[Chapter 536: A Name Without Substance]
The feeling of having plenty of money was indeed different. Ever since he joined Manchester United, Ferguson had been having a tough time.
If they had this kind of money earlier, perhaps winning the league championship could have been a consideration. It seemed that Manchester United had truly entered a new era.
Expanding the youth training program was just a small matter. The U.S. was hosting the World Cup in '94, and if they performed poorly, it would be quite embarrassing.
Before this, there had never been a host nation eliminated in the group stage. If that were to happen this time, future attendance numbers would definitely be a concern.
Ferguson knew that William White would surely bring in some Americans. Even if they weren't that skilled, he couldn't refuse them. Well, he wasn't the kind of rigid person who needed to wait for his boss to say something. Improving the level of the U.S. team was something everyone would welcome.
...
By May, the weather started to warm up, and people's minds began to wander. The term Soviet had pretty much lost its original meaning.
At first, it was just the smaller surrounding countries. Now, even within the federation, divisions began to surface.
Seeing all this unfold, the Americans were absolutely delighted. Even if some powerful figures emerged now, there was probably no way to turn things around. As the saying goes, when a person is dead, the hearts of the people scatter, making it hard to lead a team.
Trust takes time to build; you can't just rely on bragging. Clearly, the Russians lost all trust.
As for international aid, they realized that it's just drinking poison to quench thirst. Without a strong external enemy at this point, a scattered Soviet Union was nothing but a weak chicken.
"Sir, the Soviets might really be finished. Oil prices keep hitting new lows, but their oil-producing regions are reducing output. Heh, if we could just short their currency..."
"Ah, that's impossible. If we could secure some loans, that would be more reliable, but what would I invest in?"
"Loans sound good; how about we set up a few offshore companies, or register some companies in Switzerland?"
William White was taken aback; he had only mentioned it casually, not expecting it could actually work.
"Filson, will their banks lend?"
"Ha, boss, as long as we pay some extra fees, those fat cats won't mind the small stuff."
"All right, if that's the case, we have to move quickly. Once their economy collapses, currency devaluation will be imminent. The extreme scenario is that their money could lose a lot of value."
"We have companies ready; since you agree, we can operate immediately."
"Ha, good. These funds need to be converted to U.S. dollars as soon as possible."
Although he knew it wouldn't be much, William White didn't mind grabbing what he could. The money now would be worth less than ten percent in a year. If he didn't take the opportunity to rob now, it would be unbearable.
"By the way, Filson, how are those theaters going?"
"Sir, they'll be finished by the end of the year, but it all depends on the speed of equipment installation."
"Honestly, I don't want to hire a single American worker. Can't we outsource this installation work? Who can stand all these vacations!"
"Sir, that's very difficult. The installation requires high expertise, and the equipment is also quite tricky. There aren't so many qualified people available right now."
William White was really getting a headache over this.
...
leaving all the troubles to Filson, William White decided not to worry anymore. Looking at his slightly bulging belly, he opted to work out a bit.
After turning thirty, things really do change a bit. For the sake of his happy life, he couldn't indulge too much.
Sweating profusely, William White was battling with a large punching bag. The thumping sounds made a group of bodyguards feel on edge.
This guy had been tirelessly hitting for over half an hour. Even professional boxers wouldn't do this.
Meiko Suzuki loved watching him box; every punch made her blush.
"This jerk is going to the bathroom again. All sweaty, it's really uncomfortable," she muttered under her breath, twisting her waist. In her eyes, William White looked like a human-shaped Tyrannosaurus; there really was no need for him to train. That V-shaped physique was just perfect.
"Sir, your training intensity is too high; you could easily get dehydrated."
Downing a large bottle of mineral water, William White seemed unconcerned.
"I have a genetic factor for obesity. If I were like you, even if I didn't turn into a fat guy, I'd at least become a greasy uncle. You know, every inch gained means an inch lost; you better take it easy too."
"No way, sir, you're serious?"
"Ha, don't regret it later."
...
Tanner came to find him, speaking about the Soviets. Of course, his information was more accurate than the public news. So, William White learned that the Soviet Union was in total chaos now; if you had money, nothing was off the table.
"Sir, the missile defense systems are very cheap, and they even have some really powerful stuff."
"No way, have they lost their minds?"
"Who cares about those things when they can't even eat?"
*****
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