The Tyrant Billionaire

Upon arrival, he visited the fully completed museum. The building spanned over 40,000 square meters—almost as large as the Louvre. Artwork and antiques were being arranged inside. Hardy had been personally involved in overseeing the layout; setting up an exhibit of this scale was no small task.

The museum's largest section was dedicated to European art, with galleries highlighting Portuguese and Dutch pieces, including exquisite furniture and antiques. Hardy also planned a Southeast Asian gallery to showcase Malaysian and Filipino art, reflecting a balance often seen in international museums.

Recently, Hardy's auction house had acquired numerous art pieces due to economic conditions in Europe and Asia, and he seized this ideal moment to add to the museum's collection. As he walked through the furniture displays, Hardy noted the intricate craftsmanship of antique European pieces made from mahogany and oak, many from historic estates. He was confident each piece would significantly increase in value.

On his second day in Hong Kong, Hardy met with Huo Qingtong.

Huo reported the current demands from Southeast Asia, listing electronic products, precision instruments, machinery, rubber, chemicals, oil equipment, and fuel supplies.

Hardy thought they might need these products for infrastructure projects, but he didn't dwell on the specifics. After touring the museum galleries, he visited the underground vault, which now held over 80 tons of gold—acquired from Japan and the United States. Hardy was carefully stockpiling gold, understanding its strategic value in a stable economy.

The warehouse also held antiques, most from Japan, with over 300,000 pieces stored. Additionally, a designated furniture warehouse stored premium pieces bartered from Southeast Asia, a region with limited capital for more traditional trade. Hardy accepted this form of barter, foreseeing its future worth.

Another notable acquisition was a large quantity of gemstones and jade from Malaysia and the Philippines. These mining areas had recently begun excavations, causing a surge in supply.

Hardy couldn't help but feel skeptical about how much this demand might alter the market. But he kept his thoughts neutral, avoiding political considerations aside from those concerning the U.S. and Japan.

...

Hardy Group's Hong Kong Headquarters.

Here, all of Hardy Group's Hong Kong operations were managed, with Victor serving as the Group's president in Hong Kong.

Since Britain recognized the CCP, the Hong Kong crisis had temporarily eased, and the market had stabilized, allowing Hong Kong to flourish again.

In his office, Victor reported to Hardy on the status of various Hong Kong enterprises over the past six months.

Currently, Hardy Group owned an industrial park in Hong Kong, housing 129 businesses. Hardy Group held shares in each, and they were all doing well.

The pharmaceutical plant had expanded its offerings beyond 'Viagra'.

For external use, there was India Magic Oil. This product wasn't from India; it was produced in Hong Kong, though it wouldn't appear until the 1960s.
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The Traditional Medicine Research Institute also developed a variety of external-use products, including hemorrhoid cream, nasal spray, mosquito-repellent balm, and acne soap. These health products were gradually making a name for themselves in the U.S. market.

Victor also reported that Viagra and India Magic Oil were selling well in Japan, especially in the red-light districts.

The Hong Kong racetrack was now built and had partnered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, hosting several events, though betting hadn't started yet.

"No rush. Let's focus on building relationships first. Making money will come naturally," Hardy said.

Last year, fearing the CCP might invade, many people sold off properties, land, and companies, allowing Hardy Group to acquire large amounts of real estate, now managed by a dedicated real estate company.

"Boss, we acquired these properties and land at very low prices due to the urgency of the sales. Now that the market has recovered, their value has doubled or even tripled," Victor said with a smile.

This was the advantage of venture capital.

A financial crisis can be a boon for those with money; they can acquire assets at low prices and sell them at several times the profit once the market recovers. This business beats any other in profitability.

Of course, it requires vision, strength, and courage.

"Any pressure on capital?" Hardy asked.

"All loans are from Wells Fargo Bank and HSBC. Having our own bank makes it convenient. The total loan amount for Hong Kong operations has now reached 36 million dollars," Victor replied.

Owning more fixed assets certainly has its advantages, but the downside is that it also requires a lot of capital.

After spending a few days in Hong Kong,

Hardy conducted inspections of the various businesses.

One morning, as he was having breakfast, the butler approached him with a newspaper, saying, "Sir, here's today's newspaper. The front-page news says there's been another war."

Hardy's interest was piqued.

He took the newspaper and opened it. The front page of the

Global Times

had a bold headline: "Massive War Breaks Out on the Peninsula Again."

The newspaper read:

At dawn today, North Korea launched a large-scale offensive against South Korea, formally igniting the Korean War

Hardy thought to himself, "What was meant to happen has happened."

The wheels of history keep turning, beyond the power of a few individuals to change.

From his previous life knowledge, he knew that China would join the war and support North Korea within a few months. It was also about time he stopped supplying the CCP before he became implicated. As for his remaining weaponry, he wasn't worried; the South Koreans would be hit hard in the early stages of the war and would likely be more than willing to pay a premium for his remaining weapons.

It was also time for him to return to Japan to coordinate with the army stationed there. He had been preparing for this war for some time now, stockpiling many resources that the army would soon require once the Korean War intensified.

As for the rest, he simply needed to manage his own affairs well. In the tumultuous currents of history, he was just a businessman focused on living his own life, facilitating things for the U.S. Army while making some profit as a patriotic businessman. This was probably all he could do at this point.