Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Time Is On My Side

Who fueled the Nasdaq bubble?Washington provided the platform, Wall Street took the lead, and global capital contributed its share. At its core, it was the nascent internet craze.In essence, after feasting on the carcass of the Red Bear (Soviet Union), American capital found itself hungry again.What to do?Simple, continue the hunt for food.But at this time, old Europe wasn't as weakened as it would later become. Japan had already been consumed once, and Korea hadn't fattened up yet. Other potential targets were either out of reach or too meager to satisfy the hunger.What to do? They couldn't just remain hungry, could they?So, American capital devised a solution. No meat to eat? Then we'll create our own meat!And the internet was the new economic growth point that Americans found for themselves!Similar new economic growth points would emerge twice more in the future.One was the mobile internet and smartphones a decade later. This was a new growth point created by capital after consuming the initial internet boom. However, at least 30-40% of the benefits of mobile internet and smartphones were shared by the rising power of China.The next one came another ten years later: the metaverse and AI, following mobile internet. American capital initially planned to hype the metaverse. But finding the technology too difficult to realize, they switched to AI, giving birth to what was touted as the nth industrial revolution. Nvidia, whose market value once exceeded $3.34 trillion, was one of the biggest beneficiaries.However, due to technological limitations, neither the metaverse nor AI brought the same bountiful growth as the first two internet booms.But that was in the future.At the end of 1995, Netscape's success clearly showed the beneficiaries the promise of the internet. It was the early stage of everyone rushing in. And it was this rush that led to such outrageous stock prices later. For example, Yahoo's profits were only a few hundred million dollars, but its peak market value exceeded $120 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of several hundred times."Sigh…" Milo sighed, knowing clearly that no one could take all the spoils in this frenzy.The Nasdaq bubble was not accidental, not a result of normal economic development. It was the result of everyone's efforts. Even Wall Street couldn't take it all. Anyone who tried to would likely end up with nothing.This was a situation where the first Catholic president needed to be brought up again. One of the reasons he ran into trouble was that he and the Boston Group tried to take too much for themselves. After he took office, he gave over 80% of military contracts to Boston. This naturally caused widespread resentment, and when he tried to grab even bigger pieces of the pie, even Boston couldn't protect him. At most, they could only ensure that the Kennedy family didn't all end up with eight bullet wounds in the back, disguised as suicides.No matter how strong and established the Bostonians were, they couldn't fight against everyone. They weren't Ip Man; they couldn't fight ten men at once.Despite his sigh, Milo wasn't overly concerned. He was confident that he could grab the largest and most lucrative piece of the pie."Price."He was silent for dozens of seconds. Monica was wondering if she should say something to ease the atmosphere when Milo suddenly spoke."What price has Boston offered me? Don't mention the Blackburns. This is my own business. And the Blackburns have their own contributions in other areas."Hearing this, the Cabrera brothers both laughed.Hector even picked up his coffee cup and took another sip. "Now I believe you're definitely different from before. The old you wouldn't have thought of these things so quickly. Especially with Wendy not by your side.""Couldn't Wendy have taught me beforehand?" Milo countered with a smile."Perhaps," Hector nodded, maintaining his smile. "Shares of Boston Bank?""Not enough," Milo shook his head. "I want Massachusetts Mutual, John Hancock, Raytheon, Textron, and Polaroid. Even if it's just 0.1%, I want to have my voice heard.""Your appetite is too big," March, who hadn't spoken much, frowned. "They won't agree."Milo shrugged again, taking a sip of his coffee. "March, have you ever been to a flea market?""Vendors and customers at a flea market, even when buying a comb, will haggle. I think everyone understands this principle.""Of course, I've been! Don't forget, I took you to your first flea market at Harvard Square!" Hector replied with a grin, the corners of his mouth turning up, making his blue eyes look slightly triangular. Milo, who had known him since childhood, knew this was a sign of his amusement."I understand what you mean," March Cabrera shrugged and nodded. "I'll pass it on."That was basically it.The internet boom was just beginning, the result of everyone's efforts. But thirty years ago, Kennedy's bold actions had dealt a heavy blow to Boston. Being targeted by everyone for thirty years had steadily weakened Boston's position. Now, they were vaguely being excluded.At this time, they suddenly found a foothold in California belonging to one of their own. The Bostonians were not overjoyed, but they were definitely very happy.So, Hector, who had the best relationship with Milo, and the Cabrera brothers, who worked there after marrying into a Californian family, became the vanguard for some of the Bostonians.Obviously, someone back home was also contacting the Blackburns."You should have waited for me to come back," Wendy said to Milo with a hint of resentment after rushing back at one o'clock in the afternoon. The Cabreras had already left after lunch."I didn't promise anything," Milo smiled."Time is on my side. And right now, they need the Blackburns, not the other way around. I think after the Fitzgerald incident, everyone should be less impulsive than before." Fitzgerald was Kennedy's middle name, which the Bostonians preferred to use."Your handling was correct," Wendy said, catching her breath and sitting down on a sofa. "I was too hasty. I forgot, you're not the same as before.""Let's not talk about such troublesome things," Milo said, choosing a sofa chair and relaxing into it. "How's the preparation for my new movie going?"Wendy couldn't help but think: We're not talking about more important, more profitable things, and you immediately ask about this…"I've already settled things with the Writers Guild, Miramax, and Mark Norman," Wendy said. "But I'm curious, Milo. You have more than a dozen scripts stored in your safe. Why not film your own scripts? Why buy someone else's?"Fuck! Milo thought. I'd love to! But who could have known that the script I "created" two months ago had already been written three years ago and even registered with the Writers Guild? And Miramax even bought it this year! The overlap between that script and mine is 99%…"Because I find it interesting, and I want to film it. Is that a good enough reason?"