It's not worth $50,000 just to find some information and lead a line, even if it's dirty money.
First, I wanted to get Dempsey involved to lay the groundwork for the follow-up. I also asked him to help contact a batch of military-grade armaments.
While I have no shortage of firearms, I lack access to military equipment that is prohibited for civilian use. For instance, selling guns is legal, but selling bulletproof vests is not. It's ironic that it's acceptable to kill, but not to protect oneself from being killed.
Of course, there are many other military supplies that fall into this category.
I didn't plan to get these items from Dempsey, as the risk of smuggling was too high. Instead, I intended to have him reach out to his military academy classmates to procure the goods directly within China.
This approach wasn't a problem at all; Dempsey agreed immediately. After chatting on the yacht for a while, I sent him back, as he was on leave and couldn't be out for too long.
On November 10th, once Dempsey returned, I took the information and called up those comrades of his. They were a group of seasoned soldiers, but there wasn't a dedicated project team to arrange work for them. After retiring, many struggled to find good opportunities, and coupled with war-related issues, most were willing to join me when I reached out. Our team expanded from the original 10 to 30 members, significantly boosting our combat capabilities.
On my side, as we grew our manpower, Sheila began promoting our fitness club in Newark. The promotional materials, printed on high-quality coated paper, were stunning and far more sophisticated than our previous simple designs. The marketing efforts, including four weekly outdoor fitness activities and paid newspaper articles, generated significant attention. 'Shawn Fitness Club' quickly became renowned as the largest and most professional fitness club in Newark and the surrounding area. I started receiving dozens of deposits daily, and if this trend continued, we would likely surpass a thousand before our opening.
These deposits came from customers with strong intentions to join, making conversion highly probable. Setting the annual membership fee at $1,200, we could net about $1,000 after covering the deductible. Even if we secured just 800 annual members, our pre-sale revenue would reach $80,000—not accounting for additional classes and private training.
The initial investment for the entire club wasn't excessive, meaning we could recoup our costs within three days of opening and start turning a profit. Sheila's enthusiasm was infectious, and she insisted on discussing work with me late into the night.
After addressing the manpower issue, I turned my attention to the PaYs project team, which was primarily concerned about placing veterans. While they managed to find positions for a few high-ranking individuals, the bulk of warrant officers posed a challenge since their specialized skills were hard to match with available roles.
To ease this, I took the initiative to assist them. The project team welcomed my involvement, especially after I discreetly handed over an envelope that made a tangible impression.
"Consider it a token of appreciation," I said as I received a list of potential candidates. With a smile, I began selecting individuals who matched our needs. The project team confirmed that they would facilitate contact for these veterans.
Once I resolved the manpower concerns, I scheduled a meeting with Director Wells. We met at a golf course—a fitting place for discussing sensitive matters, given the privacy it afforded.
"Damn it, if I had evidence, I'd have arrested you already. You've caused enough trouble!" Wells greeted me bluntly.
"I'm sorry," I shrugged, feigning sincerity. "I can only blame those Mexicans for going too far. I did my best to minimize the fallout."
"Really? You think you can talk your way out of this? I know you blew up Hector with an RPG!" Wells shot back.
"Let's move forward, Commissioner Wells," I suggested, trying to steer the conversation. "I'm here to discuss a potential cooperation with the police."
"Cooperate?" he asked skeptically.
"Legally, of course!" I replied, hoping to ease his suspicion.
"Go on," Wells said, his demeanor softening at the mention of legality.
"I've built a health club that will be the largest in Newark and even competitive with those in New York. I'm aware there's been quite a buzz about it lately, but I assure you, it's not for money laundering. This venture will certainly be profitable and is a business case worth studying in schools."
I continued, "I want to give back to the community, particularly to our police officers who work tirelessly. After we open, I'll offer free memberships to all Newark police personnel. They can come and train on me."
"Is that all?" Wells asked, incredulous.
"What else would you expect?" I replied casually. , "No, this is a great benefit for all police officers, thanks to my efforts as Chief Wells!"
I blinked in surprise, then smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "Exactly! It's a win-win situation."
Wells smirked, clearly pleased with the recognition. "Just remember, Sean, I'll be watching. I don't want any funny business this time around."
"Of course," I assured him, masking my true intentions. "This partnership is strictly above board. The club will foster community ties and promote a healthier lifestyle."
As we wrapped up our meeting, I felt a surge of confidence. With my fitness club generating revenue and the police on my side, I was positioning myself for success.
After our discussion, I headed back to finalize preparations for the club's opening. I could already envision the bustling atmosphere, filled with eager members and veterans I had recruited. The groundwork was laid, and with Dempsey's connections and my strategic planning, I was ready to take this venture to new heights.
Everything was falling into place. As I reviewed the plans for the grand opening, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with anticipation. I had overcome many obstacles to get here, but I knew the real challenge was just beginning.
With the right people in place and a solid plan, I was determined to make 'Shawn Fitness Club' not just a success, but a cornerstone of the community.