695: Chapter 687: Too Much Money Burns a Hole in the Pocket 695: Chapter 687: Too Much Money Burns a Hole in the Pocket F**k had no context to guess what Grand Ivan intended as a reward, but seeing Uriyangko all revved up, he felt obligated to play along.
“Hmm, ten million dollars, no, twenty million, no, thirty million dollars?”
Uriyangko dismissed with contempt, “Buddy, can’t you be a bit more imaginative?
Besides, Grand Ivan said he’s done talking money with you, so it’s definitely not going to be cash.
Guess something else.”
Gao Yang glanced at the folder on the bedside table, picked it up, and said, “It must be this, let me see, what’s this?
Barnes Jewish Hospital, Professor Kles, UCSF Medical Center Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr.
Marlianna, Los Angeles Kobostaner Clinic for Plastic Surgery, Dr.
Stenna, what are all these?
What do they mean?”
Uriyangko snatched the folder from Gao Yang’s hand and set it aside, saying loudly, “Why are you looking at this?
Don’t rush; these are the cosmetic clinics and the best doctors I found for you.
Choose one, and I’ll send someone to book an appointment for you.
You’re worried about the scars on your neck, right?
Pick any top hospital, anywhere in the world will do.”
Gao Yang touched the bandage on his neck and said, “Isn’t that a bit much?
Going to a plastic surgery clinic?
I’m just worried, you know, in our line of work, we can’t have too many obvious features.
But as long as there’s no visible scar, that’s fine; why bother with plastic surgery?”
Uriyangko said impatiently, “Going to a plastic surgery clinic is safer.
Hey, let’s continue this conversation later.
Keep guessing.
What do you think Grand Ivan is going to give you?”
Gao Yang scratched his head and said, “How could I possibly guess that?”
Uriyangko spoke with an air of mystery, “Think about it.
I was willing to drop everything to save Grand Ivan, so he gave me the status of a partner and put me in charge of the business in Africa and all of Asia.
So guess, if I take over everything, how much could I earn in a year?”
Gao Yang knew that Uriyangko used to just earn commissions, so the actual amount was really limited, but if Uriyangko were to split the profits with Grand Ivan, that would be much more.
Gao Yang had no idea how big the arms market was in Africa and Asia, but considering the most turbulent places in the world were in Asia, Uriyangko would make no less than a substantial sum each year.
After mulling over it for a moment, Gao Yang cautiously said, “Asia and Africa, if you take over all of it, you’d earn at least ten million dollars a year, right?”
Uriyangko smirked and waved his hand dismissively, “Keep guessing, and I’ll give you a hint—guess higher.”
Gao Yang’s eyes widened, “Not enough?
So, one billion dollars?”
Uriyangko chuckled twice and said, “Way too much, I’m not earning that much.
Let me just tell you the number!”
Uriyangko held up three fingers, and Gao Yang exclaimed, “Thirty million!”
“Correct, if I do well, at least thirty million dollars!
Pure profit!
Even if I don’t make that much right after taking over, I could still clear at least fifteen to twenty million a year.
Look, the Middle East and North Africa are all in chaos; these are the hotspots, man!
This is money!
I’m not only taking over Asia, but I’m also a partner splitting the profits in half, and I’ve hit an era of turmoil.
This is the best time, haha, congratulate me, man, I’m gonna make a fortune!”
“F**k, congratulations to you, Uri, really should be celebrated.”
After sincerely congratulating Uriyangko, Gao Yang felt something was amiss and said, “Uri, I’m not sure if I should say this, but though it’s great that Grand Ivan wants to reward you, I wonder if it’s okay for you to take half of Grand Ivan’s profits without giving anything in return.
Could it, um, could that cause any issues?
Hmm, I trust Grand Ivan won’t think badly of it, but I’m afraid others might get envious of your situation.”
Uriyangko nodded, speaking softly, “You think so too?
Right, I have that concern as well.
I’ve risen too quickly, and it does make people envious.
I’ve decided to talk to Grand Ivan to not give me half the profits, just twenty percent.
After working for a couple of years, I’ll have more than I can spend in a lifetime.
You know, too much flash can indeed be a bad thing.”
Uriyangko was different from Ivan; Ivan was Grand Ivan’s blood nephew, always designated as his successor, and no matter what Grand Ivan gave him, no one would be envious of Ivan.
However, Uriyangko was different.
Although Uriyangko had risked his life to save Grand Ivan, that didn’t matter to others.
There are too many people prone to jealousy in this world.
Some won’t see what Uriyangko did, but seeing him suddenly become extremely wealthy will definitely rub some the wrong way.
Uriyangko understood the principle that good and bad fortune come hand in hand; there was no need for Gao Yang to say more.
At this moment, however, Uriyangko laughed and said, “Think about it, Gao.
Grand Ivan is giving me a business that makes thirty million dollars a year in pure profit.
So, what is he going to give you?”
Gao Yang scratched his head and said, “Don’t tell me he’s going to give me a batch of arms?”
Uriyangko chuckled, “You’re right about a part, but only a very small part.
What would you do with military hardware?
Switch to arms dealing?
Don’t be ridiculous.
Grand Ivan wouldn’t do that.
What he’s giving you is bigger than you can imagine!”
Gao Yang was both shocked and delighted, but he truly couldn’t fathom what Grand Ivan would give him.
At that moment, Uriyangko spoke again with an air of mystery, “Let me tell you, whenever Grand Ivan had some free time these past few days, he’s been reviewing his assets.
I think he wants to pick something out to give to you.
I’ve said this before, Grand Ivan is not stingy.
When he becomes generous, he’s more so than anyone else.”
Gao Yang exclaimed, “Assets?
Did you say assets?”
Uriyangko nodded, speaking softly, “I already know of two options he had asked my opinion on, one is a fleet, or, an oil field!”
Gao Yang’s eyes widened, “A fleet?
An oil field!”
Uriyangko spoke in a low voice, “Grand Ivan owns an ocean-going cargo fleet, or to be exact, shares!
Do you know the company CMA CGM?
It’s the world’s third-largest shipping company.
Grand Ivan secretly holds twenty-seven percent of the shares, and the origins are very clean; he can give you between four to seven percent.
The specific details still need further investigation, but rest assured the shares you get won’t be tied to any trouble for Grand Ivan; they’re absolutely safe and clean!”
Gao Yang blurted out, “Shares of CMA CGM?
What percentage was that again—I’m sorry, I was a bit distracted just now.
Uri, you’re not joking, are you?”
Uriyangko scoffed with a smile, “Why would I joke with you about something like this, at this time?
Grand Ivan himself told me.
Does he look like someone who jokes?
Transferring CMA CGM shares is a complicated process and can be quite troublesome.
Let me tell you about the second option: the oil field.”
Gao Yang instinctively touched his nose, “Are you saying, I might become an oil tycoon too?
Like, like those folks in the Middle East?”
Uriyangko clapped his hands and laughed heartily, “Exactly!
Just like that!
An oil tycoon who spends all day thinking about nothing but how to spend money.
The only difference is the location.
You’ve been to where the oil field is located—it’s in South Sudan!”
Gao Yang swallowed, “An oil field in South Sudan!
An entire oil field, not just some shares?”
Uriyangko nodded, “An oil field in the northern part of South Sudan.
Grand Ivan owns a hundred percent of the property rights.
The proven reserve is three hundred million barrels, with a recoverable portion of one hundred fifty to two hundred million barrels of oil.
It hasn’t been tapped yet, but that’s not a problem.
Whenever you’re ready, you can sell the oil field, or you can partner with a Huaxia oil company for development.
They provide the capital and equipment; you just need to sell the oil and count the money at home!”
Gao Yang took a deep breath, “Oil is currently ninety-six US dollars a barrel.
After deducting costs, how much can one earn per barrel?”
“It varies.
Based on a previously failed negotiation that Grand Ivan had, with the current price, you can make fifty dollars a barrel after all deductions for shares given to others.
According to current prices, Grand Ivan said, this oil field can yield up to twenty thousand barrels a day at peak production.
Even if the reserves turn out lower and extraction costs increase, you can still make twenty to thirty dollars per barrel.”
Gao Yang said dreamily, “By that calculation, twenty thousand barrels a day is one million dollars, which adds up to 3.65 billion dollars a year.
The oil field can produce for twenty years, which is, over seventy billion dollars!
This…
sounds too exaggerated; I’m afraid to accept it.”
Uriyangko laughed, “Buddy, you’re thinking too simply.
It’s never that easy.
We’re talking about the most ideal situation.
Don’t forget, you need to maintain good relations in South Sudan to keep your oil field.
Oil prices fluctuate, future extraction costs will rise, and you can’t always calculate based on peak production.
The initial output will be very low, and it will decrease towards the end as well.
But, all in all, making twenty billion dollars from this oil field is absolutely no problem, though, of course, this would take many years.”
Gao Yang inhaled sharply, “It’s still too big, I’m afraid to take it on.”
Uriyangko chuckled, “Who cares about all that?
Shares of CMA CGM will let you stay at home and do nothing, with a minimum annual dividend of over ten million dollars.
An oil field might be more of a hassle, but don’t you know an American big shot?
Just let him handle the development.”
Gao Yang still muttered to himself, “I always feel there could be a problem with this.
It sounds too good to be true.
Uri, it’s hard for me to believe I would be given so much money just like that.
I’m even a bit scared.
What if something goes wrong?”
Uriyangko shrugged and said, “When I discovered that I could earn thirty million a year, I reacted even more extravagantly than you are now.
But let me ask you something, what do you think is the most profitable business in the world?”
Without hesitation, Gao Yang replied, “Universally, it’s either arms dealing or…”
Uriyangko gave a faint smile and said, “Then think about this: Grand Ivan has been the world’s biggest arms dealer for twenty years.
How much do you think he is worth?
How much would he have to give you for it to even make him wince?” (To be continued.
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