America: My Time

Chapter 730 The Exchange Between Grandfather and Grandson

Chapter 720 The Exchange Between Grandfather and Grandson

“Alright, I’ll talk to Morgan. You’re right, you reap what you sow. I can’t stay out of the big picture. I’m also a member of the American financial group, and I have to think about the big picture, not just my own interests. I understand your ‘good intentions’!” John shook his head as he spoke. Talking to Rockefeller, that old guy, was risky. If he wasn’t careful, he could be tricked by him. After all, Rockefeller was a cunning old fox.

Was this merely Rockefeller's own idea? John would never think that way. Since Rockefeller claimed to be representing those old guys in making the request for cooperation, it wasn't just his own idea. There were many other people behind it, those old guys who coveted his ill-gotten assets and wanted him to keep them all to himself.

"Since you have nothing else to say, I won't bother you any longer. Also, I've prepared a gift for little Martin!" Rockefeller was quite satisfied with John's straightforwardness; at least the worst-case scenario hadn't occurred. Although this guy had his own calculations and ideas, none of that mattered; it was still within his tolerance.

After John's call with Rockefeller ended, Old Martin appeared before John. He had also received a phone call not long ago, and many people were worried that John's youthful impetuosity might cause problems in his communication with Rockefeller, leading to the worst-case scenario they didn't want to see. Therefore, they took double protection and had Old Martin come forward just in case.

"Grandpa, are you worried that the conflict between me and Rockefeller will escalate? Or are those guys worried that I'll make a big fuss?" John smiled faintly and shook his head slightly, marveling at the caution of those old men.

“I’m not worried that your conflict with Rockefeller will escalate. Even before you took direct action, I knew it wasn’t a big deal. As long as you two agree on compensation, it will be fine. I came to see you because of the donkey incident. They don’t want to see California in turmoil. Now they’ve been intimidated by your previous actions. You cleanly and efficiently took down those guys and pushed the judicial system to the forefront, making them deeply uneasy. After all, those guys’ hands aren’t clean, and they can’t withstand scrutiny from the judicial system. So they asked me to step in and smooth things over!”

"Heh, now these guys are scared. Where were they before? I warned them more than once, but they all thought I was young and easy to bully and didn't take my warnings seriously. Now that something's happened, they want to make peace. What are these guys thinking? Even Rockefeller paid the price, how can they expect to pay nothing?"

"No, they've paid a price; they'll give us a seat in Congress, and I've already agreed!"

“Alright, since they paid the price, I have no problem with it. Although it's not directly given to me, it's still a good gain for the family!” John didn't object to this outcome. Although he didn't benefit from it himself, it could ease his relationship with those guys in the family. Even if he didn't care too much, he didn't want to put the old man in a difficult position.

"Okay, I'm glad you can accept it. I believe they won't hold any more grudges, and they won't make things difficult for you or interfere with your life!"

"That's for the best, so as not to make things awkward for everyone or put you in a difficult position. I wonder how much longer you can stay here. Those guys are probably getting impatient! I hope they won't provoke me again, otherwise the civil and military campaigns won't end so easily."

"Don't worry, there won't be any more problems in the short term. If problems arise again later, you don't need to give them any face. I'll be going back the day after tomorrow to avoid any further unexpected events! Also, now that this matter has been resolved, your people shouldn't stay in the United States anymore, so as not to make those guys feel uneasy and cause any unnecessary trouble."

“I know that as long as their promises are fulfilled, I will make them leave immediately. This negotiation with Rockefeller can be considered a success. However, those old guys are very cunning. They gave me an irresistible bait: one of the nine directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Those guys still don't trust me and are worried that I will target their finances! Grandpa, if you have time, tell Lehman Brothers not to do it again, otherwise no one's face will be of any use!”

John was seething with rage over Lehman Brothers, but he couldn't afford to completely destroy them. Otherwise, the Wall Street guys would be uneasy and react violently, which was something John didn't want. After all, Lehman Brothers was a Wall Street giant; if it collapsed, the consequences would be severe. "Alright, I'll talk to them. But don't act impulsively. You did well this time, at least giving those guys enough face and preventing them from having bad intentions. As for Lehman Brothers, there's no need to haggle with them. With these giants, either don't act at all, or when you do, make sure they're completely destroyed, with no chance of recovery. Otherwise, they'll only become a major threat."

“I understand, that’s why I’ve been holding back. After all, I have to give the White House some face. This is the old man who just took over. If I were to make a big fuss at this time, it would be too disrespectful to him. That’s why those guys dare to scheme against me, and that’s why they’re so fearless.” John saw through those guys’ schemes clearly. It was because of a combination of reasons that he had to be cautious. Even if he did take action, it was only against those who were not respectable and those thugs, not against the people behind them.

The world of martial arts isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions. Especially when it comes to the struggles between conglomerates, fighting alone can't solve everything. After all, these conglomerates have countless connections behind them, making it a situation where one move can affect the whole body.

Hearing John's answer, Old Martin was very pleased. With John around, the Bayard family would prosper for decades. After this battle, no one would easily provoke John anymore. Now John had truly grown up and truly gained everyone's recognition. A person who has not experienced killing cannot gain the recognition of others. This time, everyone witnessed John's ruthlessness. The disappearance of hundreds of people was enough to terrify everyone.

While the martial arts world isn't all about fighting and killing, but rather about human relationships and social interactions, it still requires considerable personal strength. Without equal status and power, one naturally won't gain recognition or fairness. Strength is an essential component of one's character. This battle with Jaguar Security Company has made those guys no longer dare to underestimate John; otherwise, they would have become part of the vanished, disappearing silently into the darkness.

“John, what are your plans regarding those guys in Britain? Although you're not afraid of them and have the US as your backing, it's best not to take action yourself. Letting your proxies handle it is the best option. At least the British authorities won't have any reason to do it, and it also saves them face. Even if everyone knows it was you who did it, at least on the surface, the authorities will accept it. It's a win-win situation for everyone!”

“I understand. I didn’t intend to do it myself. Jaguar Security is a legitimate company and wouldn’t do anything illegal. You can rest assured about that.” As he said this, a faint smile appeared on John’s face. Why use Jaguar Security to deal with those guys? He had plenty of ways to handle them. Financial sniping, pirate attacks—as long as he got the British’s detailed list, unless they had absolutely no flaws, those guys would be crying.

"That's good. Also, if it's not necessary to reach an official reconciliation with the British government, we shouldn't continue this. We still need to give the Queen face!"

"Alright, I'll let it go. Even you've spoken up, what reason do I have to insist?" Although he was a little disappointed, the old man had spoken, and even mentioned the Queen, so John couldn't be too arrogant. After all, the Queen's influence was considerable, and he didn't need to fight the British to the death over such a small matter. If things continued, the British would indeed get angry. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone the British.

Now, due to its own reasons, Britain's economy has been significantly affected. At the very least, Middle Eastern tycoons are unwilling to participate in British investments, and many more are worried about the credibility of the British. If this continues, it's no wonder they're getting anxious.

Now that the British have compromised and Western Energy has gotten everything it wanted, there's no need to continue targeting them. Showing some goodwill is a good thing and can ease the tensions between them. As for those who plotted against us, they can't be let off the hook, and the British government won't stand up for them anyway.

As for the guy who's hiding even deeper and hasn't left him any leverage, John won't let him go either. But he doesn't need to do it himself; the Middle Eastern tycoons will handle it. What he needs to do is give the Middle Eastern tycoons enough power to put those guys under more pressure, preferably in a state of constant fear. After all, if he takes action, things will get out of control.

At this point, John thought of the British and the Short Brothers company acquired by Gulfstream Aerospace. Using this company to provide some financial support to Middle Eastern tycoons seemed like a good option, and it could also encourage them to invest back in Britain. More importantly, with the British acting as a buffer, there wouldn't be so many problems to worry about. With this in mind, John began to calculate how to seize the opportunity to maximize his own gains in a way that was acceptable to everyone, rather than having to confront those guys directly. For the sake of profit, John believed the British wouldn't refuse.

(End of this chapter)