Chapter 30: Extortion (Second Update—Please Recommend and Favorite)

"Lock him up?" Carlo said with a sense of helplessness. "His father-in-law is a senator. How could I lock him up? Even the President has to show him some respect."

So, the United States is a society built on connections just the same! It turns out that people here also rely on "daddy power"—or rather, father-in-law power.

While sighing at this realization, I listened as Gambino continued.

"Actually, he isn't much of a Nazi. The 'German American Bund' was an organization Nazis cultivated in the U.S. before the war. That guy was a key figure in the New York branch. Although he wasn't interned as an enemy alien after the war broke out because of his father-in-law, his factory has fallen into dire straits. He can't hire workers, he isn't receiving orders, and even the banks refuse to provide loans. And those Jews are like a pack of greedy vultures, just waiting for him to declare bankruptcy so they can buy his factory for a pittance..."

Clearly, in the eyes of a man like Gambino, Jews were not exactly virtuous. And that made sense; coming from old Europe, how many people actually liked the Jews? They were all seasoned antisemites, after all.

While mentally scoffing at the hypocrisy of these white men, the car pulled up in front of a sprawling factory. Looking at the main gate and the four-story building beside it, one could easily imagine the scale this factory once possessed.

"2,457 various metal-cutting machine tools! This is my factory. My father came here half a century ago and built it with his own two hands. Now, those Americans want to drive it into a dead end, and those damn Jews want to snatch it away at a junkyard price..." Hermann von Karl said with a tone of indignant fury.

"Damn Americans. They will never understand the love we, as a nation-state, have for our motherland. Am I right?" Karl looked directly at Li Yi'an and asked.

"On that point, I fully agree. The motherland is a bond that we can never let go of in our entire lives. That profound emotion, engraved into our flesh and blood, is something Americans will never understand."

His answer caught Karl off guard for a moment before he said, somewhat excitedly, "Exactly! That's it! They will never understand, never..."

It wasn't that Americans didn't understand; for a nation built on immigrants, what they required was for you to forget your motherland, to assimilate through so-called "Americanization" and become "Americans." But in reality? It was nothing more than self-deception.

"Just like those Jews. They have no motherland, so they will never know how we feel. They are a pack of greedy hyenas, trying to pounce on my corpse and tear at my flesh. That is impossible. I would rather sell my factory to anyone else than to that inferior trash..." Karl continued, feigning a sense of righteous indignation.

"One and a half million dollars!"

"For just one and a half million dollars, everything belonging to Karl Metalworks—from the land to the machinery, everything, including all the company's patents—I will sell to you. Li, this is absolutely a bargain. The factory buildings and machinery alone are worth more than that."

I glanced at Karl but didn't agree. I don't believe a word you say.

Just then, the system interface flashed.

"Enable cost accounting function?"

"Enable."

Instantly, a flurry of text scrolled across the screen.

"Karl Metalworks was founded in New York in 1886 by the elder Hermann. The company covers 2.7 square miles, with the factory area..."

A moment later, having fully grasped the situation at Karl Metalworks, I glanced at Karl and turned to walk away.

"Li? What's wrong?" Gambino asked, confused, while Karl hurried to catch up.

"Mr. Li, what is happening?"

"I don't want to cooperate with someone who is full of lies!" I said bluntly.

"What?" Gambino looked at me, bewildered, while Karl turned red with anger. "Mr. Li, what are you talking about?"

"First, let alone the fact that half the machines in your factory are old junk bought during World War I—those machines are scrap metal and worth nothing! Let's talk about the mortgage you took out on the land and buildings: a full two hundred thousand dollars! You chose to hide that debt entirely!"

"Mr. Li, I... I just hadn't gotten around to mentioning the company's debts yet!"

Before Karl could finish, Gambino let out a cold scoff. "Is that so, Mr. Karl?"

"Mr. Gambino, I... I swear to God!"

"Mr. Karl, I brought my friend here, not to be deceived by you. You should know how I treat my friends, and you also know how I treat those who betray them."

Gambino's threat made Karl tremble. He quickly said, "No, no, Mr. Gambino, you know I never intended to hide anything. Li, isn't that how business works? I name a price, and you counteroffer, right?"

Looking at the man in front of me, I said directly, "Mr. Karl, a counteroffer? How can I make a counteroffer? First, your land and buildings are worthless; they are already mortgaged to the bank. This means that, no matter what, I would be shouldering over two hundred thousand in debt. Second, your machines—they are almost all twenty years old. They are nothing but scrap metal. Perhaps during the war, they could still produce something, but once the war ends, the high labor costs will render them useless. Scrap metal—no, they are a pile of money-wasting garbage. As for the rest of the machines, what are they worth? Twenty thousand? Ten thousand? Karl..."

Staring him down, I said flatly, "Those Jews might be a pack of greedy hyenas, but the problem is that your company is already a dead, worthless corpse. To them..."

I pointed at the factory and sneered. "The only thing of value is this piece of land. But after paying off the bank loans, how much value is left? Fifty thousand? Or even less?"

Karl, exposed by my words, turned pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He had initially thought I was just some foreigner he could take advantage of, and as for Gambino... what, was he going to kill him?

But now, observing closely, Karl realized things were different than he had imagined. Gambino was acting like a mere lackey in front of this foreigner, following behind him.

Who was this man? Why did Gambino respect him so much?

At that thought, panic took hold of Karl. "Sir, sir, I..."

Watching the stuttering, speechless Karl, I said without any courtesy, "No, by then, the Jews will use the banks they control to squeeze you dry. You won't just walk away with a single cent; you will be held responsible for the remaining debts of the company! You won't just lose everything—you'll end up a complete pauper!"