"So, let me get this straight," Sylia said, sitting back in her armor next to Sell-Sword. "While base teleportation technology is open source
and thus legal for heroing purposes, we can't use the portal in the Cavern of Transcendence because it infringes on your company's patent on portal
technology?"
"That's correct," the Portal Corps representative said with a nod. "If you attempt to use such without paying the proper fees to Portal
Corps and signing appropriate paperwork, we'll be forced to take legal action."
Sylia sat back, raising an eyebrow behind her faceplate. "So....you're claiming patent rights to a magical portal..."
"Yes."
"That you didn't know existed..."
"Correct."
"And which would've been in the hands of the Circle of Thorns if we hadn't stopped it..."
"Indeed."
"Despite the fact that Portal Corps had no knowledge or intent to stop them...."
"Also correct."
"And if we use it ourselves without going through you, you'll sue us."
"Precisely."
Sylia looked at him with a tilted head. "Portal Corps has no concept of the term "gratitude" if they're not making money, do they?"
"We're a former division of Crey Industries, ma'am. Gratitude isn't in our vocabulary."
Sword looked up, leaning forward. "So you'll...sue us if we use the portal."
"That's correct, Mr..."
"Sell-sword's what you get."
"Very well."
Sword leaned back, putting his arms behind his head. "Now, if I understand patent law correctly, you own the patents on technological portals. The Cavern of Transcendence is magical. If you were to take us to
court, your win would not be exactly steel-clad assured, would it? In fact, depending on the ruling, you could get competition by someone using magical
dimensional portals. No monopoly would mean you'd lose significant profits."
The man looked vaguely uncomfortable. "Are you threatening us, Mr. Sword?"
"Not at all. I'm just saying.... I think we could come to an understanding that the Cavern of Transcendence, which is keyed to those of us that were
present when it was unlocked and won't obey anyone else, be off limits to heroes. We really have no reason to use it, given your fine customer service.
However, organizations like Riot Force and the Legendary do have a lot of overhead...the upkeep of the Legendary base
alone....perhaps Portal Corps could see that there be a sizable....charitable donation....."
The representative eyed the armored figure oddly, as Sylia refused to let herself chuckle at how quickly he'd turned this around. "Are you suggesting
we pay you off, Mr. Sword?" Sword chuckled in return.
"You're a former branch of Crey Industries. Gratitude isn't in your vocabulary. But bribery is."
****
"Sweet mother of microwaved dinner rolls and all her crazy nephews!" Ifrit said as she looked at a check that'd come in the mail from Portal
Corps. "We don't even do business with them yet....how the hell did they know who we were?"
"Maybe the Legendary referred them," Sword shrugged from his spot on the couch. "Not that it matters. I'm sure this is out of the goodness
of their heart..."
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."
and thus legal for heroing purposes, we can't use the portal in the Cavern of Transcendence because it infringes on your company's patent on portal
technology?"
"That's correct," the Portal Corps representative said with a nod. "If you attempt to use such without paying the proper fees to Portal
Corps and signing appropriate paperwork, we'll be forced to take legal action."
Sylia sat back, raising an eyebrow behind her faceplate. "So....you're claiming patent rights to a magical portal..."
"Yes."
"That you didn't know existed..."
"Correct."
"And which would've been in the hands of the Circle of Thorns if we hadn't stopped it..."
"Indeed."
"Despite the fact that Portal Corps had no knowledge or intent to stop them...."
"Also correct."
"And if we use it ourselves without going through you, you'll sue us."
"Precisely."
Sylia looked at him with a tilted head. "Portal Corps has no concept of the term "gratitude" if they're not making money, do they?"
"We're a former division of Crey Industries, ma'am. Gratitude isn't in our vocabulary."
Sword looked up, leaning forward. "So you'll...sue us if we use the portal."
"That's correct, Mr..."
"Sell-sword's what you get."
"Very well."
Sword leaned back, putting his arms behind his head. "Now, if I understand patent law correctly, you own the patents on technological portals. The Cavern of Transcendence is magical. If you were to take us to
court, your win would not be exactly steel-clad assured, would it? In fact, depending on the ruling, you could get competition by someone using magical
dimensional portals. No monopoly would mean you'd lose significant profits."
The man looked vaguely uncomfortable. "Are you threatening us, Mr. Sword?"
"Not at all. I'm just saying.... I think we could come to an understanding that the Cavern of Transcendence, which is keyed to those of us that were
present when it was unlocked and won't obey anyone else, be off limits to heroes. We really have no reason to use it, given your fine customer service.
However, organizations like Riot Force and the Legendary do have a lot of overhead...the upkeep of the Legendary base
alone....perhaps Portal Corps could see that there be a sizable....charitable donation....."
The representative eyed the armored figure oddly, as Sylia refused to let herself chuckle at how quickly he'd turned this around. "Are you suggesting
we pay you off, Mr. Sword?" Sword chuckled in return.
"You're a former branch of Crey Industries. Gratitude isn't in your vocabulary. But bribery is."
****
"Sweet mother of microwaved dinner rolls and all her crazy nephews!" Ifrit said as she looked at a check that'd come in the mail from Portal
Corps. "We don't even do business with them yet....how the hell did they know who we were?"
"Maybe the Legendary referred them," Sword shrugged from his spot on the couch. "Not that it matters. I'm sure this is out of the goodness
of their heart..."
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."