long you would need to work to reach that. I an even when I died, I only had a salary of $35,000 so I was below the average. And that was not even taking into account inflation.
Frankly speaking the average Arica and the half below the average would forever be scraping by. Living paycheck to paycheck in the proverbial rat race. Still, that was still better. I an the average inco in Africa for a year was $1,500.
Compared to the rest of the world being poor in the USA was still leagues better. Still to suddenly be presented 500 million as my budget was pretty wild. If I dumped all this on food, how many could I feed? Wouldn't I be able to end world hunger on my own?
Yet I knew for a fact that dumping money would never solve world hunger. Simply because this was not the world of humans but that of Reapers.
'Exa, how much is the luxury yachts the rich and famous go.'
[The largest and most expensive luxury yacht is the Azzam, asuring 590 feet, featuring extravagant design and anities, including multiple decks, a cinema, and a spa. It is priced at $600 million.]
I gulped in surprise at the number. I get that it was a fucking mall on the sea, but just how many people could throw around $500 million? It was absolutely insane how large the gap between the rich and poor had gotten.
'Ugh, Exa. Can you compile a list of recomnded gear for $500 million? I want an AC130, B1 Lancer, Apaches, Warthogs, Abrams, Bradleys, Paladins, HiMARs, Javelins and everything else you can think of.'
$500 million might be impossible to spend for civilians. I an if you had that kind of money to spend everything would look fucking cheap. Buying yachts and islands would be of natural course. But to the military? That amount was a drop in the bucket.
[Before I make a quote, what would be the focus of our new equipnt? Most of Arica's armants are top of the line for modern warfare. An example is the B2 Spirit bomber. It has a price tag of $2 Billion, but it is designed for invisibility to radar and missiles.]
[Unless, we aim to assault human settlents such specifications are unneeded and are a waste of resources. Against undead or monsters even a B52 Stratofortress would be already enough to overwhelm them, and it would only cost $84 million per unit.]
'Hmm. I guess you are right. I would need to know what we would field and who would drive them. I guess if we got the older models, it would be easier to find drivers or pilots for them.'
[Indeed. And also rember that we have the capability to boost any of these devices with {Fates}. Should we be able to integrate them into {Autos} we wouldn't need maintenance or ammunition storages. Two of the biggest considerations when fielding such equipnt.]
That much was also true. Much like buying a car, the costs didn't just end with just the price of the vehicle. You needed insurance, gas and maintenance, at so point you would need to replace the wipers, wheels, lights and everything else.
Luckily, we do not have such problem. I was under the impression that the type M777's were part of the {Autos} of Bella's Wizards. The CAESARs, Mangustas, the Bradley and the Challengers should be with Bella herself.
I wasn't sure how much shit we could actually pack into our {Auto's}. I should confirm with Bella. The more the soulless increase it would be wise to separate them between different people.
"Okay, we have a deal. Want a Seeker vow on it?" I asked.
"No, you should know what the consequences of lying to are. And if anything, that is the one trait I admire about you. You do not lie. You are rude as fuck, but I would take that over those who say one thing and do another."
I really wanted to quip "You an like you?" to him, but I held my tongue. Nothing ca out of antagonizing people who could kick your ass to next Sunday. I actually thought that the reason the current state Arica had sothing to do with that.
These days saying "I am offended" was sohow a shield to be an ass. When I was young, you could say whatever you wanted so long as you could back them up. I believed Arica was fucked up was because not enough people got punched in the face.
People behaved and respected others when they felt fear. No one would say shit about pronouns to soone who had an axe or a gun. That shit only worked in the fucked-up countries of Arica and Europe. Everywhere else you would just get beaten.
Unaware of my inner monologue I replied to Zach, "Thanks, I will reach out to you once I have a list ready. How fast can I get them if ever I ordered them today?"
"We will salvage them from the those currently using them. My offer only goes to the unit itself. Munitions and maintenance as well as the crew are all your problem understand?"
"Yes, I don't mind. We will find a way. Ah I also wanted to give you a heads up. In between Africa and Antarctica, I intend to implent my Hell's Edens first Enlistnt. That fine?"
Zach looked at as he made yet another exaggerated sigh, "Fuck! You are really a war monger lunatic. Already? You haven't been there for a month! Would you even do as I say if I said you should wait a full year?"
"No."
"Haaa… fucking bastard. Well, I kind of guessed that. Well, how many do you intend to ask the other battlefronts? It's hard-to-find eligible candidates. And they kind of a hit or miss with what they send. No one sends their best to another battlefront's Enlistnt."
"I don't know about any of that. But I won't be asking anyone."
"Huh? Where are you going to get enough humans then?"
"I am going to ascend them myself."
"Oy! You are going to do what?!" Zach snarled.
"I will give them my blood and I will kill them myself."
"…"
Half expecting Zach to get angry or sothing I waited. But instead, he slumped even deeper into his seat and pulled out another cigarette. This bastard was going to die of lung cancer at the rate he was going.
'Oh wait, he is already dead. So, I guess it's fine?'
"Hmm. If you can, give a list of the people you ascend then. So long as you don't kill them in broad daylight it should be fine."
"And I should tell you why?" I asked in a sarcastic tone.
"We need to let IRIS know. Otherwise, they will assu all those people were killed by Trinity or Demons. Protecting humans is the domain of IRIS. They will take down your ass if you slaughter humans by the dozens."
Ho? So, what the tailor said back then was true? It made sense in a way. Given the large number of people who die every day it must be a headache to guard them all. I wouldn't be surprised if wayward Reapers killed humans for sport or play.
"This shop is affiliated with IRIS, esteed one. My father beca a wraith during the second world war. For those of us who are the weaknesses of reapers we are taken under protection and are given livelihoods to survive."
And once they know that a specific person joined the Reapers their humans were tracked. Then does that an that the Simmons family was also being protected by IRIS? I an Zach once used Aira to spy on , he even called my humans leashes.
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