Bernard Arnault was thrilled, “This is brilliant! Mr. Ye, when do we start?”
Ye Chen smiled, “Let’s start now. If you donate a hundred million to the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, that counts. When you hit five hundred billion, you get the pill.”
Bernard Arnault blurted, “Then I’ll donate five hundred billion! Give me some time to raise the funds, and I’ll head to the U.S. to slap five hundred billion dollars on the UN’s table!”
Ye Chen’s face darkened, “Do you look like a fool, or do I? Even to slap Blackwater’s face, I wouldn’t use five hundred billion. Are they worth that?”
Embarrassed, Bernard Arnault said, “Mr. Ye… I just want to meet your spending requirement sooner…”
Ye Chen waved dismissively, “Only what I ask you to spend counts. If you act on your own, even donating five hundred billion to my mother-in-law won’t earn a single point.”
Ye Chen feared Bernard Arnault would exploit loopholes to rack up points. If he chose Ye Chen’s mother-in-law, Ma Lan, to “spend” on, it’d be like burying her in money.
That might be Ma Lan’s dream death, but Ye Chen wouldn’t let it happen.
Understanding, Bernard Arnault asked, “Mr. Ye, how much can I spend at the UN this time?”
Ye Chen held up two fingers, “Up to two hundred million dollars.”
Bernard Arnault nodded eagerly, “Alright! I’ll donate two hundred million!”
Then, dejectedly, he said, “Mr. Ye, you’ve got to give me more spending opportunities. At one or two hundred million a pop, it’ll take forever to reach five hundred billion points…”
Suddenly, Bernard Arnault felt like the protagonist in *Brewster’s Millions*.
In the film, Brewster had to spend thirty million dollars within a set time, or lose a three-hundred-million-dollar inheritance.
The Chinese remake, *The Richest Man in Xihong City*, had a similar premise.
Bernard Arnault didn’t fear spending too much, only spending too little or too slowly.
The ideal scenario was Ye Chen letting him burn through five hundred billion dollars overnight. If he couldn’t spend it or spent too slowly, it’d stress him out.
Seeing his anxiety, Ye Chen said, “Don’t rush. This trip to the U.S., I’ll give you a double-points opportunity. If you seize it, your two hundred million dollars could earn four hundred million points.”
Bernard Arnault eagerly asked, “What is it, Mr. Ye?”
Ye Chen said, “When you donate two hundred million to the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, insist the funds are only for anti-terrorism outside the U.S. and its controlled regions. No U.S. mainland or U.S.-controlled Middle East anti-terrorism can use this money.”
Shocked, Bernard Arnault said, “Mr. Ye, you’re… asking me to indirectly slap the U.S. government?”
“Exactly,” Ye Chen nodded, “Otherwise, they’ll keep shielding Blackwater, downplaying or excusing their actions.”
Pointing to his forehead, Bernard Arnault said awkwardly, “Mr. Ye, their current leader isn’t quite… normal. If I say this, they might sanction me…”
Ye Chen asked, “How much profit does your group make annually in the U.S.?”
Bernard Arnault replied, “North America accounts for about 25% of our total profits, roughly five billion euros. Subtracting Canada’s 20% share, the U.S. is about four billion.”
Ye Chen nodded, waving grandly, “Don’t be afraid. Go confront them head-on. If they sanction you and cost you four billion dollars a year in the U.S., I won’t cover the loss, but I’ll credit you four billion points for spending on my behalf!”
One second, Bernard Arnault feared U.S. sanctions; the next, he felt invincible.
It was like gaining a god-tier item in a game. While others’ gear deflected or countered attacks, his converted attacks into health.
The harder they hit him, the more “health” he’d gain!
A surge of excitement filled him. He wanted to rush to the U.S., provoke them to sanction him massively, and ideally wipe out his entire U.S. business!
