Chapter 1306: Chapter 1131: Santorini Gathering

Qiao Liang strolled along the beach below the Santorini Mansion, accompanied not only by several bodyguards but also a group of Greek politicians…

The youngest among them was the current Greek Prime Minister, Tsipras!

Born in ’74, Tsipras, as the representative of Greece’s Radical Left Party, had always been somewhat unconventional.

In ’09, he threatened the European Union with default, and then between ’09 and ’14, he initiated protests against the Greek government’s austerity measures, which earned him immense support within Greece. In ’15, he smoothly became the president.

However, he quickly got a lesson from Germany, France, and the European Union combined.

When he took over the mess, Greece’s GDP rapidly dropped to 75% of where it was 20 years ago. Saying people were destitute might be an exaggeration, but it was true that the common folk couldn’t make ends meet.

Facing the predicament, he had no choice but to bow to the European Union.

For aid, he accepted very strict rescue conditions from the EU and international creditors.

The much-anticipated Tsipras, after a series of intense negotiations, left all of Greece having to tighten their belts, cut expenses, and raise taxes to repay debts.

If it weren’t for the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative lending them a hand in ’16, Greece would still see no hope of clearing its debts this year.

For Qiao Liang, it was his first time dealing with nation-level business, investing in an island nearly 9000 square kilometers.

Initially, Qiao Liang felt a bit nervous facing the sitting president of a developed European country, but after more interactions, he found that these politicians were actually just ordinary people.

This Tsipras had decent political skills, but during his two years in office, apart from continuously cutting expenses and managing to secure a good meal in China, he hadn’t accomplished much of the promised tasks.

Qiao Liang quite liked Tsipras because he indeed had an interesting character and was articulate. Having been tormented by Greece’s languishing economy for two years, Tsipras showed great enthusiasm in cooperating with PB.

Ever since Qiao Liang arrived in Santorini, Tsipras has been visiting almost every week.

Seeing Qiao Liang in high spirits, Tsipras smiled and said, “Liang, you look extremely happy. That’s not quite the mood to have after your wife leaves…”

Qiao Liang spread his hands and laughed, saying, “If the place you stayed had a dozen princesses wandering around every day, you’d understand that it’s not a good experience.

I’m so fed up with those so-called royal stewards looking at me…”

Hearing this, Tsipras burst into laughter, saying, “Liang, you should know that what you’re experiencing is something so many people could only dream of!

Those 16 princesses spent more money in Santorini than the island’s income over the past year.

You should invite them to stay longer; their wallets could save this small island.”

Qiao Liang shook his head with a smile and said, “The movie ‘Saving Princess Amina’ is premiering tomorrow; they need to stay low for a while, otherwise these wealthy girls might not be able to come out again after returning.

My wife’s travel company needs them even more!”

Looking at Qiao Liang’s young side profile, Tsipras shook his head and sighed, saying, “Liang, you and Tong are the most amazing couple I’ve ever seen.

Tong is the happiest person I’ve met since ’09. Originally, we Greeks should be as happy…

We have a long-standing civilization, we have beautiful scenery, we should rightfully live happily here…

But the damn financial crisis messed everything up!”

Seeing Tsipras seizing the opportunity to play poor, Qiao Liang laughed and said, “Buddy, let me remind you, what you went through was a debt crisis…

Living on borrowed money is not a good habit!”

Tsipras didn’t mind Qiao Liang’s sarcasm and said indifferently, “We’ll soon be able to pay off the last few debts. By then, as long as the development on Crete Island goes smoothly, we can definitely reclaim our once happy life.”

Qiao Liang slowly walked near the dock, looking at the tranquil bay ahead, and said, “It won’t be that simple!

If you can’t exert 100% effort, you won’t be able to impress my brother!

The fact that you’ve been diverting funds from Crete’s development bonds to repay debts has already reached my brother, and more seriously, besides the Turks, others have their eyes on you.

Next month is the due date for the first batch of bond redemptions; what are you planning to do?

Do you think the new creditors will be easier than those old bondholders?

PB Bank has staked its reputation to reduce Crete’s bond interest rate to 3.5%.

Now, you’ve used the funds that should have been used for Crete’s infrastructure to repay debts.

If Greece cannot provide my brother with a satisfactory response, those so-called happinesses you just mentioned will cease to exist!”

Seeing Tsipras’ extremely awkward expression, Qiao Liang smiled and said, “Don’t be nervous, things haven’t reached the worst extent yet.

My brother won’t take away your valuables like those financial institutions because he’s accustomed to win-win cooperation and he prefers to profit through construction…

But buddy, the credibility you’ve shown is really terrible!

I’m not asking what you were thinking at the time; what you need to consider now is how to compensate PB for the huge loss it’s about to face…

Oh, it’s not just us; Albert II has also invested funds…”

With every day the construction on Crete Island is delayed, we suffer huge losses!

You have to think, why are those people pressing you to repay your debts at this time, and why was the news of your misappropriation of construction funds leaked?”

Tsipras heard this, glared at a slightly pudgy middle-aged bald man next to him, then sighed and looked at Qiao Liang, saying, “Liang, can we not talk about these unpleasant things?

I know our approach has issues, but I assure you, our cooperation with P.B. is absolutely without reservation, and all of Greece is proud of Hu Lang, this hero.”

Qiao Liang was amused by Tsipras’s words, he smiled and said, “Trying to play dumb with me won’t work, I’m not the one managing P.B. Bank.”

Tsipras helplessly sighed and said, “Liang, although we haven’t known each other for long, I always consider you a good friend.

Help me out, the Greek economy can’t take more turmoil!

Our actual unemployment rate has already surpassed 21% this year, if our bonds default, things will get even worse.

Hu Lang is also a Greek citizen, as long as his conditions aren’t too harsh, I’ll find a way to get parliament to approve them!”

Qiao Liang listened and smiled, saying, “Buddy, keep up this attitude when you talk to my brother, you might still have hope…”

Hearing this nod of possibility, Tsipras walked over to Qiao Liang’s side, saying, “Liang, your brother…”

Qiao Liang raised his hand to stop Tsipras’s next words, he pointed towards the sea, smiling and said, “Visitors are coming…”

Tsipras frowned, squinting towards the sea, he saw a yacht and two escort speedboats, curiously he asked, “Who’s coming?”

The French bodyguard next to Qiao Liang, ‘One-Eye’, whistled and said, “It’s the French Special Bureau people, with a team of GIGN as support…

Wow, the President of France is here, their warship must be docked nearby.”

The ‘One-Eye’ looked at his mates beside him, smiling and said, “Fellows, here come your old colleagues, get pumped up, you gotta let them know that retiring and joining the ‘Iron Wall Mercenary Group’ is a great choice…”

Tsipras was incredulous, looking at Qiao Liang, he said, “What’s Xiao Ma doing here? Why didn’t I receive any notification?”

Qiao Liang shook his head and chuckled, saying, “Xiao Ma is here as a guest at my brother’s invitation, in a private capacity.

They’re having a private meeting today, and tomorrow he’s going to see the movie premiere of ‘Saving Princess Amina’ with my brother.

I don’t know why the French side didn’t notify you, maybe your telephone operator is on holiday.”

As Qiao Liang spoke, the yacht in the sea suddenly slowed down its speed, and soon a larger yacht caught up…

Tsipras looked at the sudden mention on the yacht, widened his eyes, and said, “Albert II is also here…”

Qiao Liang glanced at Tsipras and said with a smile, while walking towards the dock, “Albert II earlier invested over 80 million in Crete Island, you’d better be polite to him because he’s a tough nut to crack.”

Tsipras quickly followed Qiao Liang’s pace and asked, “Who else will come?”

Qiao Liang shrugged and said, “As far as I know, the Prince of Qatar Al Sani, the UAE Prince Tahnoon, Dubai Prince Hamadan, and Sayyid are coming too.

They’re all major buyers of Crete Island bonds, and now someone’s shorting those bonds in the market, making them suspicious of the project.”

“Oh my God!”

Tsipras, realizing these are all creditors to Greece, nervously wiped his forehead sweat while following Qiao Liang to the dock end, he said with self-reassuring tone, “They’re all just coming to watch a movie?”

Joe Ga looking at the already frightened Tsipras, laughed and said, “Just consider it that way…”

Actually, Tsipras is a prime minister after all, there’s really no need to be so nervous, but Greece’s reputation as one of Europe’s five ‘pig heads’ significantly reduces the prime minister’s clout.

Can you imagine a prime minister of a developed country in Europe reporting to a young guy in his twenties like clockwork every week?

The Greek government is so broke that even arranging a hotel for the prime minister needs to compare discounts, unlike those Middle Eastern princes exuding luxury, especially now when these princes are creditors. Tsipras couldn’t help but be tense…

Tsipras urgently dialed the phone, intending to arrange security on Santorini Island when a Dolphin helicopter and a super luxurious Azimut yacht suddenly appeared in Santorini’s crescent-shaped bay…

The helicopter directly flew to the mansion’s lawn and landed…

Watching Greece’s largest creditor, Wall Street’s mother shark Gami, and a woman holding a child step down from the helicopter…

Tsipras rubbed his hands hard against his suit pants, looked at Qiao Liang and said, “Just for watching a movie, do we really have to make such a fuss?

Isn’t Miss Kopke supposed to be very busy?”

Qiao Liang looked at the sweat already breaking out on Tsipras’s head, smiled and said, “Crete Island’s business is about to lose money, how could Sister Gami, as my brother’s partner, not come?

Rest assured, they don’t eat people!”

Tsipras listened, gave a dry laugh and said, “Are there any other people?

I need to make some calls to arrange the island’s security, they cannot go wrong…”

Qiao Liang looking at the distant sea appears a beautiful white trimaran, smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it, let your part-time bodyguards take a break…

In this regard, P.B. is the professional one!”