"Alright! You said it. The company is currently valued at over a hundred million dollars. Just give me fifty million!"
Howard nodded repeatedly with a joyful expression, almost wanting to hug Chen Mo. Now that he had the money, the research on anti-gravity technology could continue!
Chen Mo responded calmly, "Sure, let Eddie handle the transfer."
Chen Mo's nonchalant demeanor made it seem like he was talking about a regular shopping trip, not a multi-million-dollar stock acquisition.
Curious about Chen Mo's financial power, Howard leaned in and whispered, "Honestly, how much money do you have? Why don't I just sell the whole company to you?"
"Sure, just have your people talk to Eddie," Chen Mo replied indifferently.
As the mastermind behind Hydra, money was just a number to him.
When creating this identity, Chen Mo had prepared dozens of boxes of gold and jewels, making a grand entrance into the United States with his "entire fortune" to seek refuge.
In the eyes of the U.S. government, he was an undisputed hidden billionaire.
Chen Mo himself wasn't sure how much money was in his bank account, as his finances were always managed by his old butler, Albert. Even if it wasn't enough, there were still dozens of boxes of gold bars and jewels in the upstairs vault, more than enough to buy Howard's company.
If Howard really dared to sell, Chen Mo wouldn't mind buying it all.
"No! I was just saying. I plan to leave the company to my son in the future!" Seeing Chen Mo's willingness, Howard quickly backtracked, almost losing his family business in the process.
"You don't even have a wife, where's this son coming from?" Chen Mo gave him a disdainful look, unimpressed by his poor excuse.
"There will be! There will be! How about you become my son's godfather? Your half of the shares can be a gift for your future godson." Howard, having decided to be shameless, felt much more at ease and decided to go all in.
"Howard," Chen Mo looked at him seriously, "I never realized you could be this shameless."
Howard rolled his eyes at being rebuffed. He had thought Chen Mo was about to make an important decision, but it turned out to be nothing.
"I'll be your son's godfather, and I'll prepare the best gift for him when the time comes. As for your company's shares, I can't take them. You'd better just work for me honestly."
Howard looked at Chen Mo in confusion.
"I've changed my mind!" Chen Mo said seriously.
"You can't go back on your word. We just agreed! Fifty million for fifty percent of the shares. With the European battlefield so intense, the military's arms orders are endless. Buying the company's shares now will make you rich." Howard thought Chen Mo was upset by his shamelessness and was planning to back out, so he quickly persuaded him.
"And you have the nerve to talk about going back on your word?" Chen Mo gave him a disdainful look, but Howard didn't care, as if he hadn't just been the one to go back on his word.
"I can pay, but not fifty million."
"Don't be so stingy. I was just joking. You can give any gift you want, like your sword or shield."
Seeing that Howard hadn't changed his ways and was still talking nonsense, Chen Mo glared at him with a murderous look.
Howard shivered and quickly shut his mouth, pretending nothing had happened. He was too familiar with that look. Every time before getting beaten, Chen Mo would look at him like that. If he didn't take it seriously and continued to act recklessly, he would definitely get a beating.
Seeing Howard finally quiet down, Chen Mo continued, "I've decided to buy sixty percent of Stark Industries' shares. Will you sell?"
"Sixty percent? Then I'd be working for you! No way! No way!" Howard shook his head repeatedly. Although he wasn't very attentive to the company, it was still something he had founded and named after himself. He truly intended to leave it to his son in the future. Fifty percent meant they were equals, but if Chen Mo had sixty percent, he would be subordinate to him, which was absolutely unacceptable!
"Fine, don't sell then," Chen Mo said indifferently.
Originally, the number of shares didn't matter to him since he wouldn't stay in this world for long. He was just helping Howard out. However, seeing Howard's shameless behavior, Chen Mo felt uncomfortable if he didn't teach him a lesson.
"Well, we can discuss it further," Howard softened immediately when he saw Chen Mo was about to back out. He was really short on money now, and if Chen Mo didn't invest, he would have to sell to those greedy Wall Street businessmen.
"No further discussion. Sell or not, just one word." Seeing Howard's conflicted and distressed expression, Chen Mo finally felt satisfied.
Seeing Chen Mo's firm attitude, Howard quickly weighed his options. On one side were the cunning, profit-driven businessmen, and on the other was Chen Mo, who treated money like paper and loved advanced technology as much as he did. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally gritted his teeth, "Sixty percent it is! But the company's name can't be changed!"
Howard looked like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away, which greatly amused Chen Mo.
"Alright, then what should you call me now?" Chen Mo nodded and looked at Howard with a playful expression.
Howard gritted his teeth and squeezed out a word from between them.
"Boss!"
In his mind, he kept muttering, "Bandit!" "Robber!" "Opportunistic bully!"
Howard also secretly blamed himself. It would have been better to agree earlier. Fifty million in hand would have solved all the problems. Now, he inexplicably had a new boss. It was a company he had founded himself! Just a moment ago, he was the boss, and now it belonged to someone else? Howard's heart was bleeding!
Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that Howard had been disciplined enough, he gave him a sweet reward.
"I won't interfere with the company's operations, and you can use the annual dividends for your research."
Howard's eyes lit up at these words.
"And if you really have a son, although your company isn't much, it can still be a decent gift for my future godson."
"Boss, you're wise!" Howard's face instantly changed, full of admiration, making one wonder if he was the same person who had just wanted to eat Chen Mo alive.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely give you a son!" Howard promised confidently.
"Get lost!" Chen Mo kicked him to the ground.