"As for Taxes? Oh, co on. Do you think those places generate any taxes? Will the tax revenue even cover the $200 million in interest?
"Not only won't they make money, but to stabilize the current population and suppress rebels, I'll have to invest significant effort and funds."
Hardy's final terms were as follows:
-$5 millionto purchase a 50-square-kiloter coastal area in Singapore, including nearby waters, to facilitate future reclamation and the establishnt of his own private docking area.
-$30 millionto acquire all remaining vacant land and sea areas in Penang and Malacca.
The private estates, company properties, and land already owned by others in these areas would still belong to their current owners, even if the territories beca Hardy's fiefdom. It was impossible to seize these assets; only the unclaid areas would belong to him.
Most of these remaining areas were previously deed undesirable, so their value was evident.
-$200 millionto purchase British 10-year governnt bonds. In return, the British governnt would grant Penang and Malacca to Hardy as his fiefdoms, appointing him as their governor while granting these territories dominion status.
Previously, Penang and Malacca, like Singapore, were directly governed British colonies. Other parts of Malaisie were protectorates where leadership remained under the local sultans—essentially regional monarchs. Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, however, had no sultans and were directly administered by Britain.
Now, Penang and Malacca would be handed over to Hardy for governance.
Hardy also needed to acknowledge that these two territories remained dominions under the British Empire.
However, Hardy's authority was limited to Penang and Malacca. He would not have governorship over Malaisie as a whole; the British-appointed governor-general of Malaisie would remain based in Singapore.
Additionally, Hardy agreed to invest$100 million, with $50 million going into British Telecom and $50 million into a British healthcare service group.
Both were state-owned enterprises vital to Britain's basic telecommunications and dical infrastructure. They urgently needed capital for developnt. Hardy's investnt in these shares would bolster British infrastructure, sparing the governnt the need to fund these sectors themselves.
Compared to buying bonds, Hardy saw a higher return potential in investing in telecommunications and hospitals.
The Pri Minister was tempted by Hardy's terms and said, "I need to discuss this with the Cabinet before making a decision."
"Of course. I'll wait for your response, Pri Minister," Hardy replied with a nod.
When Margaret returned to Buckingham Palace, Princess Elizabeth approached her and noticed her room filled with luggage.
"You bought a lot of things?" Elizabeth asked.
Margaret smiled proudly. "Yes, the luxury shopping streets in Arica are filled with global luxury brands. I bought gifts for you, Father, and Mother."
Although the future queen lacked for nothing, she was delighted to receive a gift from her sister. "Margaret, you've spent so much ti with Hardy. How likely do you think this deal is to succeed?"
"Hardy is very interested in Singapore," Margaret replied.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm afraid Singapore is off the table. It's still too important to Britain right now. We can only sell him a piece of land."
Margaret shrugged. "Then I can't guarantee anything."
Elizabeth smiled and asked, "Tell about your trip to Arica."
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Margaret recalled sothing and began talking about a television series she had watched. "I think we should import more Arican TV shows. Hardy's ABC network produces many excellent series. I've been binge-watching one, and I'm hooked."
As for the gambling and her wild escapades in Las Vegas with Hardy, Margaret certainly didn't share those with her sister.
The two sisters continued chatting about TV shows.
The following day, news of the Pri Minister's negotiations with Hardy reached Buckingham Palace. Hardy agreed to forgo Singapore, which greatly satisfied Princess Elizabeth. As for Penang and Malacca, they were just directly administered colonies of little significance to Britain.
Securing much-needed funds was far more important to the country.
If unrest broke out there in the future, leading to independence, Britain would gain nothing. It was better to sell them now and earn so money.
Regarding Hardy's offer, both the Princess and the Pri Minister had already accepted it in principle. However, they hoped to extract even more money from this wealthy financier.
On the third day, Princess Elizabeth hosted a dinner in Hardy's honor on behalf of the royal family. It wasn't a grand banquet but a simple family al, attended by Princess Elizabeth, the Pri Minister, the Cabinet's Economic Minister, Princess Margaret, and Hardy.
The dinner table beca the negotiation table.
The final agreent was that Hardy would contribute an additional$50 millionas a loan to the Bank of Scotland. Furthermore, during next year's ennoblent ceremony, Hardy would be elevated to the rank of viscount, with hereditary rights for his descendants.
A few days later, the British governnt announced that, in recognition of Hardy's significant contributions to the British economy, he would be granted the hereditary title of Viscount, along with the fiefdoms of Penang and Malacca. He would also be appointed governor of both territories.
From that point onward, Penang and Malacca beca autonomous territories, fully under Hardy's control.
Details of Hardy's financial outlay were not disclosed by the press, but rumors quickly spread that Hardy had spent nearly$400 millionto acquire these two fiefdoms.
Many people were stunned by this figure.
Four hundred million dollars—for two small territories in Southeast Asia? Many believed it wasn't worth it. To recoup that amount from those two places might take countless years. Besides, there were already rumors of unrest and calls for independence, aning those territories might not even remain under his control.
So ridiculed Hardy privately, claiming he had made a losing deal and wasted millions.
Hardy scoffed at such remarks.
Those critics saw only the straightforward input-output equation but failed to grasp that these places would be worth trillions in the future.
Through these territories, Hardy envisioned the foundation of a true nation.
As for maintaining control over his fiefdoms, Hardy was no ordinary businessman. His HD Security and Defense Company was his trump card.
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