268-269

Chapter 268: Using a U.S. Submarine to Transport Treasure

"Hehe, I understand. Take care of yourself and make sure to rest properly. We’ll talk more when I’m back in the U.S. Alright, that’s it for now. I have a meeting to attend soon. Bye."

Milo hung up the phone with a faint smile, shaking his head slightly.

He had just been chatting with Monica, who was far away in Malibu, California.

Monica had been off the grid for over six months due to her pregnancy, and now there were only two or three months left until her due date.

Perhaps because she was in the later stages of pregnancy, her mood had been somewhat irritable.

Lately, she called Milo almost every day.

When it came to the women carrying his children—or the mothers of his kids—Milo was surprisingly patient. He didn’t mind spending some time comforting them.

After all, if not for the women’s sake, then at least for the sake of the children.

Milo valued his offspring.

After ending one call, he would find another number and dial again.

Such was the inconvenience of having many women in his life.

Daily reassurance calls were necessary. And then there were women like his sister-in-law Hailey and his fiancée Ariana, who hadn’t seen him in days. Sweet-talking them was essential.

Hailey was easier to deal with; she was busy with work and had little Paladin to keep her company. Though she wasn’t exactly thrilled about Milo’s prolonged absence, she wasn’t overly upset either.

Ariana, on the other hand, wasn’t so easygoing.

Milo had a headache just thinking about it.

In the end, he resorted to threatening her: if she kept making a fuss, he’d come back and make sure she got pregnant too.

Ariana had pretended not to care, even teasing him back, but she seemed a bit unsettled.

The others were much easier to pacify.

Women like Sophie, who had already given birth, or Zeta-Jones didn’t even need daily calls.

Two hours later, Milo finally wrapped up his daily check-ins.

By this point, his expression was one of exasperated amusement.

What could he do? His “smaller head” wanted to enjoy the pleasures of life, to experience a variety of joys.

And his greedy heart, not content with physical satisfaction, craved a piece of their affection too.

This naturally came at a price—mental exhaustion. Still, Milo couldn’t help but feel proud when he thought of how many "goddesses" he had conquered.

Be it lovers fulfilling mutual needs or companions for fun, they were all just markers of his success—glittering gems on the crown of his accomplishments.

This was the life Milo had always dreamed of, deep in the recesses of his heart.

As a man who had “made it,” he believed he had both the right and the means to enjoy more resources and live life on his terms.

He relished the freedom his wealth granted him, soaking in everything it afforded—luxury cars, beautiful women, sprawling mansions, and yachts.

Wasn’t this the ultimate goal for countless office workers burning the midnight oil and laborers toiling on the frontlines?

But what happens after reaching such heights?

When all restraints and limitations fall away?

When wealth grants the power to rise above the law?

When endless partying still leaves one’s fortune growing stronger?

Milo had asked himself these questions many times. What comes next? What kind of life does one pursue?

Whether he worked or didn’t, his wealth would keep growing. Whether he disciplined himself or not, life remained fleeting.

No one could control him anymore.

He could ignore all rules and do whatever he pleased.

Unrestrained self-indulgence revealed a person’s true nature.

Would he end up like the Wall Street elites, who controlled 99% of America’s wealth, spending their days high on drugs and lost in hedonism?

Or would he recklessly burn through his time, fortune, and life with a devil-may-care attitude?

He had been lost at times, unsure of what kind of life to lead.

No matter how much he indulged, his wealth would quietly grow while he invested effort into his many women.

Thankfully, a part of his soul still carried the grounding influence of his humble beginnings.

This served as a shackle, a chain keeping him from falling into the inhuman depths where other elites often descended.

After all, Milo didn’t just crave wealth itself. He sought the unshakable freedom it provided.

One of Milo’s favorite quotes came from Thomas Hobbes. It helped him confront his own desires and the truth of human nature:

"Most people’s primal instincts are merely suppressed by society, laws, and moral constructs imposed upon them. Deep down, the dark and foreboding nature of humanity desires unrestrained, absolute decadence. Even the terms ‘decadence’ and ‘depravity’ are modern constructs—biases rooted in our language and understanding."

“Buzzz... Ding—”

The ringtone of his primary phone broke his train of thought.

Milo sighed in relief when he glanced at the screen.

It wasn’t another woman—it was his father, Joseph, calling.

“Good morning, Dad.”

“It’s evening here in Washington.”

“Well, it’s morning here in Asia.”

“You need to use a submarine?”

The conversation was direct and to the point, as most father-son talks tend to be. Milo’s phone calls with his father Joseph were always briefer than those with his grandfather, Old Blackburn.

Joseph seemed just as curt with Milo as he was with Old Blackburn.

Perhaps father-son relationships are the same worldwide.

Maybe when Milo’s kids grow up, Joseph will show a softer, more familial side as a grandfather.

“Yes,” Milo replied casually. “My people told me the Indians are conducting strict inspections lately. After thinking about it, the best way to move those treasures back to the U.S. without getting caught is via a submarine—something the Indians can’t detect.”

“But you realize,” Joseph said, “if the Indians discover a U.S. submarine in their territorial waters, it could spark an international incident—or even a war.”

"Come on, Dad," Milo said nonchalantly. "Are you trying to say that the Indians, upon discovering an American submarine in their waters without prior notification, would declare war on the United States?"

There was a brief silence on Joseph's end.

Clearly, he realized he couldn’t fool his son.

He spoke directly, "Then just tell me—how much is there to warrant using a submarine to bring it back?"

"A lot, more than you'd expect, dear father," Milo replied casually. "Let me put it this way: if I can bring everything back, even without me, the Blackburn family’s assets could instantly double or triple in value."

"That much?!"

Joseph was visibly shocked.

"That much," Milo confirmed.

At that moment, Milo was discussing with his father, Joseph, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, a matter of great importance. He wanted his father to use his influence to deploy a few U.S. submarines to quietly approach Indian waters. The mission? To help Milo transport treasures he had obtained from an Indian temple back to the United States.

Yes, Milo had been working on this operation for nearly a year—unearthing the treasure of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, India.

In his past life, Milo had only read a few online novels and news articles about the temple’s treasure, so he wasn’t entirely certain whether it existed. At first, he dispatched a small team to investigate.

When the team found some clues, Milo gradually sent more personnel to explore deeper. Eventually, they discovered that the Padmanabhaswamy Temple indeed contained an astronomical amount of gold and jewels!

However, Milo remembered that, in later years, Indian news reports claimed the treasure was worth only around two to three billion dollars.

The reality, as it stood now, was far beyond that figure.

Based on intelligence from his team, Milo estimated that the gold alone could fetch 20 to 30 billion dollars on the market.

Not to mention the vast collection of jewels, gemstones, and antiques with significant historical value.

The claim that the Blackburn family’s wealth could triple might have been a slight exaggeration, but the treasure was undoubtedly worth over a hundred billion dollars.

So why did Indian news only report two to three billion dollars? Milo speculated that either the Indian government had suppressed the truth to keep the actual value a secret, or influential figures had already claimed the majority of the treasure, leaving just a fraction to be officially accounted for.

Knowing the boastful nature of the Indian populace, Milo believed the latter was more likely. If the real value had been publicly known, they would have proudly showcased the treasure.

Had this happened in the United States, Milo figured it would have been no different—perhaps even worse. American elites might have completely suppressed the news and divided the spoils among themselves.

But now, thanks to foresight, courage, and meticulous planning, Milo had located the treasure in advance.

The only remaining challenge was how to quietly smuggle it out without alerting the Indians.

Since the temple was not far from the coast, Milo planned to transport the treasure by land to the shore in small increments. From there, it would be loaded onto a ship, and U.S. military submarines or vessels would take it out of Indian waters.

Using military resources for personal matters? That was hardly uncommon in the U.S. military.

With his father as Secretary of Defense, Milo felt no guilt about it. After all, the treasure would likely form the backbone of the Blackburn family’s fortune in the future, and the entire family stood to benefit.

After Milo shared the estimated value of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple treasure, he could hear his father take several deep breaths over the phone.

"Tell me your plan," Joseph said.

Milo explained his idea.

"Too crude. There's still a risk of being discovered," Joseph replied after hearing it. "Hand over command of your contacts there to me. I'll make sure everything is brought back safely."

"I trust you, Dad," Milo said with a grin. "I’ll send you an email with the details shortly."

"Okay," Joseph agreed. After a brief pause, he added, "In a few weeks, you'll see it all in Plymouth."

With that, he hung up.

Milo shrugged and set his phone down.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the study door.

"Come in," Milo called out.

The door opened, and Sumitomo Junko and her mother, Kudo Hime, entered, both dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos.

"Lunch is ready, husband. Are you hungry? Would you like to eat here or in the dining room?" Junko asked.

Milo realized he had spent quite a bit of time on the phone.

He stood up and walked toward the mother and daughter, saying, "Let’s eat in the dining room. How is Milo Jr.?"

"The nanny is feeding him lunch," Junko replied.

"Can I eat with him? I mean, eat beside him," Milo asked.

"Of course."

Milo suspected he might be slightly biased in favor of boys. He noticed he had a particular soft spot for his son, little Paladin, who was born to his sister-in-law.

Milo, the son of Sumitomo Junko, was someone he liked quite a bit.

Especially Milo—because aside from his facial contours and eyes, which revealed his mixed-race heritage, his overall appearance leaned more toward that of an Asian.

This resemblance easily reminded him of his past life's identity.

As a result, he had a special fondness for this mixed-race child.

After having lunch with his son, Milo didn’t stay in Sumitomo Junko’s luxurious high-rise office apartment in Tokyo’s Minato Ward for the rest of the afternoon.

It was his second day in Tokyo, and tomorrow marked the first stop in Asia for Yahoo's IPO roadshow.

Since he was already here, as one of America’s top elites—practically royalty—and one of the "Emperors" in Japan's social hierarchy, he felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to just hole up in a woman’s house playing the shut-in.

Though, to be fair, some of Japan’s local bigwigs probably wished he would.

At least that way, he wouldn’t cause another commotion like the one two years ago, which had Tokyo in utter chaos and almost scared the living daylights out of Japan’s elite.

After all, this guy had actually detonated a bomb on himself back then.

To be honest, if someone of Milo Blackburn's stature were to meet with any kind of accident in Tokyo, the ones who’d be most worried wouldn’t be Americans—it’d be the local big shots of Tokyo.

So if they had their way, Tokyo's elite would much prefer Milo Blackburn stay home and keep to himself.

Seriously—just don’t come out and scare anyone.

But of course, Milo wasn’t about to let them get their wish. The moment he stepped out in the afternoon, he left Tokyo altogether and headed straight to Osaka.

This sudden move caused quite a stir among the Tokyo elites monitoring him. They were all wondering why he’d gone to Osaka and growing anxious about the possibility of him mingling with the Kansai locals.

Eventually, word got around that Milo had gone to Osaka to check on Universal Studios Japan, which had been operating in Osaka for over four years. Only then did they breathe a small sigh of relief.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 269: Universal Studios Osaka*

In 1982, Disney built a theme park in Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, located east of Tokyo.

Ten years later, five years after acquiring Universal Pictures, Matsushita spearheaded the construction of Japan's first Universal Studios in Osaka, on the site of an old amusement park.

However, before it was fully completed, Japan’s economic bubble burst.

The project, initially estimated to cost 500 billion yen, saw its budget drastically slashed to less than 100 billion yen.

As a result, Osaka's Universal Studios became Universal in name only.

While it operated under Universal Pictures’ license, it was nowhere near the scale of the parks in the United States.

When Milo later acquired Universal, the Japanese lost even more interest in managing the Osaka park.

In an alternate timeline, it wasn’t until 1998—when NBC acquired Universal—that they invested in rebuilding the park.

Even then, NBC didn’t fund the project directly but relied on various loans and financing channels.

The new Osaka Universal Studios didn’t open until 2001. Initially, it was a major success, attracting millions of visitors in its first year.

But within a few years, the park faced operational challenges, struggling to regain its early momentum.

That, however, belongs to the parallel timeline.

Much like Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood, the Osaka park is now undergoing reconstruction.

This is even outlined in this year’s Paladin Media Group IPO prospectus.

The prospectus details a $20 billion fundraising effort, most of which will be allocated to overseas operations, including $3 billion earmarked for expanding and rebuilding Osaka’s Universal Studios.

However, Paladin Media only went public a little over six months ago.

Thus, the reconstruction of Osaka’s Universal Studios is still in the design and planning phase, with themes and concepts under development.

At this moment, nestled in a quiet mountain setting at the foot of Mount Katsuragi in Osaka, lies a secluded hot spring inn.

Milo, during his visit to Osaka, had this retreat reserved by Akira Matsumoto, who carefully selected it based on Milo Blackburn’s preferences.

Akira Matsumoto is Paladin Media’s main representative in Japan and oversees the reconstruction of Osaka’s Universal Studios.

Essentially, he serves as Paladin Media’s top executive in Japan.

However, due to the presence of Junko Sumitomo and Andy Blackburn, Matsumoto often has to consult with or rely on Junko for assistance in many matters.

This makes his title as the head of Paladin Media in Japan somewhat nominal.

After all, Junko Sumitomo is not only Milo’s companion but also a member of the Sumitomo zaibatsu.

Her mother even comes from the prestigious Kujo family.

In a society like Japan, which highly values lineage and heritage, Junko’s status is unparalleled.

Matsumoto, on the other hand, comes from a modest background. Unless directly instructed by headquarters, he naturally follows Junko’s lead.

Moreover, Paladin Media’s investments in Japan are mostly joint ventures with Sumitomo United Entertainment Group, further reducing Matsumoto’s decision-making authority.

Now that Milo has left Tokyo and arrived in Osaka—Matsumoto’s home turf—he is enthusiastically catering to his boss.

The hot spring Matsumoto found for Milo is known in Japan as a hitou—a secluded and exclusive spring.

Nestled in the wilderness, it offers breathtaking views of the changing seasons and a chance to savor authentic mountain delicacies prepared from locally sourced ingredients.

The inn Matsumoto reserved is a traditional Japanese-style structure with 16 luxurious tatami rooms, perfectly accommodating Milo and his entourage.

Milo admired the cedarwood-crafted hot spring, surrounded by dense forest. Beyond the treetops, he could glimpse the ocean, and the open-air bath felt as though it floated amidst the forest, offering a truly stunning view.

“Hidden in the mountains, surrounded by streams and forests, it offers the purest connection to nature. I’m very pleased,” Milo remarked with a satisfied smile.

“Whether at dawn or dusk, whether bathing in the morning dew of the courtyard or gazing at the distant mountains and rivers, this tranquil space always allows one to quiet the mind, converse with nature, and listen to the gentle songs of the mountain spirits,” added Takako Tokiwa.

Takako Tokiwa was one of the Japanese TV stars Junko Sumitomo had arranged to entertain Milo during his first visit to Japan.

This time, as Milo visited Osaka, Junko didn’t accompany him due to work commitments and her responsibilities with Andy.

Instead, she reassembled the group of five actresses, including Tokiwa, to accompany and attend to Milo.

Since serving Milo during his previous visit, all five had joined Sumitomo United Media Group under Junko’s wing.

As everyone knows, Junko herself has powerful backing.

This elevated the actresses’ status in Japan’s entertainment industry, shielding them from the unspoken and explicit rules of the industry and earning them envy from peers.

They became known as “untouchable women” or even “the women of the heavenly dragons” among industry insiders.

Serving Milo had, in their view, been a turning point, giving them the most comfortable and carefree period of their careers.

So when Junko sent them to attend to Milo again, they were genuinely delighted, seeing it as another opportunity to solidify their status.

The group included Takako Tokiwa, Nanako Matsushima, Masami Nagasawa, Norika Fujiwara, and Noriko Sakai.

Though all were soaking in the hot springs, they wore traditional kimonos due to Matsumoto’s presence, maintaining a conservative appearance despite his lowered gaze and reluctance to look directly at them.

Milo had arrived in the afternoon, and by now, it was evening. After an earlier vigorous activity with the actresses, he was feeling hungry and asked for dinner to be prepared.

Since he was in Japan, he opted for traditional Japanese cuisine.

Japanese cuisine emphasizes natural colors, fresh flavors, diverse presentation, and exquisite tableware, with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients and preparation methods.

In the tatami room of the inn, each guest sat before a black lacquered table adorned with an array of dishes served in various bowls and plates.

---

"…Actually, if you want to try authentic Osaka cuisine, you should visit Dotonbori, the birthplace of Osaka's food culture. There, you'll find countless signature restaurants and a dazzling array of delicacies," Tokiwadakako said gracefully as she set down her chopsticks. Her eyes twinkled as she watched Milo finish his sake, offered humbly by Matsumoto Akira, and smiled charmingly.

She was a native of Osaka.

In some ways, she was like a local host and was one of the first to serve Milo.

It seemed Milo favored her the most, so within this group of five, she was considered the leader. She often took the liberty of speaking up at the right moments to lighten the mood.

“Oh? If I have time, I’ll definitely go take a look,” Milo said with a nod to Matsumoto Akira, who had just refilled his glass. Then, turning to Tokiwadakako, he smiled warmly.

At 25 years old, Tokiwadakako was in the prime of her life. She exuded the unique gentleness and tolerance of an East Asian beauty, while also carrying the quintessential charm of a Japanese woman.

Milo found her quite appealing.

“Miss Tokiwadakako is absolutely right. Dotonbori is indeed a haven for food lovers,” Matsumoto Akira chimed in, smiling courteously.

No matter how much time passed, Milo couldn’t shake the peculiar impression Japanese people gave him when they spoke.

Especially when it came to their English proficiency, which was infamous worldwide.

Not only could Milo barely understand them, but sometimes they couldn’t even understand each other.

Perhaps that was why Junko insisted on giving Andy an English-speaking environment from the start—to avoid him learning Japanese first and picking up that distinct Japanese-English accent when transitioning to English.

Fortunately, Matsumoto Akira, the person Milo hired, had experience working in the United States. His English was relatively fluent, sparing Milo the hassle of relying solely on guesswork and hand gestures to communicate.

Milo nodded thoughtfully and then turned to Matsumoto Akira, who had returned to his seat.

“How’s the plan for rebuilding the studio coming along? Have the local surveys been completed? Honestly, if it’s not feasible, I’m considering moving the studio closer to the Tokyo area,” Milo said bluntly.

He never beat around the bush with his subordinates and always got straight to the point.

Matsumoto Akira immediately sat up straight, his expression turning serious as he replied, “Boss, the proposal is ready. As for moving to Tokyo, of course, it’s entirely your decision. However, I do have a suggestion—if you’d be willing to hear it?”

“Hmm, go ahead. After all, you’re the one in charge locally,” Milo said, gesturing for him to speak.

“Understood!”

Matsumoto Akira instinctively bowed slightly in acknowledgment, then relaxed his posture a bit while maintaining a serious demeanor. “Boss, are you familiar with the Kansai-Kanto rivalry in Japan?”

Milo nodded. “I’ve heard a little about it.”

In Japan, Kansai refers to historical cities like Kyoto, while Kanto represents the modern urban cluster centered around Tokyo.

Before the Meiji Restoration and the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, Kyoto was Japan’s political center. It wasn’t until later that Tokyo took on that role.

Interestingly, in 1956, Japan passed legislation abolishing Tokyo’s exclusive status as the capital. So, technically, Japan doesn’t have a legally defined capital to this day.

Kyoto residents tend to look down on Tokyoites, considering them upstarts and opportunists.

Tokyo residents, in turn, disdain Kyotoites, seeing them as outdated relics of history.

This cultural divide, known as the Kansai-Kanto rivalry, has persisted for over a thousand years.

Even today, this rivalry extends to peculiar aspects like electrical power. Kansai and Kanto regions use different voltage frequencies.

For example, if Kansai experiences a power shortage, Kanto might have a surplus and be willing to help, but it wouldn’t matter—their electrical systems are incompatible.

Because of this, even household appliances from these two regions are often incompatible.

“My suggestion ties directly to this unique form of regional discrimination in Japan,” Matsumoto Akira explained. “Since Disney is located in the Tokyo area, many Kansai residents feel a sense of shame and believe Kansai should have an international theme park to compete with Disneyland.”

“That’s precisely why, five years ago, when Panasonic spearheaded the Universal Studios project, they chose Osaka over the Tokyo area,” he continued.

“By placing Universal Studios in Osaka, both local corporations and the Osaka government, along with its residents, were willing to offer substantial support and incentives.”

“For instance, land acquisition. If you chose Tokyo, you’d have to purchase land at market prices. But in Osaka, the local government is willing to provide land to Universal Studios for just one-tenth of the market price.”

“That alone could save us $200 to $300 million.”

“Additionally, there are loan incentives. Kansai banks are willing to provide interest-free loans—at least 300 billion yen for a five-year term.”

“So, if Universal Studios is built in Osaka, these various forms of support could save us roughly $500 to $600 million in construction costs.”

After listening, Milo nodded slightly.

Saving $500 to $600 million was no small matter.

It was no wonder that in the previous timeline, NBC ultimately chose Osaka for Universal Studios.

Five or six hundred million dollars… Even Hollywood's "Big Eight" can’t make that much in a year.

The Kansai people are really willing to go all out to compete with the Kanto region.

"But we can’t just focus on the costs. We need to consider sources of profit," Milo said.

“As far as I know, the population of Neon’s Tokyo Metropolis exceeds 100 million, accounting for the vast majority of your country’s population and economy. Considering this, wouldn’t it be better to place Universal Studios on the eastern side of Tokyo?”

Matsumoto Akira responded almost immediately, without much hesitation:

“I’ve thought about that too. But to answer this question, words and beliefs alone aren’t enough. I still believe that numbers and data are the most honest tools. Every phenomenon in the world can be calculated with numbers.”

“These past few months, I’ve had my staff hit the streets to conduct consumer surveys. Based on the results and my own mathematical reasoning, I’m confident that Universal Studios Osaka has the potential to attract 10 million visitors annually.”

“This figure isn’t inferior to Tokyo’s Disneyland. And I didn’t gather this data solely from Osaka and the Kansai region.”

“Half of the data comes from Tokyo itself. A significant number of ordinary people surveyed there said they would be willing to visit Osaka if it had an international-level theme park like this.”

“After all, traveling from Tokyo to Osaka takes just a two-hour flight. Plane tickets cost less than 3,000 yen, which most families can afford.”

Milo nodded, recalling the Osaka Universal Studios rebuilt by NBC.

In the early days, when business was booming, it did indeed record tens of millions of annual visitors.

Later, business declined, but that was because Universal Studios itself failed to maintain quality content, disappointing its guests.

“Alright, you’ve convinced me. Let’s build Universal Studios here in Osaka,” Milo said with a nod.

In reality, even if Matsumoto Akira hadn’t made his case, Paladin Media’s original plan was to construct Universal Studios in Osaka.

(End of Chapter)