I am a master in India

Chapter 229 A Luxurious Friendship

The Sull slums have disappeared. What "Demolition King" Kelner failed to do was easily resolved by Ron's promise.

No one is born liking to live in a slum; one of the greatest fears of Mumbai residents is becoming homeless.

If there were brick buildings to live in, who would want to squeeze into a stinking slum?

It's just a little disturbance; it's nothing to the people in the slums.

Taking over the territory of the Kama compound is a piece of cake; it's for their own benefit.

In Mumbai, even young children have learned how to fight for more space.

More importantly, once you've won it, you must hold onto it tightly and never let yourself be squeezed out, otherwise someone will immediately come and take away the space that originally belonged to you.

The Kama compound was already packed to the brim, and even when the construction workers wanted to create more single rooms, those people were unwilling to leave.

They valued their houses here more than their own lives, simply because those small rooms could be passed down to the next generation.

From then on, they were no longer refugees in Mumbai; they had achieved upward mobility, transforming from proletarians into propertied persons.

That's something countless people dream of; only by guarding it at all times can they feel at ease.

Of course, he didn't get the stuff for free; the people here will follow Ron's lead from now on.

From ballots to representation, including the next La Foda.

In a place like Mumbai, you need to have the power to control others.

It's not about causing trouble, it's just about making sure we don't get messed with by others.

Ron handed over the 30,000 men of the Kama compound to Amor, with Anand as his deputy.

With Anand's talent, managing a complete community would be difficult.

Amor is knowledgeable and driven, making him a good fit as a manager here.

The Kama compound was a test for him, and he did well. It was inevitable that he would be transferred back to Suer Electric Appliances to become a member of the management team.

The choice between a property manager and a company manager is self-evident.

It's just too chaotic, especially right now. Creating thousands of single rooms in five buildings is an enormous undertaking.

Workers alone are not enough, so some slum residents simply discussed it among themselves and used plywood as barriers.

Amidst the clanging and banging, 30,000 people quickly squeezed into the building.

Don't doubt the traditional skills of Indians; squeezing seven or eight people into one room is quite common practice.

Next, there's the matter of registering the population and planning toilets, but Ron doesn't care about these trivial matters at all.

He only needs to master a few key managers; this is the basic quality of a leader.

He was more concerned about the planning of the Suer Park, where the surrounding wasteland was fenced off after the slums were evacuated.

Construction will begin here around next month. First the office building on the west side, then the factory area on the south side, proceeding step by step.

He couldn't wait to receive the 2 million rupee loan from the Mumbai bank.

Oh dear, Ron felt good about himself having unknowingly racked up a debt of 4 million rupees.

The one who owes money is the boss, don't panic.

Ron was even planning to buy a villa in the Malabar Mountains; he had been planning this for a while, but a series of events had held him back.

After wandering around the wasteland in the Sur Park, Ron was about to meet a bank manager when Johnny showed up.

"Ron!" He wanted to come over and hug him, but then stopped in his tracks, ashamed.

“Let’s go grab a drink.” Ron patted him on the shoulder.

Anand's words echoed in his mind, and Ron had many questions as well.

They found a restaurant, sat down, and waved to the waiter to bring two dishes and drinks. The two remained silent as they waited for the drinks to arrive.

Then, they each poured themselves a drink and raised their glasses.

“To friendship!” Ron suggested.

“To friendship!” Johnny chimed in.

They clinked glasses and drank their wine in one gulp.

“You didn’t tell me,” Ron said.

"what?"

“You didn’t tell me about your encounter with Anand that night.” Ron stared at him.

“I’m sorry, Ron.” Johnny’s face showed a hint of pain.

"Does his imprisonment have anything to do with you?"

“No! It was purely a coincidence, I swear!” Johnny’s face showed even more pain, the heartache of friendship being questioned.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have easily gotten him out with just one phone call."

“I can’t,” Johnny gripped his glass tightly, “at least not at that time. Hadby was making a very important deal.”

Ron looked at him, silent. That calm gaze was more piercing than any torture.

"Lady Elizabeth was helping Hadbai network with politicians to gain their favor. That connection was crucial; they had an agreement, after all."

"Lady Elizabeth hates me, but she can't do anything about it, so she can only target the people around me. She wants to make me suffer to vent her hatred?"

“That’s just the kind of person she is, extreme and paranoid,” Johnny sighed.

"So Hadhan knew all along the way the answer I'd been searching for for over a month was?"

Johnny didn't speak, but his furrowed brows said it all.

"To Mumbai!" Ron raised his glass.

“Respect to Mumbai,” he said with a sorrowful expression.

Ron tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. He put down his glass and got up to leave.

In a city like Mumbai, friendship is a luxury. Ron had no idea what deal Hadhan and Lady Elizabeth had made, and he wasn't interested.

With the palace reduced to ruins, none of that matters anymore.

Johnny's arrival may be a test; the underground emperor could not possibly be indifferent to the destruction of the palace.

He was probably surprised by the riots that Ron could manipulate, a force more terrifying than any gang.

Ron didn't care, and he didn't have time to argue with that mob boss. He was busy with something else: buying a house.

The apartments in the fortress district were too old and not big enough, so Anil and his men had to live in the basement.

We've already taken on projects worth hundreds of millions; there's no reason for us to compromise ourselves any further.

Ron was determined to go all out and select Malabar Hill, Mumbai's most prosperous and affluent area.

As seen on the map, this is a bay in southern Mumbai. Shaped like the handle of a ladle or the grip of a scimitar, it is embraced by the sea, its surface shimmering with golden light, and its shores are lined with lush palm trees.

The Malabar Mountains are located here, with beautiful bays, babbling brooks, rushing rivers and rolling hills.

It has no obstructions to the south or west, and you can see the vast Arabian Sea as soon as you step outside.

A sea breeze blows from the west, bringing a refreshing coolness, and the chaotic smells of the bustling city center are completely gone here.

This is the best location in Mumbai, with stunning scenery, unique culture, and exceptional environment.

The villa Ron had his eye on was located at the southernmost tip of the bay, surrounded by tranquil woods and meadows, with security personnel patrolling the area.

The villa's main gate is three meters high and entirely carved from white marble, exuding grandeur. Upon arrival, the gate automatically slides open to the left, revealing a short driveway leading directly to the hall.

Upon entering the gate, you will find gardens and lawns on both sides, surrounded by meticulously designed water features.

The lawn has golf holes, as well as tennis and badminton courts, all of which are maintained by professionals.

The entrance hall was lined with expensive potted plants, and the ceiling was almost entirely covered with crystal chandeliers, with even smaller chandeliers attached to them.

Everything looks sparkly, from the decor to the ornaments, very Indian in style.

The main building of the villa has more than a dozen rooms, not counting the servants' quarters in the garden outside.

Aside from the various functional rooms, there's also a private home theater and an underground wine cellar.

Ron's favorite spot is the rooftop terrace, where he can overlook Chauberti Beach, and if paired with whiskey, it would make all Indians envious.

He took the 20 million rupees without a second thought.

This is already the price after Mumbai's house prices plummeted, a full 40% lower than before the bombing.

It is said that the original owner was an Indian who returned to India, but was scared away by the turmoil last year.

Very good, Ron is very satisfied with this villa.

Without any hesitation, he signed the contract on the spot.

In India, there is no such thing as installment payments when buying a house; everyone assumes it's all paid in full.

Ron certainly had money in his account, and after two or three months, Suer Electric's profits steadily increased.

The net profit alone is 1.2 million rupees, but this money will be set aside for the budget of the Sur Industrial Park.

The 20 million yuan for the house was a loan, taken out in his own name. He has a lot of influence with banks now.

The much-touted Suer Industrial Park plan, as promoted by the media, was the best proof of his legitimacy. Banks didn't even verify his assets before issuing loans.

Since that's the case, why not spend the bank's money?

"Nia, have someone clean this place today. We'll stay here tonight."

"Yes, Baba," the little girl answered crisply.

She was like a happy butterfly, looking around the villa.

The estate in Uttar Pradesh was grand, but she preferred a modern villa.

The place is open and bright, and you can feel the pleasant breeze just by standing at the entrance.

The twenty-odd servants were being directed around by Nia; some were elderly men from Uttar Pradesh, while others were newly hired servants from Mumbai.

Anil also showed his bodyguards the terrain; they would be living in the servants' quarters from now on, instead of squeezing into the basement.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

In Mumbai, servants also take pride in their masters.

Hey, buddy!

Just as Ron was pondering how to decorate the villa, Luca suddenly showed up.

"You've done something really cool lately! But let me tell you, our business is going to be fucking ruined too!" he said menacingly, his brow furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Ron walked with him onto the grass.

“The pharmaceutical business is finished,” he said, looking unwell and haggard. “There’s been a problem in Brazil.”

"About your brother?" Ron seemed to realize something.

Since Anand and his team went to sea last year, the pharmaceutical business has come to a standstill.

There are other forces competing with Luca and his group in Brazil, who source their goods from New Delhi, taking a different route.

At first, the two sides were able to coexist peacefully, but as the competition intensified, a fierce battle became almost inevitable.

“My brother is dead, my family has fled to South Africa, we’re finished!” Luca’s eyes were red, and his teeth were grinding.

“Hey buddy, I’m sorry to hear this, but what are you going to do now?” Ron was also a bit of a headache.

As he expected, this highly profitable business was bound to attract the covetous eyes of others.

Brazil is a godforsaken place, rife with gangs and where the government has virtually no presence.

Fortunately, he didn't invest much capital; the downside was that he lost his stable dollar channel.

“I can’t go back to Brazil, so I want to start another business.” Luca stared intently at him.

(End of this chapter)