CHAPTER 423: 0421 COULD IT BE SUCH A COINCIDENCE?

"Hello, sir, this is my business card, perhaps I could take up a few minutes of your time..."

Lime held his glass and approached his first target, a middle-aged man, who had a young girl by his side.

Previously, he despised these young girls clinging to older men, seeing it as a form of degradation, but now, he’s changed his mind; everyone has the right to pursue their own happiness.

Moreover, he quite liked this pairing, as it implied that men showed more enthusiasm towards financial matters to prove their value in relationships—the young girl looking for an older man couldn’t possibly be drawn by physical attributes; it had to be for money.

Thus, consistently projecting an attitude like "I’m a bloody rich man you can’t break free from, you gold digger" is a great aid in reinforcing such relationships.

This is also why people often hear about old billionaires spending lavishly on their young wives but rarely for their original spouses, because in the latter relationships, it’s not money but feelings that bind them, with different expressions.

In other words, even if this man wasn’t interested in his ideas, he’d seriously listen; it appeared complex but was actually simple.

The man received Lime’s card, slightly raising his head, casting his eyes downward with a slightly arrogant demeanor, as if instinctively, "Lime?!"

He read the name aloud before shifting his gaze to Lime, scanning his attire, then raising his wrist to check his watch, "You have sixty seconds, starting right now!"

Lime was momentarily stunned. He’d dealt with more difficult clients. Recently, the gentlemen he met behaved like real gentlemen, so the sudden appearance of a rude man stood out.

These gentlemen, even when uninterested in what he said, patiently listened before politely declining, whereas encountering someone like the present man who abruptly gave him sixty seconds was rare.

"Skip the unnecessary details, sir. Are you interested in investing in railway construction?" Faced with a time crunch, Lime posed the core question directly.

The gentleman opposite mildly furrowed his brow, "Continue, you have fifty seconds left."

The unpleasant demeanor still couldn’t shake Lime, precisely Lynch’s reason for choosing him.

Stock brokers living on scams at the bottom layer of the financial world experience unforeseen situations ordinary people can’t imagine, some brutal, others humiliating.

For instance, a broker once kissed a female client’s behind to persuade her to buy his small yellow stock...

Having traversed hell, now standing in heaven, even the worst individual here is kinder than the gentlest in hell!

"My company has undertaken a major project. We plan to build at least three railways over a thousand kilometers each throughout an entire region in Nagariel..."

The gentleman cut him off, "Three railways, each a thousand kilometers? Do you have money? Do you know how much it costs to build these railways?"

Unperturbed, Lime maintained his persuasive demeanor with a smile, "That’s exactly why we’re here discussing. If you’re interested, we can talk further, whether through equity or bond, I believe there’ll be generous returns!"

He glanced at the gentleman’s young companion before quickly shifting back, a gesture not missed by the gentleman. It was a subtle suggestion.

Essentially conveying, "Regardless of your investment preference, chatting here lets you showcase your wealth, adding allure to the young lady," and essentially phrasing it as such.

While appearing senseless, real marketers know the hardest part isn’t "how to persuade the opposite party," but "making them listen to the pitch."

Lime chose a strategic breakthrough. Even casual conversation with the gentleman allowed Lime to express ideas and sales tactics, indifferent to eventual rejection.

Surprisingly, the gentleman declined, "I am not interested in your offer, and with such money, I’d rather invest in my own railway..." He raised his wrist, checked his watch once more, slightly tilting his chin down, staring at Lime, "Sixty seconds are up. Sadly, you didn’t convince me, so..."

Lime showed a regretful expression stepping aside, watching the gentleman and his companion leave, shaking his head before reassembling himself and approaching the next person.

"Hello, sir, this is my business card, perhaps I could take up a few minutes of your time..."

...

"It’s ridiculous to let an ordinary person host such an event. Look at them, letting all sorts of people in!" The gentleman who previously gave Lime sixty seconds complained dissatisfiedly.

Yet, it was merely a complaint, knowing such events are like pilgrimages for many speculators!

They’d do anything to gain entry, with the recent funds collector being one among them. Three railways of a thousand kilometers—if he possessed such capability and qualification, he wouldn’t need scams to con people.

Merely propelling the company to list would entice shareholders to invest their scant remaining assets.

The girl beside him comforted him, "Don’t be upset, father. It’s not worth getting angry. From another perspective, they’re quite pitiful, aren’t they?"

The man glanced at her, "I despise how he looked at you. He thinks you’re my..." He halted mid-sentence, feeling enraged.

That damned young man presumed his daughter was his mistress; it was dreadful, horrid, revolting.

The girl chuckled, still comforting him, but quickly turned somber.

Her father instantly noticed the shift in her mood, "Was it that bastard causing your sadness?"

The girl blinked, looking up at her father, "Sadness?"

"No, it’s not like that. I encountered something today..."

The man smiled faintly, "Willing to discuss it with this old man? You know, living longer encounters more intriguing events. Maybe I can offer some assistance."

The girl hesitated before finally sighing, speaking under his persistent questioning, "You know, many transfer students joined the school this year. One in ten. I was upset and spoke with them, but..."

"But didn’t they agree to your reasonable request?" The man paused, suggesting, "Perhaps I should find time to talk to them."

The girl sighed again, "It’s not that. It was an irresistible force. You know, I told them about these issues, and then..."

Before the girl could pour out her morning grievances, someone interrupted their father-daughter chit-chat.

"Did I interrupt you?" A familiar voice caught her attention as she turned, recognizing Mr. Truman ending his previous conversations, heading towards them.

Anna’s father, supposedly dubbed "Pato Akiner," with an intriguing background—legend says their ancestors were once noble exiles from the Madro Empire.

Though exiled, they remained nobles, and indeed, a Count "Akiner" was exiled from that empire.

Claiming noble descent might sound ludicrous, yet, over generations, each inheritor asserted noble lineage, gradually gaining recognition.

"The shining stars among capitalists," is their self-appellation, with Pato the current patriarch and a level three member of the Saint Harmony Association.

This reveals the association’s influence—despite nobility, survival on this continent hinged on adhering to its rules.

Interrupting their conversation was Mr. Truman. As the leader pushed forward by the East’s largest consortium "Star Dream Butterfly," Pato’s personal identity and conglomerate backing ensured a solid presence at Nagariel’s interest-dividing banquet.

Participation in subsequent endeavors was crucial, so Mr. Truman proactively approached them upon finishing his earlier dialogue, embodying the afternoon’s purpose.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Truman!" Pato’s chin finally lowered, acknowledging Mr. Truman’s significance.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Truman..." Anna promptly echoed the greeting.

Mr. Truman nodded, somewhat unnerved by their slightly rolled accent, reportedly characteristic of aristocratic diction.

"I intended to join earlier, yet unfinished matters held me back. Now free, I can introduce an interesting young acquaintance you’re bound to like." Mr. Truman beckoned Lynch, conversing with someone yet backing towards them.

Lynch glanced briefly, politely apologizing before ending his merchant discussion, walking over.

"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Pato Akiner, and his daughter, Miss Anna..."