212 episodes. That was the purpose.
Robert Bardock answered my question after taking a sip of wine.
“After I got Darkstar to compete on the Arc de Triomphe, I went straight to France. Then I met the Argo president.”
“Argo? Who is that?”
“He’s a tycoon in the French fashion industry, but he also owns a media company called Lagardere.”
“Did you try to take over the company?”
“We’ve been in contact for several years. But they didn’t want to sell it no matter how much they paid. Like the emperor of a luxury empire, there was no financial difficulty, so it was difficult to acquire.”
Meanwhile, Darkstar and Shipidra.
Roughly drawing a picture
“Did you take advantage of the relationship between France and England?”
“That’s right. Isn’t it Europe’s representative rival? It’s natural that French people don’t want Britain to lose the Arc de Triomphe, a horse race that represents their country. Argo likes horses so much that the president also owns a ranch.”
France is also very popular for horse racing.
It is the third largest racehorse producer after the United States and Australia, and there was active support from the public for the Arc de Triomphe to become the best competition in Europe beyond the Epsom Derby.
‘In Korea, it feels like the Korea-Japan war…’
Once again, I think I can understand why Robert Bardock gave a blank check.
It was because it was for the acquisition of Lagarder rather than the value of the Dark Star.
“Didn’t France have a racehorse that could compete with Shipid?”
“None. Borrowing the expert’s words, even at the age of 5 and older, there are no words that can compare. And they all spoke of Dark Stars. To face Shipid, you need to have achieved a triple crown.”
That’s why I chose Dark Star.
Even if the French horse doesn’t win, at least so that Shipid won’t win.
“It was perfect for me, giving the UK a shot and getting a chance to acquire the French media company I was hoping for.”
Robert Bardock’s words gave me strength.
I even got a title from England with the intention of giving me a bite after the competition, but it felt like I was doing something in vain.
Although I got the right to develop oil fields as an incidental benefit, I felt frustrated because I thought that I would not be able to achieve what I wanted.
‘Want to see how many snakes are inside.’
So, he’s an old man I don’t really like.
***
Longxiang Racecourse.
It is a racetrack located in the Boulogne Forest, called Central Park of Paris.
The dew of the guillotine you see in textbooks, it was built during the reign of Louis XVI, and was closed under the name of aristocratic culture due to the French Revolution, but Napoleon revived it for the purpose of improving the horses.
“Edward, how about me?”
Jackie asked, flaunting a calm but old-fashioned dress and hat.
If Australia’s Melbourne Cup boasts a splendid and unique dress code as a festival, the Arc de Triomphe competition has a more traditional atmosphere in pursuit of classic and classic fashion.
‘I’m glad I’m not wearing Pink Panther like last time.’
Wearing a casual suit, I said with my elbow out.
“You are beautiful, Princess Mama.”
“Ho-ho, shall we go? Sir Edward.”
Jackie wittily replied with his arms crossed.
Since I was given the title, the title of Sir was natural, but it still seemed like a joke to us.
When we arrived at the Boulogne forest, people were filling up.
We escaped the crowd and headed straight for the reserved seats.
It’s several times more expensive than regular seats, but it’s still good for the money.
“Can I not go?”
I nodded lightly at Jackie’s question.
“Because I’ve done everything I can. Hellmaster’s condition is perfect, and he told me about Shipid and Darkstar, so Franz and Carlson will take care of it.”
“Where are the Queen and Jerome?”
Today, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Westminster and Jerome were seated on the state seat.
Next to him was the French president, Nicholson Marco.
“Let’s go after the game. Well, it’s not a comfortable seat.”
His etiquette is so rigid that I can’t get used to it.
Those people must be living, but it’s so frustrating that I wonder how they’re going to live.
– Jiying. Jiying.
Then the phone vibrated and the call came.
The caller was Robert Bardock.
“Yes, this is Edward Jean.”
-Are you on the racetrack?
“I just arrived.”
– Then come over here for a moment. It’s a G-1 VIP seat.
“What are you doing again?”
-I heard that your horse is also competing today. 3rd in popularity ranking Hellmaster, are you right?
“you’re right.”
– Could you tell me in advance?
“I didn’t feel the need to say anything about Mr. Bardock.”
– Anyway, come this way. I have someone to introduce myself to.
“Introduction?”
– I know when you come. It won’t hurt you to know them too.
“All right.”
I told Jackie what was going on and headed to the G-1 seat.
There were Robert Bardock and two old men.
One was a Westerner, so there was a high possibility that it was Chairman Arnault, and the other was an Asian and had a familiar face.
I never imagined that I would meet interest here.
“Oh, are you here?”
Robert Bardock greets me with a bright smile.
false laughter.
I thought that that person also had a sales smile.
“Greetings. This is Berno Argo, Chairman of LBMH Group, and this is Zhao Chan, Chairman of Zao Financial Group.”
Zhao Chan.
This is the person I saw at the Macau casino tournament.
We didn’t name each other, but I knew him.
Zhao Financial Group.
It was because it was a Singaporean financial company that helped with the resource diplomacy project.
They were in charge of evaluating the economic feasibility of the project acquisition target company and the mine, and organized and managed the overall flow of the slush fund.
The fees charged in the process are also ridiculously high.
Of course, I didn’t even get 10% of the originally planned amount thanks to my intervening.
“Nice to meet you, Edward Jean.”
to my polite greetings,
“Berno Argone.”
As if not interested, the LBMH president just nodded with a brief introduction,
“You don’t know me, but I’ve seen you. I’ve wanted to meet you once, Mr. Jean.”
Zhao Chan greeted me with a face full of affection.
I didn’t even bother to hide it, I told him.
“I saw him even from afar in Macau. He was the sponsor of Tony Hong, who was his opponent in the round of 16 in the finals, right next to the Chairman of Rishitan, right?”
“Hahaha, because he’s a gambler, his memory is quite good.”
“You’re overjoyed. Wasn’t he very upset back then?”
“He made a bit of a fuss, huh.”
Zhao-chan continued with a bitter smile, as if reminiscing about that time.
“At the time, the tournament was a very important event for him, no, for Singapore’s casino industry. So don’t take it too badly.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s particularly bad. It’s just that I didn’t take any damage.”
At my answer, Zhao Chan shook his head.
“It’s not. It was because of you, Rishitan, that James Thorne detained you at the Judicial Police Department back then.”
“yes?”
What else does this mean?
“Actually, I had recommended a gambler to Rishitan before the tournament. That person was James. But he chose his own gambler because the success of the Singapore casino industry was at stake. But Tony Hong lost to you in vain. I’m asking James to let it go. If I see you in the semifinals, I’ll do anything to stop you from advancing to the finals. It was kind of an outrage.”
“So that’s what James Thorne did.”
I narrowed my brow and looked at him.
Just thinking about it back then doesn’t make me feel so good.
“Please don’t get me wrong. It was James’ decision to choose that method.”
“Okay. It’s all in the past.”
The person in question is being paid for in a cold cell, so what do you do by talking more?
‘But it’s strange. Why are you saying things you shouldn’t be doing? Things I wouldn’t have known if I had been hiding…’
In the end, I couldn’t stand it and asked why.
But at the answer that came back, I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.
“Hahaha, what’s the reason for confiding everything? I want to get your liking.”
He goes on to say that if there is someone he likes, he reveals everything without hiding anything.
In a word, honesty is their way of doing business.
“Sales?”
When I asked the question with my eyes wide open, Zhaochan nodded.
“As I said before, I’m fairly close to the Korean James Thorne. And a few months ago he was detained in a prison in Madagascar, and I got information that you were involved in that.”
“……”
“And I checked, and your name appears frequently in business involving James. I don’t know if that was the cause in Macau, but as a result, you really put James down on something.”
It is a resource diplomacy project.
As the person in charge of the money flow, he seems to know the background.
Because something is slowly coming to light.
“Not only that, I know that the status of All Mining, where you are the representative, in the mining industry has risen considerably. There were rumors that you were involved in the downfall of Foresque Metal and the downfall of Rao Tinto, is that true?”
“It’s roughly similar.”
“Haha, so I’m going to leave without doing business?”
I’ve come to such a position.
To the extent that Singapore’s financial giants are approaching with a low profile.
“Did you come all the way to Paris to see me?”
“It’s not. This place was purely coincidental.”
Oh-Chan Zhao said that he came to meet Argo Chairman.
LBMH Group had partnered with Zao Financial Group to advance into Asia in earnest, and it was a business trip related to that work.
“If it’s the Arc de Triomphe competition, wouldn’t it be like the social hall? I just followed Argo’s attendance. And while we were talking about the running horse, I found out that you were the third most popular horse, Hellmaster Maju.”
“But did Mr. Bardock accidentally know me again?”
“Haha, that’s right.”
Yes, this is also the reason why racetracks can function as social grounds.
In Europe, horse racing is still regarded as an aristocratic sport and a culture of the upper classes.
Just as there is a saying that you can connect with people all over the world if you go through other people seven times, you can make any number of connections in this way.
‘Zhao Financial Group…’
Singapore’s financial tycoon is one of the top ten financial conglomerates in Asia.
If CS Bank mainly works in the shade, it can be said that he is active in the bright field.
That’s not to say it doesn’t deal with the negatives though.
‘There are endless ways to use it…’
If cash is a bullet, a finance company is a supply warehouse.
Needless to say, the warehouse is in the top 10 in Asia.
“Hey, did you say Edward?”
Suddenly, Argo President calls me.
The eyes are still indifferent.
“yes.”
“You don’t seem to have faith in Chairman Zhao-chan?”
“It’s not like that.”
Actually there is no
He said that he was close with Son Young-seok, but now he is telling me that he is doing business with me.
“Then it’s good, but if you ever have any thoughts like that, think again. Because Zao Financial Group has certain skills. People who play money are like that. If they make money, they’re best friends.
“……!”
“I think there’s James or someone doing something between the two of us. Simply put, that friend is no longer money, and you smell like money.”
“Okay. Thanks for the advice, Mr. Argo.”
After bowing to Verno Argo, I asked Zhao Chan.
“What do you want?”
First, let’s hear what you’re trying to do.
“I want to finance mines outside Australia. I can set the fees to the lowest in the industry. And…”
are you there again?
“Resource and Energy Sovereign Wealth Fund, can I get an advisory position?”
That was the purpose.