Putting down the phone, knowing Victor wasn't a fraud, Rhodes felt invigorated. He saw this as an excellent opportunity to build ties with the Hardy Group and knew he had to handle it well.
That afternoon, when Victor came back, Consul Rhodes was much more enthusiastic than in the morning. He ordered coffee and asked his staff to fetch a list of the british prominent figures.
The list included Mayor Grantham, the Police Commissioner, the heads of the four major British trading houses—Jardine Matheson, Swire, Hutchison, and Wheelock—and the Kadoorie families, totaling fifty to sixty names.
"I'll try to send invitations to all these people, but I can't guarantee who will attend," said Rhodes.
Victor thought for a moment, "Could you send the invitations in the joint name of the Hardy Group and the Consulate?"
This request was somewhat inappropriate.
However, after considering it, Rhodes nodded in agreement.
