The Rise Of A Billionaire 1943-Chapter 55 - 58 – What Matters Most in the 20th Century?

That’s why, when choosing his company’s next product, he picked the television.

Compared to the radio, the television is the real future!

After the war, what was once considered a toy for the rich would be mass-produced. Even if each TV cost $100–200, those veterans freshly returned from the trenches would still carry them into their homes. Eventually, TVs would enter millions of households, becoming a standard family appliance.

"Right now, it’s just a luxury toy..."

Muttering to himself, Pierre switched on the television. After nearly 30 seconds of warm-up, the screen finally lit up. The image wasn’t very clear, but that small, seemingly unimpressive screen was destined to change the world.

After switching it off, he picked up the schematics on the table, studied them for a while, and then got to work disassembling the TV.

The circuit board was filled with vacuum tubes and wires of various colors. But the moment he finished removing the circuit board, a system prompt popped up:

[Disassembled a television. Radio Engineering EXP +2 | Level 1 (2/100)]

He gained EXP just by taking the TV apart?

Pierre couldn’t help but feel excited. This skill seemed easier to grind than others.

Fired up, he grabbed the soldering iron and within minutes had completely disassembled the entire unit.

"Well, now that it’s apart... might as well put it back together."

As a high-end product, the TV’s components were precisely engineered. Very soon, Pierre had reassembled it perfectly.

[Assembled a television. Radio Engineering EXP +8 | Level 1 (10/100)] freeweɓnøvel~com

After reassembly, he had a thorough understanding of the internal structure. Finally, his attention turned to the cathode ray tube (CRT)—the heart of the television.

Comprising the electron gun, deflection coil, and fluorescent screen, the CRT was the core of TV tech. Everything else—circuit boards, tubes, wiring—wasn’t even close to "black tech."

In this era, the true black tech was the CRT.

Back in the day, even superpowers like the Soviet Union couldn’t manufacture reliable CRTs. Their TVs were nicknamed "bombs", with thousands of incidents of fires or explosions each year.

"To seize the postwar TV boom, I’ll have to master CRT technology."

In fact, Japan’s electronics boom was largely fueled by the TV industry.

But the critical link was always the CRT.

Without mastering CRT design and manufacturing, it’s game over.

A moment later, with a faint smile, Pierre dismissed the system prompt:

[CRT discovered. Skill "CRT Design & Manufacturing" learned.]

But the moment he reviewed the basics, his smile faded—despite the knowledge even including color CRT tech.

The tech involved was unbelievably complex, especially the manufacturing process.

"No wonder inventors are disappearing in modern society," he sighed.

"A single CRT involves a ridiculous number of disciplines—tubes, glass shells, phosphor coatings, shadow masks..."

A quick mental calculation convinced him that mass-producing TVs wasn’t realistic—for now.

Even if he somehow mastered CRT production, the postwar market demand would be limited early on.

"Alright then, time to start building technical reserves."

A boom always has a window—too early, and you fail; too late, and you miss the bus. Pierre, knowing the future well, was crystal clear on what needed to be done.

He powered the TV back on again. Watching the CRT glow from behind—like a tiny lightbulb flickering to life—he smiled and murmured:

"Actually, the real boom... is you."

What’s the real wave of the future?

Not TVs.

Not other electronic products.

But semiconductors!

Whether it’s a TV or any other device, none of it works without semiconductors.

Semiconductors—more specifically, the transistor—will define the future.

And right now? Transistors haven’t even been invented yet.

Time to go recruit some talent.

What matters most in the 20th century?

Talent, of course.

But finding talent on his own? Unrealistic.

So, Pierre made a straightforward decision—start his own headhunting firm.

Why start his own firm?

Simple.

He wanted to scour the globe for talent—not just in the U.S.

For a brand-new company to achieve technological breakthroughs, talent is everything. Only with the right brains can you grow quickly.

In ordinary times, finding top-tier talent would be extremely difficult.

But this was World War II.

And that made it the perfect opportunity.

At the war’s end, the victorious U.S. not only looted defeated nations’ equipment and weapons, but went all-out to acquire advanced knowledge and talent—what they called "software." They even formed the Alsos Mission, a team of specialists that secretly traveled to Germany to capture top scientists.

Those scientists later played crucial roles across various American industries.

In fact, it was only after the U.S. recruited Wernher von Braun, a German rocket expert, that they were able to successfully send astronauts to the moon.

"Alright, I can’t go full USA-mode... but if I can just sip some soup from the table, that’ll be enough to grow my company into a titan."

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Chapter 59 – Headhunting

How do you start a headhunting company?

Let professionals handle professional matters. Naturally, Pierre made a phone call to Harry in Washington.

Harry was beginning to realize how hard his job had become. Not only was he Zhenhua Corporation’s lobbyist—responsible for building Pierre’s political network in D.C.—but now he also had to help him launch a headhunting initiative. That is, by finding other headhunters.

Fortunately, that part was easy. After all, the U.S. had already had such firms for over a decade. While most weren’t particularly successful, some people in the field had done quite well—many of them were lawyers. Soon, Harry found someone suitable.

"Hello, Mr. Pierre, I’m Hedrick Gerard. Mr. Harry sent me. Here’s my card. I heard you’re planning to start a talent search firm. I used to work for Dick Dillon Talent Search, and I’ve recruited for companies like Ford and General Motors. I’d be delighted to work for you."

After handing over his business card, Gerard passed along his résumé and looked at Pierre with hopeful eyes.

Before coming, he had done his homework: this young French millionaire had arrived in America only a few months ago and had already acquired two companies and become a Defense Department contractor.

For someone like Gerard, who had been unemployed for over a year, this was a golden opportunity. He believed his résumé alone could win the job.

"I’m not interested in résumés. I need you to prove yourself through results."

Pierre had been observing him the moment he walked into the office.

His suit was slightly worn, and the creases and scuffed soles of his shoes showed that he walked a lot—likely didn’t even own a car. All of it suggested that he was down on his luck.

Which, to Pierre, meant he’d give this job everything he had.

"Prove myself?"

Gerard looked confused. Pierre handed him a slip of paper.

"I want you to bring this person over."

Gerard glanced at the name and instantly got a headache. The target was from Bell Labs.

"Monsieur Pierre... It’s wartime. The government strictly forbids poaching from critical national enterprises."

"I know."

Pierre locked eyes with him.

"The question is: Can you do it?"

He needed someone capable of pulling this off. And more importantly—after the war, someone who could go to Germany and snatch up talent for him.

Because the future of the North Borneo Company would require a large talent base.

And where would one go headhunting for talent? Defeated Germany, of course.

Only someone bold enough to venture into postwar, possibly even unconquered warzones, could do it.

That took guts far beyond the ordinary.

"I... I can try."

Gerard hesitated, then nodded.

"Good. Coordinate with my secretary if you need anything."

And who was the person he wanted to poach?

None other than Walter Brattain, co-inventor of the transistor.

In the 21st century, what matters most?

Talent.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, Pierre knew exactly who to target.

After Gerard left, Pierre once again pulled out a file—the North Borneo Company dossier, complete with detailed maps.

North Borneo, now known as Kalimantan, lies in the northeast of Borneo Island and spans 74,500 square kilometers.

"Such a huge area... and only about 400,000 people? This is heaven-sent!"

Leaning forward in his chair, elbows on the desk, Pierre’s eyes burned with ambition. Ever since acquiring the North Borneo Company, he had been planning how to make the territory truly his.

This was his plan for self-protection.

After arriving in America, he had experienced systemic discrimination everywhere—even with powerful backing. Even if he became friends with the future president, so what? The racial system would always limit his growth in the U.S.

And as for the UK? Forget it. Their class system was so rigid it wasn’t even friendly to their own people—let alone a foreigner.

All of Europe was the same.

Sure, he could use his knowledge of the future to speculate and get rich during wartime.

But that would be it.

He might become a "peace-time tycoon," but it wouldn’t stop someone from "zero-dollar acquiring" him when business interests clashed.

Only North Borneo could give him security.

Only there could he become a true tycoon.

No, scratch that—a true oligarch.

Actually—no, a corporation.

Because technically, the North Borneo Company was not a sovereign state.

"Only when I’m on my own land can I truly sleep in peace."

Even though he had already bought the company, turning it into his true stronghold would take a lot more work.

The headhunting company was part of that groundwork.

After the war, the world would be full of unemployed talent.

To starving Germans, even basic food could entice them to work overseas.

Among them would be engineers, scientists, academics, and military personnel—many of whom would be eager to escape postwar judgment.

For a colonial company, these were precious assets.

To build a lasting empire, he needed talent in all sectors.

Of course, realizing such a dream required capital.

So Pierre picked up the phone and told his secretary:

"Book me a flight to Cuba tomorrow."

Work brings joy. Especially when work = money.

Over the next few days, Pierre frequently flew between Cuba and the U.S., even making a special trip to Colombia, where he purchased high-grade coffee at bargain prices.

His life as a "freight mule" entrepreneur was tiring but fulfilling—jetting across countries for business.

But to Pierre, it was all worth it.

This was startup life—and as the founder, the grind was inevitable.

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