Sofia needed to get a good security guy if she was going to start to do a lot of business - under the banner of the "Black Ties", the group she had in mind for her entrepreneurship.

No security, no business. It was that simple - there were too many pirates around nowadays to make old-fashioned large-scale commerce feasible. You'd just get robbed, or worse, captured and set up to work for them instead. It wasn't worth it.

So for that, she had arranged to put up advertisements in the local newspaper for someone who was good at fighting. In a time like this, they were really common, however, she needed to find the right guy. That is, someone without a bounty on their head so that could do what needed to be done with approval of the World Government. And without Bounty Hunters going after their head, because that would compromise the cargo they'd be in charge of.

She had managed to get in contact with a man who seemed very promising. However, she needed to have an interview before the final agreements, because she had to introduce herself in person, as well as see if this person was the real deal or if it had been some sort of pirate scam all along.

Sofia was waiting at a nearby café, dressed in her usual formal dress, so that "The Collector" would know who she was. Hopefully she would be able to identify him as well.

"Yes!" she replied with a wide grin before extending a hand to attempt to shake it with him.

"I'm so grateful that you're finally here! I'm Phillipa Sofia - Lady Sofia." the young woman then stated, before taking a seat again. She was still holding the grin with glee. He was freakishly huge, yes, but that made it all the better! Who would want to mess with someone as big as him? He would do excellently for being in charge of security concerns of the group.

"Anyways, my good sir." she then mentioned with a nod. "Please, let me invite you to a drink."

She then rose a hand and looked at a waiter and called him forth.

"I'll introduce myself fully." the girl followed, up to the tall man and putting a hand daintily on her sternum. "I'm Lady Sofia, of the island of Sofia, a noble. And I'm a bit of a business entrepreneur - I'm looking to make a small start-up here, based on Sabaody. It will be called 'The Black Ties'!"

The girl then crossed her arms and put on a smug smile as she nodded to herself confidently. "Yes, we're going to be great."

Then, she offered a palm upwards gently towards the man. "But, we'll need your help - if you're up to the task. There's a lot of threats out there, and you seem to be quite the exceptional man. So, please tell me about yourself. What's your experience for the job?"

"It's a business alliance." she then stated to answer his question. "I'm personally going to aim to manage land, since it's what I've had experience with back when I was just a noble on the island. I think others could be interested in having land as well - it's a good way to accrue wealth over time - and we could help them achieve it, and defend it. Fighting seems to be the status quo for a lot of things nowadays, where someone like you would come in very handy. "

"Whoa, nice." she would then say when he mentioned his experience. "I think you would do excellently."

She then nodded to herself again with a warm chuckle. "Yes, this would do, Mr. Barlow. Also, if you want to get land yourself, we can totally arrange that for you. It's all a matter of strategy. If you've got any ideas that can synergize with what we're going: totally go for it. I enjoy having each person have a lot of agency of their own. Please consider me a sort of "secretary" of the group, not the absolute leader or 'Admiral' or something. I just help everyone involved get together and coordinated."

"You see." she then continued. "I'm not very experienced in fighting, and it would be a waste if I were to start to suggest calls about how to approach a certain combat scenario, for example. Because that's not my expertise! However, it would be yours. Can we rely on you to contribute to those situations? You up for the task?"

"Awesome! Thank you!" she then said, clapping her hands together. So great that she was finally able to get someone for security!

After the final arrangements, he was finally part of the Black Ties - and with someone more to be part of it, the Black Ties could finally be a real organization. She would need a bit more people though, but with this man, it was at least a start.

Even after the man left, she stayed at the cafe, and started to pull out more papers, where she started to scribble in more planning, and amended a few more of her previous plans. She was too excited to just go home right there! She wanted to figure everything out as she could, not out of because she had to, but because she was just so passionate about this project. It was fun!

Eventually, after laying out a full schedule for what she had to do the following days concerning the Black Ties, and asking for more lemonade, she eventually made her way to the counter to ask for the tab. It had gotten late and she hadn't eaten any lunch! She had gotten too carried away!

Holding her stomach, she started to make her way back to the residential district where she was living, and went towards the bakers to get some bread - but not fresh. The last ones left, which were already a bit dry. Well, no matter. This would do. Then she went to the butchers to get some ham and she improvised some sandwiches.

Tomorrow she would eat better, she thought, with a sigh.

But she was proud with what she had managed today, because of Barlow! The new member!

[EXIT]