Bernard Elnor’s excitement was uncontainable; he laughed aloud. “Grand Leader, are you serious?”
The Grand Leader, thinking he’d scared him, assumed he’d hit a businessman’s core motive—profit. Top tycoons might seem unfazed by earning an extra billion, but losing a single penny could make them wail.
Confident he had Bernard Elnor cornered, he said in a friendly tone, “Bernard, Bernard, Bernard, we’ve been friends for ages. I know you, you know me. If we work together, I won’t treat you like this. You know I never shoot at friends, but only if you’re still my friend.”
Bernard Elnor blurted out, “Shoot at me! Grand Leader, please shoot at me! I beg you! If you could raise tariffs on my group by 100% or even 200%, I’d be eternally grateful!”
In his mind, Bernard Elnor shouted, “Is there a better way to rack up experience points than this?”
“Hell no!”
“Fifty billion experience points, earned the hard way, require Mr. Ye’s approval for every cent. Without his nod, I can’t spend a dime or earn a single point.”
“But Mr. Ye also said!”
“Any business losses from this can count as experience points!”
“How do I create losses?”
“I can’t just stab myself twice, can I? If I announce my group’s exit from the U.S. market, I’d lose billions annually, but if Mr. Ye doesn’t recognise it, it’s all for nothing.”
“But if America sanctions me, that’s different!”
“All sanctions are losses imposed by America, and they’ll definitely count with Mr. Ye!”
The Grand Leader couldn’t fathom Bernard Elnor’s thoughts.
Hearing him beg for higher tariffs, he thought the old man was being sarcastic, so he threatened, “Elnor, don’t think I’m joking. I can fast-track this, and it’ll take effect in no time!”
Bernard Elnor asked, “How soon is ‘no time’?”
The Grand Leader said coldly, “Two months, maybe less.”
Bernard Elnor urged, “Please make it quick! Can it happen within a week?”
The Grand Leader was stunned.
What was this? A taunt or genuine fearlessness?
Feeling insulted, he warned, “Elnor, get your situation straight. If this policy lands, you’ll be begging me, but it’ll be too late. You won’t even get through to me.”
Bernard Elnor, impatient, said, “I understand, Grand Leader. Please push the policy through as fast and hard as possible!”
“What’s wrong with your head?” The Grand Leader was utterly baffled.
Which tycoon wasn’t a miser? How could Bernard Elnor act like he didn’t care about money? Was he really willing to sacrifice billions for a bit of fame?
This was awkward!
The best way to control a rich man was to take his money, a tactic that always worked.
But if the rich man didn’t care about money, that was tricky.
Suppressing his anger, he asked, “Elnor, for a bit of fame, you’d throw away billions. Is it worth it?”
“Worth it, absolutely worth it!” Bernard Elnor declared without hesitation. “You might not understand, but money’s a burden to me now! I don’t like it anymore. If America gives me more penalties, restrictions, I’ll only be grateful! I hope the sanctions come soon! My deepest thanks!”
The Grand Leader sneered, “I see. You’re just bluffing, thinking I won’t push the policy, right?”
Bernard Elnor showed his first hint of nerves. “Misunderstanding, Grand Leader! I’m not bluffing. I only ask you to roll out the policy fast! Like I said, the sooner, the better!”
The Grand Leader felt dizzy.
Seeing his threats had no effect, he could only issue a final warning. “Elnor, I don’t care what’s driving you, but you’ll regret today’s decision! I’ll not only push the policy through fast, but I’ll also have the IRS audit your companies thoroughly. I hope we don’t find any issues!”
Bernard Elnor murmured, “If only there were issues…”
“What did you say?!” The Grand Leader caught his mutter and snapped angrily.
Bernard Elnor, going all in, said earnestly, “I said, it’d be great if you found issues! Ideally, serious ones, and hit me with the heaviest fine in history, say five hundred billion dollars!”
