America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 660 The Foundation of a Wealthy Family

As Ernst stepped through the gilded, intricately carved doors of the banquet hall, a sense of awe that transcended reality instantly washed over him.

It gave him the feeling of stepping into a textbook, as if he were in a dreamlike world of a magnificent and splendid classical European palace.

The banquet hall is extremely spacious, about half the size of a football field, with a dome nearly 20 meters high that hangs over the entire hall like the sky, giving people an extremely strong visual impact.

The Corinthian columns supporting the dome are carved entirely from marble, with intricate and delicate acanthus leaf reliefs covering the columns, which are natural and fluid, echoing the giant relief in the center of the dome.

At the very center of the dome hangs a custom-made crystal chandelier, estimated to weigh over a thousand kilograms. Each crystal is over twenty centimeters in diameter, like a crystal-clear ice crystal, hanging below the chandelier frame.

The walls around the room were not covered with murals, but with large, brightly colored tapestries depicting Western mythology. The images were so lifelike that it was obvious they were the work of famous artists.

The Kennedy family are of Irish descent, but surprisingly, they dislike the British royal style and instead have a particular fondness for French luxury.

However, Ernst's first thought was that he really wanted to visit the Rockefeller family's main house and wondered how exaggerated it would be.

When the group entered, there were already quite a few people sitting inside. They were likely members of the Kennedy family's collateral branches and other families, forming the core circle of New England's elite society.

Upon Ernst's arrival, all the guests in the hall spontaneously rose to greet him.

Ernst clearly captured a variety of complex emotions from their eyes and demeanor.

Some were curious about this outsider, wondering what made this young tycoon, who was able to marry into the Kennedy family and stir up a storm in the business world, so extraordinary.

There were also those who genuinely admired him, admiring how he, at such a young age, had created a massive commercial empire in such a short time.

There are also those who scrutinize him, trying to judge his depth from his words and actions.

But more than anything, it was a deep-seated pride.

It was a sense of superiority stemming from a family's centuries of accumulation, a pride that resembled that of nobles or even royalty, as if declaring that they were the true masters of this land.

Ernst looked down on these Celestial Dragons who lived in their own privileged world, were short-sighted yet arrogant.

As long as they don't bother him, he'll just treat them as his wife's mean-spirited relatives.

If anyone is foolish enough to misbehave, he wouldn't mind helping their family elders teach them a lesson.

Led by Adam Kennedy, everyone took their seats in turn.

Ernst's seat was arranged to the left of Adam Kennedy, the head of the table, and directly opposite him sat Peter Lodge, the oldest and most senior member of the major families.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us once again welcome Mr. Ernst to our Kennedy family dinner with a warm round of applause!" Adam raised his glass, and applause immediately filled the hall. Then everyone raised their glasses to Ernst.

Ernst nodded slightly, a polite smile on his face, and slowly raised his glass to express his gratitude.

He put down his wine glass, took a neatly folded piece of white paper from the inside pocket of his jacket, and gently placed it on the table between him and Adam Kennedy. "This is a small token of my appreciation for your first visit. I hope you like it."

Adam Kennedy was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ernst to suddenly present such a strange gift on this occasion, but out of basic politeness, he reached out and picked up the white paper, slowly unfolding it.

The contents of the blank sheet of paper were not complicated, consisting of only a few lines of text, yet they were enough to make Adam's pupils suddenly contract.

"Is this an offer to acquire George magazine?"

At the middle of the long table, a man in his thirties, upon hearing the words "George" magazine, suddenly sharpened his previously calm gaze, fixing it on Ernst with the intensity of a hawk.

"A billion dollars?" When Adam Kennedy saw the amount in the offer, even he, who was used to big occasions, couldn't help but gasp and exclaim in surprise.

Upon hearing his exclamation, the others in the banquet hall were instantly thrown into an uproar, their breathing becoming rapid.

The younger generation of family members stared wide-eyed, mouths slightly agape, as if they couldn't believe their ears. They exchanged shocked glances and whispered among themselves.

They were all familiar with George magazine, founded by John F. Kennedy Jr., the next generation of key figures in the Kennedy family.

Although this magazine was once the most popular political magazine in the United States, it could not avoid losses, nor could it avoid being criticized by its political opponents as a political magazine for people who do not understand politics.

Let alone a billion dollars, it might not even be worth ten million dollars.

However, everyone quickly realized that this was not a gift, but compensation.

This was the second compensation Ernst gave in response to the Boston Consortium's efforts in dealing with the attack.

This is not just about money; with the support of the MGM media behemoth, the influence of George magazine will surely grow day by day.

When people mention this magazine, they will inevitably think of Kennedy, which is an extension of the Kennedy family's influence.

"What's this?" Adam Kennedy picked up another key, which was wrapped in the paper he had just been holding.

"Some of Mitt Romney's..." Ernst glanced at the women and shrugged. "Some primal desires of his life."

"Where?" Before Adam Kennedy could speak, an old man about the same age as Peter Lodge asked.

Ernst knew him; Howard Kennedy, now a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.

Mitt Romney was the biggest political challenge for him, or rather for the entire Kennedy family and the Boston conglomerate.

This elephant, presented as a Washington outsider and business elite, a man focusing on economic development and moral issues, primarily challenges Kennedy's political career and policy stances, becoming Edward Kennedy's strongest opponent.

Although the Kennedy family ultimately lost the previous Senate race, it severely damaged their political reputation.

Especially now that the Kennedy family is in the midst of a generational transition, if they can suppress this biggest enemy, the Kennedy family's political power in Massachusetts can be smoothly transferred.

Last year, he used Michael Kennedy's extramarital affair to sensationalize the Kennedy family's moral depravity, which dealt a significant blow to Kennedy's influence.

If they could use the affair to bring this guy down now, it would not only eliminate a powerful rival, but also greatly enhance the Kennedy family's reputation.

They could easily shift the blame for the negative public opinion onto the other side, claiming it was a frame-up by the enemy.

"In Los Angeles, in the Wells Fargo safe deposit box, here's the key, the password is Annie's birthday," Ernst replied with a smile.

In fact, these people had no idea how valuable the two gifts he gave away were.

The acquisition of George magazine was not just about compensation; it was about saving the next generation of the Kennedy family.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, John F. Kennedy Jr. will die in a plane crash this year, thus beginning the legend of the Kennedy curse.

Now, with MGM's support, he could use his position as editor-in-chief to enter politics, which might save his life and ensure the Kennedy family line continues.

Mitt Romney, the "Elephant Man" who constantly attacked the Kennedy family and amplified the Kennedy curse, was elected governor of Massachusetts in 02. However, he was the one who truly led the Kennedy family to decline.

He helped the Kennedy family eliminate two of their biggest threats from a godlike perspective.

Look at the members of the Kennedy family now; their political power is immense.

Edward Kennedy, a key figure in the Senate, is the anchor of the Donkey Congress and is currently a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.

Joseph P. Kennedy II is a current Representative from Massachusetts.

Patrick Kennedy, son of Edward Kennedy, was elected as a Rhode Island Representative in 1994 and is one of the representatives of the new generation of the Kennedy family.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph's sister, is the current Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.

And then there's John F. Kennedy Jr., hailed as the epitome of American bachelorhood, the next Kennedy.

Once he enters politics, his minimum political career level will be governor.

He is the absolute core of the younger generation of Kennedys, and is even more highly regarded by the family than Senator Patrick Kennedy.

This list alone is enough to demonstrate the Kennedy family’s political influence in New England, not to mention the other collateral members who hold important positions in various organizations.

If we also include the Adams and Lawrence families, it's safe to say that the entire Northeast China region belongs to them.

Having chosen to marry into the Kennedy family, Ernst hoped that the Kennedy family's path would become smoother and smoother, which would not do him any harm.

Without the slightest hesitation, Adam handed the key directly to Massim, making it clear that he was entrusting the task to him.

He picked up the simple acquisition offer and jokingly said, "Could I interpret this as a betrothal gift?"

Ernst paused for a moment, not expecting the other person to joke, and replied in a relaxed tone, "If you think so, he could be."

"Hmph, they certainly know how to fawn over others."

Just as the two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere became harmonious and pleasant, a cold snort suddenly rang out in the banquet hall, shattering the harmony.