The American Dream (2)

July 1920

The first fiscal year of Richard Investment had come to an end.

"Uh… are these numbers correct?"

"I think so…"

Shiota and Shinohara were pale as they looked over Richard Investment's financial report.

Less than a year after its establishment, the company had achieved the following:

Net Assets: $16 million

Net Profit: $80,000

While net assets and net profit are not the same, selling everything would leave them with this amount. Of course, doing so would realize the profits and incur significant taxes.

$16 million was roughly equivalent to 40 million yen at the time. The construction cost of the battleship Nagato, completed in 1920, was said to be 44 million yen. In less than a year, Richard Investment had amassed assets comparable to the cost of building a battleship.

Using their stock holdings as collateral, they secured loans from banks and began purchasing land in New York. They then announced plans to construct high-rise buildings on the acquired land, causing the value of adjacent properties to skyrocket. Ikeda continued this land-flipping strategy, driving up New York's real estate prices.

July 1921

The second fiscal year of Richard Investment concluded.

"Uh… are these numbers correct?"

"Didn't we say the same thing last year?"

Shiota and Shinohara were once again pale as they reviewed the financial report.

Net Assets: $210 million (group total)

Net Profit: $280,000 (group total)

$210 million was equivalent to approximately 546 million yen, or 36% of Japan's national budget.

Over the past year, they had established around 20 dummy companies to complicate capital relationships and disperse assets and profits, ensuring that Richard Investment itself remained inconspicuous.

Around this time, opaque funds gathered in Russian banks began flowing into Richard Investment in large quantities. Using these funds, Ikeda aggressively pursued corporate acquisitions. When the value of these companies increased, he sold them off, reaping enormous profits.

Ikeda, as Richard, also began making substantial donations to the mayor of New York, influential congressmen, senators, and even the president.

Capitalism is a convenient system. With enough capital, most things can be overlooked.

July 1922

The third fiscal year of Richard Investment ended.

"Uh… these numbers… (omitted)"

"This is incredible. How is this even possible?"

Net Assets: $850 million (group total)

Net Profit: $420,000 (group total)

$850 million was roughly equivalent to 2.08 billion yen. Japan's national budget for 1922 was around 1.4 billion yen, meaning that in just three years, Ikeda had amassed assets exceeding Japan's entire national budget.

(For context, the South Manchuria Railway had a capital equivalent to nearly 50% of Japan's national budget. Including its affiliated lands, mines, factories, and hotels, its total assets exceeded Japan's national budget. Thus, at this point, Ikeda had acquired assets comparable to the South Manchuria Railway—or, conversely, his wealth was still only equivalent to that of a single major corporation.)

Richard Investment expanded its branches to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston, employing around 2,000 American workers.

This year, they also established branches in London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Tokyo, and Russia (Northern Karafuto).

The group now comprised 30 companies, employing a total of 16,000 people. The fact that these companies were part of the same group was carefully concealed, known only to a select few executives. Even these executives had no idea what Richard truly looked like.

Richard Investment also ventured into mining development in Australia. They began by acquiring rights to numerous bauxite mines (the raw material for aluminum). At the time, with the end of the Great War, aluminum prices were declining, allowing them to purchase Australian bauxite mines at low prices.

They introduced large-scale bucket-wheel excavators for open-pit mining and began operations. The mined ore was ostensibly sold worldwide through trading companies in Shanghai, London, Russia, and Paris. In reality, however, it was all sent to Japan.

The ore could be stored in open-air stockpiles until refined. Since it didn't spoil or degrade, long-term storage wasn't an issue.

In this way, they began stockpiling resources in preparation for World War II.

Separate from these economic activities, Richard Investment established orphanages across the United States, providing food and education to underprivileged children.

In a dimly lit chapel, illuminated by flickering candlelight, a nun-like teacher addressed the children.

Each child held a lit candle, their eyes distant and hollow as they stared at the teacher.

"Mr. Richard sacrificed everything to build a future for you. He achieved economic success and created this orphanage as part of his mission. You were abandoned by your parents, your country, and even God. But Mr. Richard saved you. Your smiles are his purpose in life. In place of the God who abandoned you, Mr. Richard has become our God. Let us dedicate everything to Mr. Richard. Together, we will create his utopia in this world."

Around her neck was not a rosary but a large pendant engraved with words.

"Mr. Richard wants to fill you with love."

The orphans were taught unwavering loyalty to the unseen Mr. Richard. As they grew, some became bureaucrats or soldiers, gathering intelligence to take revenge on the nation that had abandoned them and to repay the man who had saved them—Mr. Richard.

"Have we learned anything about Richard Taylor?"

"He's from Iowa. He worked at a Detroit auto factory until six years ago, when he was injured and retired. After that, he lived on the streets in New York. Beyond that, we know nothing."

"A homeless man becoming one of the world's wealthiest individuals in just a few years? That's absurd!"

"Find out more! I don't care if we have to conduct a tax audit. We can't allow a massive capital entity outside our control to exist!"

Twelve elderly men sat around a round table. They were known as the Twelve Sages.

Ikeda had yet to learn of their existence.

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T/N: If you like it please vote with power stone please. More stones equals faster release.

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A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 35!

Ikeda is taking control of the global economy, but what is his true goal?

And who is the mysterious nun?

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