King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer-Chapter 980 - 877 Change
Chapter 980 -877 Change
On the way back to New Jersey, Steven looked helplessly at Joe Ga, who was sitting across from him, and said, “Hu Lang, this is unnecessary…”
Joe Ga rubbed his forehead and smiled as he said, “What are you referring to?
Is it unnecessary to help Big Mouth Don this way, or is it unnecessary to break Jared’s nose?”
Steven spread his hands and said, “We all know that Jared has problems, but smashing his nose in front of so many people sends the message to the outside world that ‘we are not firm allies of Big Mouth Don.’
There are only a few days left until the election, and there’s no need to do this before everything is finalized.
Since we’ve already chosen a side, we should firmly work toward achieving our goal.”
Joe Ga glanced at Eric, who wasn’t speaking, and said with a smile, “Revenge for me usually doesn’t wait overnight.
If beating up Jared impacts our relationship with Big Mouth Don, it just proves that we aren’t even considered real partners.
Honestly, the reason I support Big Mouth Don is that, aside from him, no one else can even scrape together campaign funds.
Buddy, don’t forget the original intention. We got involved with the election to deal with Rashiri, not because I genuinely admire Big Mouth Don.
This guy is just a businessman. Today he’ll compromise with me for votes, but tomorrow he’ll sell me out for bigger benefits.
He’s unreliable!
Sending a clear signal of my position early isn’t reckless—it’s acting responsibly for the future.
My friend, becoming Secretary of State is just the beginning for you. I bet your career won’t be smooth sailing.
Big Mouth Don is the type of businessman who prioritizes efficiency. In politics, such people either skyrocket to success or stumble all the way.
Don’t let him fire you. Falling out with a presidential candidate isn’t the same as falling out with a president.
Hang in there for a few more years. Fight, not just for your Energy Group, but also for some breathing room for me.
The footprint I’ve established in Africa is too large; trouble is inevitable sooner or later!”
Steven immediately understood that Joe Ga was deliberately creating distance. He didn’t want to get too close to Big Mouth Don.
For a political investor, this move might seem unfathomable, but Steven found himself strangely understanding Joe Ga’s perspective.
P.B.’s scale is massive, but the American branch company is still too small to partake in the spoils of a presidential victory.
Unless Joe Ga was willing to shift the company’s nature and broaden its business scope, American policy benefits weren’t something he could extract much from.
Clearly, he had no interest in becoming a policy broker for pocket change either.
Steven couldn’t tell if it was just his intuition, but he felt that everything Joe Ga did was aimed at buying time for the development of their Central African headquarters, not about putting roots down in America, the world’s most powerful country.
Joe Ga seemed indifferent to Steven’s thoughts. He smiled and said, “Buddy, when you went to Sangha Town last time, you mentioned your wife would organize a team to assess the oil and gas resources in Central Africa. Did they finish the report?”
Steven paused, then nodded and said, “It’s done. Two oil fields and two gas fields were discovered in central Central Africa, but the reserves are fairly average.
Why? Don’t tell me you plan to develop them!
I thought you’d bundle them off to the French…”
Joe Ga shook his head helplessly and said, “The French are too shrewd. They wouldn’t touch such money-losing ventures with a ten-foot pole.”
Then, seeing Steven nodding in agreement, Joe Ga smiled and said, “But times have changed, Steven. Are you interested in investing?
I’ll put up the money, you provide the technology, and we’ll extract the oil and gas resources and split the profits evenly.”
Steven chuckled and said, “Hu Lang, I suggest you calm down.
Don’t let the Middle East oil and gas business blind you. The extraction costs vary by region, and oil and gas from Central Africa can’t even be transported out properly.
I know you probably plan to use the resources for internal consumption, but that’s something the government should consider. Doing it privately would lose you a lot of money.
Right now, the highest average salary in all of Central Africa is in Sangha Town, but even there it’s only $800 a year. With that kind of wage structure and population size, internal consumption is destined to be a loss-making proposition.”
Joe Ga spread his hands and said, “But if you have faith in Sangha Town and look at the investment over a 30-year horizon, it might not be the same.”
Steven gazed at Joe Ga’s determined expression, then sighed and said, “Hu Lang, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. I can follow along with any project you want to invest in.
But my wife is just a small shareholder in the Rockefeller Group. As you might imagine, a small shareholder can’t push forward a ‘money-losing deal.’
Frankly, you could always turn to your Chinese friends. I could co-invest with you. As you said, if we extend the return horizon, it might still be profitable.”
Seeing Joe Ga’s hesitant expression, Steven thought for a moment and said, “But if you’re serious about gaining control of Central Africa’s oil and gas, I can help you work out extraction plans and secure advanced extraction equipment, for free!
Getting technical staff shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”
Joe Ga’s eyes lit up, and he smiled, “Free equipment? Where’s the catch?”
Seeing Steven’s amused grin, Joe Ga smirked knowingly and said, “When the American shale oil bubble bursts, right?”
Steven nodded and said, “By then, a lot of companies will go bankrupt, and those oil and gas equipments will be auctioned off at dirt-cheap prices.
There’s plenty of room for maneuvering. If you’re determined, leave these matters to me.
Once we secure the equipment, I’ll arrange for it to be shipped to the Congo, and you figure out how to transport it via waterways from there.”
Steven looked at the increasingly intrigued Joe Ga and hesitated before saying, “Hu Lang, I still have to give you a word of advice—this is a losing proposition.
Even assuming the Central African government has the capacity to participate in infrastructure projects—which they probably don’t—you alone would need to spend a massive amount of cash to support this kind of venture.
There are no pipelines to export the resources. The investment return period is too long, and the return rate is far too low.”
Joe Ga leaned back in his seat, stretched his neck as he placed his hands behind his head, and said, “A loss is a loss…
Originally, I went to Sangha Town just to make a quick buck and leave, but I ended up taking over a mess. Developing a steel industry chain was just to break even.
But now it’s different…
Do you know, Sangha Town is currently dealing with the ‘Zika virus,’ and I’ve tried numerous times to get Devil Bird to leave, but she refuses.
My old buddy said Sangha Town needs a prince born there!
Right now, there are many people there who are willing to risk everything for me. I can’t abandon them…
I don’t know when it started, but that place has become my foundation, so I need to find ways to prolong Sangha Town’s vitality and dynamism.
To achieve that, I need abundant energy and power.
Steel mills around Sangha Town have already commenced operations, but coke supply has always been a bottleneck because my ‘designers’ are intentionally limiting high-pollution factories.
I could totally ignore them—using coke for generating power and steel production might hurt the air quality and cause more water pollution, so what?
But if you extend the timeline to thirty years, it’s different. I don’t want my kids to grow up in an environment like that.
Natural gas is a fantastic energy source. If I extract it, I can set up a power grid network…
I don’t even know if selling electricity will break even, but I need to leave enough room for upgrading those lousy little factories.
Maybe five years or three years later, once everyone has enough to eat, I’ll have to persuade them to stop damaging the environment and spend more money upgrading their facilities.”
Joe Ga absentmindedly rubbed his enhanced fingers and smiled, “I’ve acquired a new water purification technology and plan to take over that cursed wastewater treatment project from the French.
That place is my home now. I owe it to my descendants to be responsible!”
Steven frowned and said, “You’re planning to settle in Central Africa?
My God, Hu Lang, do you know the scale of investment a project like this entails?”
Joe Ga spread his hands and said, “The land there is as good as mine. Maybe it’s tens of billions, maybe hundreds of billions—I don’t know.
I can take it slow…
I already have Ndele, that original pearl of the Earth…
Why can’t I make Sangha Town a shining, eco-friendly pearl of metallurgical industry? After all, Africa’s demand for steel won’t subside for decades.
Too many people in Central Africa are pinning their hopes on me…
You know me—I never let down the people who trust me!”
Seeing Steven’s stunned expression, Joe Ga smiled and said, “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t see myself as a savior. I just think I should do something meaningful, and leave behind enough industry for my descendants to squander for generations…
Do you think I could succeed?”
Steven froze for a moment, then bowed his head in thought for a few minutes before seriously looking at Joe Ga and saying, “Hu Lang, if you can keep your current mindset, I think you have a good chance!”
He then spoke more earnestly, “You need to talk to Haftar in Liberia. With only 20% of the share in Tubruq left in six years, that’s too little for you. Renegotiate the contract and completely take over the port; you absolutely have the capacity to make Tubruq bigger.
It’s strategically located at a crucial Mediterranean chokepoint. By securing the oil pipeline’s seaport, you’ll ensure a steady stream of funds.
If I can become Secretary of State, I can subtly exert pressure on Haftar on your behalf, making it impossible for him to bypass you.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Joe Ga smiled and shook his head…
Steven clearly hadn’t grasped P.B.’s leverage in Tubruq. At this stage, P.B. already had full control over the area, and the city’s government staff were all locals who had been vetted by P.B.
According to the contract, P.B.’s shares were to be gradually divested, and keeping the National Army steady for six more years would be enough to accustom Tubruq to P.B.’s governance, as well as to help the National Army adapt to this arrangement.
By ensuring the National Army received sufficient profits, they’d be motivated to strive for external stability. Otherwise, P.B. would have to make substantial military investments in the area, which would be somewhat unprofitable.
Most importantly, Boss Joe’s partnership with China ensured that all their earnings were effectively doubled.
