America: My Time

Chapter 236 A Sudden Invitation

Chapter 236 A Sudden Invitation

As the storm in the Japanese real estate market began, John, having arranged everything, left Japan with his secretariat team, yearning for Bordeaux! Many things in Europe also needed to be planned in advance, which was why he brought his secretariat team with him.

During this trip to Bordeaux, John needed to have his secretarial team conduct a detailed survey of Bordeaux wines, as well as a better survey of French luxury goods to determine which brands were worth acquiring. However, these were not the most important things. The most important thing was to understand East Germany and the current situation in Europe.

John's stay in Bordeaux was short; a week later, he flew to Greater Paris to visit his uncle. Seeing his uncle's radiant face, John couldn't help but smile; it seemed his uncle had been doing quite well during this time.

"Uncle, it looks like you're doing quite well. Is this the power of love?" John teased his uncle Justin as soon as they met!
"Alright, John, how long will you be staying in Paris this time?"

"I won't be staying long. Once my secretarial team has finished their research, I'll be returning to the US. Uncle, you know I'll be starting school soon, and there are still a lot of things to finish up back in the US. But why didn't I see my beautiful aunt this time?"

“Amani will be here soon, look, she’s here already.”

Following his uncle's gaze, John saw two beautiful women walking towards him and his uncle, which startled him. He found it hard to believe, because he recognized one of the women – Sophie Marceau, the eternal love of French men!

After some introductions, the four of them sat down. Although there was a beautiful woman in front of him, John had no time to pay attention to her. He had important business in Paris.

Although this was a high-end restaurant, John's bodyguards remained on guard, not daring to be careless in the slightest. After all, their boss's net worth had increased significantly, and they all knew that their boss had quite a few enemies.

"John, don't you get tired of being surrounded by these guys every day?"

"Uncle, there's nothing I can do about it. You know my situation right now. I don't feel at ease without them around. Especially now, I don't know if those guys from Warner might do something desperate and give me a hard time!"

"Alright, I understand your situation, but is it really necessary for a giant like yours to go to such lengths? And what did you call me here for this time? I've already given you that research data. Given your current status, it seems you wouldn't be interested in the film industry in France!"

"Don't worry, Uncle, I have no such thoughts. Legendary Entertainment will not waste its funds on such a foolish investment. Legendary Entertainment will not make investments that will not yield returns. As for the current French Film Studio, I don't see any opportunity to make money!"

“John, film is art. You can’t measure French Film by Hollywood standards. We pursue art, not the Hollywood production model!”

"Hehe, I don't know what 'art' means, but I do know that such an investment will only lose money. Even with Legendary Entertainment's vast resources, they can't afford such losses. Legendary Entertainment's goal is commercial films, not art films. They have no interest in investing in art films across Europe, let alone acquiring film studios. Legendary Entertainment's focus is on records, aiming to become a competitor to Warner Music!"

"John, you don't understand art, and you don't have any great artistic ideals!"

"Alright, Uncle, I don't want to talk about art with you. I asked you to come today to ask if you've found a property for me yet. I'm not used to staying in hotels, and with so many people around me, it's not suitable for me to stay in a hotel!"

John now has not only security personnel but also a team of secretaries. Having so many people staying in a hotel is a hassle. Having his own property would make everything much easier. Besides, he'll be frequently visiting Greater Paris in the future, so a suitable property is essential. "Don't worry, I've already found one for you. It's in the 7th arrondissement, but the price is a bit high. Think it over carefully!"

"Uncle, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Price is never an issue; what I want is absolute safety and comfort." John wasn't bothered by his uncle's concerns at all; he had the funds himself.

"Alright, whatever you're willing to do. You're rich, so we can finalize the deal quickly if you're willing! As for the models you're looking for, I've got nothing to show for it, so I'll have to disappoint you. To be honest, I advise you to give up. There's no point in keeping your elite agency in Paris. It's too small and won't attract any attention. Instead of wasting time and energy on models, you should focus on developing singers. After all, Legendary Entertainment is going to focus on developing the record industry, and singers are naturally what you need to prepare for."

John was well aware of the shortcomings of his elite management company, but that was no reason to give up. Losing some money in the early stages was fine; fame would come quickly. Once things were settled in the US, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show would attract even more attention soon. However, he did need to be careful about the singers.

"Uncle, just keep an eye on things for me. Don't even think about escaping; that's impossible. But since you brought up singers, keep an eye on things for me too. I'll talk to the elite management company about this."

"John, I was just kidding, don't take it seriously, I have no experience in this area!"

Seeing his uncle's nervous expression, John smiled calmly and said, "Uncle, I believe you can do it. After all, you brought it up yourself, not because I forced you. Besides, music is an art form, and it's your profession. Unless you want me to talk to Grandpa and Grandma about your business in Paris."

"Fine, you win, I'll help you!" Faced with John's threat, she could only accept her fate.

"Uncle, don't be like that. Just do your best. The elite agency has professionals. Let's not talk about these issues. Let's eat first. Besides, we can't ignore the presence of these two ladies!" John quickly changed the subject, giving his uncle no chance to refuse.

After ordering, Justin said, "John, what are your plans for coming to Paris this time? I don't believe you're here for such a small matter. You don't have that much free time. Such a trivial matter doesn't require your involvement!"

"The main focus is still on market research and seeing how far the acquisition is progressing. After the war with Warner Bros. begins, we need to pay attention to all aspects. Europe is also a key area and the most dangerous, since Warner Bros. has been operating here for much longer than Legendary Entertainment. Understanding the situation here will also help us defeat Warner Bros. and Disney."

“John, it’s not that I want to interfere with your decision, but is such a big battle necessary? The impact is too great, and the losses to you are also considerable. It’s almost a lose-lose situation. Moreover, I heard that you’re even suppressing Warner’s movie stars now, and even banning singers associated with Warner from endorsing products. Isn’t that too crazy?”

"I didn't want to do this either, but I had no way out. Hollywood isn't as simple as you think. The struggles in Hollywood are more brutal than you know. Legendary Entertainment's existence has already threatened their interests, so this battle was inevitable. One side has to back down, otherwise this war will never end. Those actors can only say they brought it on themselves. If they hadn't participated in this war, there wouldn't have been any problems. They can only blame themselves for making the wrong choice. Legendary Entertainment is not something they can challenge. As for those singers, they can only blame their bad luck. As long as they stand on the opposite side of Legendary Entertainment, they will have to bear the wrath of Legendary Entertainment. Soon this storm will come even more fiercely. This will be a global war, but it's not just in Europe. The United States and Asia are even more intense. This is a war of capital. There is no right or wrong, only victory and defeat. Legendary Entertainment is not fighting alone."

“John, I don’t understand your thinking, but someone wants to talk to you. They don’t want to see a major storm in France, so they’ve come to me!”

“Uncle, let’s turn them down. This isn’t something they can decide. I don’t know what their opinions are, and I don’t want to know what they’re thinking. Legendary Entertainment will not compromise, much less because of these people. If they insist on getting involved, then they should be prepared to be crushed by Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group. The price they can’t afford will be too high. At that time, Asia and the United States will become their nightmare.”

John understood the situation in France. It seemed that Warner Bros. couldn't hold on any longer and had to find someone to mediate. Unfortunately, they wouldn't have the same luck as before, and he wouldn't be fooled by them again. This time, no one could plead for them; Warner Bros. had to pay the price.

Is France important to Legendary Entertainment? Not really. After all, Universal Music's focus is now on the UK and West Germany, not France. Their investments in France are mainly in apparel. Even if some in France wanted to cooperate with Warner to block Legendary Entertainment, it wouldn't be a big deal; Legendary Entertainment could afford that loss. However, those French companies that dare to stand up and fight back might not be able to withstand a counterattack from John. Perhaps Disney is also involved; after all, those Disney fools have Disneyland in Paris, so it's understandable that someone would speak up for them!

(End of this chapter)