Negotiations

A week flew by, and Neph was once again sitting in Raypard's living room. She greeted Klein, who was already drinking tea. "You're here early, Detective Moriarty."

"I only just arrived myself," Klein replied.

Neph shrugged. The main players now were Trapp, Klein's lawyer Jurgen, and the solicitor Raypard had hired.

Klein joined the discussion as well.

Neph had already explained her ideas to Trapp, who had drawn up a draft based on her suggestions, so she was hardly needed in the discussion.

The inventor Raypard was equally incapable of joining in. He and Neph sat idly with their drinks. Neph glanced at the coffee in his hands and suddenly said,

"I think you should get the two of us some sweet iced tea, or juice or something."

"Why?" Raypard asked reflexively.

The argument paused for a moment. Ignoring the looks directed her way, Neph replied,

"Because those are drinks for children, and right now, we belong at the children's table."

"..." Klein looked away. "I think that earlier point..."

The others had failed to understand the remark, and Klein soon drew them back into the discussion. Raypard did not quite understand either, but he had clearly missed the best opportunity to ask, so he could only continue sitting idly with his coffee.

Since he already had the Faceless Beyonder Characteristic, Klein had no intention of selling his shares. After intense negotiations, Neph ultimately invested 1,500 pounds for a 27% stake in the Bicycle venture, reducing Klein's and Raypard's shares to 26% and 47%, respectively. However, the discussions that followed reached an impasse.

As the largest shareholder and their technical expert, Raypard was clearly only good at research, development, and manufacturing. He would be responsible for setting up assembly-line production of the Pedal Bicycle, but he also made it clear