The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 143: Problems Over Bloodred Wine
The red wine in the exquisite glass goblet was as vivid as blood, with an enticing sweetness in its brightness. The high-class glass, as clear as high-grade crystal and free of bubbles, remained a luxury only high society could afford.
In truth, for many people, whether there were bubbles or whether it was pure and transparent did not affect whether a glass was used to hold wine or a drink. But that was the greatest difference between upper society and lower society.
“In the near future, I will establish a logistics company. It should create around seventy to one hundred jobs...”
The mayor directly interrupted William. “I think one hundred would be appropriate.”
William did not argue. He only looked at him. The two met each other’s eyes for a moment, then William nodded. “All right. One hundred jobs. Aside from that, there’s the club, various athletes, related institutions and personnel. That should create another two or three hundred jobs. There’s also the warehouse district I plan to establish. By the end of the year, I can provide you with no fewer than eight hundred jobs at minimum, and more will be added next year.”
The mayor shook his head. Even adding in everything William had mentioned, it was still far from enough. He was very clear on one point: William could not possibly shoulder the employment needs of an entire group by himself. That was impossible. He could not do it.
In truth, the mayor’s side already had a more complete solution. First, those businessmen who had eaten up Biddle’s assets could not take without giving anything back. They had obtained large amounts of quality assets at prices far below market value, practically gifts. They had to prove their value to the mayor, to the governor, and to society as a whole.
Second, once Ristowan truly left, it would likewise leave behind a vast stretch of assets and commercial vacancy. A political defector could not possibly retain his interests here. When the time came, those interests would be divided by others, and whoever swallowed them would naturally have to assume the responsibility of feeding society.
His current posture was actually only an attempt to squeeze the maximum potential out of William, just as capitalists squeezed and exploited businessmen. Politicians, at times, squeezed and exploited businessmen too.
If you did not push them, who knew whether these businessmen were telling the truth? Besides, what if some unexpected joy appeared?
Still, eight hundred jobs did somewhat exceed the mayor’s expectations. Earlier, when William said he could provide five hundred jobs by the end of the year, the mayor had thought it might merely be a form of expression.
Five hundred people, each with wages alone, would cost more than a hundred thousand dollars a month. Eight hundred jobs would require at least close to two hundred thousand in wages.
According to the gross profit on light industrial goods mentioned previously in The Wall Street Journal, to earn enough to pay these workers’ wages, William would need to sell goods worth over one million dollars a month. The mayor felt that was somewhat unlikely.
But this answer still satisfied the mayor. Whether William had given the answer through gritted teeth or not, at least it proved one thing: in William’s heart, the mayor held a very important standing.
As they spoke, there came a knock at the door. Soon, led by the restaurant manager, waiters pushed a dining cart inside, followed by a chef.
This was not a meal with ceremony. If ceremony were required, one course would usually be finished before the next was served. But that clearly did not suit the dining habits of politicians and businessmen.
They preferred whispering in sealed rooms, discussing certain confidential matters. A dining ritual in which people kept entering and interrupting the conversation had never been favored by these two sorts of people. Only those who wanted to prove they could afford a meal costing hundreds or thousands of dollars would do that.
Most of the time, without special requirements, a place like this, where one could dine in a separate private space, would not serve dishes one by one.
As the waiter introduced the food on the cart, he arranged it properly for His Honor, the mayor, and William. Finally, when it was time to serve the main course, the chef pushed the dining cart to about two feet from the table. It was a safe distance, close enough to serve, not close enough for oil or smoke to splash onto the guests.
He lifted the silver serving cover. In an instant, flames rose with a sizzling sound. Beneath the cover were two tender steaks. The color on their surfaces had already changed somewhat, and now that change became faster and more obvious.
These were two steaks that had already been lightly processed. What the chef was doing now was merely making them look more expensive.
Flames, sprinkled spices, and the rich aroma of liquor. The chef used hard liquor as the fuel, so there was no greasy smell in the room. Instead, it was filled with the fragrance of wine.
Finally, he covered the dish again and smothered the flames. The entire process lasted roughly three minutes. After finishing, the chef stood aside and bowed to His Honor, the mayor, and William at the table, showing his respect to both men.
Then, when he lifted the serving cover again, there were no more flames inside, only a cloud of mist rising upward. It soon drifted toward the ceiling and filled the room with a rich fragrance.
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