Song Ying stood up, still somewhat bewildered. Her admiration for Gao Jianfei reached a new peak... How many people in this world would dare to bargain with the Yamaguchi-gumi like this? How many people in this world would remain unmoved and unfazed by such generous offers from the Yamaguchi-gumi?
I reckon only a freakishly talented man like Gao Jianfei could do that!
Seeing that Gao Jianfei had no room for negotiation and was about to leave, Yamaguchi Haruka panicked. He completely believed what Gao Jianfei had just said... "Wait! Jianfei-kun, please wait! In China, there is an old saying: 'Ask the sky, then bargain.' Jianfei-kun, why don't you state your bottom line so that our Yamaguchi-gumi can discuss it?"
“K,” Gao Jianfei chuckled. “Alright, then I’ll be frank. As for what you’ve said about being a retainer of the Yamaguchi-gumi, I’m not interested. I’m not afraid to say it, but I don’t want to be a retainer of a Japanese underground organization. There’s no particular reason, it’s just a feeling. Secondly, the $500 million, maids, yachts, mansions—I can earn all that myself in a short time. Therefore, the conditions you’ve proposed don’t meet my needs. So what do I want? Yamaguchi-kun, you just heard my conversation with Chen Yifeng. This time, I’m going to beat Chen Yifeng to a pulp, cripple him, and make sure he can never be reincarnated! But I’m short on gambling funds. Therefore, I want to negotiate a condition with the Yamaguchi-gumi… I’ll gamble with Chen Yifeng, and the Yamaguchi-gumi will provide gambling funds equivalent to Chen Yifeng’s assets. Remember, I don’t want your money, I want a loan! Once I win all of Chen Yifeng’s assets, I’ll return the principal, with interest, to the Yamaguchi-gumi. Uh… that’s my bottom line!”
Yes, Gao Jianfei wants to borrow several hundred billion US dollars from the Yamaguchi-gumi!
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, the Yamaguchi-gumi's higher-ups were dumbfounded!
Gao Jianfei added, “Gentlemen, the Yamaguchi-gumi has been around for over a century. It’s a long-established underground organization that monopolizes all of Japan’s underground industries. I believe that several hundred billion dollars is not a problem for the Yamaguchi-gumi!”
"This...this..." Yamaguchi Harumi stammered, "Jianfei-kun, things aren't as you imagine...hundreds of billions of dollars aren't something you can just take out like that...besides..."
Harumi Yamaguchi didn't finish his sentence... Besides, you can't even guarantee a win! What if you lose?
Those hundreds of billions of dollars were just thrown into the water!
Of course, Gao Jianfei had considered beforehand that the chances of him successfully borrowing tens of billions were slim. After all, the Yamaguchi-gumi wasn't just owned by Yamaguchi Harumitsu; an organization wouldn't risk tens of billions for a single individual!
The situation has reached a stalemate.
Gao Jianfei said with slight impatience, "Then give me a straight answer, how much can you lend out? Give me a bottom line!"
Upon hearing Gao Jianfei's ultimatum, several high-ranking members of the Yamaguchi-gumi gathered together and began a tense and heated discussion.
Because the amount of money involved was so huge, they discussed it for a full 10 minutes!
Afterwards, Yamaguchi Harumi sighed and said to Gao Jianfei, "Jianfei-kun, our bottom line is 10 billion US dollars! We can only provide you with 10 billion US dollars, not a penny more! This is already a huge sum of money that I can mobilize. You...you should consider it!"
Chapter 333 Frantically Raising Money!
Chapter 333 Frantically Raising Money!
The Yamaguchi-gumi is willing to "lend" Gao Jianfei 10 billion US dollars!
Gao Jianfei, observing their expressions, noticed that several high-ranking members of the Yamaguchi-gumi, including Yamaguchi Haruka, all had a murderous aura hidden in their eyes!
Gao Jianfei was certain that $10 billion was the Yamaguchi-gumi's bottom line. If Gao Jianfei remained oblivious to the consequences, then without a doubt, the Yamaguchi-gumi would resort to a series of other extreme measures… such as threats, kidnapping, or even using Song Ying as a hostage to coerce Gao Jianfei into submission! They were a ruthless organization, and offering Gao Jianfei $10 billion was already a considerable concession!
Alright, let's call it a day while we're ahead!
"Then... let's do this! On the day of my match with Chen Yifeng, the Yamaguchi-gumi will directly provide me with 10 billion in betting funds!" Gao Jianfei smiled and nodded, reaching an agreement with the other party. In his heart, however, he thought to himself that he was still short several tens of billions of US dollars and would have to raise them himself!
"Oh! That's great! Jianfei-kun, I hope we have a pleasant working relationship!" Yamaguchi Harumi immediately breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he extended his hand to Gao Jianfei. After shaking hands, Gao Jianfei officially began the first acupuncture treatment for Yamaguchi Harumi.
Acupuncture needles were inserted into more than a dozen acupoints all over Yamaguchi Harumo's body, and then a trace of internal energy was channeled into his lungs. This energy enveloped and nourished Yamaguchi Harumo's already ravaged and nearly destroyed lungs, giving him an indescribable feeling of pleasure! Normally, he would cough occasionally, but now he had no cough at all; instead, he groaned comfortably, his face displaying an expression of blissful ecstasy, like an addict on drugs!
The Yamaguchi-gumi executives standing nearby were dumbfounded!
They could see that Yamaguchi Harumi was receiving very effective treatment, and their faith in Gao Jianfei's medical skills deepened even further!
During the treatment, Gao Jianfei directly said to Yamaguchi Harumi, "Yamaguchi-kun, you are well aware of my situation. As things stand, I personally need to raise several hundred billion US dollars within a month. This is practically an impossible task, but I still want to try my best. Um, Yamaguchi-kun, please spread a message among the aristocratic circles around the world: I am now openly treating patients! Anyone with difficult or even terminal illnesses can report to the Yamaguchi-gumi, and I will then provide treatment."
"Hi!" Yamaguchi Harumi was enjoying the therapeutic pleasure of soaking in a hot spring; the despair and gloom that had ravaged his heart by illness had now vanished! He could smell the fragrance of life and the scent of sunshine. Therefore, upon hearing Gao Jianfei's words, he readily agreed. "Yes, Jianfei-kun, our Yamaguchi-gumi will personally contact various patients with the ability to pay for your treatment. Please rest assured, Jianfei-kun!"
"Okay, then I might also organize some large-scale auctions and art exhibitions, and the Yamaguchi-gumi will handle everything then," Gao Jianfei said with a smile. Right now, he's definitely trying every possible way to raise money. Wild ginseng from the Ghost Den, genuine works by Qiu Ying, and so on—who knows, he might have to get some of those up for auction!
"Hi! Jianfei-kun, our Yamaguchi-gumi will provide you with all the assistance you need! Please rest assured!" Yamaguchi Harumi naturally complied.
After an hour of acupuncture, the silver needles Gao Jianfei removed from Yamaguchi Harukoku's body were stained with some dark, stagnant blood. The first acupuncture session went smoothly. The wisps of true energy injected into Yamaguchi Harukoku's lungs were also able to control the rampant spread of cancer cells, and even kill a small portion of them!
After the treatment, Yamaguchi Harumo felt very comfortable and fell asleep peacefully, a contented smile still on his lips.
The Yamaguchi-gumi's top brass already revered Gao Jianfei like a god! They collectively bid him farewell, bowing and scraping.
Back at her home, Song Ying linked arms with Gao Jianfei, giggling to herself.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" Gao Jianfei asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing... Jianfei, I've realized I've really struck gold!" Song Ying smiled foolishly. "You men... hehe, hard to say."
"Why can't I say?" Gao Jianfei chuckled.
“You might be the best man on this planet! Now that I’m your woman, I should be getting to know you better and better, but I feel like you’re becoming more and more mysterious! You always manage to give people huge surprises. You always manage to succeed…tsk tsk, I, Song Ying, am truly blessed by Lady Luck in this life! Hehe, Jianfei, don’t even think about running away, I’m going to stick with you for the rest of my life!” Song Ying said sweetly.
"Am I the best man on this planet? Not necessarily!" Gao Jianfei pulled Song Ying into a room, turned on the computer, logged into a web browser, and found the forum for the World Genius Challenge. "Look, Ying, this is a match between me and someone in three months. If I can defeat my opponent in this match, then you might consider me the best man on this planet! Haha!"
Song Ying hadn't been online much lately, and when she first saw the introduction on this webpage, her eyes widened in disbelief! She held her breath, staring at the computer screen for a full ten minutes before exclaiming in astonishment, "Jian Fei... a genius challenge? Ten fields selected from 50 for the competition? This... this competition has already caused a sensation internationally! You... you've gone too far... too professional... tsk tsk, currently, they're far ahead in the right to host the competition in the capital of Z country. Uh... Jian Fei, 82% of the netizens who participated in the vote actually support your opponent..."
"Huh? Feng Haoyu's approval rating has reached 82%? Tsk tsk, that's really impressive. I saw his approval rating was only 78% when I went online a few days ago..." Gao Jianfei exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Gao Jianfei also discovered that, in addition to the snooker, calligraphy, painting, and chess competitions from China, bullfighting from Spain, football, winemaking, sculpture, oil painting, and traditional Chinese painting competitions that appeared last time, there are now... diving, composition, basketball, and even Warcraft III e-sports competitions!
It's incredibly diverse and all-encompassing!
"Jianfei, look here! More than a dozen well-known European betting companies have already gotten involved in this World Genius Challenge. Next month, Europe will be the first to issue lottery tickets related to this competition, and then the lottery tickets will enter the Asian, American, and Oceanian markets... It's a sensation! Jianfei, you've caused a worldwide sensation!" Song Ying was practically going crazy. She hadn't expected that her man, without making a sound, would create such a sensational event!
"Well, we'll see. I'm not entirely sure myself right now. But what I have in front of me right now is the competition with Chen Yifeng. This genius challenge can wait. Let's take care of Chen Yifeng first." Gao Jianfei gestured for Song Ying to go online and play. He was going to another room to think about raising money.
At that moment, Song Ying's phone rang.
"Uh, Jianfei, it's our station director calling." Song Ying smiled at Gao Jianfei and then answered the phone. Of course, she and Gao Jianfei were currently in a passionate relationship, so she put the call on speakerphone.
"Hey, Sakura, are you still in Japan?" A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Hmm. Station Director, I still have a whole month of vacation left, why are you calling me?" Song Ying asked, slightly annoyed.
"Well, Sakura, I'm telling you, this time you have to come back to China early. There's important work for you! I'm telling you, something explosive has happened recently—the World Genius Challenge, you know? If not, you can look it up online right now! It's all the rage online! This is a once-in-a-lifetime competition, you could say it's unprecedented! And the host city for this competition is very likely to be our country's capital! Sakura, as the top program host of the capital's TV station, we've decided that you will be in charge of hosting this competition from all angles! Sakura, this is a major opportunity to reach the pinnacle of your career! This is a globally broadcast competition; if you were the host, well, the implications are obvious, right? Alright, come back quickly, let's discuss the broadcast of this competition properly."
“This…” Song Ying looked at Gao Jianfei, “How far in advance do I need to go back to the station to report?”
In fact, Song Ying didn't want to give up her honeymoon in Japan with Gao Jianfei just to host this kind of program. Although she was very career-driven, and hosting this competition would definitely make her an overnight sensation and internationally famous, she was willing to give up the opportunity to host it compared to being with Gao Jianfei. However, Gao Jianfei was her man, and if she personally hosted his competition, it would have a different meaning!
"You need to come back to China right now! Hurry up! Xiaoying, let me tell you, there's already a long line of top domestic hosts vying for this competition. The competition is fierce. If you want to get the job, you'd better come back right now!" The "station director" was very agitated. "Alright, Xiaoying, stop arguing. We'll talk when you get back! Hurry up!"
After saying that, the station director hung up the phone.
"Jianfei... I... I'd like to participate in hosting this competition." Song Ying hung up the phone and said to Gao Jianfei in a weak, inquiring tone.
"Haha! Xiaoying, I heard everything just now." Gao Jianfei laughed and hugged Song Ying. "Indeed, this competition is a huge opportunity! Think about it, so many viewers around the world are watching this competition. I can even say that the viewership of this competition will probably be no less than that of the Olympics. In fact, the competition's prestige is higher than the Olympics. The Olympics are team competitions, while this competition is a duel between two individuals, two geniuses! It's incredibly exciting! Therefore, if you were to host this competition, you would become a superstar overnight, even more famous than a Hollywood star! Haha, our Xiaoying is beautiful and has a great temperament; fame is definitely guaranteed! Yes, I support you, come back to China! I told you before that I also hope you have your own career, not like a housewife, staying at home all day doing housework for me. I support your career!"
Hearing Gao Jianfei praise her, Song Ying smiled and couldn't help but kiss him. "Jianfei, I don't want to be famous. I just want to host my husband's competition. It feels so wonderful! Hehe, Jianfei, you have to win the competition!"
"Okay, we'll definitely handle that storm!" Gao Jianfei said confidently with a smile.
Thus, through their decision, Song Ying prepared to depart for the capital of Z country the next day.
After making this decision, Gao Jianfei left Song Ying in the room to surf the internet, and then left the room himself. Then, in the courtyard, he started making phone calls!
First, he called Chen Yaohui.
"Yaohui." Gao Jianfei hadn't contacted Chen Yaohui for a long time. The two had a good relationship, and Gao Jianfei was quite happy to call him now.
"Huh? Jianfei! Haha! Where are you from? I heard you've become a miracle doctor again, really... haha, you're something else! Also, what's with that World Genius Challenge? It's really interesting! Jianfei, are you back in your hometown? Then I'll drive over right away to have a drink with you! Hahaha!" Chen Yaohui laughed heartily on the other end of the phone. Although his relationship with Gao Jianfei had always been one of mutual exploitation, they still had a friendship to speak of.
"Um, I'm currently in Japan. Listen, Yaohui, I urgently need some money to tide me over. Of course, I'm borrowing it from you. I'll pay you back in a month. How much money can your gang currently provide? How much can you contribute?" Gao Jianfei cut straight to the point.
“This…” Chen Yaohui hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t mince words. “Jianfei, aside from the gang’s normal operating funds, Dongxing can provide you with $200 million in aid. What’s wrong, Jianfei? Why are you in such a hurry to raise money?”
$200 million?
That's a little too few. But even a small mosquito is still a bite.
"Okay, Yaohui, I'll tell you the details in a month. I'm very grateful that you can provide me with $200 million in aid. Don't worry, I'll repay you $300 million with interest in a month. So, within a week, you can transfer the money to my account."
"K, Jianfei, no problem!"
After catching up for a while, Gao Jianfei hung up the phone. Then, he called Tang Bao to borrow money.
Of course, Tang Bao was not a hypocrite. He agreed to lend Gao Jianfei 300 million US dollars.
Furthermore, Tang Bao offered Gao Jianfei some advice, "Nephew, I won't ask you what exactly you're raising the money for. However, judging from your tone, 300 million doesn't seem to be enough, and Zheng Bang's limit is only 300 million for you. Here's what I'll do... I'll make a call to Feilong for you. Last time, on Feilong's mother's birthday, you saved Feilong's family's lives, so he won't refuse if you ask to borrow money."
“Then… Uncle Tang, I can just call Brother Feilong myself.” Gao Jianfei nodded, thinking that Feilong was a very wealthy man in G Province, and he could borrow some money from him.
After ending the call with Tang Bao, Gao Jianfei immediately called Feilong.
When it came to lending money, Feilong was straightforward and agreed to give Gao Jianfei 300 million US dollars.
In this way, Gao Jianfei found the only three friends he knew who could contribute money, and together they raised 800 million US dollars.
With the addition of the 10 billion from the Yamaguchi-gumi, Gao Jianfei now has 10.8 billion US dollars on hand.
Although it is still far from Chen Yifeng's huge wealth, by accumulating little by little, we can try to raise about 50 billion US dollars in betting funds within a month. Then we can go all out against Chen Yifeng!
Originally, Gao Jianfei knew someone named Liu Feng who should have been able to raise funds. However, Gao Jianfei knew that Liu Feng had connections in officialdom, so he decided not to approach him.
To Gao Jianfei's surprise, in the evening, Sister Bi, whom he had only met once, took the initiative to call him... "Jianfei, I heard from Feilong's wife that you've been trying to raise money everywhere. Have you encountered any trouble? If you have any trouble, just tell me! I'll do everything I can to help you!"
Gao Jianfei was speechless. He chatted with Sister Bi for a few minutes, explaining that he was currently not in any trouble, but was simply short of money for the time being.
Without hesitation, Sister Bi agreed to raise 300 million US dollars for Gao Jianfei.
Gao Jianfei repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
That night, since Song Ying was flying back to China the next day, Gao Jianfei spent the night with her. Only after Song Ying fell asleep did Gao Jianfei enter the Ghost Den.
In the den of ghosts.
"Dear user, welcome to your haunted home!" the AI program's voice said faithfully as always.
Gao Jianfei glanced at the progress of piecing together the soul of Zhu Changling, a level 3 ghost... It had reached 61%, and was almost finished!
Almost half!
Gao Jianfei's plan was that once Zhu Changling's soul was pieced together and he had mastered the One-Finger Divine Skill, he would go on a killing spree, eliminating all the high-ranking members of the Sakura Group and completing the task of accumulating over one million experience points.
This time, Gao Jianfei's purpose in coming to the Ghost Den was to bring Qiu Ying and Liang Ziweng here.
Gao Jianfei told Qiu Ying to find him some paintings, which he would then exchange for using exorcism points and put up for auction. Although Gao Jianfei's painting skills were nearly on par with Qiu Ying's, his works were not genuine works by the Ming Dynasty painter Qiu Ying, and therefore would fetch a significantly lower price.
Afterwards, Gao Jianfei asked Liang Ziweng to prepare some wild ginseng, which was also to be auctioned off.
These are all methods Gao Jianfei uses to make money.
Furthermore, Gao Jianfei also considered that there were some tricks to making money quickly through ghost-related methods. For example, Gao Jianfei knew that the most expensive painting in the world was Picasso's "Boy with a Pipe," which had fetched over one hundred million US dollars at auction! Gao Jianfei could try to piece together Picasso's work, partly to learn abstract painting techniques from him, and partly to use exorcism points to exchange for some of his original works.
Of course, doing so also avoids wasting exorcism points.
In the upcoming genius challenge between He Feng and Hao Yu three months later, Gao Jianfei will need to demonstrate talent in many fields. Therefore, Gao Jianfei's current plan is... to gather together as many outstanding deceased artistic geniuses as possible from both China and abroad, then exchange their works for his art and learn their skills!
Make money and learn a skill at the same time!
"Yes! To raise money! To learn skills in various fields, I must start working twice as hard from now on!"