America: My Time

Chapter 1501 Communication Between Each Other

Chapter 1491 Communication Between Each Other

“John, for the sake of our old friendship, can’t you manage these funds for me personally? You should know this is my last bit of wealth!” George Lucas asked John cautiously once again. After all, he believed that John’s abilities were more reliable than Hurricane Investment, and many people in the United States suspected that John had a mysterious force at his disposal.

"I don't have that much time. If we weren't old friends, I wouldn't even make this promise to you. After all, if people found out, I would be in a lot of trouble. I don't believe you don't understand the value of this promise. If you agree, then our deal will continue. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do but give up!"

Upon hearing John's words, George Lucas couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Only now did he believe that John truly wouldn't agree, or perhaps their relationship hadn't reached that level! If John truly possessed the power of gods and demons, he might not be qualified to join him.

“Alright, you win, I agree. But you’ll have to take good care of me from now on. After this deal, I’ll become a thorn in the side of many people, and some guys will be after me!” George Lucas understood that by selling Lucasfilm to John, he would become an enemy to everyone else in Hollywood!
"Don't worry, if those guys want to cause trouble, they'll have to see if they have the ability. I'm not someone to be trifled with." John breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing George Lucas agree to the deal. After all, Lucasfilm was a very important asset in his plan and a crucial part of his overall strategy!
“John, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you: Aren’t you afraid of future troubles? After all, anti-monopoly and anti-monopoly laws aren’t just for show. Even if you’ve made many arrangements, someone will still hold you accountable later. Even if you’ve sold off some of your media assets, you’re still the dominant force in Hollywood, controlling half of Hollywood, and even half of the American media industry. That will make many people uneasy!”

"Fear? How could I not be afraid? If I weren't afraid, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to make arrangements to eliminate those potential problems. Otherwise, why do you think I would take out so many assets at this time? As an old friend, I'll give you some advice: don't get too involved in the stock market. The stock market is risky, and you need to be cautious when investing. Don't believe those Hollywood nonsense stories or ridiculous claims, because there are too many swindlers in there!"

Upon hearing John's words, George Lucas was taken aback. His instinct told him that John's advice was very important and that it was guiding him on something. However, George Lucas had not yet figured it out, and while he was thinking, John had already left to communicate with others!
Although George Lucas wanted to ask John for more details, he had to give up the idea when he thought about the arrangements for the party. There were many things he couldn't do, especially when it came to such an important investment. He couldn't ask too many questions, or John might think he didn't trust him!
While George Lucas was pondering, several people approached him to speak. Many in Hollywood knew about George Lucas's situation, and John's lengthy conversation with him had stirred up some ideas among those with ulterior motives. Not everyone could speak with John; only those in Hollywood with connections to John, like George Lucas, held that privilege. Therefore, George Lucas was now facing a slight predicament!

Of course, some people have already figured it out. After all, with the collective departure of the three Hollywood giants, some people understand that the division of Hollywood is inevitable. Under such circumstances, everyone has to take sides, and George Lucas is no exception.

“George, we’ve been friends for a long time. Can you tell me if you sold Lucasfilm to John?” Jack Valentine was very worried because he knew that if Lucasfilm ran into trouble at this time, the entire Hollywood would face a disaster, which was something he, as the president of the Motion Picture Association, did not want to see.

Despite being the president of the Motion Picture Association of America and a gatekeeper of Hollywood, Jack Valentine's status is quite different from John's. Moreover, even if he wanted to communicate with John, he wouldn't have the ability, since John doesn't have the time or energy to waste on him right now.

“Yes, I did sell Lucasfilm. You know how crazy Hollywood is these days. It’s not easy for us small companies caught in the middle. We not only have to face pressure from the giants, but also from the unions. Neither the Screen Actors Guild nor the Editors Guild is good for us. With the departure of the three giants, they’ve set their sights on us. We don’t have the power of the three giants to ignore their threats!” George Lucas sighed, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. After all, he couldn’t accept someone trying to kick him when he was down.

"George, you should talk to us. We can discuss and resolve any problems that arise!"

“Negotiation? How can we negotiate? Can you tell me? Those guys have already issued threats. Do you think I should compromise with them? If I agree to them, Lucasfilm will have no chance of survival. They'll take all the benefits, and what will we bosses get? We're not willing to work for others’ benefit.” George Lucas looked at Jack Valentine with a solemn expression. If there were even a sliver of hope, he wouldn't want to sell his film company at this time. Unfortunately, reality forced him to do so. He simply didn't have the ability to protect himself in the confrontation between these giants!

Compared to Jack Valentine, the gatekeeper of Hollywood, George Lucas knew John better, and this wasn't just about Hollywood; it involved many other issues. Under these circumstances, he could only stand by John's side, and he believed that John could shield him from all the pressure and prevent him from being affected!

This is John's integrity. Despite many in Hollywood calling John a tyrant, his integrity is unparalleled. No one doubts John's honesty; once he makes a promise, no one will go back on their word. Moreover, George Lucas also benefited greatly from this deal. The funds from the sale of Lucasfilm will be managed by Hurricane Investment, something no one else can do.

If Jack Valentine and George Lucas had switched places, he would have made the same choice. After all, self-interest is powerful, and who could refuse a promise from John? Only a fool would. "George, this will plunge Hollywood into a crisis. The departure of the three giants has already severely damaged Hollywood. If Lucasfilm relocates, the impact will be even greater. I hope you can persuade John not to move Lucasfilm so easily, and save some face for everyone." Jack Valentine sighed, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Hollywood had already been greatly affected by this upheaval, and the pressure on him, as the president of the Film Association, would be even greater. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to stop it, but that he simply couldn't.

“I am willing but unable. You should know that this is not a Hollywood matter. This concerns John’s entire plan. You don’t think I have the ability to persuade John to abandon his entire plan. If I could do all this, things wouldn’t be like this now, and I wouldn’t be under so much pressure. I can’t agree to your request! If you really want to find someone to persuade him, Jennifer Connelly is more suitable. She might have the ability!”

At this moment, Jack Valentine shook his head and said, "That's impossible. Even if we had some connection in the past, it's long gone. You might have a chance to persuade him, but I have absolutely no chance. You know how Hollywood operates these days. It's already good enough that John hasn't caused me any trouble!"

Jack Valentine understood the principle that "if one thing is pulled, the whole situation will be affected." At this time, John's every move would be closely watched by many people. The reason he approached George Lucas was because they had a relationship. Even if he failed, it wouldn't matter. The most important thing was that he was acting on someone else's behalf.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that. Those guys are up to no good. They're always so self-righteous and arrogant. They all think Hollywood can't function without them. They've lost their minds and are making all sorts of stupid decisions. I don't want to get involved with them!"

The separation of George Lucas and Jack Valentine surprised some people, and many felt that something was amiss. They wondered what the two were planning and whether it would affect their interests.
In contrast, John didn't have as much pressure. He had already finished communicating with those old guys. Now it was up to them to see how they behaved. Whether everything would go as he wished depended on how the situation developed. After all, these old guys were not to be underestimated; they all had their own selfish motives and calculations!

"Mr. President, you're not here to persuade me on behalf of those guys, are you? To be honest, I just spoke with George Lucas. He's been influenced by them. I'll say it again: they should tone it down and not be so arrogant. This isn't my problem; it's their own. I've already given you plenty of face. If they have other ideas or demands, I can't agree to them. I can't sacrifice my own interests to please them. If you do something wrong, you have to bear the consequences!"

John hadn't expected that he would be approached by President Laughlin so soon after parting ways with George Lucas. This was a party he had hosted, and John couldn't afford to be disrespectful to President Laughlin, otherwise it would be too impolite of him and might even damage his public image!

“I know this puts you in a difficult position, and I have no choice. I won’t interfere with your decision. I’ve only done my part, and that’s enough. As for everything else, it has nothing to do with me, and you don’t need to worry about it! I just wanted to ask for your opinion on semiconductor chips and the internet!” Laugh Tale wasn’t stupid; he wouldn’t sacrifice his own interests for those guys at Donkey’s again, facing John’s wrath and taking the blame for them!

"The development of semiconductor chips will be rapid, and so will the internet. I know many people think the internet is developing too fast and has too many uncertainties, but they forget that with the development of personal computers, development will change, and as more and more people use computers, the potential for the entire internet's development is huge. It's just a pity that I'm currently powerless to do more preparation. My next focus is on Asia. Whatever problems arise in the US is no longer my concern. After all, I've already offered enough benefits, and they'll have to face everything themselves in the future! If I interfere too much, do you think they'll still feel at ease? Will they still dare to do business with me?"

Yes, John is absolutely right. If John were involved, would those old guys like Rockefeller feel at ease and let him continue developing semiconductor chips and the Internet? That's almost impossible. In fact, those old guys are already making arrangements to cut off John's development in personal computers and strangle ASUS.

Seeing that Zipperton was deep in thought, John continued, "If the President has time, he should also persuade those guys that the development of personal computers and the Internet are inseparable. They shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains. If their schemes ruin the development of the Internet, it's not my problem, it's their own mistake. If big problems arise in the future, don't come looking for me."

John had given LP a heads-up beforehand, and although his warning was absolutely correct, those old guys wouldn't take it seriously. They would even target ASUS relentlessly, trying to cut off John's development in the personal computer field. After all, in their eyes, ASUS, which John owned, was a significant threat and a pillar of John's business in the internet industry.

If ASUS were to fall, even if it were only affected, it would disrupt John's internet strategy and make many people feel threatened. After all, ASUS is a leader in the personal computer industry. If ASUS were to be contained, those old guys would be confident in seizing the initiative and putting pressure on John!

(End of this chapter)