America: My Time

Chapter 360 An Unexpected Incident

Chapter 360 An Unexpected Incident

It has to be said that the power of capital is immense. John soon had to return to work because results had been achieved in Europe and Asia. The think tank had made its choice and had already made contact with the other party. There were two oil refineries in the British Isles, but what John didn't expect was that the think tank had actually acquired Ireland's only oil refinery, and the other party was even willing to sell it. John was surprised by this result. This is the power of capital.

Unfortunately, Western Energy couldn't find a suitable refinery to acquire in Southeast Asia; no one was willing to sell. This situation gave the think tank a headache, forcing them to prioritize building their own refineries. Although they were unaware of John's plans, their growing understanding of Southeast Asia led them to believe that establishing refineries in Asia was indeed feasible and profitable.

Perhaps it was the previous acquisition by Western Energy that attracted some attention. Before John could make a decision, Little Bus took the initiative to approach him, offering to provide land for the port and the oil refinery, just to gain John's approval.

With the continuous improvement of the think tank, John's refinery plan is no longer what it used to be. It is no longer just a layout for petrochemicals, but a comprehensive layout. The port, refinery and even steel plant are integrated. If possible, a small power plant can also be built in conjunction with it. Such a layout is not simple.

It was precisely because Western Energy and Quantum Mining had conducted investigations in several East Asian countries that they were approached by John. Without obtaining accurate information from Western Energy and Quantum Mining, they sought John out for their own benefit, wanting to communicate with him directly about this matter.

Such a large-scale investment requires a massive initial investment, and will bring a continuous stream of benefits in the future. How could Pakistan not be tempted? Not only Pakistan, but Malaysia is also interested. Singapore is currently undergoing rapid development, and they share similar aspirations, but lack the necessary funds, so they are turning their attention externally. The emergence of Western Energy and Quantum Mining has also attracted their attention, making them eager to compete for such large projects.

"Mr. John, please forgive my intrusion in visiting you."

"You flatter me. May I ask what brings you all here in such a hurry?" John had a vague idea about Xiao Ba's appearance. He thought these guys were here for the joint expansion of Quantum Mining and Western Energy, but he didn't know what reasons they would use to convince him, or what reason he would have to accept their terms.

“Mr. John, we are here regarding Quantum Mining and Western Energy’s intention to build a production base in Asia. We are willing to offer the utmost sincerity by leasing the port of Gwadar for ninety-nine years!”

Upon hearing this, John shook his head slightly and said, "It's a bit early to talk about this now. We haven't made a decision yet. It's not just about the port; there are many other issues to consider. Such an investment needs to be carefully considered. Once it starts, it will be a very important event for me personally, as well as for Quantum Mining and Western Energy. The amount of money involved will be enormous. The port alone is not enough to entice us. We have more options. Singapore and Tanjung Port in Malaysia are both under our consideration. We need to make a comprehensive assessment, which will take time."

As John said, while he needed to make preparations in Southeast Asia, he didn't necessarily have to cooperate with Pakistan. This required comprehensive consideration. Pakistan's situation was still too poor, at least in terms of infrastructure, and most importantly, the price they offered was not enough. He had other options.

“Mr. John, Western Energy has already started building large-scale oil refineries in Taiwan and Japan. Is it necessary to continue making such investments?” The situation between John and Xiao Ba quickly reached China. Such investments were also tempting to China, but they were worried about the strength of Western Energy, as such investments involved too much capital.

"Investing in oil refineries in Taiwan and Japan isn't our focus, because they are developed societies with high labor costs. In comparison, other Southeast Asian countries are in a better position. Actually, we initially favored South Korea, with its excellent ports and decent infrastructure. Unfortunately, their appetite was too big; they weren't satisfied with the benefits of such investment and wanted to share the profits with us, so we had to give up. What we want is not just oil refineries, but also steel mills if possible. Ports are important, but other soft conditions are also crucial. We don't want simple investments, but a massive port development plan and the construction of a major commodity trading base. Pakistan's conditions are still somewhat lacking; at least for now, they're not enough to entice us."

When Quantum Mining partnered with Western Energy, such an investment was no secret, so John had no reservations and directly revealed his side's plans. Quantum Mining has now completed its infrastructure in Australia, with ports and a fleet in place; now it needs to further develop its ports around the world.

"Mr. John, I wonder if there's any opportunity for cooperation between us!" "The opportunity for cooperation exists, but I don't think you can accept our requirements. We need management rights over the port, and we also need to build a refinery nearby with sufficient capacity to expand production. Most importantly, we do not accept joint ventures. As the core industry of Western Energy and a base for bulk commodity trading, we do not accept joint ventures!"

Although John is not opposed to joint ventures, such investments require caution and cannot be taken lightly, because once such an investment is made, it cannot be changed. Joint ventures will inevitably lead to many problems and disagreements, which will affect John's plans and even his future development and strategy.

While John was preparing for the development of Quantum Mining and Western Energy, new news came from Japan: those guys invited John to negotiate iron ore prices, and the business center in Roppongi, Japan, had been completed.

"Ava, inform the crew that we're heading to Japan. This can't be delayed any longer. Those guys in Japan are getting desperate. It seems the mining giants are putting a lot of pressure on them, forcing them to rely on Quantum Mining to fight back. I wonder what unreasonable demands those guys have made that's made them so nervous!"

It's worth noting that the renovation of Roppongi was originally supposed to take some time, but the Japanese guys finished it in such a short time. This shows how much pressure they were under. John couldn't help but have some thoughts about this. Since the Japanese guys are so capable, perhaps the construction of Universal Studios will be even faster!

“John, it’s only been a little over ten days and you’re already leaving. This is different from what you said before. I told you you didn’t have that much time!” Justin, John’s uncle, said calmly upon learning that John was going to Tokyo, Japan, to discuss iron ore prices.

“Yes, I didn’t expect those guys to be in such a hurry, not even able to wait ten days or so. Uncle, are you going to stay and continue your trip, or will you go back to France with Grandpa and Grandma in a few days? Grandpa is already a little worried about his winery!”

"John, although I'd like to rest a bit longer, you know I don't have that much time. Let's leave together in a few days. But will you be back in a few days?"

"I'm afraid I won't have that much time. I've already informed the US that a new plane will be arriving the day after tomorrow. After things are settled in Japan, I'll need to travel to the Middle East to meet with those wealthy people. There are many things to take care of, so I won't be back in the US for a while, but I'll definitely be back before the Olympics!"

Everyone understands John's situation. With such vast assets, he naturally can't have the same amount of time and freedom as others. That's why problems have arisen in Japan, and a decision also needs to be made regarding the situation in Pakistan. However, this depends on the extent of the benefits Pakistan can offer. After all, such a massive investment isn't something that can be decided lightly; it requires careful calculation.

Faced with this sudden situation in Japan, Naoko, Akina, and Hitomi Kuroki chose to return to Japan with John, while Cherie Chung and Selena Yeh chose to stay behind to accompany John's parents before heading to the United States together.

After Chung Chor-hung's retirement from the entertainment industry, Ye Qianwen was also considering what she should do. Should she follow Chung Chor-hung's example? After all, the entertainment industry is full of hardships. Now that she has achieved financial freedom, there is no need to continue, and she doesn't need to work so hard.

It has to be said that Cherie Chung's decision put immense pressure on Sally Yeh. After all, someone choosing to retire from the entertainment industry, especially at the height of their popularity, is no small matter and has a significant impact. At least in this respect, Cherie Chung gained points in John's parents' eyes, and even John's maternal grandparents liked her very much, which increased Sally Yeh's pressure even more.

In contrast, Naoko, Akina, and Hitomi Kuroki didn't feel much pressure because their backgrounds were different from Cherie Chung and Sally Yeh. Therefore, they didn't feel much when facing this situation, especially Hitomi Kuroki, who felt the least pressure, since she was now practically semi-retired. As for Akina and Naoko, they all had their own ideas, and John didn't force them. John didn't act too domineering in this matter, nor was there any need for him to.

(End of this chapter)