294-295

Chapter 294: The Ambitions of Rothschild

"Ruthless, domineering, selfish Protestant noble, looking down on Europe, exploiting Asia, Anglo-Saxon orthodoxy, coveting Africa, leaving his mark everywhere, and deeply insecure..."

"Fascinating, Leopold. But I must ask—how is it that you never had much interaction with such an American before now?"

The speaker of these words was Jacob Rothschild, the publicly acknowledged head of the global Rothschild family, leader of its British branch, and the covert ruler of Europe's financial world.

Leopold, on the other hand, was the head of the American Rothschild branch, reestablished less than fifty years ago.

Faced with his cousin's question, Leopold Rothschild gave a wry smile and shook his head. "How could I not? But even before I got close to him, Morgan and Rockefeller had already set their sights on him. As you know, here in America, we can’t compete with them."

Jacob nodded.

This, of course, he knew well.

In fact, almost everyone in the world's upper echelons understood—

Getting close to Milo Blackburn was no easy task!

Especially privately; that was even harder.

After all, this was America, the pinnacle of the world, the most powerful empire in history.

Within its borders, a young man like Milo Blackburn and such a massive new power had emerged.

How could foreign powers not want to connect with and learn about him?

Indeed, including the Rothschilds, all ambitious nations and entities had their eyes on Milo Blackburn.

One wave of spies after another was sent his way.

Even seemingly uninvolved China had made several attempts.

However, this young figure was fiercely protected within the United States.

The CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies were highly suspicious of anyone trying to approach Milo Blackburn.

Particularly the CIA, where Blackburn’s influence had been growing due to his maternal grandfather’s connections.

According to Rothschild's intelligence, the CIA officially employed around 20,000 people.

At least 3,000 families had received assistance from the Blackburn Foundation under various programs.

The Blackburn Foundation had even openly hired hundreds of retired or early-retired CIA elites.

While most weren’t field agents, they included administrative officers and middle-to-high-level personnel.

Some had even retired directly from upper management roles.

It was no wonder people joked that Blackburn might hold more power within the CIA than Langley itself.

Yes, Congress allocated $200-300 billion annually to the CIA.

But much of that funding was used for foreign operations, administrative expenses, and other costs.

The amount that actually reached the agents was minimal.

Agents looking for additional income often had to think outside the box, though such activities were illegal and risky.

Yet Blackburn offered no judgment.

Every year, the Blackburn Foundation provided substantial benefits to some agents' families.

For example, tuition for private schools, Ivy League recommendations, reimbursements for medical bills at Mayo Clinic, high-end international travel, and even dining expenses at upscale restaurants—all publicly documented.

These contributions, akin to the Foundation’s ongoing support for police departments in major U.S. cities, required tens of billions of dollars annually.

Jacob felt a pang of sympathy for the young man, seeing such enormous sums being poured out.

But the results were remarkable.

The intelligence community and police departments nationwide treated Blackburn and his employees as though they were family.

Everything they did went through with green lights, and if a red light appeared, they’d simply change it to green.

Thus, foreign powers had an exceedingly difficult time placing spies near Blackburn.

Occasionally, a lucky or elite operative managed to infiltrate, only to be inexplicably reassigned within days.

Even the Rothschilds, accustomed to employing corporate espionage, faced similar setbacks.

Under the scrutiny of Morgan and Rockefeller, the Rothschilds, at odds with both families, dared not make significant moves in America.

They also feared that approaching Milo might prompt him to ally with Morgan and Rockefeller against them.

But now things were different.

This time, it was the young man himself reaching out to the Rothschilds.

Moreover, prior intelligence suggested that with Milo Blackburn's rise, cracks had begun to form in the Morgan-Rockefeller alliance.

To mend those cracks, the two families were subtly distancing themselves from Blackburn, providing a small opening for the Rothschilds.

Evelyn Rothschild, head of the Austrian branch and Leopold's younger brother, spoke with a smile:

"We’ve all reviewed the reports. His rise is extraordinary, almost fantastical. No one—certainly not our ancestors—has achieved anything like it. Four years. Less than four years! Imagine what could happen in ten, twenty, or even fifty years. What he might accomplish is beyond our imagination."

The others in the room nodded in agreement with Evelyn Rothschild’s assessment.

Evelyn continued, glancing at the intelligence reports and calmly addressing Jacob:

"Jacob, this young man may be young, but he acts with great caution. None of his core companies are publicly traded. Only one media company and an internet enterprise are listed."

"Yet these two companies are under constant scrutiny by all of America."

"Our usual methods are entirely ineffective. Penetrating or controlling him is incredibly difficult—nearly impossible!"

To emphasize his point, Evelyn repeated the word “difficult” twice.

"Evelyn is correct," Leopold chimed in. "Personality analysis indicates he is highly possessive and perpetually vigilant. Such individuals are the hardest to deal with. Our usual tactics won’t work. We must adopt a new approach."

Jacob nodded, his expression turning contemplative.

Jacob managed to convince everyone and became the head of the British branch of the Lothiel family, even rising to the position of global leader across all branches.

Naturally, his abilities are exceptional. He had also considered the points Evelyn and Leopold raised.

“I understand your concerns. Keeping him under control is the ultimate goal. For someone as cautious as him, employing gentle methods will yield better results. This person has a contradictory personality—while extremely cautious, he often enjoys taking significant risks. I don’t believe he can always maintain composure when faced with lucrative opportunities.”

“As long as we seize a single opportunity, everything afterward will be much easier. Don’t forget, we are the pioneers of the financial industry.”

“His rise to power may seem like a dream, but ultimately, it boils down to acquisitions. Through financial maneuvers, he bypassed the slow early stages of corporate development.”

“Since he loves acquisitions, I don’t believe he can resist the influence of Lothiel Bank in the corporate mergers and acquisitions sector.”

At this moment, someone entered the room, interrupting the conversation among the three key members of the Lothiel family.

This person walked straight to Leopold Lothiel and whispered a few words into his ear.

Leopold immediately looked up, a smile spreading across his face.

“My spy on the Rockefeller side has sent a message. Just this evening, David Rockefeller intends to exchange Coca-Cola stocks for shares of Milo Blackburn’s Boston Consortium core enterprises. Previously, their agreement was to use stocks from the Morgan-Rockefeller Alliance Bank for the exchange.”

This piece of information was clearly significant.

Evelyn and Jacob fell into deep thought.

After dismissing the subordinate, Leopold began to speak again. “The situation is clear. Either Blackburn wants Coca-Cola but doesn’t wish to trade his Boston Consortium’s banking and insurance stocks, so he approached us...”

“Or, they’re putting on a show to use Blackburn as a means to contact us, setting a trap against us together.”

“If it’s the former, that’s good news for us.”

“If it’s the latter... well, that’s not entirely bad news either.”

Leopold’s voice softened, “At the very least, it gives us a legitimate opportunity to interact with him. Interaction is the first step toward future opportunities.”

Evelyn and Jacob both nodded.

Jacob decisively concluded, “Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, we’ll meet him together and see what this new American legend is really after.”

Evelyn and Leopold Lothiel nodded in agreement.

---

*The Next Day*

In May, just outside New York City, the Kemp National Golf Club basked in clear weather.

The sky was a deep, gemstone-blue, with a few wisps of clouds floating like sheer veils.

The sun shone brightly, illuminating the vibrant green lawn, which resembled a sprawling, soft carpet.

The golf course stretched gracefully, with sand traps thoughtfully placed. In the distance, lush forests undulated, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze as if whispering secrets.

A pond sparkled under the sunlight, its surface reflecting the vibrant flowers and greenery along the banks.

A gentle breeze carried the earthy fragrance of soil and the fresh scent of grass. Occasionally, birds would dart by, their calls echoing melodiously.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry!”

Kemp was in an exceptionally good mood today and had arrived early at his golf course.

The golden-haired man personally directed the club’s staff and the renowned chefs he had invited from New York’s top restaurants to prepare for his incoming guests.

Earlier that morning, Milo’s secretary had called him.

She mentioned that Milo would arrive late in the morning, bringing some guests to play golf at the Kemp National Golf Club.

This was a familiar situation for Kemp. Whenever Milo came to play golf and Kemp was in or near New York, he would personally accompany him.

Not only did this deepen his relationship with Milo, but Milo’s presence invariably boosted the reputation of the Kemp National Golf Club.

Currently, nearly half of the upper-class clientele who played at the club came because of its association with Milo.

This allowed the club to thrive purely on the business of these elite guests, elevating its exclusivity.

Ordinary people could no longer gain access, and the Kemp National Golf Club had become New York’s premier destination for high-end golf.

Moreover, Milo’s golfing sessions were often opportunities for meetings, socializing, and negotiations.

Anyone Milo deemed important enough to invite for a game of golf was, without exception, a highly valuable connection for Kemp to cultivate.

For example, today.

Milo’s secretary informed Kemp that, besides Milo, the guests included three individuals with the last name Lothiel and their entourage.

At that moment, Kemp, who had been enjoying the company of his model girlfriend, froze instantly.

Lothiel?

The Lothiel?

Indeed, it was that Lothiel.

Without a second thought, Kemp abandoned his girlfriend’s teasing protests, jumped into the bathroom, and immediately began preparing.

He ignored her confusion, showered, changed clothes, and rushed to the club even before it opened.

He meticulously arranged everything and brought in chefs and service teams not typically found at the club.

After all, this was the Lothiel family. Though they might not hold as much sway in America as the Morgans, the Rockefellers, or even the rising Blackburns...

Blackburn was essentially one of their own, and the Morgans and Rockefellers never came to his club anyway.

Jinp naturally wanted to leave a good impression on Loshir. This way, for Milo’s sake, he could establish a connection with Loshir in the future.

This would significantly help raise his family’s status in New York City.

While Jinp was walking around with his assistant, inspecting the arrangements to ensure everything was in order, a secretary approached him and said, “Boss, there’s a convoy arriving, but it’s not Mr. Blackburn’s convoy.”

“We’re closed today. Joe, go ask them to leave,” Jinp said directly.

The secretary nodded and was about to turn away when Jinp reconsidered and quickly added, “Never mind, I’ll handle it myself. If it’s an important guest, it’s better if I personally explain the situation.”

But there was no need for Jinp to ask them to leave.

By the time Jinp arrived, he discovered who had come so early—it was none other than the guests Milo had invited for the day.

Jacob Loshir and his two brothers had arrived.

Upon seeing this, Jinp naturally put on his signature smile and stepped forward to greet them in person.

However, the Loshir brothers didn’t pay much attention to him.

In 1998, even with Milo’s backing and his family wealth doubled or tripled compared to a parallel timeline, Jinp’s worth of a few hundred million dollars was insignificant compared to the Loshir family’s assets of two to three billion dollars.

At that moment, Jinp lacked any social standing, so Jacob and his brothers merely saw him as an ordinary golf club owner.

The only exception was Leopold, who treated Jinp slightly better. This was because Leopold lived in New York and was aware of Jinp’s friendly relationship with Milo. He also knew that one of Jinp’s daughters was pregnant with Milo’s illegitimate child.

It wasn’t until around 10 a.m., after the Loshir brothers had already been at the club for almost an hour, that Milo’s iconic convoy of Cadillac Escalades slowly drove into Jinp’s National Golf Club.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 295: The Forbes Incident

Smack!

As the golf ball was struck hard and sent flying, Milo turned around to face the Rothschilds behind him.

The Rothschild brothers were observing Milo as well, while the smiling Jim was completely ignored by them.

“Gentlemen of the Rothschild family, what’s your first impression of me?” Milo asked with a calm smile, his gaze steady and unruffled.

At that moment, Jacob Rothschild looked like a benevolent old man, exuding an impression of harmlessness. Shaking his head with a smile, he replied,

“Dear Mr. Blackburn, even though I’ve been in Europe, I’ve heard your name for several years now. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“As for my first impression of you—I’d say you are exceptional in every sense. From your appearance to your abilities and talents.”

Milo’s lips curved slightly in a faint smile, and he murmured as if to himself, “Oh? I’ve always thought of myself as ordinary.”

Before Jacob could respond, Milo’s smile vanished. His expression turned serious as he looked directly at Jacob and said,

“Mr. Rothschild, let’s get down to business. I believe my chief advisor has already conveyed my thoughts to you.”

With that, Milo gestured slightly. “I hope you can give me a definitive answer soon.”

His words carried a certain assertiveness, and his gaze was penetrating. After speaking, Milo stood silently, staring at Jacob Rothschild.

Milo had no intention of wasting time with the Rothschild brothers. The initiative was already in their hands.

He wanted to acquire Coca-Cola stock, and to gain an advantage in the negotiations, he had begun crafting the atmosphere from the moment he appeared before the Rothschilds. Now, he had directly brought the matter to the forefront, aiming to take control of the rhythm of the discussion.

Jacob Rothschild, an old hand at negotiations, quickly recognized Milo’s tactics.

He had long known who Milo was. In fact, the world’s major powers had studied this American far more deeply than Milo himself could imagine.

Not just Milo—David and John Chris were also subject to such scrutiny.

The major figures of America’s financial circles had entire teams abroad analyzing their personalities, preferences, and methods of doing business in hopes of gaining even the slightest edge in negotiations.

This was one of the primary reasons why “International Observation” as a field existed.

After all, America was currently so dominant.

Jacob’s trip this time was primarily to leave a good impression on Milo, laying the groundwork for both the short-term and long-term goals of the Rothschild family. Hence, he pretended not to notice Milo’s moves.

With a smile, Jacob Rothschild said, “Mr. Blackburn, we have no real use for Coca-Cola stock. If you’re interested, we’re more than happy to let you have it.”

“Compared to these shares, we believe that your friendship is far more valuable.”

Hearing this, and seeing Jacob Rothschild’s sincere expression, Milo inwardly sneered.

*Friendship?*

How much is that worth?

Sometimes it’s worth billions, but most of the time, it’s not worth a dime.

Believing in such declarations of friendship would leave one clueless when being sold out.

“Oh? Mr. Rothschild, this surprises me. After all, this is Coca-Cola, and even the Rothschild family doesn’t own much of its stock. Are you truly willing to sell these shares for the sake of my friendship?”

Feigning confusion, Milo asked with a playful smile. His tone and expression subtly reminded Jacob Rothschild that they were both smart men—there was no need to pretend.

But often, people choose to feign ignorance despite understanding everything perfectly.

Without missing a beat, Jacob smiled and replied, “Of course, this is genuine. The Rothschild family values your friendship more than Coca-Cola stock.”

“Mr. Rothschild, you overestimate me. Honestly, I didn’t know my friendship had become so valuable,” Milo remarked.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight and gazed into the distance before striding forward with his golf club.

His dismissive attitude made the Rothschild brothers exchange glances, anger simmering in their eyes.

*The arrogant and despicable Anglo barbarian!*

*Just like America itself!*

Jacob Rothschild sighed inwardly, realizing that playing games with Milo was futile.

He understood his family’s plans: trying to manipulate someone as vigilant and combative as Milo was a long and arduous endeavor.

The first step was to lower Milo’s guard, ideally by becoming his friend.

By appearing as a helper and gradually intervening in his affairs, they aimed to strike when Milo least expected it, seizing his business empire in one decisive move.

Over the years, the Rothschild family had encountered many individuals like Milo. They had all eventually fallen, becoming stepping stones for the family’s rise.

This time, however, the difficulty was clearly greater.

But the potential rewards were also immense.

If they succeeded, the Rothschilds might truly reestablish a foothold in America, rather than being cornered and weakened by Morgan and Rockefeller’s combined forces without a clear path to victory.

Gesturing slightly to calm Leopold and Evelyn Rothschild, Jacob followed Milo, speaking from behind him:

“Mr. Blackburn, I understand that earning your trust won’t be easy. So, I won’t say anything unnecessary. I’ll simply state that as long as the price is right, we’re willing to transfer the 15.3% stake in Coca-Cola that we hold to you.”

Jacob noted the moment his words left his mouth.

The arrogant Anglo up ahead finally stopped walking.

Turning back, Milo said, “Two hundred seventy-five billion dollars.”

Jacob froze for a moment, then quickly realized that Milo was naming his price.

*$27.5 Billion Purchase of 15.3% Coca-Cola Shares from the Rothschilds*

At Coca-Cola's current valuation of approximately $150 billion, this purchase price includes a premium of about 20%.

This falls within the range of a normal premium for acquisitions on the market.

Although the Rothschilds are known for their aggressive moves, this deal was ultimately not overly aggressive.

The price is fair.

"OK!" Jacob's response was swift, just like the speed at which this news spread.

Before noon, nearly all major American financial groups—including Morgan and Rockefeller—had received the news:

The Rothschild family sold their 15.3% stake in Coca-Cola to Blackburn for $27.5 billion.

“Wow, what is Milo trying to do? Is he planning to challenge Morgan and Rockefeller?”

*San Francisco, California*

In the Wilson family mansion atop Nob Hill, Milo's older cousin, Edward Johnson, reported the news to his grandfather, Schneider Wilson.

“Doesn't he realize that this move could easily anger Morgan and Rockefeller?”

Edward shook his head. “Morgan and Rockefeller despise the Rothschilds more than anyone. Of all people, why would he align himself with them?”

“Smart move,” Schneider Wilson suddenly interjected, interrupting his grandson and heir.

“Ah?” Edward turned to look at his grandfather.

“Grandfather, what do you mean?”

“What I mean is that Milo is being very clever.”

Before Edward could respond, Schneider Wilson, reclining on his chair and basking in the sunlight, spoke calmly:

“Morgan and Rockefeller are immensely powerful. Combined, they’re a force none of us can contend with, right?”

Edward pondered for a moment and nodded.

Morgan and Rockefeller are, after all, the top two financial powerhouses in America.

When these two collaborate, how could anyone hope to compete with them?

Moreover, groups like Citibank, DuPont, Chicago, and Cleveland have long been shadows of their former selves.

These organizations are either heavily influenced by or outright controlled by Morgan and Rockefeller.

“In this situation, what would happen if Blackburn joined their ranks?”

Another major player like Blackburn…

Edward thought for a moment. It would only make them even more formidable.

It would be like adding a young but strong and still-developing dragon to the army of two monstrous dragons.

“Now, from our perspective, when we face such an alliance, what would we do? Would we surrender?”

That was impossible.

Edward considered this.

Even groups like Citibank, Chicago, DuPont, and Cleveland, which have been parasitized and controlled, haven’t given up their struggle.

They still aspire to reclaim their independence.

As for the independent and healthy financial groups, surrendering isn’t even a consideration.

No one at their level wants to bow down, especially in this elite circle.

If it ever came to a battle with this dragon alliance, the outcome would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.

Surrender is not an option.

Resistance is inevitable.

“Looks like you’ve figured it out.”

Schneider Wilson smiled. “So if Milo continues to align with Morgan and Rockefeller, he’ll inevitably become our enemy.

In fact, during conflicts, Morgan and Rockefeller might even use him as a scapegoat.”

Edward thought about it and realized his grandfather was right.

Returning to the metaphor of dragons:

If two powerful dragons are joined by a younger, less mature dragon, their opponents would naturally target the young dragon first in any confrontation.

Even the older dragons might push the young one forward as cannon fodder.

“So, you’re saying…” Edward looked at his grandfather, “Milo is deliberately distancing himself from Morgan and Rockefeller?”

Schneider Wilson shook his head. “I don’t know, because I’m not David Rockefeller, I’m not John Pierpont Morgan, and I’m certainly not Milo Blackburn.”

“But my dear, the truth doesn’t matter. What’s important is what we can gain from this situation. I hope you understand my point.”

Edward took a deep breath and nodded, even though he still didn’t quite understand.

But he could only pretend that he did.

Seeing this, Schneider Wilson sighed inwardly.

He thought to himself, If only Milo had the last name Wilson, that would’ve been perfect.  

This conversation within the Wilson family was not an isolated case—similar situations were happening in many families.

However, soon after, news broke that Milo had acquired 15.3% of Coca-Cola’s stock.

When this was deliberately leaked to the press by Rothschild, the public’s focus wasn’t on the fact that Milo had “bought” Coca-Cola.

Instead, what grabbed their attention was that this news coincided with the release of Forbes' latest global billionaire rankings.

But unlike last year, this year’s world’s richest person was no longer Milo Blackburn.

Instead, it was a desert tycoon and his family!

Naturally, many people couldn’t help but wonder, What the heck? Milo Blackburn just spent nearly $30 billion to buy Coca-Cola. How is his name missing from the billionaire rankings?  

Last year, he was still the world’s richest man—he couldn’t have fallen off that quickly, right?

After all, he just spent almost $30 billion to buy Coca-Cola.

Plus, his Yahoo company is on the verge of becoming the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Not to mention, Paladin Media’s stock hasn’t dropped at all.

So why is Milo Blackburn suddenly missing from Forbes' billionaire list?

This piqued the curiosity of many readers, including fellow journalists in the media industry.

They flooded Forbes with phone calls and letters, all asking the same question: Why isn’t Milo Blackburn on this year’s billionaire list?

This put Forbes' editorial team in a frenzy—they were frustrated but couldn’t explain.

The truth was, Milo Blackburn’s name was indeed on the original list.

Not only that, but he was also indisputably still the world’s richest man.

However, just before the latest billionaire rankings were published, Steve Forbes—the owner of Forbes Magazine, the president and CEO of Forbes Group, and the editor-in-chief of the magazine—received a phone call.

The caller told him, If names like Rockefeller, Morgan, or Mellon aren’t on the list, then Blackburn’s name shouldn’t be on it either. Otherwise, you’ll have to face the consequences.  

After days of deliberation, Steve Forbes gave in.

He took the risk of undermining Forbes' credibility by removing Milo Blackburn’s name from the latest billionaire rankings.

The timing coincided exactly with the news of Milo acquiring Coca-Cola shares breaking to the public.

This led to a trust crisis for Forbes Magazine.

How could Milo Blackburn—someone who could “buy” Coca-Cola—not be on the list?

The idea that Milo, who could afford Coca-Cola, wasn’t the world’s richest man simply didn’t make sense.

Steve Forbes had no choice.

He ignored the external chaos and pretended he hadn’t received the threatening phone calls or the readers’ letters questioning the omission.

As for “facing the consequences,” that was something Steve Forbes had no desire to risk.

Adding names like Morgan to the list wasn’t an option for him either.

His only choice was to play dead, offend no one, and let readers speculate on their own.

In the United States—a nation where entertainment rules supreme—no news stays sensational for more than a week.

So, not long after, as Hollywood erupted in another scandal, the Forbes controversy was quickly overshadowed.

(End of Chapter)