The Tyrant Billionaire

The business manager who greeted him was also a foreigner, speaking in broken Japanese, "How can I help you, sir?"

"I have a batch of antiques. How does the collateral process work?" Fukagawa asked.

"If the collection is small, please bring it to our company. Our professional appraisers will authenticate and evaluate the items. If you agree to the valuation, we can arrange for the items to be used as collateral at the bank, and the funds will be invested for you," the manager explained.

"My collection is extensive, with around a thousand items," Fukagawa said proudly.

"That's not a problem. We can appraise and evaluate the items at your location and transport them to the bank for collateralization," the manager replied.

Fukagawa's house was a large, opulent estate—a sign of wealth. His father had been part of the Japanese army during the invasion of various regions, acquiring over a thousand antiques and artifacts through various means.

Two American appraisers and two from Portugal, along with several armed security personnel, arrived for the appraisal.

Everything appeared professional and legitimate. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

Seeing so many Americans, Fukagawa's confidence in the company grew. It seemed like a well-established and reputable firm.

He was unaware that even in America, there were con artists.

Fukagawa's collection consisted mostly of Malaysian, Filipino and some portuguese artwork, such as ceramics, bronzes, traditional calligraphy, ancient manuscripts, statues, and carved jade.

Although Malaysian and Filipino antiques weren't particularly expensive on the international market at the time, the sheer volume of Fukagawa's collection led to a high appraisal value of $160,000, equivalent to 58 million yen.

"The agreement with the bank allows for a loan of up to 70% of the appraisal value. So, you can receive $112,000. How does that sound, Mr. Fukagawa?" the manager asked.

Fukagawa was satisfied. After all, he wasn't selling the antiques; he was just using them to generate returns while still retaining ownership.

"Since you agree, please review these two contracts. If everything looks correct, sign here, and we'll arrange for the antiques to be transported to the bank to complete the collateral process. Once that's done, you can just relax and wait for the money to come in."

The contracts included collateral management and investment management agreements.

Fukagawa signed without hesitation.

The finance company accompanied Fukagawa to Wells Fargo, where they completed the collateralization process in his presence. With everything confirmed, the deal was officially closed.

The manager explained, "Financial regulations are strict. The benefit of using an American bank is that the funds don't need to enter Japan; they can be invested directly in the U.S., avoiding complications and regulatory oversight."

The manager then added with a smile, "Mr. Fukagawa, from now on, you can just relax and watch your profits grow. Last year, our investment manager achieved a return of over 50%, so you could see a profit of $60,000 next year."

"Of course, we charge a 5% fee on your profits."

Fukagawa thought it was worth it.

Using some unused antiques as collateral could provide a lucrative income, allowing him to enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle.

The Antique Collateral Finance Company's process of using antiques as collateral with the bank was entirely legal. Even if the matter went to court, Wells Fargo would not lose.

The company did invest the funds in the stock market, buying stocks that Hardy favored, some even directly tied to his companies.

This step was also legal.

With the U.S. stock market booming, Hardy didn't need to resort to a Ponzi scheme.

So, how would this scheme conclude?

Hehe, The plan was simple.

Create a company, perhaps a pharmaceutical firm, and claim to have developed a groundbreaking new drug. Pour all the funds into the company, drive the stock price sky-high, siphon off the cash, and then let the company collapse. All the money would end up in Hardy's pockets, leaving investors with nothing.

As for the antiques, they had already been used as collateral with the bank. The agreement stipulated that if not redeemed within two years, they would become the bank's property.

The collateral agreement was between the bank and the finance company, so if the finance company went bankrupt, there was no way for clients to reclaim their antiques.

Every step was legally sound, making lawsuits futile.

The timing of the collapse would depend on how many Malaysian and Filipino antiques Hardy managed to accumulate.

The American House of Gold Finance Company operated similarly, with funds funneled into the same investment schemes.

Abe Fusajiro was originally a textile industry tycoon in Japan who had a deep appreciation for Malaysian and Filipino artifacts. Although Japan never officially acknowledged it, Japanese culture had some influences from Southeast Asian civilizations, and many elite individuals cherished cultural items from Malaysia and the Philippines.

During World War II, Abe Fusajiro secured a large number of military orders, earning significant profits. Through his connections with the military, he acquired a substantial collection of Malaysian and Filipino antiques and artworks that had been seized by the military.

This collection included calligraphy and paintings by famous Southeast Asian artists, several golden Buddha statues from temples in the Philippines, various treasures from Malaysian sultanate palaces, as well as porcelain, gold artifacts, and ivory carvings.

The items were of great value.

After Japan's defeat in the war, Abe Fusajiro's factory experienced a rapid downturn. The textile plant was on the brink of bankruptcy, lacking orders and unable to support its workers. Over 3,000 workers were laid off, and the factory operations came to a halt.

Later, Hardy and seven major financial groups came in, and Abe Fusajiro's textile factory was inevitably acquired. Although the Abe family retained a 15% share, the factory resumed operations under new ownership, with management transferred to the Americans.

Now, Abe Fusajiro spent his days at home with nothing to do. Although nearly 70 years old, he remained restless. Seeing advertisements for financial companies offering collateralized loans against antiques in the newspaper, he was intrigued.

He was unwilling to let Japan's economy be entirely controlled by Americans.