Chapter 53: An Acquisition Like This

After finally drinking himself into oblivion, Xiao Tianci had no idea how long he’d slept before being rudely awakened by the pressure in his bladder. Stumbling half-awake into the bathroom, he relieved himself, then drifted in and out of consciousness once more before finally getting up. He showered, brushed his teeth, and shaved—strangely, his beard had grown quite a bit. He didn’t need to think twice; a glance to the side revealed that his new clothes had long been prepared, all fresh and unworn.

“Sir, you’re awake,” said Lin Jian. By now, Xiao Tianci no longer found Lin Jian’s presence odd; it felt perfectly normal, though he often wondered just how Lin Jian always managed to time things so perfectly.

“Ah… That was a good sleep. By the way, how long was I out?”

Lin Jian checked his watch. “You slept for thirty-three hours and twenty-five minutes.”

“No way, that long?” Xiao Tianci found it hard to believe, though he remembered drinking like a madman, so he didn’t dwell on it. He vaguely recalled gambling as well, though the details were hazy.

“Speaking of which, I think I remember betting with someone…” As he spoke, Xiao Tianci finished dressing and reached for the glass of milk on the table—he was famished, his stomach growling incessantly.

“Yes, sir, you lost fourteen and a half billion dollars.”

“Pfft—!” Milk sprayed everywhere, ruining his freshly changed clothes.

“Damn…” He took the towel Lin Jian, his chief steward, handed him, drying only his hands—there was no saving the outfit.

“Did I really lose fourteen and a half billion dollars?”

Lin Jian nodded with absolute certainty. “Yes.”

Now that he was fully awake, Xiao Tianci recalled what had happened, though everything after the Fire Phoenix was a bit of a blur.

“Sir, the casino owner, Camilo, came by several times, hoping to meet with you and discuss the matter.”

Shaking his head with a sigh, Xiao Tianci changed his clothes. He thought, “It’s as if I’ve lived two lives. Over a billion, just lost like that. Even when I was confident I could surpass the Tian family, I never dreamed of earning over a billion dollars. Still, this fits perfectly with my plan. I’m sure this move had the desired effect. I wonder what those hidden players will think when they hear about this. Maybe I should ‘lose’ some shares in Meihua as well, just to draw them out and see who shows their hand. Ha, and when I return, it’ll be easier to explain to Nier about the losses.”

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. Once dressed, he devoured everything on the table, clapped his hands in satisfaction, and laughed. “Ha ha, let’s go! Isn’t Camilo eager to see me? Maybe he wants to gamble again. Well, I’m game—let’s raise the stakes and lose even more this time.”

Thanks to recent events, Jerrison, who had handled matters swiftly and decisively, had been promoted to director, while the previous manager had moved on. Both men were waiting in the VIP lounge when Xiao Tianci arrived, and hurried forward to greet him.

Xiao Tianci’s first words were, “So, are we starting the game now?”

The two nearly stumbled in surprise. Was this ancestor still drunk? They’d already prepared a plan, but if he insisted on gambling so recklessly, all their efforts would be for nothing.

Rubbing his hands together with excitement, Xiao Tianci said, “Ha ha, come on, let’s have a proper game this time! I’ve only seen gambling in movies, but today, we’ll outdo them all. What do you say?”

Having recently brushed up on Chinese customs, Camilo clasped his hands in a traditional greeting and bowed. “Mr. Xiao, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding caused by my staff, who didn’t realize who you were. I assure you, they have been dealt with—the former director has already been dismissed.”

Xiao Tianci waved a hand. “No need for that. I just want to gamble with you again.”

Hearing this, Camilo thought Xiao Tianci was hinting at the previous incident, where he’d been plied with drinks and lost dozens of rounds in a row.

Bow after bow, Camilo pleaded, “Mr. Xiao, please forgive us. We truly meant no harm. Allow me to apologize once again.”

Jerrison joined in, and the two of them made such a scene that Xiao Tianci’s excitement vanished. With a sigh, he said, “Alright, alright, I won’t gamble with you. Is that enough?”

“Chief Steward, prepare for our return.”

“Mr. Xiao, please wait!” Camilo called out urgently.

Wearily, Xiao Tianci looked at him. “I already said I won’t gamble with you. What do you want now?”

Camilo, having rehearsed this speech countless times, replied, “Dear Mr. Xiao, what happened was just an accident. We can’t possibly hold you to those losses, but I know someone of your stature would never take back what’s been lost. So, I’ve come up with a solution—perhaps you’ll consider it.”

He produced a document. “These are the details for several casinos under my name, collectively valued at over thirty-five billion dollars. Your recent ‘losses’ could be treated as an acquisition. I am prepared to transfer sixty percent of the shares to you, making you the majority shareholder.”

“Ah…” Xiao Tianci was stunned. He’d served as CEO for years, but had never heard of an acquisition like this. It wasn’t uncommon for a lady to climb into bed herself, but when had a pig ever skipped merrily to the slaughterhouse?

“All you have to do is sign here. You may appoint your own management, or if you trust me, I can continue running the casinos for you.”

Xiao Tianci quickly waved him off. “Mr. Camilo, you’re mistaken. I may not be a saint, but I do have a gambler’s code. A loss is a loss—just keep it.”

Mentioning his gambling code, Xiao Tianci couldn’t help but think of Fire Phoenix. It had been days without a word from her. Given her temperament, she wouldn’t just accept defeat. Had Fang Meng scared her off?

He turned to leave, thinking, “I still need to lose some more money; I have no time to buy your casinos. Investing one and a half billion for an acquisition? They must be crazy. By that math, I’d be spending fourteen and a half billion to acquire casinos worth fifty billion. That doesn’t even factor in the returns after investing the fourteen and a half billion. What a world—no matter how hard I try, I can’t make money, yet here they are, falling over themselves to throw it at me. This is madness—utter madness.”

But Camilo and Jerrison, having already conspired together, were set on their plan. With this new capital, the casino’s assets would reach fifty billion. Although on paper Xiao Tianci would appear to have lost over a billion, the benefits brought by this capital infusion would far exceed that. Most importantly, the Xiao family had yet to enter the casino business. If the world’s elite, aristocrats, and politicians discovered that the Xiao family was backing these casinos, the potential profits would be incalculable.

And with a powerful backer, everything becomes easier. As Jerrison had said, this was a once-in-a-century opportunity—one they absolutely could not miss.

No matter how much Xiao Tianci refused, Camilo and Jerrison were determined to see the deal through. In the end, with both men nearly in tears, Xiao Tianci had no choice but to sign. Thus, after inheriting the Xiao family fortune, he completed his first major acquisition—a deal that would be written into the annals of history. In just a few years, under Camilo’s management, the casino group would become the largest gambling empire in the world, with assets exceeding three hundred billion after going public. And to think, Xiao Tianci had acquired it all for just fourteen and a half billion—the boldness and vision of his methods would be studied and admired for generations.

Yet, this was just the beginning—a mere prelude to the legend of Xiao Tianci.

(Final days on the new book chart—vote, vote, vote!)