"Mr. White, the collective conclusion of the think tank is that the real estate in Japan is starting to show signs of a bubble."
"Tell me more."
"The prices of office buildings began to rise, but the rents haven't changed much; they've only gone up slightly."
"Uh-huh, the rent-to-sale ratio has expanded, which is indeed a sign of a bubble."
"It's even more troubling with private residences. We're seeing people lining up to buy them." If he wasn't someone from another time, he might have started selling off his properties by now.
"Lining up to buy houses? Now that's something fresh; you won't see that in America," Filson thought, realizing it's not just America; it's a phenomenon absent worldwide.
"Sir, the crucial thing is that the people in line are all hired. The developers are deliberately spreading scarcity signals."
"Got it. What about Hong Kong?"
"Hong Kong is a bit different; they seem to be deliberately withholding sales. Those prime locations are being developed very slowly. At this rate, don't expect all the projects to be completed in less than a few decades."
"Heh, there are only so many people; if they all finished building at once, who would they sell it to?"
"What does the think tank say?"
"Exercise caution; due to changes in fundamentals, this wave of price increases will continue."
"Alright, then we'll just hold on. Anyway, the yen is rising, so even if there's a slight decline, it likely won't keep up with the currency fluctuations."
William White wished he could tell them how far they really are from a significant price jump. If the price didn't skyrocket a few times, how would it justify his strategy?
The target exchange rate for the yen was 100, and that was still far off. Moreover, even if the Japanese bubble burst, their exchange rate remained stable.
There was no way around it; the U.S. said 100 yen equals a dollar, and that was just how it was. Even with any economic crisis, the exchange rate wouldn't change.
William was very satisfied with his think tank; he simply didn't have that kind of capability himself. Truth be told, he was just someone who had been using a cheat code. Cheating was one thing; pretending to be a genius was just pure shamelessness.
...
During the day, he was filming a fight scene in the kitchen, and when he returned to the villa, he was right back at it, imitating the same scene.
Of course, it might have been a bit more risqué than before; someone even claimed it was about learning from the past. Who knew if the little beauty understood that?
Lucas had to admit that this guy, who had been just a filler, was indeed a talented actor. Or rather, he was simply playing himself; otherwise, there was no way he could pull off such a performance without a trace of acting.
As for that trophy, he underestimated her. She certainly had a wild side. Regardless of how the director did his job, this guy had a real gift for spotting talent.
Lucas would never guess that playing a princess was also one of this guy's strong suits. Unfortunately, he might never get to see that side of him.
...
The drastic rise in home prices quickly made William feel he was in a secure position. He had reached a point of invincibility. As for those hesitant consortiums...
Heh, tough luck for them.
There's a certain breed known as "experts," and they had a remarkable resilience. No matter the country or ethnicity, they weren't going anywhere.
Faced with rising home prices, the experts presented stacks of data several feet thick, all with expressions of deep concern, which could really be called top-notch acting.
"Boss, this guy seems to make a lot of sense," one of them said.
"Yeah, Jason, if you're lacking investment experience, just remember one thing," replied William.
"What's that?"
"Whatever these people say, just do the opposite. You might not get rich, but you won't go broke either."
"Seriously? Aren't those the kind of people in your think tank?"
"Shut up! You're the one who's like that. Those folks are just performers; they don't have any real skills."
"Let's split; stop watching this TV and let's go grab a bite," William announced.
"Dumb dog, keep up," said the happy hound with a howling bark.
"Ha-ha, boss, no wonder you don't let this guy go to Texas; it's like he's asking for trouble," Jason joked.
"Ugh, I'm just at my wit's end with this fool."
Don't even mention Texas; if it wasn't for this guy's fame, Hollywood people would confuse him with someone else. Thank goodness his mansion was large enough; otherwise, walking the dog could have been a hassle.
Fulton went to Texas to look after the little princess of the family. All that was left here was Tanner. Ever since William White had a daughter, Fulton had never left her side.
"When is your daughter coming over?" someone asked.
"A little later; she's still getting used to flying," William replied. This little detail was no secret; it was well-known even among the elite.
This kind of unconventional alternative truly left people speechless. This daughter looked nothing like an illegitimate child. But wasn't he unmarried?
However, since the richest man himself wasn't trying to hide it, who was in a position to critique? In any case, she was a princess born with a golden key and certainly not to be overlooked.
*****
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