America: My Time

Chapter 1231 Human Greed
Chapter 1221 Human Greed
No one cares about the past anymore; everyone's focused on uncovering the secrets behind it. Since someone has to be a scapegoat, a shield, this guy is the perfect choice—a win-win situation that satisfies everyone. If he's smart, he won't cause trouble and will take the blame. If he insists on making trouble, he'll only suffer the consequences. Loss is loss; there's nothing more to say. Dwelling on it will only make him lose more.

The Japanese financial industry has suffered heavy losses and numerous financial scandals. The best option is to find some people to take the blame. Otherwise, how can they explain this to the public? If they really investigate further, it will not be a good choice for anyone.

Although there was no open confrontation, this covert struggle was even more dangerous. Fortunately, John managed to thwart it all, preventing the old fox Akio Morita from deceiving him and keeping everything under control, at least minimizing the impact. Since Akio Morita had his own agenda, he could simply cooperate. As long as it didn't affect his own interests, there was no need to haggle over trivial matters. At this point, all he needed to do was focus on his own interests.

John believed that as long as Akio Morita didn't make excessive demands, he wouldn't need to refuse. Maintaining a good image was the best option. As for minor matters, he should just ignore them. Being petty would benefit no one. Besides, he didn't have the energy to focus on Japan. The situation would be even more chaotic next year, so he needed to handle the situation in South Korea and Japan as quickly as possible before having a showdown with Soros and his group.

In John's eyes, neither Japan nor South Korea mattered; Soros and those international speculative funds were his main targets. As long as these guys made a move, there would be huge profits, so how could he refuse?

"Forget it, never mind all that. Although I have had my share of conflicts with him, I don't have time to deal with them right now. If I put my energy into that guy, it would only be a waste of my precious time. I'd rather use that time to handle my own affairs, otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble might arise. I'm not on the same page as him, and I don't value real estate that much. After their series of crazy moves, there's absolutely no hope left for Japan's real estate market. If possible, Sony should sell off those properties as soon as possible!"

Although John's statement was true, it was unacceptable to Sony, as it was tantamount to cutting off their flesh. Most importantly, Akio Morita could not intervene now, as he had retired. Too much interference in Sony's affairs would only make Sony's situation more chaotic and drag Sony into an even deeper quagmire from which it could not extricate itself.

“John, you should know that I have done everything I can. Sony is no longer something I can interfere with. Just like Asian Energy now, can you make a decision on a whim? We both have concerns, so we have no choice but to let go!” Akio Morita’s words made John sneer inwardly. Even at this point, he still didn’t forget to test his strength and whether he had complete control over Asian Energy.

"Yes, we're in the same boat now. Asian Energy is no longer my sole domain. As you know, at our level, if we don't share the profits, we'll be targeted. Human greed is something that can't be changed. I've done so much, but you've seen how many attacks I've endured from the beginning until now!"

At this moment, John couldn't let the opportunity slip by and uttered these words, leaving Akio Morita speechless. After all, what John said was true, and many of the attacks were orchestrated by the Japanese, which made him even more embarrassed. If it weren't for the old man's extensive experience, he probably wouldn't have been able to hold on. Being countered like this by a junior was a slap in the face, even if it wasn't done openly, it was still unacceptable to him!

Letting go is easier said than done. John's frantic asset restructuring has left many bewildered, unsure of the extent of his involvement. While everyone knows John is transferring assets, they don't believe he hasn't shared in the profits, especially given the number of publicly listed companies. This fuels speculation that similar practices exist in energy and mining companies, albeit without the financial backing of public offerings.

Regardless of the reason, everyone believes John is already sharing profits with others, but they don't know who those profits are ending up in. The Japanese believe it's the powerful American families, as only they could have done this. The Americans, on the other hand, believe John is courting Japanese tycoons, thus the profits are ending up in Japanese hands. However, there's no way to verify this; asking wouldn't yield any results, as it involves family interests!
"Actually, it's because the interests you control are too great, which those people can't accept. They don't have such capabilities, so naturally they'll try to take advantage of you. That's the wickedness of human nature. This is a society based on relationships, and we can't be all alone, or we'll be surrounded and attacked! Sony's changes weren't their original intention either; there were people pushing for them, and the reason is still interests. Many people don't want to see Phoenix Group control such a large amount of assets in Japan."

"Heh, this is human greed. What does this have to do with Japan? If I hadn't pushed things forward back then, would Japan's animation industry be what it is today? Would those guys be able to reap so much profit? Now they're using this as an excuse to target Phoenix Media. It's laughable. Phoenix Media doesn't have to be in Japan. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China all have the ability to take its place, and the US has the same ability. If those guys don't know when to back down, I can move Phoenix Comics and Animation out of Japan. Perhaps Taiwan would be a good choice!" John wasn't going to hold back at this point, giving Akio Morita this direct answer. You want to test me? Well, I'll tell you, let you understand that everything is not under your control. If you hadn't said it this way, Akio Morita wouldn't have believed it, but John said it this way, so he had to believe it. ASML moved from the Netherlands to Taiwan in this way, and even Fokker's aircraft manufacturing was moved to England. It's clear how crazy John is.

Compared to Phoenix Media's limited resources, relocation would be incredibly easy. Moreover, Phoenix Media's overseas sales are currently printed in China, not Japan, all for cost reasons. If Phoenix Media were to relocate, it would be a fatal blow to Japan's animation industry.

Was Akio Morita only talking about the anime industry? No, he was also referring to other entertainment industries. Phoenix Group, which had made early investments, was developing faster and capturing more market share than other companies in Japan. So, naturally, those guys were tempted and had these inappropriate thoughts. Even an old guy like Akio Morita had such thoughts, otherwise he wouldn't have said such things.

As people get older, they can naturally be more unrestrained. As long as it's not too excessive, John can't easily turn against him, since doing so would have a significant impact on his public image. Akio Morita naturally grasped this psychology of John's, which is why he tested John's true intentions time and time again. Since all his favors had been exhausted, he didn't have many scruples anymore.

In John's eyes, Akio Morita, that old fellow, didn't have much time left, and there was no need for him to argue with him. Once the old man was gone, he had plenty of ways to deliver a fatal blow to Sony and make those guys in Japan pay a heavy price. Right now, he didn't need to do anything; time was the best power.

With this in mind, John and Akio Morita's conversation naturally became much more peaceful, without so many arguments, making others think that the two were having a very pleasant and harmonious talk. They didn't know that this was just a facade, and that the two were actually exchanging barbs back and forth behind the scenes.

Akio Morita couldn't keep monopolizing John's time like this, not giving others a chance, so he smiled calmly and said, "John, let's end our conversation here. If we continue like this, many people will start to criticize me. Many 'old friends' want to have a chat with you. Perhaps you can talk to them!"

Upon hearing this, John shook his head and said, "I have nothing to do with them. We're not on the same page. And what they consider interests are nothing to you or me. If they have any ideas, they should talk to Phoenix Group instead of coming to me. I can't get too involved in these matters, or it will throw the company into chaos. Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust. I have to set an example!"

John's refusal did not surprise Akio Morita; it was all within his expectations. If John were to lower himself and engage with those people, it would be beneath him. Morita's words were also a test. Even at this final farewell, the old fox did not forget to scheme against John, conducting one last probe.

Akio Morita shook his head and said nothing more. At this point, anything he said would be superfluous. He understood when to advance and when to retreat, knowing that continuing to probe would only make him lose face. John wasn't incapable of fighting back; he knew when to stop and not to push things too far. Otherwise, John wouldn't target him, but rather Sony. So, Akio Morita simply got up, said goodbye to John, and ended his mission. What happened next was no longer his concern; everything was no longer up to him!

(End of this chapter)