Hikaru smiled at the question, it was one he had heard many times since the clan formed the corporation and and purchased several small companies.

"Well, that was a two step process. First the clan made the decision to expand our business ventures into something much larger, and something that more of the clan would be involved in.

The first part was arranging for the financials. A clan being over 200 years old means we've had quite a few long term investments. Though most of those were just turned over into new investments. So we have always had a sizable cash reserve at the clan's disposal. Then every one of the families bought into the corporation by donating a large portion of each families savings.

After that it was a matter of selecting companies. Emrys Industries just like Geshrinari Shipyards had both been in serious decline. We realized that with an influx of revenue and revitalizing the product lines they could reach new heights. Most of Emrys' divisions had no significant sales in years, only their pharmaceuticals were keeping them solvent.

So we contacted the owner and made him a very lucrative offer and bought him out. As for the shipyards, we purchased all the stock that was available. It was rather devalued so it was not hard to acquire.

Since acquiring them we started evaluating the current products, determined what had potential and what should be discontinued. Also for the present we kept all the current infrastructure for them."

He stopped for a moment, pulled out his datapad and tapped a few buttons.

"So far the acquisitions have been doing well, we recently acquired a contract to build a new class of ship for the Star Army of Yamatai, which should help fund other efforts."

Sunlight flickered on by inside the car as the hovercade made their way into the forest surrounding Prime City. Occasionally a logging truck and a car or two would go by, but for the most part, traffic was minor. It seemed that nature, was thick in the area they were traveling to. The scenery, was not magnificent, but the large, ancient trees were eye-catchers for those paying attention. It was certainly a change from the industrious livelihood of the city they had just left, and much so from aerospace society.

"Amazing!" said Pyros, hunching back over onto his cane to get a little more into it. "Using the unity of a family and their assets to put the name up into a corporation. Does this mean that everyone in the Tamahagane Clan is a stockholder? Or do you hold the majority of the assets?"

Hikaru smiled, "Actually every member of the clan is a stockholder. Every clan member received shares first because they were members of the clan. Everyone received an equal base number. Then they received addition shares commensurate with how much they were able to personally contribute.

I am the largest individual share holder, but by a negligible amount. Although as the Clan Leader I have a 5% share of stocks that I have proxy privileges for, but I can only use them in certain cases, such as if a vote is being called and there is not at least a 1% margin of consensus, I may vote with the proxy. So far I have not needed to, and I honestly do not expect to have to very often; if at all. Those stocks though do not belong to me, whenever I decide to step down as Clan Leader and CEO or should I die. They will automatically be given to my successor."

The car slowed to a stop on the road, as the car ahead of turned into a gatehouse that led down what looked like a private road deeper into the woods. Pyros looked over his shoulder to see where they were, and then looked back forward at Hikaru. The lead car in the hovercade moved forward, and their car stopped at the gatehouse, the driver and guard exchanged a few words, before showing his I.D. to him.

"That must make you awfully important, then." said Pyros, resting back in his seat. "Does that mean you've got to go through something like this every time you go home?" He thumbed off to the guard, as the hover-limo pushed on down the road, catching up with the other car ahead. "Security at the road, security at the gate, security in the house, security in the trunk of the car, security in the bathroom. The moment you win one of these elections are make it to the top, you suddenly lose all your privacy."

Hikaru could empathize with Pyros, "Not to such extremes. After all I am only the leader of a Corporation. Not the leader of a government. My security mainly gets involved when I leave Kyousou. When in our home town my security tends to be one Samurai who travels with me. Although I am sure there are others nearby, but they do not make their presence know. Within the walls of the house there is only the immediate family, a few family retainers. Security monitors the exterior.

Given the unfortunate incidents back at the Senate, I can see though why your people are in a heightened sense of protection. Hopefully with time, they will draw back to a more tolerable level.

How goes the moving of the government and building up this world?"

The hover car passed a small barracks on the road leading towards the mansion. A few ID-SOLs and two nepleslians were next to the front door, playing cards as they went by. The soldiers looked up at the limos as they went by, and subsequently dropped their cards and filed into the barracks. A few hundred yards up the road, was the mansion itself, surrounded by a tall, concrete wall with a set of guards posted at the main gate. The Star of Nepleslia was emblazoned in bronze on the front door, reflected the glory of the mid-day sun, as a single, well-dressed butler polished it's edges.

"The city itself has been booming ever since the Alliance cleaned the place out. But! Ever since we moved the capitol here, we've seen a boom in numbers." noted Pyros, before the limo slowed to a stop at the roundabout in front of the gate. One of the guards shuffled up to the door to let the group out, but the Premier was one step ahead, opening one side of the car. He got out on Otome's side, allowing her to step out first.

"They're still working out the kinks in the senatorial chambers, and the other political offices. So, for now, we handle senatorial meetings at army bases, and occasionally my place." noted the man, before looking at the solid gates, which blocked sight of the actual home, but offered eye-candy enough with their ornate design. "At any rate, we're here! We'll go straight to dining room after this, and discuss business over lunch."

Otome got out of the vehicle turned to Pyros, "Thank you Premier. I was wondering Premier do you have a wife?"

"I can well imagine the problems, we're still working out the logistics of meetings within our various holdings. So I can well imagine the issues logistically, and security wise trying to conduct Senate business in a safe and secure fashion." Hikaru replied.

Pyros gave a gentle smile to Otome at that question, his hands wrapped around his cane, and he settled himself on it until Hikaru stepped out of the car. The old soldier of politician brought a knuckle to his lip, thinking about how he should respond to that.

"I did, once." was all he could come up with as an answer.

The gates opened at that, and out came an immaculately, tall and muscle-bound, yet well-dressed butler, with cropped hair and a well-maintained, curly mustache. It was easy to tell that this man was all for his job, as he quickly approached the couple. The green-suited butler strode over the paved entrance way with a suited grace before stopping in front of the three. With a graceful bow, he introduced himself.

"Welcome, to the Westwood Manor! Home of Premier Westwood, his blood, his friends, and all of his guests! My name is Sherman Evergreen." He shifted his mustache side to side with that, and stood back up, straight as a ruler. "I am the Head Butler of this manor. I do hope your ride was comfortable and smooth, and I doubly hope you brought your appetites. The Chefs are almost done preparing a meal of steaks, potatoes, beans, and various sides. Now, before we enter, I am required to inform you--..."

"Skip the cautionary bits, Sherman." waved Pyros, walking past the man. This left the butler a little breathless, somewhat leaving his duty as a butler as half done.

"Ah, well... Then in we go!" picked up Sherman beckoning the Tamahaganes to follow him into the front gardens of the manse. The gardens were lush and green, but nothing to high as to obstruct the view of the solidly built manor. Boxwood bushes lined the pathways, which encircled the central area where a fountain or statue would normally be. Instead, there was a hi-powered anti-aircraft weapon, pointed high into the sky, being polished by a maid in a dark green maid's outfit. She was struggling with reaching a certain part of the machine, as was bent over one of the seats. This gave a nice, full view of her athletically toned thighs, but more important, a Styrling Silver Special holstered to that thigh as well.

One thing to notice of the grounds was that every singly member of the house staff seemed not only well-fit, but also armed. Butlers seemed to carry around .45 Zen Arms, and the maids were strapped with Styrling Silver Specials, it was a well-guarded place.

Though, even more guarded was the mansion itself. It seemed to resemble a bunker that was done up for high-class living. It had a splash of traditional style in window shutters, and earthy designs etched in on the doorway and capitals above the windows. Pyros lived much like a Nepleslian would want, how exactly he wanted it.

"I wouldn't mind seeing what your home is like, one day, Hikaru. Maybe see what your house staff is packing." chuckled Pyros, tacking his cane all the way to the front door.

Otome was uncertain how to respond to Pyros' statement about having had a wife. She choose to stay silent and let the men speak.

Hikaru took note of the Nepleslian staff, and the obvious presence of weaponry. The Nepleslian people do like their display of weapons, the simple straight forward manner of letting people know they are armed. Of course I have to wonder what weapons are not so visible. After all how better to distract people by having plenty of weapons in plain site. he thought.

Hikaru followed in Pyros' wake, the man had a penchant for frustrating his staff. "The invitation is always open Premier, so what percentage of your staff are still active duty." he said with a chuckle.

"Percentage? Zero, if that surprises you." noted Pyros, stepping up to the door with Sherman flanking his right. It was notable that Mr. Evergreen was much taller and muscular in comparison to Pyros, though he seemed to have a smaller presence than the man. The butler reached for the door to open it for the Premier, and got his hand slapped by the man. "I got it, no need to go doin' everything for me, Sherman."

Sherman wiggled his mustache at that.

"Sherman here is a faithful fellow that's been in my service since I was serving as Master General in 28." said Pyros to Hikaru, opening the door and making his way in, Sherman simply bowed his head in respect to the Tamahaganes, letting them enter first. "One of the two lieutenants who served in my personal retinue for purposes of fielding and strategy. They got quite attached to me, it seems. The others, are mostly just kids I've drummed up off the streets. Most don't have homes, others just have shitty families, but all of them know how to kill each other. So, I give them a job, a new home, and some discipline, then write it all off as a split expense to Child Services and the Unemployment Bureau."

The inside of the manor was a little more decorative than the outsides more defensive exterior. There were paintings of wide land-scapes, some of particularly famous people, but most of all guns. Between every painting or two, there was a rifle, pistol, shotgun, or machine gun of varying calibers and ammo type, with actual batteries, boxes, and magazines flanking the sides of each weapon. Upon closer inspection, it looked like each weapon of relatively modern quality was loaded and primed.

Besides decoration, there were the young maids and butlers moving to and fro, some carrying dishes, some carrying laundry, some moving along to get their next thing to do. For a large house that contained one man, the house staff always seemed to have something to do.

Pyros lead the way to a wide dining room that had four small tables and three large dining tables, one large one in the center and two flanking it. Standing by the chair at the head of the table was particular made of intimidating beauty, she was curvy, with wide hips. She was as tall as the Head Butler, sharing his rather decent height, and appeared a little thick. Though, a look at her arms and legs would reveal that it was all toned, athletic muscle.

"Welcome home, Pyros and guests." bowed the maid, a smile on her soft face, and barely noticeable scar on her jawline. Her hair, curled on the end, bobbed as she moved. "My name is Gwendolyn Evergreen, I am the Head Maid of the Westwood Manor, and it is a pleasure to meet you all." She pulled out the chair at the head of one of the small tables that seemed fit for six people. It was decorated with white table cloth with gold-threaded trim. Porcelain plates with little geometric designs of them sat at each of the six chairs on the square table, with corresponding silverware that shined a reflective sheen. "If you would select your seats, the staff will accommodate your choice as much as possible."

With that, two maids entered into the room rather hurriedly, and a little winded, as if they had run all the way from the gatehouse. They took a standing spot at each side of the table, waiting on the Tamahaganes, smiling as they caught their breath. Gwendolyn seemed to cast each of them a judging glance, which the two did their best to ignore, keeping their eyes on solely anyone but the Head Maid.