Facing the aggressive demand by the Paris Northern Industrial Group to monopolize the mining rights for the entire Gabon region, Jero Patterson equally forcefully opposed Eugene Galin, the representative of the Northern Industrial Group stationed in Gabon.
"Mr. Galin, it’s unfortunate! The Governor’s Mansion cannot agree to your terms! We are only willing to sell a mine near the Enthuya Tribe!
As for acquiring the mining rights for all manganese mines in the Gabon region, the Governor’s Mansion has no intention to sell!" Jero Patterson responded to Eugene Galin with a smile, his tone unhurried and composed.
After hearing Jero Patterson’s remarks, Eugene Galin showed a stunned expression. After a while, he couldn’t help but say to Jero Patterson, "Governor Jero Patterson, surely, as a mber of the Bonaparte Clan, you are aware of who stands behind our Northern Industrial Group!"
"Are you threatening !" Jero Patterson’s smile faded, and he looked at Eugene Galin expressionlessly, his tone turning particularly cold.
Eugene Galin imdiately realized his mistake, as most of the people he usually dealt with were politicians.
Those politicians, upon hearing the na of the Paris Northern Industrial Group, would give money if money was asked, people if people were asked.
This led to an arrogant ntality within the Paris Northern Industrial Group, with most of its mid-to-high-level executives generally adopting a mindset of "my backing is the Emperor, I fear no one" when dealing with collaborators and competitors.
As the group expanded in scale, so bad practices took root and grew within its ranks.
Now, they brought this ntality into the Governor’s Mansion of Gabon, bringing it upon the head of Jero Patterson, the Emperor’s nephew, akin to lighting a lamp in an outhouse—to look for trouble (or worse).
"No dare!" Eugene Galin quickly stood up, bowed, and admitted his mistake to Jero Patterson, "Governor, I misspoke earlier! Please forgive !"
"Misspoke?" Jero Patterson flashed a cold smile again, and continued, "I do not think this is just a simple misspeak!"
As Jero Patterson spoke, he pointed at the chair beneath him, "If it were an ordinary governor sitting here instead of , you probably wouldn’t apologize like this, would you!
After all, your Northern Industrial Group is such a big corporation! How could it possibly apologize to a re governor!"
Jero Patterson’s sarcastic tone made Eugene Galin feel sowhat unbearable.
He, who is usually flattered, had never been subjected to such sarcasm.
If it were soone else sitting opposite him instead of Jero Patterson, he would definitely make the other party suffer.
Unfortunately, the person opposite him is Jero Patterson, so he could only accept it obediently.
"Governor, you are very right in your criticism!" Eugene Galin obediently accepted the criticism and admitted his mistakes, "I indeed have been arrogant, and I will certainly correct my shortcomings in the future!"
Jero Patterson rely smiled; he did not believe that Eugene Galin would honestly accept criticism.
However, at the mont, he didn’t want to dwell on these matters; he rely wanted to discuss the manganese mining issue with Eugene Galin.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore!" Jero Patterson said to Eugene Galin, "I want to know, how much is your Northern Industrial Group willing to pay to purchase this iron mine from the Governor’s Mansion?"
After thinking for a mont, Eugene Galin responded to Jero Patterson, "Governor, we originally intended to offer 5 million francs to buy the mining rights to the entire Gabon region’s manganese mines!
Since you’re unwilling to sell, we are willing to offer 500,000 francs to buy the mining rights to that manganese mine!
What do you think of this offer?"
"From 5 million to 500,000, isn’t that price reduction a bit too drastic from your company! Does your company think there are 10 high-quality manganese mines in the Gabon region?" Jero Patterson retorted.
Of course, Jero Patterson did not know that the Gabon region produced even more manganese mines than he ntioned.
"Governor! If you are willing to sell all the mining rights for manganese mines in the Gabon region to us, we are still willing to pay 5 million francs or even a higher price!" Eugene Galin argued, "But if you are just selling one manganese mine, we naturally cannot agree to your request.
If within a year, another manganese mine is discovered, wouldn’t we suffer a great loss!"
"Suffer a great loss?" Jero Patterson shook his head and said to Eugene Galin, "Before long, all the blast furnaces in Europe will need to import large quantities of manganese ores, and Europe’s manganese mine production has always been low!
Are they not going to import from you? In my opinion, you are going to make a fortune in the future!"
"Governor, that’s not how the math works!" Eugene Galin complained again, "Purchasing machines requires money! Transportation costs money! Hiring people also costs money! Where do these costs co from, if not from our own pockets!
You’re only looking at the money we made in the early stages, but haven’t considered our preliminary losses!
Not to ntion, the mine is about ten kiloters from the riverbank, which ans we have to lay rail tracks and purchase locomotives... all of these require money!"
"We don’t need to import sleepers from France; we have plenty of timber here! All your company needs to do is set up a lumber processing market here, and that’s it!" Jero Patterson squinted at Eugene Galin, saying, "This can save a large sum of money!
Moreover, those processed timbers could be transported back to France!
Also, the manpower cost here is much cheaper than in France, and the price of processing timber is far lower than in France!"
Eugene Galin naturally understood what Jero Patterson ant by "cheap labor," and he responded to Jero Patterson in a low voice: "Governor, according to the French constitution! Our company cannot use slave labor!"
"Mr. Eugene Galin, our nation indeed prohibits the use of slaves, but our laws cannot restrain the tribes in the Gabon Region!
If the tribal leader is willing to set up a third-party company and sign a work agreent with your enterprise, then those who work for your company would not be affiliated with your company! This way, you wouldn’t bear any responsibility!
You just need to pay the tribal leader, and the rest is up to the tribal leader," Jero Patterson righteously said to Eugene Galin.
After listening to Jero Patterson, Eugene Galin’s lips subtly ford a wry smile.
If they followed Jero Patterson’s assertion, they indeed avoided risks.
But their initial investnt wouldn’t be small, which is quite different from the task assigned by the headquarters when he ca.
"Governor, let’s first discuss the manganese mine issue!" Eugene Galin suggested to Jero Patterson, "We are willing to invest 600,000 francs to purchase the mining rights under the Governor’s Mansion!"
"600,000 francs plus 10% net profit!" Jero Patterson said to Eugene Galin.
"Impossible!" Eugene Galin decisively rejected Jero Patterson’s suggestion, "Governor, you know 10% profit is quite a substantial figure!"
"Mr. Galin, didn’t you say earlier that manganese wasn’t valuable! How co you now admit it’s a significant figure!" Jero Patterson’s lips curled into a smile, his tone slightly teasing as he inquired.
"This..." Eugene Galin fell silent again, and after a while, he spoke: "Governor, we also need to expand the market, and expanding the market requires money!"
"Then let concede 2%, making it an 8% profit! I also promise that should a new manganese mine be discovered, Paris Northern Industrial Group will have the priority purchase rights!" Jero Patterson offered Eugene Galin a step back.
After contemplating for a while, Eugene Galin gritted his teeth and said to Jero Patterson: "Governor, my maximum limit to offer you is a 6% profit plus 500,000 francs!"
"Alright! I’ll step back again! 550,000 francs plus 6% profit; if it works, it works! If not, I’ll find another company!" Jero Patterson resolutely said to Eugene Galin.
"Deal!" Eugene Galin finally agreed to Jero Patterson’s terms.
Because Jero Patterson is the Emperor’s nephew, if it were anyone else, he definitely wouldn’t show them any courtesy.
"Pleasure doing business!" Jero Patterson extended his hand to Eugene Galin.
"Pleasure doing business!" Eugene Galin shook hands with Jero Patterson, then added: "Governor, if I may be frank! Your talent should lie in comrce rather than here! You are truly an outstanding businessman!"
"You flatter !" Jero Patterson modestly said, aware that his success rely stemd from having a good uncle, "By the way! Regarding the lumber processing factory I ntioned earlier, do you want to reconsider?"
"Governor, with your strong recomndation! How dare I not comply!" Eugene Galin replied to Jero Patrin.
After Eugene Galin departed, Rastigne appeared in Jero Patterson’s office.
"Governor, how did your conversation with the Northern Industrial Group go?" Rastigne curiously asked Jero Patterson.
"550,000 francs plus 6% profit!" Jero Patterson calmly replied.
"Gasp!" Rastigne’s face showed a surprised expression, "Governor, only you could secure such generous terms!"
"It’s nothing!" Jero Patterson shook his head, saying to Rastigne, "However, I must inform His Majesty the Emperor about these matters with Paris Northern Industry! If not addressed soon, there could be serious trouble!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)