Trillionaire's Slice of Life

"I know,"

smiled the youth with deep blue eyes, nodding slightly. He said somewhat mysteriously,

"Mr. Chu owns an entertainment company, a chain of hotels, and a detective agency. I am also aware that Mr. Chu has recently been eager to heavily develop his clubs."

A faint smile played on Chu Mo's lips, and he was not surprised. He had purposely investigated this Ross family heir before, and it was only natural for the other to look into him as well.

"Mr. Chu, let's not beat around the bush. In the Ross family, there are three heirs, which is a tradition. Only the strongest among us will eventually take control of the entire family. I'm the weakest in terms of influence among the three heirs because I'm the youngest—one full thirteen years younger than my eldest brother.

Naturally, I can't compete with the thirteen years of connections he has over me.

Of course, I'm not just sitting around waiting to be outdone. Over the years, I've developed my own connections as well. I can't make decisions about Paradise Island right now, because I'm not the family head yet. Only when I become the family head can I truly offer Paradise Island to Mr. Chu.

So, Mr. Chu, do you dare to take a big gamble on whether I will become the family head of the Ross family or not? If you win the bet, you could gain an island worth ten billion US dollars and the friendship of the entire Ross family."

"And if I lose, would the entire Ross family be hostile towards me, plus I'd owe a bet of ten billion US dollars?"

Chu Mo spoke indifferently, while the young man before him had put away his earlier expression and became exceptionally serious. He then solemnly said,

"Mr. Chu, I came here hoping to establish a strategic partnership with you. I currently need a substantial amount of capital to develop my connections and compete with my two brothers.

The struggle for succession in the Ross family has always been brutal, with no fairness to speak of.

My two brothers already have a head start, and they've almost completely consolidated the family's supportable forces in their hands. If I want to emerge victorious, I will have to forge a different path.

Mr. Chu, I need ten billion US dollars. You can take Paradise Island right now, although we can't sign a formal agreement at the moment. If I win in this competition, I guarantee that I'll hand over Paradise Island to you on a silver platter."

Chu Mo smiled without uttering a word.

He could afford not to care about the ten billion, but it wasn't possible for someone to bluff their way to wealth with nothing to show for it.

If he invested ten billion now and succeeded, Paradise Island would be his. If he failed, Paradise Island would surely be taken back, and he would indeed be played for a fool.

Onstage, Ding Xiaoni was still singing passionately. After a while, Chu Mo suddenly said,

"Mr. Geng Pan, I'm just mildly interested in the island. I'll buy it if I can, and it's no hard feelings if I can't. If it comes to it, I can simply buy an island in South Asia and rebuild it myself.

Although it might take some time, you see, I'm quite young, so even waiting three or five years is of little concern to me. Why should I get involved in a massive trouble over Paradise Island?"

The blond youth was not at all flustered; instead, he slightly curved his lips in a confident manner.

"If Mr. Chu truly had no interest in our Ross family, you wouldn't be hosting me with such enthusiasm now, would you...

Let me guess, the development of Mr. Chu's hotel chain is going well; our Ross family probably can't do much to help there. Shi Yuan Entertainment has been working with Hua Country's largest Shangyuan Entertainment.

Of course, if Mr. Chu wants to venture into the international entertainment industry, our Ross family could lend a hand in Hollywood. However, what really puts Mr. Chu in a difficult position must be the Longevity Club.

I've heard from Elder Lu before that Mr. Chu intends to create a world-class club for the wealthy elite. To attract rich members, Mr. Chu hopes to break into the pharmaceutical industry.

An initial investment of a hundred billion is needed, but when it comes to inviting top scientists to join, the endeavor is fraught with difficulties. If I'm not wrong, Star Moon Tech's Mr. Cao alone is insufficient to invite those truly top-tier scientists, right?"

Indeed, the heirs of the world's top families really can't be underestimated.

My own little schemes were seen through with absolute clarity.

Star Moon Tech's Cao Renyi had promised Chu Mo to help him contact global top scientists, but progress had been very slow. So far, only two first-rate scientists had clearly stated their willingness to come. As for other big shots, like Nobel Prize winners and other top experts, they'd only mentioned considering the offer, but there had been no news up to now.

The likelihood of it coming to nothing was great.

In Hua Country, Cao Renyi's net worth of one hundred and ninety billion placed him among the top tycoons, but on a global scale, particularly for those top scientists, it wasn't very compelling.

Recently, Chu Mo had sent Liang Bing abroad to network with these top moguls, promising to take care of all their concerns, but the results were minimal.

As they say, the first step is always the hardest. Chu Mo's Longevity Club had not even established its basic framework, and his dreams of rapid expansion had been shattered; he had to take things slowly, one step at a time.

At this moment, if he could get the Ross family involved in this project, with their connections and prestige as a guarantee, the effect would be incomparable to that of Shangyuan Technology's Cao Renyi.

Since his intentions had been seen through, Chu Mo made no attempt to conceal them. He fixed his gaze on the blond young man before him and said evenly,

"Regarding the Longevity Club, I originally planned to invest one hundred billion to recruit top scientists from various fields. The results weren't very satisfactory. Here's a deal for you: with the Ross family representing the project, help me invite the world's top scientists to join the Longevity Club's research.

In return, I will invest ten billion US dollars to purchase Paradise Island. We can do this without any signed agreement; I will transfer the ten billion US dollars directly to your personal account."

Also, I will give you a list of scientists. You must ensure that all the scientists on the list are invited to my Longevity Club. As for the difficulties you will face, the Ross family will be responsible for resolving them."

The man across from him narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression now devoid of the prior ease and instead tinged with a disturbing sharpness.

Chu Mo did not disturb his thoughts. On stage, Ding Xiaoni had finished her performance. Chu Mo clapped lightly, and after the performer thanked the audience and left, the next act took to the stage.

The fourth to perform was an artist from Shangyuan Entertainment, also a mega superstar known as one of the top tenors of Hua Country. He belted out a series of high notes as soon as he appeared, with a stable breath and a resonant voice.

Chu Mo watched half-heartedly for a whole three minutes. When the male artist on stage stopped singing to thank the audience, Chu Mo applauded, and the sound of clapping followed suit from beside him.

"Mr. Chu, I already know who the scientists are on your list; many of them are Nobel laureates. They have no desires, and they cannot be forced, even if the Ross family steps in. It would be very difficult to persuade them, and ten billion US dollars might not even be enough to sway these scientists."

Twenty billion, that's my bottom line. Plus Paradise Island, and every scientist on your list—I guarantee I will deliver them all to Hua Country."

As the young man in front of him got serious to negotiate, Chu Mo's lips slightly curled up in a smile. He nodded, then said with utmost seriousness,

"Mr. Geng Pan, it's a deal."

The corners of the young man's mouth twitched as he shook his head with a bitter smile, saying helplessly,

"Mr. Chu, why do I feel like I've been tricked?"

Chu Mo's smile lingered, but his eyes were filled with sincerity as he said,

"Mr. Geng Pan, my immediate agreement isn't about whether those twenty billion US dollars are worth it; instead, it's about genuinely wanting to make a friend in Mr. Geng Pan.

If Mr. Geng Pan believes someone else can offer a higher price, feel free to walk away at any time."

As Chu Mo's words concluded, the youth responded with utmost seriousness,

"Mr. Chu, I was too greedy. In this world, aside from you, Mr. Chu, no one would put up twenty billion US dollars without hesitation to help me. Mr. Chu, trust me, we will become lifelong best friends."

The two shook hands, and the initial phase of their partnership was reached. Find more to read at empire

Meanwhile, on the stage, as the male tenor had left, another performer stepped up.

As a dreamy figure slowly made it to the stage, both Chu Mo and the blond, blue-eyed young man shifted their attention to the stage.