After rejecting the monk's proposal once again, Charlie Lee closed his eyes and leaned back, taking a brief nap while contemplating his next moves.
In truth, what Charlie desired most now was to marry a noblewoman—or rather, to find a noblewoman willing to marry into his life. Such a union would elevate his status and fortify his position. With noble backing, no one could easily take advantage of him, as it was always the powerful who reaped the rewards.
"I have a plan," Charlie murmured under his breath.
As for the gold card gifted to him by West, Charlie decided to keep it for now. He didn't feel compelled to use it just yet—his "salted fish" mentality didn't demand it. Even as a self-proclaimed "salted fish" (one who doesn't actively strive for greatness), Charlie wanted to be the saltiest and most impressive one of all.
Bearing the prestigious Habsburg name may seem like an accomplishment to outsiders, but Charlie understood the precariousness of his position. That name came with hidden dangers, drawing the attention of those scheming to dismantle the remnants of its legacy. During the height of the imperial era, the mighty families fell prey to infighting and revenge plots. Now, the fear of settling old scores loomed heavily over any association with the Habsburgs.
By the time Charlie landed in Chicago late that evening, his assistant, Ben—was already waiting at the airport.
"Boss, Ben is waiting for you at the club," said the assistant as they climbed into the car.
"Is it urgent?" Charlie asked. If it wasn't a critical matter, he doubted he'd be summoned at this hour.
"There's trouble brewing with the United National Bank of Chicago. They're seeking help."
Hearing this, Charlie perked up instantly. "An opportunity is knocking," he muttered, his mind racing with possibilities.
For someone who aspired to build a formidable financial empire, securing a stable financial institution was essential. Without a strong financial arm, his ambitions would remain vulnerable to outside forces, eventually benefiting rival players in the industry.
Charlie had been on the lookout for a viable acquisition target. While countless banks faced insolvency each day, most offered little value—burdened with bad debts, dwindling clientele, and no clear avenues for growth. Acquiring such banks would require significant resources but yield nothing more than useless data and liabilities.
However, the United National Bank of Chicago was different. It was one of the oldest banks in the region and the second-largest in the Midwest. With a vast network of high-quality clients, substantial collateral, and, most importantly, the authority to issue state bonds, it was a true gem.
State bonds, often used to finance public infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, and ports, were highly attractive to wealthy investors and large corporations. Not only were they tax-exempt at the federal level, but many states also waived taxes on them. This made them a lucrative and secure investment vehicle.
"Ben, give me the full picture," Charlie urged as they entered his office.
"The United National Bank faced a significant run due to the recent disaster in the area," Ben began. "Although they initially weathered the storm with their strong reserves, the situation has worsened. Large deposits are being withdrawn, private enterprises are filing for bankruptcy, and the bad debts are piling up. Properties that were valued at $10,000 are now worth a mere few hundred dollars—and even at that price, no one is willing to buy."
This cascade of events had pushed the bank to the brink.
"How long can they last?" Charlie asked sharply.
"At most three days. After that, they'll have to declare bankruptcy."
"Who else is aware of this?"
"Just us and Aiken."
"The Chicago Consortium is eyeing them too?" Charlie's brow furrowed.
"Of course. But the collapse happened so fast that the United Bank's board hasn't had the time to notify many potential buyers. For now, it's just us and the Chicago Consortium in the running."
"That means we have a real chance," Charlie mused. Despite the Consortium's deep pockets, the bank's board had reasons to favor Charlie's bid.
"Why would they lean toward us?" Charlie asked, puzzled.
"They appreciate the way you treat your subordinates," Ben replied with a wry smile.
Charlie couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. "So my laziness has somehow become an asset?"
Even so, he wasn't one to waste a chance. "Get the think tank on this immediately," he ordered.
"Understood. We'll have preliminary talks with the board tomorrow morning. If all goes well, we'll have results by the afternoon—or the next morning at the latest."
"Good. Let's make it happen," Charlie declared. "If we're going to compete with the Chicago Consortium, we need to secure this deal quickly. We can't risk half-measures."
Once the financial matter was addressed, Charlie turned his attention to another priority—his stake in BMW.
"How's the acquisition going?" he asked Ben.
"We've acquired 13% of the shares so far. Rush is leading the effort in Country D, and we expect good news soon."
Charlie nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. Soon enough, I'll be driving my own BMW—'Don't touch me!'" he joked, reveling in the idea of owning such a prestigious brand.
The next morning, as Charlie prepared for a meeting with the chief designers of Jeep and Shunfeng, he reflected on the potential of his burgeoning automobile business. During a long night in his office, he had sketched out numerous designs for future vehicles—ranging from rugged off-road models to sleek sports cars.
By the time the designers arrived, the table was covered in blueprints.
"Boss, these designs… they're genius!" exclaimed Karen, the chief designer of Shunfeng. "They're not just cars—they're works of art!"
Charlie smirked. "Well, there's still a lot of work to be done. These are just preliminary sketches. You'll need to refine and improve them."
For hours, Charlie shared his fragmented ideas—about aerodynamics, non-load-bearing structures, suspension systems, and four-wheel-drive technology. Though disjointed, his suggestions sparked the designers' imaginations.
Karen, impressed by Charlie's vision, said confidently, "With such clear goals, we'll soon have groundbreaking products to show."
Pleased with their enthusiasm, Charlie appointed Karen as the director of the new R&D center, with Orfley, the Jeep designer, as his deputy.
"I expect great things from you both," Charlie said. "And remember—this is just the beginning. We're not just building cars; we're building a legacy."
With his financial ambitions and automotive dreams taking shape, Charlie Lee knew he was on the cusp of greatness. The world wasn't ready for what he had planned—but that was just the way he liked it.