America: My Time

Chapter 1202 Deterrence
Chapter 1192 Deterrence

This is not simple. What secrets lie behind this? When Jimmy heard his boss's words, his expression became somewhat expectant. He cautiously asked, "Boss, is it really true, as the rumors on Wall Street say, that someone is trying to suppress John and destroy his plans in Asia?"

"Suppression has always existed. However, to say that this time it's to suppress John is just wishful thinking. John isn't Soros's target, nor is he the target of the Federal Reserve, nor is he the target of the White House. He was just caught up in it, and the rapid expansion of Asian energy sectors made Rockefeller and his ilk uneasy. Of course, if you insist on thinking that way, it's not entirely wrong. After all, John's assets in Asia are so vast that they make many people uneasy, and if they could wipe him out in one fell swoop, it would naturally be a result that many people would like to see!"

"If that's the case, then why did John react so strongly, even resorting to demonstrations?"

"Intense? In your eyes, John's reaction was intense? If you think so, then you've underestimated John. He wasn't as intense as you think; he was just warning some people not to overdo it. If it weren't for Soros and his cronies' scheming against Standard Chartered Bank, this album might never have existed. John is more rational than you imagine; he doesn't take Soros seriously at all. Do you think he doesn't understand what's behind all this? If he really reacted intensely, you wouldn't see Soros now. That guy wouldn't have even left Southeast Asia; he would have been killed long ago. Do you think John's years of planning in Southeast Asia were just for show? You see which Southeast Asian country jumped out against John? Don't be fooled by those previous retail deals; in John's eyes, they're utterly insignificant!"

“Many people don’t say that; they all think John’s reaction was too strong!”

"Many people? Indeed, many people are saying that. Among them are either guys who are plotting against John, or John's own people. If they didn't do this, who would take all this seriously? You don't really think that John's album can intimidate those old guys, especially that old Rockefeller, do you?" As he said this, Morgan shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his face, but it was a rather cold smile!
Who has been most vocal in this confrontation? It seems to be Soros and Oilfield Capital, but they are merely the visible players. The true driving force behind everything is Rockefeller. Energy has always been a crucial asset for Rockefeller, and the rampant expansion of Asian energy resources has crossed their bottom line. Oilfield Capital doesn't want to see John's growth, and those guys in the US don't want to see Middle Eastern tycoons cooperating with John. But Rockefeller is even more unwilling to see John gain control of such a vast energy empire, as this has already impacted Rockefeller's strategic plans!

Of course, it wasn't just Rockefeller; there were others who didn't want to see John's growth and his rapid advancement in resources. But the more these guys did it, the stronger the backlash became. A record album isn't as simple as it seems, nor is it the warning or even the deterrent that everyone perceives it to be.

If Morgan were to view this issue, he would see it as a provocation, a mockery, and a display of confidence. John possessed absolute confidence in this confrontation, which led to the creation of this album. 'Victory' wasn't just talk; it was born from his absolute faith and unwavering power.

Soros and Oilfield Capital's scheme against Standard Chartered Bank wasn't just their own doing; it also involved the backers, and even the White House. However, they will pay the price for their actions. While it wasn't a violation of the rules, it gave John a reason to retaliate.

Different stances lead to different perspectives, resulting in varying opinions on John's album. Morgan Stanley, for example, has his own view, different from Jimmy's. Perhaps this is a case of the bystander seeing more clearly. While Morgan was also involved in the Asian financial crisis, they were more rational, without any intention to confront John, nor with the calculations of the White House and the Federal Reserve; their focus was solely on self-interest. It is precisely because of this that he can see things more clearly and understand them so well!

In this context, under these circumstances, John dared to use 'Victory' as the album title, demonstrating his immense confidence. Without John's past achievements, this would have been a joke, but his astonishing record made even Morgan, the financial tycoon, wary. Not only Morgan, but even old fogies like Rockefeller dared not underestimate John's album. The one who truly understands you is your enemy, and as an enemy, Rockefeller's understanding of John was unimaginable. Many were searching for John's weaknesses, but those weaknesses that were out in the open made people hesitant to act rashly, lest they provoke a fierce counterattack. The more exposed a weakness is, the more terrifying it is. For ordinary people, it might be a weakness, but for a tycoon like John, a financial giant, it was more than just a weakness; it could be a trap, a scheme, providing him with a perfect reason to act!
Compared to the financial giants and Wall Street crocodiles, who were all troubled by John's album, its release was a feast for the music industry. Although it wasn't recorded with professional singers, the album sold like hotcakes. It was extremely popular with young people, achieving phenomenal sales in Europe, America, and Japan—a pleasant surprise that John hadn't anticipated.

The record industry hadn't yet hit rock bottom, so this prematurely released album performed quite well, quickly climbing the charts. This result surprised John; he wasn't doing it for the sake of sales, but rather as a warning to those old fogies. However, a big album sale was still a good thing, and upon seeing the global sales figures, John couldn't help but sigh and a smile appeared on his face.

Could this be fate? Did this mean he was about to defeat his enemies and achieve victory? John was overjoyed at this auspicious sign. With the record selling so well, he couldn't just leave empty-handed; he had to give a reward. Otherwise, people would call him stingy, and John didn't want that reputation!
People are in high spirits when they have good news. With such a good omen, John also had a smile on his face. Although he did not want to hold a big celebration, John still held a low-key internal party in the hotel he invested in. After all, John did not want to provoke those old guys, Soros and oil capital at this time!
Acting ostentatiously might give these guys the wrong impression, or even make them think he's deliberately provoking them. Human nature is unpredictable; at this time, caution is advised to avoid unnecessary trouble. This time, John dares not act ostentatiously; keeping a low profile is better for everyone!
It wasn't that John deliberately thought the worst of those guys, but they were genuinely wicked. Give them any excuse, however far-fetched, and they'd use it to attack him. Therefore, John had to be cautious. The more John understood their shamelessness, the less he dared to let his guard down!
"Doesn't it feel different from what you imagined?" John smiled calmly as he looked at Lee Boo-jin, who insisted on attending the celebration party.

"It's indeed different from what I expected. I didn't realize you were really being so low-key! But is it really necessary to do this? With your strength, it seems unnecessary to be so cautious!" Lee Boo-jin asked with some doubt. In her opinion, given John's current strength and status, there was absolutely no need for him to be so careful!
"You're overthinking it. You can't afford to be careless at any time, or one mistake could be fatal. I don't dare underestimate those guys; their strength is far beyond what you think. I won't be heading south to Hong Kong for a while. Are you staying here, or coming with me to Hong Kong?"

Upon hearing this, Lee Boo-jin pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I think I'll stay here. I'm afraid Sachiko won't go to Hong Kong with you. I'll stay here to take care of her. Besides, if I go, there will be a lot of trouble. Those guys are already impatient. I've received quite a few phone calls."

"You're still too soft-hearted. They can't offer any real sincerity, yet they want to get benefits from me with just empty words. That's wishful thinking. You can just refuse them directly. There's no need to save face for them. Those guys will soon pay a heavy price for their stupidity."

Lee Boo-jin still hasn't truly seen through the nature of the chaebols, nor their scheming. These guys think they're clever, believing that simply bowing down and submitting will make her accept their demands—they're overestimating themselves. Of course, the Samsung Lee family also has their own calculations involved; these guys seem to have forgotten their ruthlessness from the past.

Greed and arrogance perfectly describe these Koreans. Despite clearly sensing the crisis, they clung to illusions, or rather, their arrogance made them believe everything was under control. In reality, they were terrifyingly foolish. If they had any sense at all, they wouldn't have targeted American financial groups or played those ridiculous tricks. If they hadn't swindled American financial groups, they wouldn't have suffered so much in the subsequent financial crisis. This is the consequence of their arrogance!

(End of this chapter)