Chapter 58

Stephen, as an opportunistic capitalist, was determined in his actions. After removing the unstable elements, he made a big splash with renovations, investing heavily in new equipment. The gap in manpower left by sending those key employees to jail was easily filled with new hires. In a civilized country like Ceres, finding people was never a problem. After closing for half a month, the arcade was now newly renovated and equipped with trendy machines. Stephen started generating buzz a few days in advance. There were parades with floats, widespread distribution of flyers, advertisements on TV and in newspapers—everything was done meticulously. He even signed a deal with several young women who loved to dance at the arcade. They agreed to come in costumes to draw attention. They would get free tokens and a daily allowance of 50 dollars, so they were more than willing. This marketing approach was a bit like the bar hostesses in nightlife venues. It might be tacky, but it was incredi