Chapter 31 Wealth
I see what it means to be trapped in a tower...... This trapped tower seems to care more about his private property than the sale of technology in country G, and seems to value me, the guy who helped him launder money, more seriously. And he, the oligarch and warlord leader who came to power in a coup d'Γ©tat in a small African country, to be honest, does not have any too powerful skills.
In this place, the most effective things are simple threats and bloody brutality, and most of them are the only two things he is good at. So he involuntarily used threats against me...... Simple and stupid.
"I need to know what I'm going to do with every penny of my money going into your pocket." Sleepy Tower stared at me coldly, and at this moment, I felt like a miser.
"That's right." I was prepared: "I think you've already read my profile." I own a trading company in Vancouver and in addition...... I also have a film company in the United States. The studio's most recent film grossed $700 million! These companies all need to be invested in...... What I can do for you is that every money you divide into my pocket, I can use it for investment, and then that money will become an investment benefit, and it will be clean! Eventually, they will lie in your account with a bank in Switzerland, waiting for you to withdraw and use them at any time. I smiled slightly, "It's that simple, isn't it?" β
"Investing in movies?" Sleepy Tower grinned, a little dazed: "This is a new topic...... Well, my original investment advisor always talked to me about stocks and securities and stuff like that. I think he must be cheating me out of my money - no, he's cheating me out of my money, you damn Yankees! β
Then he stared at me: "Mr. Chen, you are my honored guest, and I will treat my guests preferentially." But if you betray me in the future...... Even if you live in Canada, I would definitely cut off your head...... Do you understand? β
A typical African warlord whose soil and environment limit him, the only thing he can do is blood and brutality. Because in this land, these two are the most effective. But he used both of these to scare me, which was a bit of a mistake.
I had already defined him in my heart, and said calmly: "General Trapped Tower, if you think about it carefully, do I and the forces behind me care about your private property?" I can even say a very frank thing...... I hope you don't mind. β
"What?"
I deliberately took a slightly proud tone and said, "If it weren't for the soon-to-be-established airline, and the technology that needed to be transferred...... General Trapped Tower, the benefits of this diamond mine every year, this bit of wealth, is not in my eyes. So, your suspicion that I will swallow your property is simply impossible speculation. β
There was a hint of unhappiness in the eyes of the trapped tower, but then he understood my words and finally smiled: "Happy cooperation." He raised his glass.
"It's a pleasure to work with." I smiled.
We quickly negotiated the price, or the spoils.
I gave him $20 million to buy 40 percent of the shares in the diamond mines. Of course, the 20 million will become the military expenses of the army of the generals of the trapped tower. After that, I get 40% of the diamond mine every year!
Then, I have to give half of it every year to the trapped tower!
I'm not worried that the tower will embezzle my 40 percent of that year. Because he won't, because half of the money is his! Other words. As much as he gave me, I took out another half and gave it to him quietly behind my back. If he gives me less, then I give him less behind my back, anyway, it's half! The more he gives me, the more he can take behind his back.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be in the mood to send a few brothers to stay behind in this desolate mine in Africa to help me check my accounts every day.
While the conversation was more pleasant, I cautiously made a small request: "I hope you can improve the treatment of these miners a little." β
"What?" Trapped Tower's eyes immediately widened, "Are you supporting the Dekacala Clan?" Then you will be the enemy of our Tutu! β
"Relax! Relax, my general! I smiled: "Of course I am your friend." My God...... What do I have to do with those Decacala people? I hadn't even met them before. β
Then I patiently explained, "These miners can mine for you!" They are all our property. Abused them and killed them...... That might be interesting. But for every miner missing, then it is equivalent to one less labor force for us to mine......"
I tried to convince him in this way, but Trapped Tower couldn't listen: "There are many other races in our territory anyway!" There are a lot of damn guys, if the people of Dekarra are dead, I can arrest people from other races, there are a lot of these people, I'm not afraid that they will die. β
I sighed, thought about it, and felt that it was useless to talk to this guy about economics, so I changed my approach: "General Sleepy Tower, you are the head of country G and the ruler here, right?" β
"Yes!"
"Everything here belongs to you, the land here, the mountains here, the jungle here, the people here, the army here, the towns here, every grass here, all belong to you, right?"
"Of course!" There was a kind of light in the eyes of the trapped tower.
"Okay, let's talk about these filthy slaves...... I absolutely think you're right, these filthy Decacalas deserve to be slaves...... Their lives are worthless. β
"That's right! It's not worth the money! The trapped tower said loudly: "An adult man is worth a maximum of two pieces...... No, it's worth a dollar at most! I can feed a slave for a dollar! β
I knew a dollar must have been an exaggeration, but I went along with him. [Heaven's Kiss Hand-hitting]
"Yes, their cheap lives are only worth a dollar...... But the trapped tower general. I reminded him, "Even if it's a dollar, it's your money!" Isn't it? This land is yours, and so is this country. Well, these cheap slaves, too, are yours! Even if their life is only worth one dollar per person, this dollar is yours! Right? β
ββ¦β¦β¦ Well...... Right. "He was a little confused by what I said.
"Good...... So let's take a look. I smiled and said, "Even if a cheap slave is worth a dollar, that's money...... We have a saying in China that although the mosquito leg is small, it is also meat! It's simple, isn't it? In other words, if this slave is alive and his life belongs to you, the general, you will have an extra dollar in your pocket! If he dies...... Then it's not worth a penny! That's zero! Nothing! That is to say......"
The trapped tower general was completely encircled by me, and he couldn't help but say, "That is to say, for every slave killed, I lose a dollar in my pocket!" Right? β
"Yes." I sighed: "Although the price of a slave is very low, how many die today, how many die tomorrow, and how many more die the day after tomorrow...... In the end, the wealth in your pocket is also constantly draining! And these slaves are not cows, nor sheep, nor horses...... Cattle, horses, sheep and the like can be born in a year, and then they can be used in a year or two...... But what about people? Even if these lowly Decacala guys are desperately trying to survive...... But it takes more than ten years for a child to grow up and become an adult slave, right? For every one you kill, you lose a little bit of wealth! β
The warlord stared at me for a long time, the expression on his face changed back and forth, but he closed his mouth and did not speak, and his eyes seemed to weigh deeply......
Finally, he suddenly slapped the table hard!
Syllable!!
My heart struck...... Am I annoying him?
Soon, the door of the dining room was pushed open, and several black soldiers rushed in, with submachine guns in their hands, and without hesitation, several guns were pointed at my head at the same time.
To be honest, my heart almost stopped...... Because I know very well that this guy in front of me is different from the people I've met before! Even when facing the Gambino family, I knew that the other party would not dare to kill me casually. But this warlord leader in front of him is different! Human life is a matter that he doesn't care about, and my body is just an outsider to him, kill it, he doesn't have to worry about any of my background!
"Stupid, what are you doing to scare my guests!" Sleepy Tahaha smiled, stretched out his scarlet tongue and licked his lips, and the soldiers beside me put down their submachine guns.
"I'm sorry to scare you, but it's my men who didn't figure it out." The trapped tower said lightly, and then shouted: "Kuan!" β
A man who stood up like a leopard stood up, his chest puffed out, he seemed to be one of the leaders of General Sleepy Tower's men.
"Starting tomorrow, those miners outside will add a plate of beans per person every day...... Well, add a small half loaf of bread. The trapped tower thought for a moment, and then laughed again: "Also, from tomorrow, you are not allowed to shoot the miners casually." Lazy and cunning fellows can be taught, but they must not be killed or crippled. This is my order, and it will be executed early tomorrow morning. β
I didn't move my face, and deliberately said lightly: "General, this approach is very wise!" β
Alas, for the poor people out there, that's the only thing I can do. Although I am a villain, I grew up in a civilized society after all, and this kind of outright slavery-like situation is still unacceptable to me.
I can do a little bit, and I can only do so much.