Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 224 For a Profit of One Million a Year

Larry's subsequent actions nearly made everyone present drop their jaws in astonishment.

First, Larry promised to book a ten-day suite for the patent attorney at the Astor Hotel and invite him to the hotel to discuss subsequent patent application matters.

Larry will also pay him an extra $100 over these ten days.

Larry then asked his patent attorney to buy him a physical National POS machine and have it delivered to him as quickly as possible.

The patent lawyer was stunned, considering that at that time, a patent lawyer's weekly salary was only $50. Larry's offer to book a private room in a luxury hotel and give him extra pay left the lawyer completely bewildered.

Larry waved his hand and said sternly, "It's settled then! You should go and find me a cash register from their company. You need to bring it when you check into the suite this afternoon, and then I'll reimburse you in full."

The patent attorney's expression shifted from doubt to surprise. He responded loudly, then stood up, bowed respectfully to Larry, and hurriedly ran out to find the cash register.

Matthew looked puzzled, but Larry waved him off, indicating that he should go back and talk about it later.

Henry Goldman also looked puzzled, but Larry didn't say anything. Instead, he simply slapped $750 onto the table and said,
"This is Goldman Sachs' 15% commission, which I paid in advance. I'll need you to take care of the subsequent patent application matters."

As he spoke, Larry put on his top hat and beckoned his two companions to walk outside.

Larry kept a cold face the whole way, his mind constantly calculating how to snatch the cash register business for himself.

Matthew and Dunbar didn't say anything, they just stayed with him calmly.

Back at the Astor Hotel, Larry went straight to the front desk and asked them to give him a suite on the same floor, instructing them to take anyone who came looking for him directly to that suite.

Back in her suite, Larry loosened her collar and sat on the sofa without saying a word. Matthew and Mr. Dunbar both took off their coats and sat on the sofa next to her, watching her quietly.

Five minutes later, Matthew couldn't help but ask, "My brother, you shouldn't be so angry. Sometimes it's unavoidable for inventions to be taken by others. Besides, this kind of machine isn't a pistol; it's not that important."

Matthew was convinced that Larry was angry because someone else had registered the name of his invention, the cash register.

How could he have imagined that Larry was furious because he had missed out on a business that would generate $100 million in profit a year—and that profit was growing at a rate that would double every three years?

Larry frowned, looked up at Matthew and said, "No, I can't swallow this. This invention should have been ours in the first place!"

Larry sounded a little guilty when he emphasized "our," but he'd evolved into a heartless operator by now. So, he immediately changed his expression, adopting a righteous demeanor as he continued to emphasize to Matthew,

"Matthew, I've made up my mind. This machine is Browning Corporation's most important money-making product in the early stages. We absolutely cannot let anyone else have the 100 million in profit we make a year!"

Matthew paused for a moment, then said, "But National Cash Register Company has already filed its patent application. What can we do? The patent lawyer just said that the company's CEO, that guy named John Patterson, is quite adept at patents and attacking competitors."

Larry's face was icy cold as he said, "We'll have our patent lawyers cooperate with us to find a way to bypass their patents, and then apply for other patents to block their path!"

Matthew and Dunbar exchanged a glance before turning to Larry and asking, "Is this even possible?"

Larry nodded and blurted out, "For a net profit of $100 million a year, I can overcome any difficulty! I'm willing to pay any amount of money!"

At 1:20 p.m., the patent lawyer arrived at the Astor Hotel carrying a heavy, oddly shaped cash register. Sweat beaded on his neck, soaking his shirt.

The receptionist quickly led him to a suite and notified Larry.

Larry and his two companions rushed to the patent attorney's suite.

The patent attorney was nearly 50 years old, and he was carrying this machine over, so he was really tired and had a sore back.

But the moment he saw Larry, he unconsciously straightened up and said to Larry like he was showing off a treasure, "Mr. Livingston, I've found the machine you wanted. I practically snatched it from my friend's French restaurant."

Larry nodded, not looking at him, but focusing all his attention on the NCR company's cash register...

It was a square box made of cast iron, as steady as a mountain, covered with dark enamel paint, its luster cold and sharp, like a miniature version of a bank vault.

The most eye-catching feature on its front is a row of brass signs and buttons, with the amount clearly engraved above each button.

Each time the patent attorney presses a key, it triggers a precise internal linkage of gears and levers, producing a crisp "click" sound.

Above the button is a small window that displays the transaction amount. Each successful transaction triggers a delicate mechanical bell at the top, producing a crisp "ding!" sound—a sound that serves both as an announcement of the transaction's completion and as a coded signal to the shopkeeper.

Its core feature is fraud prevention: the machine contains paper rolls that print out and record every transaction, making them tamper-proof. Below it is a lockable cash drawer; only after the transaction is recorded and the handle on the side is pulled forcefully will the drawer pop open with a "bang."

After seeing this cash register, even Larry himself was secretly amazed that such an ingenious machine existed in this day and age.

The most amazing thing about this ingenious machine is its entirely mechanical structure. It requires no external power and relies solely on the ingenuity of mechanical transmission. With its indestructible physical existence, it becomes a symbol of order, integrity, and modernity in the store at that time.

If it weren't for the thought of losing my $100 million annual profit, I would really like to become good friends with the inventor of this machine and the company...

Larry thought with regret.

After looking at the cash register, Ralph turned to say something to the patent attorney, but he stopped himself in time and went outside to have a waiter bring him a bottle of bourbon and four glasses.

After the whiskey was served, Larry poured drinks for each of the four men, then stood above the cash register with his glass in hand and spoke to the patent attorney.

"Sir! Oh, by the way, what's your name again?"

"My name is Jerry Lee!"

“Okay, Jerry! Help us apply for the gun patent as soon as possible. Don’t worry, I’ll give you every penny. But at the same time…” Larry said, pointing to the machine below before continuing…
“I am very angry that someone took my patent, but I am a decent person. Since he has already applied for the patent, I will not break the law to compete with him maliciously.”

The patent attorney stared wide-eyed at Larry, wondering what he was trying to say.

Larry continued seriously, "So I have a small request for you: please analyze all the patents for this machine for me. We need to bypass his patents and register some more advanced and cheaper cash register patents. This will ensure that our cash register will become the number one in the United States in the future."

The patent attorney's eyes darted around in their sockets, and he immediately understood what Larry meant.

He's trying to invent a better cash register that doesn't conflict with the other company's patent, in order to steal market share from National Cash Register Company.

"Yes, sir! No problem, sir!"

Larry nodded and continued, “If you help me with this, you’ll get all the patent application fees, plus a $500 reward. That doesn’t include the $100 I promised you this morning.”

The patent attorney swallowed hard, his face flushing red, and gritted his teeth assuring Larry that he would definitely complete the task.

"To one million... no, to fairness and justice, cheers!"

Larry raised his glass high, and the patent attorney, holding his glass as well, cautiously clinked it against Larry's.

Matthew, somewhat helplessly, clinked his glasses with the two men.

Mr. Dunbar, however, smiled and continued drinking as if the events unfolding here were none of his concern…

Back in his room, Larry asked Matthew, "What do you think of that machine?"

Matthew nodded, stroking his chin as he spoke.

"It is indeed much more sophisticated than my design. Of course, I estimate that its cost is at least twice that of mine, because its mechanical transmission device, whether it uses bearings or connecting rods, is very complex and cannot be cheap."

Larry nodded and pointed out the most crucial point to Matthew: "Do you know why this machine is so complicated? Because it has no power source; it relies entirely on pure mechanical transmission."

Matthew paused slightly, then casually asked, "Then how do we power it? With steam?"

Larry grinned and pointed to the light fixture on the wall of the Astor Hotel. "Use this thing as a power source!"

Matthew looked puzzled, but then he suddenly realized what was going on.

"You're talking about electric motors... I've heard of them. They were first discovered by the French scientist Faraday through electromagnetic induction, and he predicted that electricity could be used as a power source."

Later, Werner von Siemens manufactured the first self-generating generator in 1867, which greatly improved power generation efficiency and made electricity cheap and practical.

Zenob Gram invented the direct current electric motor in 1870, and most of the motors we use today are improved versions of this one.

Larry nodded, a smile spreading across his face, and continued, "And now?"

Matthew frowned and said, "I really don't know... I have heard that there are people here in America researching generators and electric motors, but I don't know their names."

Larry finally smiled happily and patted Matthew's arm.

“Others may not know, but the patent attorney certainly does… Ask him, and then try to find that American who makes generators and electric motors.”

“But I’ve heard that electric motors these days, the kind you call electric motors, are really big. Can they fit inside a cash register?” Matthew asked.

Larry continued smiling, "A person who can make an electric motor big can also make it small..."

"But can you guarantee that electricity will be widely available soon?" Matthew asked again.

Larry laughed as he grabbed his coat and glanced at Mr. Dunbar.

The latter, having already understood, grabbed his coat and put the M92 automatic pistol that Matthew had given him into his holster.

"I'm about to go out to visit my business partner and discuss some investment matters. I've also heard that the new company, formerly the Edison Electric Light Company, is about to go public..."

Don't worry, my brother, as soon as this company goes public, electricity will be readily available throughout the United States!
.
After Larry left, Matthew took the remaining patent application materials and hurried to the patent attorney's suite.

The patent attorney, grinning foolishly while holding a whiskey glass, saw Matthew approach and, still smiling, inquired about him.
"Mr. Browning, this suite must cost quite a bit, right?"

Matthew smiled, placed the documents on the table, glanced around the room, and casually said, "12 dollars a night."

The patent attorney gaped, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Could you ask Mr. Livingston to cancel my suite reservation and give me the money back..."

Matthew smiled, then asked seriously, "By the way, do you know who makes electric motors in America?"

The patent attorney paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "I know him. He's in New York. In 1887, he successfully assembled what was called a brushless AC induction motor, and in 1888, he obtained a patent for it. Its official name is electromagnetic motor!"

Matthew raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's this person's name?"

“Nikola Tesla,” the other person replied.

Matthew nodded and said solemnly, "Please take me to see him!"

(End of this chapter)