Free Cities League
Establishing Nation
Chapter I: Under the Corporate Veil
Free, Founder and Capital City of Handelsburg, Free Cities' League
It was a typical March day in Handelsburg, capital of the Free Cities' League. Drizzle made walking in the streets immediately bearable until the realization, upon arriving in some building, that you are in fact all wet. But Richard Eisenacher was already used to the typical Handelsburg drizzle, and did not even bother checking the weather. '15 days of rain per month during the summer, 20 during the winter', he thought, 'it's just not worth it'. Richard Eisenacher was the Chief Administrator of Providenz Benzin AG, one of the biggest companies in the Free Cities' League. His predecessors had successfully exploited the oil fields in the Outerseas Province of Providence, becoming the main supplier of oil and crude in the League, having an near-monopoly of 85% market share. Competitors? Only foreign companies, the most important of all the Portusgalian oil company SACOR.
Eisenacher had been nominated Chief Administrator by the shareholders two years ago, replacing long-time CA Dirk De Graaf, known for his aggressive business style, and chiefly responsible by the expansion of Providenz Benzin. He had maximised profits by hiring a higher number of native employees in Providence's oil wells, underpayed employees, almost slaves, though this was a very well-kept secret. Eisenacher did nothing to change the situation, but he decided to change attitude towards competitors. He had talked to this man from Providenz's main competior, SACOR, some days ago:"After all, we're all in it for the money. So, if we cooperate, we could maximize profits." He considered a pure competitive market a destructive force that lowered prices and reduced profit margins on the long-term, and, as such, he sought cooperation with other competitors, distributors, etc.
But this would be a big day. Taking all precautions necessary, a Portusgalian man would arrive very soon to PB's HQ in 32 Hochstraße in Handelsburg. Eisenacher had arranged a fake visa and the Portusgalian a fake ID card. Nobody knew he was a SACOR employee, and the FCL's authorities thought he was just a tourist. Arriving at the headquarters, Eisenacher was greeted by his secretary:
"Herr Eisenacher, Herr Schmidt told me to inform you he is in the meeting room waiting for you."
"Thank you Laura. Hold my calls for the next hour, ok?"
"Ja, mein Herr"
Eisenacher knew what that meant. Schmidt, one of his assistant, had been tasked with escorting the Portusgalian towards the meeting room without raising any suspicions. Why such secrecy? Well, because of its dominant position in the petroleum market, Providenz Benzin was under the close watch of the General Administrative Council. The Sub-Direction for Competition and Free Markets, included in the General-Direction for Economy had competence to investigate any claims of anti-competitive behaviour and could impose huge and damaging fines. As such, any meeting with a competitor could raise some eyebrows. That's why this was conducted in the utmost secrecy. The Portusgalian, reported to be a simple employee was in fact Gastão Sousa, CEO of SACOR.
"My friend Gastão. You are indeed a master of disguise. Officially entering the league as a Portusgalian tourist, behold the CEO of SACOR. Welcome to Providenz Benzin. Should I serve you beer, gin, schnaps? We have a lot to discuss..." said Eisenacher while he hugged Sousa.