America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 326 The Venetians

Having resolved the issue of the Venezuelan smuggling ships, Zhang Ailun also instructed the mercenaries to remain at their posts and left the port area. Not long after, Madison's private plane landed on Jehovah Island.

After receiving the news, Zhang Ailun immediately took a car to pick him up. When they arrived at the airport, he went over to Madison as he got off the plane and gave him a warm welcome.

"Old Mike, you've come just in time. I just finished dealing with a personal matter, and you've already brought your men over." Zhang Ailun told the other party with a smile what had just happened.

"So your island is certainly not very peaceful." Madison's expression was strange. He then asked, "Where are your warships? Take me up there to experience them. If they're useful, I'll consider buying one when I get back."

"You don't need it. Your island is so safe that no one would be foolish enough to cause you trouble. I'm different. The waters near the shipping lanes are full of smugglers and pirates."

Zhang Ailun smiled. But he still took Madison to the harbor area, let him tour his littoral combat ship, and let him go aboard and experience it.

With the help of the Beggars' Sect disciples, Madison learned about the functionality of the Littoral Combat Ship and toured the ship, the command center, and the platform.

After learning about the routine maintenance requirements and the work the warship could do, Madison returned to the island and remarked to the chief commander, "You're right, I really don't need this thing."

"The daily operation of a littoral combat ship requires more than 20 people, all of whom must be professional naval personnel, including the captain and chief petty officer. A destroyer requires a minimum of 50 people and a maximum of more than 300? Where am I going to recruit so many people? I might as well use all that money to buy attack helicopters! If we encounter danger, it would be a better option to call the police directly."

Madison readily admitted that it was not a necessity.

"Your island is so close to the west coast, you can call the police directly if you run into trouble, and the police will respond quickly. But if something happens here, it will take at least several hours to get there, by which time it will be too late, and we also have to consider whether the other party is willing to come. If they make an excuse that this area is a strait of Mexico and not under their jurisdiction, then I'll have paid taxes for nothing!" Zhang Ailun said irritably.

"Have you ever paid taxes?" Madison asked in surprise.

"No, what about you?" Zhang Ailun asked.

"I only dated when I was young," Madison said calmly.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Who among the wealthy would pay regular federal taxes?

If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too. Even former presidents didn't pay taxes, so how can they be expected to pay taxes obediently? Aren't all those loopholes just there to let you exploit them?

Zhang Ailun then took Madison by car to visit other parts of the island, including mansions and villas, coastal scenery, and checkpoints guarded by professional mercenaries, making the defenses impregnable.

After taking a drive around, it didn't feel like a proper private island suitable for a vacation, but it had a unique charm, and at least the safety level was five stars.

Forget about smugglers and drug dealers; even the CIA and FBI would have to think twice before venturing into these waters. Violating the islands' sovereignty might lead to reports and repercussions, and they'd be more likely to die there. Besides, they certainly wouldn't come here unless there's a reason; maintaining ocean and coastline security is the navy's job.

Madison suddenly felt a pang of regret, lamenting, "If I had known this island offered so much extra income and so many different kinds of projects, I definitely would have taken it on myself."

"If you feel you're being taken advantage of, we can make a trade. You can face those lawless smugglers and drug dealers. I'll take warships and destroyers to the islands off California," Zhang Ailun suggested.

"Then the next day, all the antiques and collectibles on my island will definitely be looted by those people," Madison said irritably.

He was just joking. With his limited firepower, and having only ever dealt in antiques, he was a prime target. Coming here would likely not be any better than coming to Prien, with minor skirmishes every three days and major battles every five.

Only a powerful leader with a strong army, specializing in the arms industry, can guarantee a stable workforce and ammunition. They've built their power through hard work and experience. Madison, with one foot in the grave, has no interest in switching careers to fighting and killing.

Back at the villa, Zhang Ailun had his female assistant pour them both a cup of hot tea. He then brought up the matter of Silver Island and revealed some of his discoveries, suggesting that there was a high probability that a large amount of silver coins and gold were stored there.

"Colombian guerrillas? Those guys have existed since the last century, specializing in kidnapping, drug trafficking, and extortion. The Colombian government can't really do anything about them. Things might be a little better now; most of the guerrillas have either transformed their ways or been recruited into the government."

Madison pondered, "Are you sure there really are a large number of Spanish silver coins, or even gold coins, to be mined on the island?"

"I only believe that my own judgment is absolutely correct. I have been there once and personally visited the location. There must be a lot of silver coins on Silver Island. Otherwise, where did those hundreds of thousands of silver coins go? They neither entered the market nor were they collected by individuals. It simply doesn't make sense," Zhang Ailun said.

Madison pondered, "Actually, people had been paying attention to that island for a long time, believing it must contain considerable wealth, and attempted to take it over, but ultimately nothing came of it. This is because at that time, Silver Island wasn't a Colombian sovereign island. Guatemala and Colombia had a long-standing dispute over island sovereignty. Eventually, some islands became Colombian sovereign islands. Later, because Colombia lacked the resources to control its maritime territory and overseas islands, guerrillas took advantage of the situation and occupied them."

"After all, in the eyes of many people, no matter how bad the FARC guerrillas are, they are still an internal force in Colombia. It is better for their own people to benefit than for other countries like Guatemala to occupy their islands and lands."

Just like how Mexican drug lords, no matter how arrogant, dare not seek independence, because they know that their actions are merely an internal matter of Mexico. Other countries that dislike them have no reason to intervene, as that would undoubtedly violate international law.

But if they dare to show their faces on the international stage, attempt to split Mexico, or even establish their own state, then other countries will really not tolerate them.

The next day they would be treated as terrorists, bombed, dismembered, and their spoils divided!

The regime was established in the morning, and the US F-22 Air Force squadron arrived at noon.

That evening, it was announced that the anti-terrorism and land purchase bills would be enacted simultaneously.

"So you're saying you want to buy that island? To mine for silver and gold coins?" Madison asked.

"That's right, I do have that idea, but I don't know anyone in the Colombian government, and it would be difficult for me to persuade them to sell the island to me on my own. That's why I came to you about this. I need you to find people in your circle to help persuade Colombian government officials to give me the development rights for Silver Island. I can also buy the island myself."

Zhang Ailun smiled and said, "That island's geographical location is poor. It's close to the Mexican waters of the Americas, too far from Colombia, and its area is only about 0.96 square kilometers. Even with tourism, it's worth at most twenty million US dollars. Besides, this money isn't for the guerrillas; it's going directly to the Colombian government! All they have to do is cede the nominal sovereignty and development rights of the island to me, and I can help them deal with the guerrillas. It's a win-win situation!"

Everything needs a legitimate reason. As long as we get the Colombian government under control, we don't need to worry about the guerrillas at all.

After all, no matter how bad Colombia is, it is still a country ruled by a government, not an illegal regime controlled by FARC guerrillas.

The guerrillas are at most private illegal armed groups. The islands are developed in their hands, and the Colombian government doesn't receive a single penny. In fact, they have to pay out of their own pockets every year to ensure that the overseas islands are their sovereign territory.

But who told them they didn't have the strength to take the island back from the guerrillas?

The government forces were utterly incompetent. If it weren't for the support of American equipment, the lawmakers would have been beheaded one by one by the Medellín drug traffickers in the last century.

If it weren't for the intervention of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pablo Escobar, the head of the Medellín Cartel, might have been the president of Colombia in the 1990s.

The fact that the leader of the guerrilla group is willing to spend money to buy Silver Island, pay the government, and not be afraid of the risk of retaliation from the guerrillas is a great thing for the Colombian government!

You handle the problem. I'll provide the money, the manpower, and the effort; we'll develop that island together, and I might even give you an extra share of the profits afterward.

All you need to do is secure your legitimate rights and interests on the surface; the head of the headquarters has much more to consider.

How to crush the Co-Wu guerrillas! Destroy them! Take over the island and develop valuable silver and gold coins.

How should the profits be divided?

"I'll take nine, you take one."

The Grand Master did not hesitate at all.

Seeing Madison's hesitant expression, Zhang Ailun smiled calmly: "It's already quite good that I can offer 10% of my profits. Didn't you already make so much money from me before? Just asking you to help me connect with the Colombian government is practically free money!"

"Just how valuable is Silver Island? Is it worth taking you so seriously?" Madison asked curiously.

"Maybe a few hundred million dollars?" Zhang Ailun pondered.

Madison nodded. "If it has value, it's certainly worth trying to develop it, but investments always carry risks. I won't take your money. If you happen to find some silver coins in good condition, you can consider sending me a few."

"That's not a problem at all, provided that the person you find is really reliable," Zhang Ailun said.

"Don't worry, I'll handle this. I happen to know a fruit tycoon who invests in Colombia. He's been buying up sugarcane and fruit grown there, turning them into canned goods for sale. He also knows some members of the Colombian government, so I can put in a good word for him."

Madison said, "If you're willing to spend money to buy that island, even if you go directly to negotiate with them, they're willing to agree, it'll just take a little longer."

"The sooner this is done, the better. I wish we could get that island sorted out tomorrow." Zhang Ailun raised his teacup.

"Then I'll help you contact someone tonight." Madison nodded and laughed.

The two drank another cup of hot tea, chatting and laughing. It was getting late outside, and seeing that it was almost time, the leader changed into a suit and decided to set off for Las Vegas.

Zhang Ailun called on Old Jack and Bailey, letting them drive the Cirrus Fathead Shark back to Los Angeles themselves, and also thinking about what kind of gift to give the princess.

Given my identity and the business I do, there's no need to send collectible coins or anything like Madison did; it's just a token of my appreciation.

He then randomly picked a gift from among the island's collections, a gilded Desert Eagle, a treasure kept in Prien's armory.

It's not worth much, but it looks impressive.

After all, it's a gift for camels, and people like large-caliber items because they can both demonstrate their business and express their sentiments.

Packed in a gift box, we took a car to the airport, boarded the private jet with Madison, and sat in the VIP lounge.

As the pilot started the aircraft engine, it sprinted a distance on the runway, then soared into the sky, leaving the waters around Jehovah Island.

It took two hours to arrive in Las Vegas, where we landed smoothly on the VIP runway of the independent airport near the Venetian Hotel.

As Zhang Ailun stepped off the plane, he looked at the Venetian Hotel. The entrance was decorated with red carpets and lanterns, and many VIPs had already arrived.

It truly lives up to its reputation as an international hotel.

The building is 144.8 meters tall and has a Y-shaped floor plan. The architectural design uses modern techniques to express the Renaissance style of Venice in the 16th century. The upper part is white with eaves, round window arches and columns, while the exterior walls are mainly covered with earth-colored bricks and glass curtain walls.

"Why did the princess celebrate her birthday in Las Vegas instead of Saudi Arabia? It must have cost a fortune to rent this hotel," Zhang Ailun asked with a sigh.

"Five hundred million dollars for a three-day lease. Plus some packaged projects and programs, the total cost was eight hundred million dollars," Madison said.

Before Zhang Ailun could even lament about how extravagant it was, he quickly added, "However, this is the mainstream view in the media. In reality, it's not that much. After all, while the Saudi royal family is wealthy, they're not stupid. How could they possibly give away money to others for nothing every day?"

"It seems the royal family has some business dealings with the owners of the Venetian, so this $800 million isn't just a simple birthday celebration for the business partner; it's more about celebrating the success of their business partnership. They took the initiative to secure this deal and specifically chose the princess's birthday to announce it to the media," Madison said.

"That's relatively easy to accept." Zhang Ailun nodded, reluctantly accepting the reason.

Otherwise, spending seven or eight hundred million dollars on a simple birthday celebration would be a huge blow to others, even if everyone knows you're very rich.

Following Madison carrying the gifts, they arrived at the entrance of the Venetian Hotel. Along the way, they encountered several familiar faces, all of whom had previously been guests at the patriarch's villa. These included directors from Tyson Foods and elite Wall Street investment families—good friends from the same camp.

They greeted each other and then decided to travel together.

The Venetian manager, who was standing at the hotel entrance responsible for greeting VIPs, also came over with great awareness. He helped accept the gifts and asked if they had invitations.

"We were invited by Prince Simba to attend the Queen's birthday party. I am Madison, this is Juankin, an investor in the Hamburger Foundation, this is a director of Littoral Insurance Group, and this is the owner of Mond Refrigeration..." Madison explained.

Upon hearing this, the manager immediately contacted the back-of-house staff via walkie-talkie. After confirming that the VIP list was correct, he warmly invited them into the hotel and took the elevator to the twelfth floor where the birthday banquet was to be held.

The Venetian is, after all, a casino hotel. The first few floors are basically casino floors and VIP rooms, while the higher floors are where VIPs live and floors that are not accessible to the general public.

The manager used a special elevator card to swipe through and quickly arrived at the 12th floor.

Upon arriving at the lobby, they saw the luxurious and opulent facilities, and many people were already seated. It was the Grand Master's first time here, but Madison and the others seemed quite relaxed and familiar with the place, as they appeared to be quite at ease.