[Arknights] A Guide to Make Money In Terra

Part 5: The Octopus

Here's a trick to get people always believe you.

Smile. People trust a smile, even if it's only a well-rehearsed mask. It's a simple gesture, but it disarms suspicion. A smile suggests openness, harmlessness. People are so much easier to win over when they see a friendly face, one that seems like it has nothing to hide.

Then, align yourself with their beliefs. Nothing sways people more than thinking you're one of them, that you're motivated by the same principles, that your worldview echoes their own. They crave that comfort, that sense of shared identity.

And lastly, when you speak—speak with the air of authority. Know something about everything, and speak as though you hold the keys to hidden knowledge. People fall for certainty; they're captivated by expertise, even if it's just the illusion of it.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Romanov," someone interrupted, raising a hand. His hair was graying, his expression a mix of skepticism and interest. "But I don't quite understand what exactly you're proposing here."

The man's face bore the marks of years in boardrooms, wheeling and dealing across decades. He'd seen schemes and broken them, witnessed fortunes rise and fall with a single stroke of a pen. But here he was, surrounded by a gathering of Columbia's finest—business magnates, Originium tycoons, industrialists, financiers. All wealthy, all seated around a table, and all with one thing in common; an insatiable thirst for more. Hence why I gathered them here.

I smiled, letting it linger just long enough to give the impression of confidence. "Gentlemen," I began, "what I'm proposing is not just an investment, but a transformation—a new, privately held mega-corporation dedicated to extracting, refining, marketing, and selling Originium on a scale Columbia has never seen before. And I'm giving you the opportunity to be the first to join ."

They looked around at each other, unsure whether to determine my proposal as something ludicrous or a circus. No matter, my expertise is convincing people.

"Now, you may ask, why not simply rely on Rim Billiton?" I continued, letting a hint of disdain color my tone. "For all its size, Rim Billiton is, for lack of a better word, stagnant. They have neither the agility to innovate nor the foresight to fully leverage Originium's potential in today's volatile economy. They're confined by traditional methods and weighed down by obsolete protocols. That, gentlemen, is why this opportunity is ours for the taking."

Some of them raised an eyebrow. Interest was written all over their faces, but still unconvinced. These people were veterans of the capitalist system, top dogs in their sectors.

I leaned forward, gauging their reactions. "Imagine; a vertically integrated empire where every stage—from extraction to refinement to final sale—is within our control. Not a single ounce of Originium slips through our fingers, not a single layer of profit wasted on middlemen."

An industrialist across from me cleared his throat, I recall he's the owner of a large manufacturing company. "That kind of infrastructure would require... substantial capital." He said in a posh voice, a Victorian, perhaps?

I nodded, smiling. "Precisely. But consider the returns. Our company would allow us to dominate every facet of the market. We wouldn't merely be suppliers of Originium, we would control the entire financial ecosystem around it. Futures contracts, derivatives, commodities trading—all tied to our company's output. We'd set the price for Originium itself, and by extension, we'd control the industries, the corporations, the governments that depend on it."

A soft murmur rippled around the table.

"We begin by consolidating each of your companies under one holding company. Each division will retain its own unique strengths, but united under a shared objective and streamlined command. Think of it as a joint empire where we're not merely operating independently, but aligning toward a singular goal. We'll exploit inefficiencies, wield influence, and move faster than any established conglomerate."