Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: The California Consortium

Besides the Yahoo matter, Milo's primary reason for coming to San Francisco was to consolidate his shareholdings in his various companies here.Through cross-shareholdings by offshore shell companies, Milo, on the advice of his think tank, avoided a great deal of taxation.Well, legitimate tax avoidance. He didn't feel an ounce of guilt.His methods were nothing compared to those of some large American companies. He was practically a saint in comparison.He at least paid some taxes.Many multinational corporations in the US even maintained a constant state of deficit and losses, all to avoid or minimize tax payments!After the consolidation, Milo could reasonably supervise the affairs of all his companies.This prevented him from being deceived or sidelined by professional managers.Such things weren't unheard of.The most typical example was various trust funds.Trust funds seemed very reliable at first glance, appearing to be a way to pass on wealth indefinitely.However, the reality was that since their inception, there hadn't been a single trust fund in the world that had remained profitable for more than ten years.Generally, after the founder of a trust fund passed away.The beneficiaries were often the descendants of the trust's settlor.Few of them had the ability to supervise the fund's managers.And most fund managers, without supervision.Easily engaged in embezzlement, using various methods to empty the trust fund.Leading to losses and eventual bankruptcy.The truly wealthy in America didn't choose trust funds; they used more advanced versions: charitable foundations.Trust funds were tools created by financial capital to prey on the vulnerable.Used to devour the estates and wealth of lower-tier wealthy individuals who lacked the means to establish charitable foundations.After this consolidation, Milo only needed to place trusted individuals in two or three key positions.For example, Wendy, an outer member cultivated by the Blackburn family.Then, even if Milo took a hands-off approach, the think tank composed of family elites could, in a trustee capacity, assist Milo in management and supervision.Of course, Milo wasn't that lazy. This was also an early arrangement for future company spin-offs, mergers into groups, IPOs, and financing.After all, the capital market was ruthless. Unless Milo always relied on his own funds for development.Otherwise, financing would be inevitable for future expansion, so preventing hostile takeovers or being ousted was something that had to be prepared for in advance.Of course, these past two days, it was his subordinates who were busy.He only needed to sign some documents or authorizations with the help of his legal team.His real focus was on other battlefields.In San Francisco, on Marlock Avenue.Milo's convoy was driving along."Mr. Wilson is aware of our arrival. Viscount Bruwy sends his regards and says he is waiting for you at the Wilson residence on Nob Hill," Wendy said softly to Milo from the passenger seat.Milo nodded, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window. "Edward is there too, right?""Yes," Wendy replied honestly.Edward Wilson was Milo's older cousin, very close to Paladin.One could say… there was no one who wasn't close to Paladin.As long as that person had met and spent time with Paladin.Edward was the grandson of Milo's grandmother, Sally Wilson Blackburn's brother, Schneider Wilson, Viscount Bruwy.A few days ago, after Milo was attacked and called home. His second call had been to this cousin.Later, this cousin said he would meet Milo at his house in Beverly Hills.But Edward hadn't ended up going.This time, when Milo came to San Francisco, Edward's grandfather, Milo's great-uncle, Schneider Wilson, upon hearing the news, invited Milo to be a guest at the Wilson family's residence in San Francisco."Wendy, guess why Edward didn't come to see me last time."The convoy passed a small park on a hillside.Through the car window, Milo saw people strolling and relaxing in the park, mostly well-dressed ladies and gentlemen, many with long-haired or short-haired dogs, enjoying the California sunshine.This was Huntington Park on Nob Hill in San Francisco.Compared to the ragged vagrants in Washington Square in North Beach, it was a completely different world.This was Nob Hill, the highest hill in downtown San Francisco and the most aristocratic area in the city."Perhaps something came up?" Wendy could only answer softly."Hehe…" Milo smiled. "I hope so."The convoy soon arrived in the wealthy district of Nob Hill, passing exquisite hotels and churches before turning into a lush wooded area.Passing several fenced-in residences, they stopped in front of a mansion composed of a semi-detached villa and a detached house.Wendy went to verify their identity.The gate quickly opened, and the cars drove in one by one.The mansion was surrounded by dense woods, situated at the very top of Nob Hill. The area in front of the detached house was private land. The mansion occupied a large area with lush green lawns and vegetation.The semi-detached villa had white exterior walls, while the detached annex was a wooden building.Behind the gate, in front of the main entrance of the semi-detached villa.Milo's blond cousin, Edward, looked at Milo getting out of the car with a smile."Hey, dear Milo, I'm so glad to see you!"He came up and proactively hugged Milo. "You have no idea how nervous and scared I was after you were attacked. I was only relieved after I knew you were okay. I'm so sorry, I couldn't see you that night due to some unexpected events. I'm truly sorry…""No, don't say that," Milo interrupted his cousin's enthusiasm with a smile. "It's alright, Edward. Really, I'm fine. By the way, where's Grandpa now? I miss him."Grandpa, short for grandfather.English is a phonetic language, with each word representing a meaning.The meaning is very precise, but it requires memorization, and the number of words to know constantly increases with the emergence of new things.For example, in later generations, the number of English words reached more than six hundred thousand and continued to increase by thousands each year.In comparison, Chinese, as recorded in the Chinese Character Dictionary, has 85,568 characters.In terms of kinship terms, English takes a shortcut.Regardless of paternal or maternal uncles, regardless of paternal or maternal cousins.One word, uncle, covers it all.Grandfathers and grandfathers on the maternal side are both covered by grandpa or grandfather.Viscount Bruwy was Milo's great-uncle on his mother's side.In English, the term used is the same as for grandfather or maternal grandfather."Grandfather is in the garden; he's been waiting for you for a long time. Come on, let's go see him. Sally and Anna are there too," Edward said with a smile."Then what are we waiting for?"So, Edward led the way, while Milo's entourage, including Wendy, stayed behind.Milo and Edward walked together towards the garden behind the Wilson residence, which was also part of the top of Nob Hill.In 1878, when the first cable car reached this hillside.Two tycoons who had made their fortunes in the gold rush and four who had become wealthy through the Pacific Railroad built magnificent mansions on this hill.Later, this place became a gathering place for San Francisco's top wealthy individuals, hence its name.One of those six wealthy men was Edward's ancestor.These six wealthy men later joined forces to form a trust.This trust is now known to Americans as the California Consortium.