I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 782 Bet
In the original timeline, the winner of the 2009 America PEN Prize was John O'Neill, for his work "Netherlands".

In this time and space, he is also a nominee.

but……

Gone with the Wind was so important to America!
Since its publication over a year ago, it has sold over 30 million copies, topping various bestseller lists.

The so-called 'America spirit' embodied in it has moved countless Americans.

Scarlett, Rhett Butler...

It quickly became the subject of everyone's discussion.

Even many talk shows have abandoned entertainment in favor of inviting writers and critics to participate in discussions.

The Scarlett O'Hara phenomenon and the Rhett Butler phenomenon were the most talked-about topics in the past year, apart from the financial crisis.

Therefore, there is no suspense regarding this year's Writers' Association Awards.

Even O'Neill himself was not happy at all when he learned that "Holland" and "Gone with the Wind" had been nominated.

Who can resist Scarlett's allure, and who can resist Rhett Butler's charm?

I'm certainly happy to be nominated. But being nominated alongside "Gone with the Wind" already sealed the deal.

No novel, no author, and no work of art in 2008 could move people more deeply than *Gone with the Wind*.

Surrender now!

This is different from when "The Old Man and the Sea" and "Neutral" were vying for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Neutral, allowing for a back-and-forth struggle.

But Gone with the Wind...

Even the media were congratulating Liu Jin in advance on becoming the winner of the 2009 Faulkner Prize for Fiction.

……

Liu Jin only calmed down after getting into the car.

Sitting in the car, he couldn't help but pat the steering wheel and laugh out loud.

France's top prizes are missing the Grand Prix de France.

However, this award won't be difficult to obtain in the short term... It's an individual award, not for the work itself, but for the individual's literary achievements.

The recipients of this award are either in their seventies or eighties, or they receive it after they have died.

Liu Jin felt that he might be able to get it ahead of time.

The prerequisite is that he announces his retirement from writing!
This award is similar to the Lifetime Achievement Award of the three major European awards or the Oscars; once you receive it, you are ineligible for any other awards.

Should we write for another ten years?
Perhaps, I am qualified.

Moreover, literary awards and film awards are different.

Many awards can only be won once in a lifetime, such as the Goncourt Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the Booker Prize, and the PEN Club Prize.

Therefore, Liu Jin's next step is to accumulate seniority.

Watching those old guys win awards, until I myself become an old guy.

Thinking about this, Liu Jin felt relieved, and the joy of winning the award didn't seem so intense anymore.

It seems there are still many awards to strive for in this world!

The only thing I might not be able to win is the small daily award.

He drove out of the university area and headed straight for Taiyangshiwan.

As he passed by the Sunstone Bay Wharf, he saw his ship, the 'Hugo,' which was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Wait a little longer, and in a few days you'll be able to drive back to Gryzan!

Liu Jin muttered to himself as he prepared to head home.

On the way, they were stopped by a green Maserati Quattroporte.

Rino di Marco, accompanied by two beautifully dressed women, blocked Liu Jin's way.

"Amos, do you have time?"

"Ha, so incredibly bored."

Liu Jin glanced at the two girls, one in black and one in white.

Absolutely tasteless!

It's well known that gangsters prefer the hourglass shape.

Ominous, large-bellied, with a slender waist.

Sometimes, the pursuit of an hourglass can become almost obsessive.

Among them, Black people are the most obvious.

"In a good mood?"

Dimarco jumped out of the car and walked over.

He offered Liu Jin a cigarette, but Liu Jin refused, saying he wasn't used to it, and then took a pack of Seven Stars cigarettes instead.

God knows what's in those second-generation gangsters' cigarettes.

Even if Dimarco doesn't have this habit, Liu Jin can't guarantee it.

He only smokes his own cigarettes, and most of them are safe cigarettes purchased through official channels, not the generic brands sold on the street.

Even after accumulating billions, one must always be wary of others!
"Hehe, it's not bad."

"I heard you're planning to renovate your place?"

"Salenor is such a bastard. I barely made a move and you all already know about it."

Dimarco couldn't help but burst into laughter, even a little smug.

"This is the city of the Marco family."

"Alright, alright, you NewBee! Okay, what is it?"

After the gunfight on New Year's Day, Dimarco's attitude towards Liu Jin became more affectionate, but also more respectful.

The second generation of gangsters respect those who dare to fire a gun!
Four people fought against more than thirty people, and even used RPGs.

Even someone like him, a second-generation gangster, has never killed anyone with an RPG.

Therefore, in Dimarco's eyes, Liu Jin was not only famous and wealthy, but also a ruthless character who should not be provoked.

money?
There are more rich people now!
However, there aren't many wealthy people who dare to shoot and kill.

Nothing more, they just value their lives! They're ruthless, but they might not dare to fight against overwhelming odds. Four people against more than thirty, including a woman...

This kind of person deserves Dimarco's respect.

"There was an accident."

"Ok?"

“Afar, that’s the wanted criminal who attacked you.”

"what happened?"

"My father sent men to deal with him and wiped out his men, but he managed to escape."

Also, Payet has disappeared, that French guy… There’s a rumor that Afar has come to Europe, and most likely met up with Pascal. Dad asked me to convey his apologies to you; we’ve issued a kill order.”

A kill order is the most useless form of impotent rage.

Liu Jin frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "This is not your fault. Those guys have been able to wreak havoc in Europe for so many years, they must be difficult to deal with. However, since Father failed, I asked him to use my methods to resolve this."

May I? "

I promised old Marco that I would leave this matter to him.

But he failed, giving Liu Jin a sufficient excuse to take action.

After all, being in Europe, he didn't really trust those foreigners.

Who knows if old Marco's men have any connection with those people? The fact that Afar's men were able to land in Salerno means there's some cooperation between them... There's more to this than meets the eye! He might cooperate with old Marco, but he'd never trust them.

However, let me say this first.

These Europeans and Americans alike have lived a barbaric life for over a thousand years.

It only rose to prominence in the last few centuries.

The family's wealth is actually quite meager.

But the less financially secure a family is, the more it puts the 'rules' out in the open.

All for the sake of demonstrating their so-called heritage...

So pretentious!

Yeah, that's really pretentious!
Dimarco expressed satisfaction with Liu Jin's response.

"Of course, Dad will understand."

"Want to make a bet?"

"What bet?"

"Whoever takes down those two guys first... hehe, I've got my eye on a Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible in Paris this time."

Dimarco's eyes flashed.

He laughed, "I'll take the bet!"

He knew that Liu Jin was referring to the Rolls-Royce Phantom II, which was launched last August.

Large and elegant, with a straight nose and long hood, it exudes a romantic charm, seemingly unlike anything from this era, more akin to convertibles of the 20s or 30s. Priced at $40, it is the longest and most expensive convertible.

In 2024, a used Phantom Convertible of the same model sold for $180 million.

Liu Jin was very tempted.

The same applies to Dimarco.

The two looked at each other, high-fived, and made a bet.

……

"waste!"

After parting ways with Dimarco, Liu Jin started the car and sped towards Sunstone Mountain, his smile vanishing instantly.

Mafia? How embarrassing!

A human trafficker fled to Algiers, but managed to escape.

Liu Jin didn't believe that guy could forget this hatred.

Furthermore, according to information provided by Meloni, Afar had been living in Belgium before being wanted, indicating that he had considerable connections in Europe. Add to that Pascal, who was familiar with France, and Liu Jin naturally wouldn't give up.

He took out his phone and dialed Lao Zhong's number.

Is Jules there?

"If you call me by my foreign name again, I'll fucking kill you."

"You chose this name, and now you won't let anyone call it that?"

"This name was chosen to deal with those foreigners. Are you a foreigner?"

"But I think the name Jules suits you very well."

"Spit it out, I need to take the kids out for a walk."

"Afar ran away, it seems he met up with Pascal. I'm a little worried, you know, those foreigners don't have any sense of martial ethics."

"so?"

"Can you do me a favor?"

After a moment of silence, Old Zhong said, "No problem."

"Hey, so straightforward? Not even going to discuss the price?"

"You made me a lot of money this time, and I'm very happy about it, so I'm helping you out this time."

The joy of getting something for free, isn't that it?
Liu Jin said, "Hurry up, I have a bet worth four hundred thousand dollars with someone."

"Okay, I'll hang up if there's nothing else. You're such a troublemaker, can't you just behave for a while?"

"If I were honest, where would you get your extra money?"

"Hehe, I'm hanging up!"

Money can make the devil turn the millstone, and it can also make people pull the millstone.

Liu Jin trusted Lao Zhong far more than he trusted the Mafia gang.

Although it's unclear what Lao Zhong's background is... the only thing that's certain is that it has nothing to do with the Red Gate or anything like that (not a typo).

Anyway, this guy is more trustworthy.

……

(End of this chapter)