London. Winter.
Thick fog.
Although visibility was poor, this weather was actually ideal—no need to worry about bombings.
As soon as the car stopped in front of the North Borneo Company’s London office, Willy, who had been waiting for so ti, imdiately stepped forward, opened the car door, and greeted respectfully,
"Hello, sir."
It must be said, the British are always pragmatic. No matter who the employer is—even a Chinese—they are always one hundred percent respectful.
After all, they can’t live without a few silver coins!
"Welco to the company, sir. All the staff at the office have been waiting for your arrival."
The company had a new owner.
For the office staff, this was good news, because... ever since the war broke out, they had only been paid half their salaries. Of course, if they didn’t like it, they could always resign.
"...Before the war, the office had 37 employees. Due to the war, only fifteen remain, seven of whom are won."
As he spoke, Willy deliberately glanced at the two won beside the boss—they really were stunning.
Fifteen people seed a bit much.
A capitalist doesn’t keep idle hands—there would have to be cuts!
Thinking this, Pierre entered the office, where a dozen or so employees stood respectfully in line, waiting for the new boss.
No surprises, no awe.
Just a routine eting. Pierre then introduced Stana and Jilly, making it clear to everyone—they were his agents.
What followed was more complicated. Willy began to report the company’s situation to the new chairman.
"...In the past few years, to pay the high interest on our debts, our company was forced to sell off its assets in the UK. This included our forr building, which has now changed hands. Now, we can only rent office space from others, and the company hasn’t paid salaries for three months."
Finally, after a long and detailed report, Willy grew increasingly anxious. He watched Pierre nervously, the report in his hands feeling heavier and heavier. It seed that the whole hour-long presentation boiled down to just two harsh words—"No money."
It wasn’t just a lack of funds—the company had been in arrears with staff salaries for a long ti.
Pierre already had his answer. He asked calmly,
"So, the company is basically on the verge of bankruptcy?"
Willy was silent for a mont, then nodded, eting his boss’s gaze directly. He said bluntly,
"Yes, you could put it that way."
His eyes were full of helplessness and gravity; every word seed squeezed from the depths of his heart. He knew this answer might trigger a storm, but he still chose honesty. "Even if we return to North Borneo after the war, things will likely be the sa. I’ve been following the news there. Before the war, according to the Colonial Office’s orders, the board cabled North Borneo to destroy the port, waterworks, power plant, and other infrastructure. Even if the Japanese rebuilt them, it was just a makeshift repair. After the war, we’ll probably need tens of millions of pounds to restore everything. Sir, so things are unavoidable. Your investnt cannot prevent the North Borneo Company from going bankrupt. From an investnt perspective, this was not a wise choice."
Willy’s honesty gradually softened the stern look on Pierre’s face, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. His gaze now held a trace of comfort and appreciation.
This was exactly the kind of person he needed.
"All right, your job is safe!"
Willy was montarily stunned, then looked at his boss with deep respect and gratitude.
"Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down."
"Willy, I heard you’ve been with the company since before the First World War?"
"Yes, sir. I joined the company in 1910. I’ve been here for 34 years now."
"Then you must know the company very well. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for the company’s next steps?"
"Well..."
Recalling his boss’s earlier words, Willy thought for a mont and said,
"Actually, the company isn’t entirely without hope."
"Oh? Tell —"
Listen."
"Boss, since the founding of the North Borneo Company, its developnt has been limited for two main reasons: first, a shortage of labor due to the small local population, and second, limited natural resources, as there is no oil or other minerals within the company’s territory. But the real fundantal constraint on the company’s growth is the lack of people. If, from the very beginning, or at least since the signing of the immigration agreent in 1913, we had implented it seriously, perhaps North Borneo would now have a population of several million. The consumption, production, and taxes from these people would have been enough to bring the company extrely generous returns. But because of the short-sightedness of the board, we have wasted thirty years for nothing."
When Willy brought up the past, his tone was full of regret.
"Immigration agreent? What immigration agreent?" Pierre asked in confusion.
"Boss, in 1913 the company signed an ’Immigration Agreent’ with China. At the ti, the company planned to recruit Chinese laborers to develop Borneo, but because of the war and the later short-sightedness of the board, the agreent was never carried out."
"What? An immigration agreent with China?" Pierre asked in surprise. "Then why wasn’t it implented?"
"Because the company was worried that too many Chinese would affect its control over the colony, and feared resistance from the local people. But they completely ignored one thing: without enough people, North Borneo simply cannot develop."
There was actually such a thing?
Pierre didn’t care much about Willy’s complaints. Right now, all his attention was on that immigration agreent.
An immigration agreent with China!
"Does the company still have the text of the immigration agreent?"
Until now, Pierre had been pondering how to bring in immigrants from China. But now, this agreent was like a pie falling from the sky. With this immigration agreent, there was a legal basis for North Borneo to recruit immigrants from China. Even though it hadn’t been implented since before World War I, there was nothing stopping Pierre from continuing to carry it out.
As for the situation back in China... It was nothing more than opening the way with cannons—no, using those supplies for trade. Who could refuse such a deal?
Soon, the original immigration agreent was retrieved from the archives. Looking at the docunt signed in both English and Chinese, a smile gradually spread across Pierre’s face.
"Willy, just as you said, the company was ruined by those people’s short-sightedness. But I am not a short-sighted person."
The corners of his mouth lifted as he said with a smile, "It looks like we should pay a visit to the embassy."
As he spoke, he glanced at the calendar: January 3rd.
There wasn’t much ti left. He had to act quickly!
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