America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 266 Whale Auction

Mr. Parker called over the auction house's greeters and asked them to help with parking. Zhang Ailun naturally accepted, handed the car keys to the greeters, and then followed Mr. Parker into the auction house, where they found many people already gathered in the hall, chatting and laughing.

As soon as Zhang Ailun entered with Boss Parker, he became the focus of everyone's attention, and the Grand Master also noticed many familiar faces.

Many of the Hollywood socialites and internet celebrity socialites I'd seen at the last auction were there, wearing exquisite makeup and gowns, sitting in chairs taking photos, and occasionally chatting and laughing with some company executive.

It's like they're just there to freeload a meal.

Having secured a ticket, they would arrive on time for any auction, rain or shine, regardless of the occasion. This was a characteristic of the upper class; they were practically indispensable at any gathering of celebrities.

Not only that, they are also well-informed. They have a leader in the circle and a lot of connections. They can talk to almost anyone. They know exactly who is a newly rich person, who is pretending to be poor, who is about to go bankrupt, what assets they have, and how much wealth they have in their bank accounts. They share information with each other and go after you with a purpose.

They naturally knew something about the leader, having subtly inquired about him from others and shared the information in their socialite group. Knowing he was a billionaire, they noticed him immediately upon entering the group. And they acted on it, surrounding him and greeting him.

"Hey! Mr. Kim. Hello!"

"Mr. Jin, do you have a moment now that would be convenient for us to have a chat?"

Zhang Ailun did not refuse, and nodded with a smile. He had rice in his pocket, and soon chickens surrounded him looking for food.

"Mr. Jin, why haven't you contacted me with the business card and phone number I gave you last time?" A tall, hot-looking brown-haired beauty greeted the leader.

"Is that true? I'm sorry, there were too many people at the time, I might not have noticed you. This lady is really beautiful and has a great figure. I hope she's not angry with me." Zhang Ailun smiled slightly.

"Of course I'm not angry, because we don't know each other very well yet. I've always had a good impression of Mr. Jin. I have time tonight. After the auction, we can go out for a walk together. I know a themed restaurant that has particularly delicious steak." The other party's purpose was very clear, and they directly extended an invitation to the leader.

You want to eat steak? You want to eat me.

In their eyes, the leader showed no superfluous impulsive emotions, only a burning passion for the ticket to high society and a longing for the leisurely life of a wealthy wife.

They just want to find a wealthy and excellent family for their future children. What's wrong with that?

"I'm sorry, I have plans tonight. Maybe next time?" Zhang Ailun said.

"Okay, but don't forget me next time. You can memorize my number with your eyes or your phone." The beautiful woman moved closer, lifting her skirt and crossing her thighs, boldly and passionately flirting with the leader. Zhang Ailun looked down and saw a series of tattooed numbers and a small butterfly on his inner thigh.

Holy crap.

Thanks to the Grand Master's composure, he remained unaffected and managed to take a photo from the other party. He smiled slightly and said, "I will, darling. What's your name? Perhaps I'll invite you to ride in my Lamborghini to my villa in New Harbor sometime."

The socialite happily introduced herself: "My name is Mandy."

"I will remember you, baby."

Zhang Ailun chatted and laughed with hot socialites and internet celebrities, and soon a group of people surrounded him. In contrast, the owner of Parker next to him seemed to be at a disadvantage. He was all alone, holding a wine glass, isolated and looking a little embarrassed.

That's just how it is. Everyone knows he's about to go bankrupt, has no capital, and is about to retire from the industry, so of course no one is interested in him.

If Parker Company hadn't run into trouble, he would still be able to attract quite a few people; at least he wouldn't lack socialites seeking him out for duo or even trio queues.

The charisma of the Grand Master was amplified at this moment, which naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of many people.

Dude, are you eating alone?

Can you possibly use all of these?

Before you arrived, they were all fawning over us, even if they were being kept in limbo, because they had money in their pockets, were millionaires, and had all the power in their own hands. But as soon as you arrived, they all rushed to you!

Good money drives out bad money, right?

I may not date socialites, but I can't live without them around.

If they don't surround me and I reject them twice, how can I demonstrate my gentlemanly manners and loyalty to my family? How can I let others know I'm rich!

How can I let people know that I am an excellent, high-quality man who has transcended vulgar tastes, and then catch more fish?

Many people commented sourly, "Who is this Asian man? Is he rich and powerful?"

"You do business in District 5, and you don't know Mr. Kim?" someone asked in surprise.

"Is he famous?" the company executive asked doubtfully. "I've heard that an oil tycoon did emerge from the Fifth District. Could it be him? I must say, he's incredibly lucky."

"He's a relatively low-profile billionaire. Besides that, he's an investor in a local charitable foundation that supports hundreds of homeless people. He's the head of the largest activism organization and was personally invited by Congressman Jackson to join the Badminton Club as a senior member. I've wanted to meet him for a long time," the man said.

"Does he have such a powerful background?"

They gasped in surprise at the background of the Grand Master, but then breathed a sigh of relief, "Luckily, he's not in the business world."

"Who are you?" the person next to him asked in confusion.

"I am an assistant to a councilor from the Fifth District of the Executive Yuan." The man smiled slightly.

"Hello, hello. So you're the assistant." The man quickly offered a compliment, a smile spreading across his face.

The councilor's assistant smiled faintly, maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor, and did not refuse the people's overtures.

He came to support the whale auction at the request of the congressman. After all, the chairman of the whale auction has a good relationship with Jason, they are like brothers. Every time the whale auction is held, he will come and sit in the VIP seat to cheer him on, which also represents the congressman's approval and attention.

He kept his eyes on the direction of the Grand Master, also preparing to make himself known.

Zhang Ailun chatted and laughed with the socialites and internet celebrities, receiving their business cards and phone numbers. Noticing that the owner of Parker's position was a bit awkward, he made an excuse to leave, and the socialites tactfully departed.

He hadn't taken more than a couple of steps when a man hurried over and greeted him warmly, "Hello, Mr. Jin. Mr. Jackson asked me to give you his regards." Zhang Ailun had never seen this man before and asked in surprise, "Who are you?"

"I'm the congressman's administrative assistant. You can just call me Camo," the man said with a broad smile.

"Hello." Zhang Ailun, not wanting to refuse a smiling face, warmly shook hands with him. "Isn't the councilor coming?"

"The councilor is still dealing with official business, so it's inconvenient for him to come. I usually attend these gatherings on his behalf," Camo said modestly.

Many people noticed this scene and realized that the other party was not only rich, but also powerful and well-connected, and not someone to be trifled with.

Although many people are rich, simply having money isn't enough. Without connections, you're not in the same social circle as others, and you can't even get in the door. What's the point of playing around then?

"Great, I happen to have a gift for the councilor. Could you take it back to him for me? It's not anything rare, but it's something he really needs." Zhang Ailun smiled and took out an apartment key card from his pocket, handing it to the other person.

Boss Parker watched this scene in astonishment, noticing that the room key was the same one he had given to the Grand Master earlier. Was it meant to be given to the senator?

Kamo accepted the card without changing his expression, holding it in his hand and putting it in his pocket. He smiled and said, "Mr. Jin, you are very kind. If you need anything in the future, please feel free to ask me. I can do my best to help. This is my business card." He respectfully handed over the business card.

Zhang Ailun casually put it away, glanced at it, and then said with a smile, "Since you're both working for the congressman, you must be quite familiar with Cooper, right?"

"Our roles are different. I am the assistant who works for the congressman, and Cooper is the manager in charge of running the shelter business, but we are also good friends in private," Camer explained.

"Okay." Zhang Ailun wasn't really interested in finding out more. He only needed to know that one of them was a middleman who represented the councilor, handled documents, and relayed messages, while the other was a front man.

However, the fact that the congressman sent his assistant to meet with him also indicates his intention to engage in deeper cooperation.

In the future, minor troubles won't require the councilor to make decisions; Camo can help resolve them. Even if something goes wrong, it will be Camo's one-sided wrong decision, and it has nothing to do with the councilor.

That's how it is in this industry. You have to be careful in everything you do to avoid giving others a handle to use against you. And there always has to be someone to take the blame. If you don't take the blame for the councilor, are you going to let the councilor take the blame himself? What is the councilor supporting you for?

Work hard! Gain experience at the grassroots level, and in two years when the councilor retires, he can use his connections to recommend you for the next election! The success rate is very high!

The current president also rose through the ranks from vice president.

Camo was also an old classmate of the congressman, and they had a very close relationship. After all, the congressman was a self-made man who had risen from the ranks by competing for office after switching careers from law. The people he placed around him were all trustworthy grassroots individuals.

If things continue this way, Cameron will most likely become a candidate for parliament and run for the next parliamentary nomination.

Otherwise, what if someone else comes to power, or even a political enemy, and then settles scores with you?

Zhang Ailun chatted with Camo for a few more minutes, then glanced at the time and noticed that many people had already begun to take their seats. He said, "The auction is about to begin, Mr. Camo, I must excuse myself. Parker, where are our reserved seats?" He turned to ask Parker.

The other person stood to the side like a lackey, completely lacking any presence.

"I've arranged everything in the front row, Mr. Kim. Please come with me." Boss Parker hurriedly invited him to take his seat.

Camo watched them leave, clutching the apartment key card in his pocket; it felt heavy, and he sighed with emotion. He then turned and ran to the circle of wealthy individual investors nearby, basking in the spotlight and the admiration and adoration of many.

Zhang Ailun and Parker's boss sat in the VIP seats in the front row. The auctioneer was also a beautiful blonde with blue eyes and long legs. She politely greeted the guests, introduced the auction process and rules, and invited Camer to the stage to give a speech on behalf of the congressman.

After a few minutes of warm-up, the formal auction began.

"The first item up for auction is a pink diamond ring provided by a Las Vegas jewelry appraisal authority. The main stone is a 9.55-carat fancy oval modified pink diamond, set in 18k rose gold. The diamond's color is Fanck Orangy Pink, and its clarity is VVS1. The estimated market value is between $75 and $81. The starting bid is $50, and each bid must be at least $5000."

Zhang Ailun wasn't interested in the items in the first dozen or so rounds of auctions; he was simply admiring the auction items and the long legs walking around on the stage.

The assets auctioned at whale auctions are mostly high-risk items, such as collateral or disposed of filthy goods, which overlap with the nature of court auctions. The owners are usually people who have run away or are already in jail.

Although the items auctioned are no less valuable than those in other auctions, the prices are generally cheaper and more affordable, often allowing you to find bargains and buy items at low prices.

After all, you can tell from the guests who came to the auction this time that there was no verification process for entry, and their social status and influence were not high. There were not many big names, and not even female celebrities attended.

Fortunately, the Whale Auction has the support of councilors and members of the Feather Society behind the scenes, which is why it has been able to continue for so long and has a certain influence in Los Angeles. Those who participate also receive dividends each time.

From diamonds and jewelry to collectibles, items were projected onto the screen in succession, with prices ranging from several hundred thousand to a million dollars, none exceeding five million. This continued until Parker Company was brought up.

"The company being auctioned this time is a resource recycling company with three sites in the suburbs, professional equipment and 35 employees. All departments have complete professional certificates and procedures. It also has contracts with 46 waste recycling stations in the city and suburbs, as well as 4 waste electronic metal disposal centers, 2 renewable energy recycling companies, 1 military industrial workshop, 1 electronic production company, and outsourced vehicle fleets."

"However, Parker Corporation currently owes banks $2060 million, and a fire at its premises a week ago killed 12 employees. It was previously deemed a risky company by the court. Currently, 97% of Parker's shares are held by Mr. Parker and his executives, with the remaining 3% held by retail investors. After the auction and payment of the final payment, the buyer will implicitly transfer their shares, acquiring 97% of the company's shares and decision-making power. The market estimate is $1460 million to $1850 million. The starting price is $1200 million, and each bid must be at least $10."

The screen also displayed projections and photos of the site, showing that the factory's assembly line sorting equipment was spotless. Even the electronic waste in the storage area was neatly packed in the alleyway.

There are approximately tens of tons of electronic waste, and the value after processing should be between $20 and $35.

However, this profit is just a drop in the bucket compared to the bank debt, and it can be taken away by the bank at any time, not even enough to pay the daily interest.

Zhang Ailun owns several recycling stations, which account for a significant portion of the market. He also buys most of the electronic waste in bulk from waste processing centers. The filtered precious metals are sold to renewable energy companies and military factories, where he earns a profit.

The operating model is not much different from that of a recycling station. They both collect resources from individual users, process and filter out valuable items, and then sell them to other partners. The only difference is the scale and the people they deal with.

The renewable energy company recycles the metals and manufactures aluminum cans to sell to beverage companies. These cans are then put on the shelves, bought by consumers, and recycled again, creating a healthy cycle.

Military and electronics companies use gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, etc., in the production of circuit boards and other materials to manufacture computers and electronic instruments. Once these materials are worn out, they are discarded and awaited recycling.

After the auctioneer finished explaining the details, those who had initially been very interested in Parker Company lost interest.

Spending over ten million US dollars to buy a dilapidated, risky shell company, and then having to repay a $2060 million debt to the bank, is completely not worth it.

The atmosphere at the auction quickly cooled down. Many people sat in the VIP section, whispering and chatting, but none of them had any desire or intention to buy anything.

When Parker's boss saw this, his heart sank completely.

It's over!!

(End of this chapter)