America: My Time

Chapter 813 Favors

Chapter 803 Social Interactions

The situation in the Middle East has not calmed down, yet John has appeared there at this time, which has led many to suspect his motives and worry that this might be part of a new strategic move. After all, the Middle Eastern tycoons control vast amounts of oil, and if John can reach an agreement with them, the oil market might change dramatically.

September had arrived before they knew it, but the crisis in the Middle East was far from over, and oil prices continued to rise. After spending a few days in the Middle East and exchanging views with the other side, John finally set off back to Tokyo, Japan. Those guys in Japan must be getting impatient now; after all, a month had passed, and the oil futures market hadn't changed—it was still deteriorating—so many people were panicking.

The Japanese had been eagerly awaiting John's return, but by then it was already early September. The situation in the Middle East had not improved, and oil prices had not rebounded. The Japanese were desperate; they desperately wanted more oil. Now they realized they had been too foolish. If the situation worsened further, the consequences would be unimaginable, and Japan would be in grave danger.

“Mr. John, we need to discuss our next steps in this cooperation. We need more oil, and only you can help us right now. Although there is crude oil supply from Southeast Asia, it is still a drop in the ocean for Japan!” John met with government officials as soon as he arrived in Tokyo, and they directly made a request for cooperation.

"I understand your feelings, but my personal abilities are limited. I have done everything I can, and now I can't conjure up any more oil. The share of oil that can be sold has already been allocated. I am powerless to do anything more. You don't think that I went to the Middle East for this reason, do you? If you think that, you are very wrong. We did not discuss the oil issue."

John was telling the truth, but the Japanese wouldn't believe him. They didn't think John had the opportunity to do nothing, or that he could have gained more without asking. Their values ​​differed. John wanted long-term cooperation and didn't need to use personal connections for short-term gains. Unfortunately for them, the Japanese were different. For them, anything was possible as long as there was profit, so they were more inclined to believe John had even more oil quotas.

"So Mr. John is completely helpless?" The Japanese guys were very heavy-hearted. They were the ones who reacted first, but now the biggest benefit went to Taiwan, and Taiwan didn't pay any price. It was just because they had a cooperation with Western Energy. How could they be willing to accept this?

"I can only help you coordinate a portion of the oil, but the quantity is limited. Your best option is to sign a long-term supply agreement with the Middle East. If you have any needs, I can help you coordinate; I still have that much influence. However, time is limited, so you should prepare early. After all, many people are eyeing the Middle East. If it drags on too long, I won't have any other options. Increasing production isn't something you can just do whenever you want."

After a brief exchange with John at the airport, the Japanese officials were getting impatient. With oil prices skyrocketing, they were under increasing pressure. How long could they hold out if this continued?
"Gentlemen, I believe you all know why I invited you here. Time is running out. Unless we use our oil reserves, we will not be able to overcome this crisis. Mr. John can give us some more help, but it is very limited. Now there is only one way out: to sign a long-term contract. Please consider this and tell me what time and price you can afford."

“Price is not the issue; the issue is time. I believe no one can accept two years. The change is too drastic. Once crude oil prices fall, the losses we suffer will be too great. We can only accept a year at most!”

“Mitsui can only accept a one-year contract. What about you all? If you have no problems, we need to step in and solve this energy issue. We can’t let it drag on any longer. If you go to each company one by one, I’m afraid it will take a month to get any results.”

"We can accept a year, even if there are some losses, it's within our tolerance range."

After understanding John's thoughts, these guys didn't dare to delay any longer. They themselves couldn't hold on any longer. At this point, no amount of trickery would work. Stabilizing their own economy was the priority. They needed to act decisively. If they dragged it out any longer, there might be more changes and the situation might become even more dangerous. Right now, those with oil are the bosses.

As the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, the pressure on everyone will increase. Therefore, survival comes first; discussing anything else is pointless if one cannot even survive. Business survival is paramount now; a shutdown would have a devastating impact. John's first impression was that Japan was in a panic. However, at this crucial moment, John wouldn't offer them any further assistance. He had initially thought they would need to wait a little longer, but Japan's reaction was too intense. Perhaps it was related to his trip to the Middle East, or perhaps to the internal situation in Japan. But the outcome was good; Japan had finally taken the bait.

"Please sit down. I'm sure you've all received quite a few requests. It won't be long before everything is over. Compile your lists, and I'll give them a satisfactory response!" Although John wasn't in Tokyo, he was well aware of everything that was happening there and was prepared. The oil transferred from Southeast Asia would provide them with a satisfactory explanation.

Although John didn't mention the oil issue during his trip to the Middle East, the Middle Eastern tycoons weren't fools and naturally made some concessions. Originally, the Western Energy's shortfall in the Middle East was covered by them, so John could obtain a considerable amount of oil from the Middle East in the short term. This could be considered an exchange of benefits.

In any social interaction, reciprocity is essential. John's personal intervention and the promises they desperately needed meant they naturally expected a return. For Middle Eastern tycoons, the best return was oil. By the time John left the Middle East, this oil had already been shipped overseas. John naturally wanted to sell this oil for a good price. Japan was the perfect target. These countries weren't all about cultivating relationships; selling them this oil directly would also enhance his public image and gain their approval.

The opportunity had presented itself, and although it was a bit ahead of its time, John saw no problem with it and was naturally willing to give them the chance. However, John wouldn't negotiate with these guys himself; instead, he would have the middleman, Akio Morita, handle it.

"Mr. Morita, if you have the time, could you please invite the petrochemical companies in Japan to sit down and have a talk? I have a batch of oil that has already been shipped to Tokyo. If you have any thoughts, please sit down and discuss them. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Akio Morita was surprised when he received John's call. However, he quickly understood why John hadn't contacted those guys directly, or even the Japanese authorities. After all, when John appeared at Tokyo Airport, officials had already arranged for someone to have a conversation with him, but it hadn't yielded any results.

This is about doing yourself a favor, and it also maximizes your benefits. Once you agree, you'll owe the other party a favor, and the Japanese government and major Japanese companies will have to accept this favor.

"What a shrewd little fox, so meticulous in his actions. However, I have to accept this favor; it would be foolish to refuse." In an instant, Akio Morita made his decision, feeling a bit of pressure from John's methods.

"Since we're all going to sit down and talk, why don't we have Sony host a cocktail party so we can discuss countermeasures together? After all, the situation in the Middle East is having a significant impact on Japan's economy. I'll make the arrangements and let you know tomorrow night!"

“I have no problem with that. You can make the decision. After all, this is your home turf, and it’s much better for you to take the lead than for me to do it!” John agreed to Akio Morita’s proposal without any hesitation. Since this old guy wanted to maximize his profits, why should he stop him? Even if he gave these guys a chance, they would have no chance of turning the tables.

The escalating tensions in the Middle East are causing widespread unease, including in Japan. They believe a quick recovery in oil prices is impossible, necessitating accelerated oil reserves to prepare for the upcoming energy crisis; otherwise, those countries won't compromise. However, they hadn't anticipated John's surprise offer—a hidden agenda. John was deliberately setting Japan up, yet still expecting them to speak favorably of him. It wasn't their fault; Japan was simply overly anxious. It wasn't that they insisted on signing an oil agreement, but rather that these countries were forcing them to accept their 'goodwill.' While it was a bit early, closing the deal prematurely wouldn't cause any problems.

If it weren't for his memories of the future, John wouldn't have imagined that Saddam Hussein would collapse so quickly. Therefore, the energy crisis wasn't as dire as everyone feared. Selling his oil reserves was the best option, as he still had plenty of time to prepare for the next round of price increases, and low oil prices would persist for several more years. By the time the next round of oil price increases came, he would have already completed his plan. So, while it seemed like years of accumulation were slipping away in an instant, and he felt somewhat reluctant, not selling now would be foolish.

(End of this chapter)