I woke up early in the morning while the sun was still hidden behind the tall buildings of Awiebo. The house was quiet, filled only with the soft, steady breathing of Doah and Tersa.
I sat in my new "workshop" corner, staring at the girls. My mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan.
How do I train them? I wondered. Tersa is a Sword Goddess, and Doah has the power of Life and Death. Should I focus on combat and martial arts? Or should I use my Academic Genius to teach them the theory and science of their powers first? It was a difficult puzzle. If I pushed them too hard into fighting, I might trigger Tersa's curse. If I did nothing, they would remain weak and vulnerable. I couldn't find the perfect solution yet, so I decided to let them sleep and clear my head.
The First Trip to the Bank
I checked my pockets. I had the 300 creds the Boss gave me as my pay and tip yesterday. I left it all on the table next to the laptop for the girls to find when they woke up.
"This should keep them safe and fed for today," I whispered.
I grabbed my digital token—the one worth 10,000 creds—and headed out. My first stop was a nearby financial center. It was a sleek, glass building that made me feel out of place in my dusty clothes, but I walked in with my head held high.
"Welcome," a robot at the door chirped. "How can we assist you today?"
"I need to withdraw a digital token," I said clearly. "And I want to open a private bank account for a new business."
The clerk behind the counter, a woman with sharp glasses, looked at me with a bit of doubt. "A business account? You look a bit young, young man. Do you have the proper identification or a guardian?"
I didn't flinch. I knew that in Awiebo, money spoke louder than age. I slid the 10,000 cred token across the counter.
Her eyes widened as she scanned it. "Ten thousand... all at once?" Her tone changed instantly. She sat up straighter and gave me a polite smile. "Of course. Please follow me to the private room. We can discuss your account and your future business needs there."
As I followed her, I felt the UIA hum in my mind.
UIA: Master, your status as a 'Minor' can be bypassed by registering the business as a 'Research and Development' entity. I can generate the necessary digital paperwork in three seconds.
"Do it," I thought.
By the time I sat down in the plush chair of the private office, I wasn't just a runaway boy anymore. I was the CEO of a ghost company, with ten thousand creds and a mind that could outrun any genius in the city.
The lady at the bank looked at the digital files I presented. Her eyes moved quickly across the screen, her expression turning from doubt to genuine surprise.
"So, this is the name of the company and its documents," I said, my voice calm and steady. "I call it SIGLAV CORP. Its purpose is research and development. There will be many branches later on, but this is the foundation for now."
I leaned forward slightly, looking her in the eye. "As you can see, the documents are all here, but it hasn't been registered under the Company Act yet. It is newly established by me. I am looking for a bank that can handle the initial setup and help me navigate the registration process."
The clerk adjusted her glasses. Usually, a fifteen-year-old boy wouldn't be taken seriously, but the way I spoke was different. Thanks to my Academic Genius and the UIA, I wasn't using the words of a child. I was using the language of a professional.
"SIGLAV CORP..." she whispered, typing into her terminal. "Research and Development. It's a very broad field, Mr. Venan. But with 10,000 creds as a starting deposit, we can certainly expedite your 'Young Entrepreneur' status."
She looked up at me with a new kind of respect. "Most people your age are worried about school exams. You are starting a corporation. I can help you with the temporary registration and the tax papers. It will take about an hour to finalize the account."
"I have the time," I replied. "I want everything to be legal. I don't want any trouble with the national authorities later on."
UIA: Master, I am currently encrypting your personal data within the bank's server. To the world, SIGLAV CORP will look like a private venture funded by an anonymous source. Your age will be hidden behind a 'Security Clearance' layer.
"Good job, UIA," I thought.
While the clerk worked on the papers, I sat back in the comfortable chair. I felt a deep sense of relief. With a bank account and a registered company, I could now accept much larger payments for my work. I could buy better equipment, and most importantly, I could start looking for a real home for Doah and Tersa—one with thick walls and a strong door.
"Here you are, Mr. Venan," the clerk said, handing me a sleek, black metallic card. "Your account is active. Your 10,000 creds are secured, and SIGLAV CORP is now a registered entity in our system."
I took the card. It felt heavy in my hand. "Thank you. You've been very helpful."
I walked out of the bank and into the bright morning sun. I was no longer just Sadd the Anomaly. I was the founder of SIGLAV. Now, it was time to go back to the tech shop and turn my old Boss into my first business partner.