Chapter 3499: Farming Experience

With Tavana's divine assistance, Bernard Arnault once again topped the front pages of major media worldwide.

More and more people liked him, and consequently grew fonder of his brands, with sales at stores worldwide setting records and profits soaring.

Bernard Arnault was in high spirits; after concluding his meeting with the president, he only arranged to go home for dinner before immediately heading to the airport and boarding a flight to New York.

Since Bernard Arnault was now under global scrutiny, his private jet's takeoff was tracked worldwide via aviation software, revealing its flight path to New York.

New York is the headquarters base of the United Nations.

Thus, the media again launched extensive coverage, reporting that Bernard Arnault had set out for New York to fulfill his promise.

These past two days, Bernard Arnault's fame had surged, placing immense pressure on the U. S. government and Blackwater Company.

Unexpectedly, the prior pressure had found no resolution, and in a blink, this plague god had set off toward America.

Blackwater Company braced for impact, immediately contacting the Pentagon, hoping the Pentagon or White House would intervene to possibly prevent Bernard Arnault's arrival, or if he came, to ensure he did not target Blackwater Company.

The president also found this matter troubling; during his business days, he and Bernard were not close friends but acquaintances, their families being major clients of his brand, though after entering politics they had barely kept in touch; now Bernard Arnault, unyielding, threatened not only Blackwater's reputation and prospects but also America's international image.

Thus, after much thought, he decided to call Bernard Arnault.

At this moment, Bernard Arnault, on the plane, looked back at the receding Paris night sky, his excitement uncontainable, feeling himself like a general on a foreign expedition, ambition and vigor filling his chest, awaiting unrestrained release.

Then, his assistant hurried from the forward cabin with a satellite phone, whispering: "Mr. Arnault, the U. S. president's call."

"The president?" Bernard Arnault frowned slightly, murmuring: "What does he want?"

The assistant shook his head: "Unclear, just heard his assistant say he wanted to speak with you, and he's already on the line."

Bernard Arnault snorted coldly: "Nothing more than wanting me to back down—would I fear him?"

Having said that, he reached out: "Give me the phone."

The assistant handed over the phone, and Bernard Arnault immediately pressed the call button; the previously muted and waiting call instantly connected.

Bernard Arnault spoke calmly: "Hello, Mr. President."

The other end came a somewhat hoarse and lazy voice: "Hey Arnault, long time no see, how have you been lately?"

Bernard Arnault replied with a sneer: "Fine, just nearly lost my life on White Horse Island, but luckily came out unscathed."

The other fell silent for a moment, then said: "Listen, Arnault, I don't want to beat around the bush—I want to be frank. I know your plane has already taken off for New York, but I still urge you to have the pilot turn back or change to a non-U. S. destination—go wherever you like, find a place to relax, slowly let this matter go. What do you think?"

Bernard Arnault refused without hesitation: "I've already made my promise before the world's people; as a responsible gentleman, I will never go back on my word."

The other's tone grew somewhat resentful: "Arnault, you're a businessman, I'm a businessman too—no one understands business better than I do. The essence of business lies in how you earn more profit; how others see you doesn't matter."

Speaking, he directly threw out bait: "If we can reach a deal on this, I can have the commerce department give your group very objective tax relief for the next three years—believe me, Arnault, this could bring you hundreds of millions of dollars; all you need to do is let go of the White Horse Island matter, just leave it be."

"No!" Bernard Arnault declared firmly: "Mr. President, I cannot change my itinerary or decision, and our group will pay taxes normally in the U. S. according to its laws; our profit margin is already quite satisfactory—we don't need tax preferential treatment."

The other, surprised by his ingratitude, immediately grew stern, warning: "Arnault, you know tax rates aren't just sometimes reducible—they can also be raised very high, extremely high!"

"As far as I know, your luxury goods aren't produced in the U. S.; we can impose a very high tariff on you, so high your products would lose all competitiveness in the U. S. —yet all this could be avoided simply by having your plane turn around. Want to make this deal?"

Bernard Arnault's excitement left his mouth unable to close; he couldn't help laughing, saying: "Mr. President……you……you really mean what you say?"

The president assumed he was afraid, after all, a businessman's nature is to seek profit—those top tycoons seem carefree, earning an extra billion just a faint smile, but let them lose ten thousand and they'll immediately start wailing for their parents.

The president naturally felt he had Bernard Arnault's lifeline in hand, so he smiled in a friendly tone: "Bernard, Bernard, Bernard, we've been friends since long ago—I know you, you know me; as long as we cooperate well, I naturally won't treat you this way, you know I've never pointed a gun at friends—but the premise is, you remain my friend."

Bernard Arnault couldn't contain himself, blurting: "Shoot me! Mr. President! Please shoot me! I beg you! If you could give my group a 100% or even 200% tariff increase, that would be perfect—I'd feel genuine gratitude from the heart!"

Bernard Arnault loudly asked himself in his heart: "Is there any cooler way to farm experience than this?"

"Damn, nothing left!"

"Five hundred billion experience points—if earned normally, each point requires Mr. Ye's nod; without Mr. Ye's nod, I can't spend a penny or gain a single experience point."

"But Mr. Ye also said!"

"Because the business losses from this incident can all count as experience points!"

"How can there be losses?"

"I can't very well slash myself twice, can I? If I announce my group's withdrawal from the U. S. market, that year would indeed lose tens of billions of dollars—but if Mr. Ye doesn't acknowledge it, wouldn't that just be pouring water into a sieve?"

"But if the U. S. sanctions me, that's different!"

"All sanctions are losses inflicted by the U. S. on me—surely they can all be booked in Mr. Ye's ledger!"

At this moment, the president could not guess Bernard Arnault's mental activity.

He heard Bernard Arnault begging him on the phone to raise tariffs, and thought this old coot was deliberately saying the opposite to oppose him, so he immediately threatened: "Arnault, don't think I'm joking with you—I can implement this quickly, and it'll take effect formally soon!"

Bernard Arnault asked him: "Soon—how soon exactly?"

The president coldly replied: "Two months, or even less than two months."

Bernard Arnault anxiously said: "Please hurry as much as possible! Can it take effect within a week?"

The president was completely stunned.

What does that mean?

Is he picking a fight, or truly unafraid of death?

He felt insulted, immediately warning: "Arnault, get clear on your current situation—if the policy actually takes effect, then when you come crying to beg me, it'll be useless; in fact, you won't even have the qualification to call me."

Bernard Arnault, somewhat impatient, repeatedly said: "I understand, Mr. President—I hope you can urgently push for the policy to take effect, the faster the better, the stronger the better!"

"What on earth is wrong with your head?" The president was utterly perplexed.

Which tycoon isn't a miser, which tycoon isn't a skinflint? How is Bernard Arnault acting like he doesn't care about money? Did he forgo tens of billions in annual industry just for this bit of fame?

This is just awkward!

The best way to handle the rich is to take their money—this trick never fails him.

But once the rich don't care about money, this really becomes hard to handle.

He could only suppress his anger, skeptically asking: "Arnault, for a bit of empty fame, giving up tens of billions—is it worth it?"

"Worth it, totally worth it!" Bernard Arnault blurted without hesitation: "You may not understand, but I still have to say—money to me now is just excess baggage! I truly don't like money anymore; if the U. S. could give me more penalties and restraints, I'd only feel grateful! Hope U. S. sanctions come out soon! Endless gratitude!"

The president sneered: "I see—you're just bluffing, thinking I dare not push the relevant policies, right?"

Bernard Arnault first showed tension: "No misunderstanding, Mr. President! I'm truly not bluffing—I only beg you to swiftly enact and implement the policy! Still the same line: the faster, the better!"

The president felt a wave of dizziness.

Seeing that his threat had no effect, he could only snap: "Elerno, I don't care what your mindset is, but I can tell you this: you will surely regret your decision today! Not only will I push for the policy to be enacted as soon as possible, but I will also have the Internal Revenue Service conduct a full investigation into your company, hoping your company won't be found with any problems by us!"

Bernard Elerno muttered: "If there really were problems, that would be great..."

"What did you say?!" the president shouted, having heard his muttering, and angrily demanded.

Bernard Elerno also threw caution to the wind, saying seriously: "I say, if you could find problems with me, that would be perfect! Better yet, if you could find some serious issues and hit me with the heaviest fine in history, directly fining me fifty billion US dollars!"