Chapter 604: Ten Billion USD, a Thousand-Man Guard

“Making a fortune… Go on.”

Zhao Peng seemed a bit wistful, but he was willing to hear him out.

His current predicament, and everything that had come before, was all because of that one goal: making a fortune.

The world is a flurry of activity, with people coming and going for the sake of profit.

Looking back now, the world was different, and he was a changed man. His original aspirations were a distant memory, and he was no longer a young man.

Of course, this young man before him had a much higher starting point than he’d had, and his methods were far more audacious.

‘Perhaps… he’s the descendant of some powerful figure.’

That was a strong possibility.

After all, things like acquiring land in Dubai, developing the low-altitude economy, and running a security company weren’t achievable with money alone.

His gaze shifted, and Zhao Peng’s eyes fell upon a goose-yellow porcelain piece on the bookshelf behind Lin Chu. It was lustrous and brilliant, a symbol of national friendship—the National Gift Porcelain.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly once more.

‘What kind of status does this imply?’

‘It’s too extravagant.’

True luxury was never about how much money one had, but about privilege.

This was a concrete truth he had only come to understand after experiencing so much.

With only money and no power, you were nothing more than a juicy piece of meat in the eyes of the truly powerful. They could devour you whenever they pleased.

This held true even across the ocean, in the land that worshipped liberalism and the inviolable sanctity of private property.

Lin Chu watched Zhao Peng intently. He noticed Zhao Peng’s gaze seemed to be wandering and couldn’t tell what he was thinking. However, he did see him glance at the National Gift Porcelain behind him, lost in thought. Seeing this, Lin Chu slowly began to speak.

“I want to build a capital empire that dominates the maritime civilizations. The current global situation has presented me with an opportunity, or at least the glimmer of one.”

“And you, I believe, can be of some assistance in this grand design.”

“Let’s break it down. London’s great financial consortiums rose on the splendors of the Age of Sail and fell with defeat in war, ceding dominance to America. America became the biggest beneficiary of World War II and then a financial hegemon thanks to the petrodollar system. But now, it too stands at a historical turning point.”

“That’s just the way of the world. What flourishes must eventually decline, and fortune follows calamity. You and I are both caught in this tide, and since we possess a few things, we’re now somewhat qualified to make a few moves.”

“There are no green plums for wine in Dubai, and I’ve been sober for a while myself. So for today, let’s discuss things over tea.”

Zhao Peng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He stared at Lin Chu in astonishment, once again feeling a powerful, explosive jolt.

‘Is this what he calls ‘making a fortune’?’

‘I guess it is, in a way.’

But his tone was terrifyingly grand, revealing an extraordinary breadth of vision.

It was hard to believe these were words coming from a young man in his twenties.

To be fair, what Lin Chu said wasn’t entirely a boast. At least in the world of business, he certainly had the qualifications to back it up.

When the throne is up for grabs, everyone joins the hunt.

Chip away and then swallow whole.

If he played his cards right—with the perfect alignment of timing, location, and people—it was possible he could really achieve something great.

At this moment, Zhao Peng’s mind raced with possibilities, but all that showed on his face was a bitter smile.

“I’ve spent years giving others speeches about passion, ambition, and grand blueprints. I never thought that today, President Lin would be the one giving me a lesson. To be honest, I’m astonished by your ideas. If you had entered the crypto world a few years ago, I can’t even imagine what you could have achieved.”

“For truly formidable people, I believe… public speaking, eloquence, and charisma—a so-called reality distortion field—are the most essential elements. I have to admit, just now, you almost had me convinced.”

“But my health is failing. I’m riddled with problems.”

“Besides, you have things I don’t. You can afford to lose; I can’t anymore.”

“It’s not even about the money… For me, just facing potential summons at any time is a massive hassle.”

Zhao Peng sighed wistfully. His words carried the clear intention of a polite refusal. While his circumstances were real enough, they also served as a convenient excuse.

He understood Lin Chu’s intentions perfectly well.

This young man actually wanted him to work for him, with Lin Chu himself in charge.

‘If he were to offer an incredibly tempting price, it wouldn’t be out of the question.’

But empty promises wouldn’t cut it.

He himself had been courted by many large consortiums in the past, but he had refused them all in the end, choosing a more difficult, independent path.

In comparison, this young man could only be said to have potential; he hadn’t reached that level yet.

“I understand.”

“Then focus on getting better for now.”

“Let’s keep in touch. If you ever need anything, you can call me anytime. I’ll help in any way I can.”

“To put it more bluntly, even if you need to skip town someday, my friend, I can arrange that for you.”

Lin Chu said with a teasing smile.

‘A man like that was a real heavyweight. Of course he wasn’t going to pledge his allegiance after a single conversation. Where the hell does that ever happen? Unless you’re young and have nothing to lose.’

They were both men with significant enterprises now. Lin Chu never expected him to become his man entirely.

Being able to borrow his various channels would be enough.

The remark was a bit presumptuous, but Zhao Peng just smiled and thanked him. He could see it clearly. ‘This young man wants to be the boss… Though his ambition is a bit much, for me, it’s not a bad thing. More friends mean more options.’

After that, the two of them made some small talk.

It was their first meeting, and they were still in the process of feeling each other out.

Zhao Peng was particularly interested in Lin Chu’s Security Group. When he heard that they were still actively recruiting and even planning to expand to a force of several hundred thousand, he was deeply stirred.