Chapter 86

Charlie Lee's Strategic Moves

In the heated discussions with his think tank, Charlie Lee arrived at two potential solutions to secure his aristocratic title—something he had long desired but found to be a challenge to attain.

The first option was for Charlie Lee to try and purchase a noble title in YF, while the second option was to marry into a family with real noble heritage, thereby gaining access to the title through marriage. These two options were the only ones his advisors could come up with, and achieving either would be no small feat.

Charlie wasn't underestimating himself; he was merely acknowledging the stark reality of the situation. Only the most influential families, such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Carnegies, Mellons, and other top European-American white families, could easily gain recognition from European aristocrats. Of these families, Carnegie was respected mostly because of his contributions to the steel industry. Had it not been for J.P. Morgan stepping in, Carnegie's legacy might have been reduced to a mere footnote in history. Still, these families had one thing in common—they sought to marry into true European nobility.

This wasn't about the shallow desire for titles; it was about the ancient and deeply rooted noble bloodlines that had stood the test of time, sometimes for centuries. Although titles like Baron, Viscount, or Count might sound insignificant in modern terms, the families behind them were often older and more established than even Dukes or Marquises. The aristocrats of such families were always treated with respect, their long-standing histories too formidable for anyone to dismiss.

However, the reality of these noble bloodlines wasn't always a fairy tale. Many old noble families were in decline, and though they were once powerful, their fortunes and prestige had significantly diminished. Nonetheless, there was still an inherent dignity in their legacy, something that modern wealth couldn't easily buy. In Charlie's view, marrying into one of these families would certainly improve his standing, although the process wouldn't be as simple as it might seem.

As for the title donation idea, Charlie thought it might be an easier route. He could contribute in a significant way—perhaps through wartime efforts, like many wealthy men had done during World War II. However, there was a catch: by the time this option would come to fruition, nine years would have passed, making him older than he would have liked. Time, after all, was a luxury he didn't always have.

In the midst of these plans, Charlie couldn't help but turn his thoughts to business. He had two new subsidiaries in the works—one under the KFC brand focused on animal husbandry, planting, breeding, slaughtering, and food processing, while the other under Dexex would deal with transportation, packaging, agricultural machinery, and research and development. But as he mulled over these details, a new thought crossed his mind.

"Fresh salvage," Charlie muttered, realizing the potential for a new, innovative venture.

The idea was simple—coordinate the efforts of McDonald's, KFC, and Dexex in a streamlined operation. McDonald's would handle the sales, KFC would focus on reclamation, and Dexex would take care of delivery. A well-oiled machine, one that could tackle the agricultural supply chain from start to finish.

It wasn't long before his strategist Ben raised an important question: "Boss, there are no vehicles on the market suitable for transportation. Should we develop them ourselves?"

Charlie didn't hesitate to ask, "Any suggestions?"

Ben reported that Chrysler was planning to buy Jeep and Plymouth, and maybe there was an opportunity to get ahead of that.

"Jeep? What's a herdsman?" Charlie asked, baffled by the idea.

Jeep, as it would later become known, would go on to be a hugely popular civilian off-road vehicle in the future. But at that moment, Charlie was unfamiliar with its place in history.

Ben appeared confused, so Charlie elaborated, "If we're going to buy, let's keep an eye on Ford, Chrysler, and GM. If there's a good target, we'll snap it up."

In his previous life, Charlie had never been particularly interested in vehicles, but now he saw a golden opportunity in the automotive market. He was determined to make the most of it, especially since Chrysler, one of the Big Three automakers in the U.S., was a major player in the industry.

Charlie turned his attention back to the newspaper, where a report on BMW caught his eye. "BMW? A motorcycle manufacturer entering the car industry?" His heart raced as he read further, recognizing the potential impact of this move. BMW had started as an aircraft manufacturer before transitioning into motorcycles, and now they were looking to expand into the automobile industry.

"Ben, buy up shares in BMW. How many you want—just get them," Charlie instructed, excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.

This unexpected opportunity gave him a sense of relief. It wasn't just about the potential for profit; it was about securing a position in an emerging market before anyone else had the foresight to do so.

Ben, always quick to follow orders, also brought up another potential acquisition: "There's a chassis manufacturer called PECA in Washington state. Their chassis were recently purchased by Ford."

Charlie was momentarily distracted but quickly saw the value in this suggestion. "Buy them too," he said, recognizing that PECA's success in manufacturing chassis could be a useful asset in the future.

The wheels of industry were spinning fast, and Charlie was on a mission to grab every opportunity that came his way. Meanwhile, his team set off for Chicago to finalize the details, leaving Charlie in New York to reflect on the recent developments. His work wasn't over, but there was a satisfaction in knowing that the pieces were falling into place.

As the morning light poured into his hotel suite, Charlie found himself deep in thought. His mind drifted from the business world to his personal life, wondering how his quest for aristocracy would unfold. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by Greta, who was sitting on a chair nearby, reading a book.

"What are you reading?" Charlie asked, half-awake.

"Kafka's The Castle," Greta replied with a touch of melancholy. "It's tragic that he never finished it before his death. Life is so short."

Charlie, though distracted, considered her words for a moment. "Yeah, life's short. But we still have time to make the most of it."

Greta nodded but seemed absorbed in her own reflections. Charlie, ever the opportunist, couldn't help but feel both the weight and the excitement of his current endeavors.