Make France Great Again-Chapter 888 - 879: Haggling Over Every Penny

Facing the aggressive demand by the Paris Northern Industrial Group to monopolize the mining rights for the entire Gabon region, Jerome Patterson equally forcefully opposed Eugene Galin, the representative of the Northern Industrial Group stationed in Gabon.

"Mr. Galin, it’s unfortunate! The Governor’s Mansion cannot agree to your terms! We are only willing to sell a mine near the Enthuya Tribe!

As for acquiring the mining rights for all manganese mines in the Gabon region, the Governor’s Mansion has no intention to sell!" Jerome Patterson responded to Eugene Galin with a smile, his tone unhurried and composed.

After hearing Jerome Patterson’s remarks, Eugene Galin showed a stunned expression. After a while, he couldn’t help but say to Jerome Patterson, "Governor Jerome Patterson, surely, as a member of the Bonaparte Clan, you are aware of who stands behind our Northern Industrial Group!"

"Are you threatening me!" Jerome Patterson’s smile faded, and he looked at Eugene Galin expressionlessly, his tone turning particularly cold.

Eugene Galin immediately realized his mistake, as most of the people he usually dealt with were politicians.

Those politicians, upon hearing the name of the Paris Northern Industrial Group, would give money if money was asked, people if people were asked.

This led to an arrogant mentality within the Paris Northern Industrial Group, with most of its mid-to-high-level executives generally adopting a mindset of "my backing is the Emperor, I fear no one" when dealing with collaborators and competitors.

As the group expanded in scale, some bad practices took root and grew within its ranks.

Now, they brought this mentality into the Governor’s Mansion of Gabon, bringing it upon the head of Jerome Patterson, the Emperor’s nephew, akin to lighting a lamp in an outhouse—to look for trouble (or worse).

"No dare!" Eugene Galin quickly stood up, bowed, and admitted his mistake to Jerome Patterson, "Governor, I misspoke earlier! Please forgive me!"

"Misspoke?" Jerome Patterson flashed a cold smile again, and continued, "I do not think this is just a simple misspeak!"

As Jerome Patterson spoke, he pointed at the chair beneath him, "If it were an ordinary governor sitting here instead of me, you probably wouldn’t apologize like this, would you!

After all, your Northern Industrial Group is such a big corporation! How could it possibly apologize to a mere governor!"

Jerome Patterson’s sarcastic tone made Eugene Galin feel somewhat unbearable.

He, who is usually flattered, had never been subjected to such sarcasm.

If it were someone else sitting opposite him instead of Jerome Patterson, he would definitely make the other party suffer.

Unfortunately, the person opposite him is Jerome Patterson, so he could only accept it obediently.

"Governor, you are very right in your criticism!" Eugene Galin obediently accepted the criticism and admitted his mistakes, "I indeed have been arrogant, and I will certainly correct my shortcomings in the future!"

Jerome Patterson merely smiled; he did not believe that Eugene Galin would honestly accept criticism.

However, at the moment, he didn’t want to dwell on these matters; he merely wanted to discuss the manganese mining issue with Eugene Galin.

"Let’s not talk about this anymore!" Jerome Patterson said to Eugene Galin, "I want to know, how much is your Northern Industrial Group willing to pay to purchase this iron mine from the Governor’s Mansion?"

After thinking for a moment, Eugene Galin responded to Jerome Patterson, "Governor, we originally intended to offer 5 million francs to buy the mining rights to the entire Gabon region’s manganese mines!

Since you’re unwilling to sell, we are willing to offer 500,000 francs to buy the mining rights to that manganese mine!

What do you think of this offer?"

"From 5 million to 500,000, isn’t that price reduction a bit too drastic from your company! Does your company think there are 10 high-quality manganese mines in the Gabon region?" Jerome Patterson retorted.

Of course, Jerome Patterson did not know that the Gabon region produced even more manganese mines than he mentioned.

"Governor! If you are willing to sell all the mining rights for manganese mines in the Gabon region to us, we are still willing to pay 5 million francs or even a higher price!" Eugene Galin argued, "But if you are just selling one manganese mine, we naturally cannot agree to your request.

If within a year, another manganese mine is discovered, wouldn’t we suffer a great loss!"

"Suffer a great loss?" Jerome Patterson shook his head and said to Eugene Galin, "Before long, all the blast furnaces in Europe will need to import large quantities of manganese ores, and Europe’s manganese mine production has always been low!

Are they not going to import from you? In my opinion, you are going to make a fortune in the future!"

"Governor, that’s not how the math works!" Eugene Galin complained again, "Purchasing machines requires money! Transportation costs money! Hiring people also costs money! Where do these costs come from, if not from our own pockets!

You’re only looking at the money we made in the early stages, but haven’t considered our preliminary losses!

Not to mention, the mine is about ten kilometers from the riverbank, which means we have to lay rail tracks and purchase locomotives... all of these require money!"

"We don’t need to import sleepers from France; we have plenty of timber here! All your company needs to do is set up a lumber processing market here, and that’s it!" Jerome Patterson squinted at Eugene Galin, saying, "This can save a large sum of money!

Moreover, those processed timbers could be transported back to France!

Also, the manpower cost here is much cheaper than in France, and the price of processing timber is far lower than in France!"

Eugene Galin naturally understood what Jerome Patterson meant by "cheap labor," and he responded to Jerome Patterson in a low voice: "Governor, according to the French constitution! Our company cannot use slave labor!"

"Mr. Eugene Galin, our nation indeed prohibits the use of slaves, but our laws cannot restrain the tribes in the Gabon Region!

If the tribal leader is willing to set up a third-party company and sign a work agreement with your enterprise, then those who work for your company would not be affiliated with your company! This way, you wouldn’t bear any responsibility!

You just need to pay the tribal leader, and the rest is up to the tribal leader," Jerome Patterson righteously said to Eugene Galin.

After listening to Jerome Patterson, Eugene Galin’s lips subtly formed a wry smile.

If they followed Jerome Patterson’s assertion, they indeed avoided risks.

But their initial investment wouldn’t be small, which is quite different from the task assigned by the headquarters when he came.

"Governor, let’s first discuss the manganese mine issue!" Eugene Galin suggested to Jerome Patterson, "We are willing to invest 600,000 francs to purchase the mining rights under the Governor’s Mansion!"

"600,000 francs plus 10% net profit!" Jerome Patterson said to Eugene Galin.

"Impossible!" Eugene Galin decisively rejected Jerome Patterson’s suggestion, "Governor, you know 10% profit is quite a substantial figure!"

"Mr. Galin, didn’t you say earlier that manganese wasn’t valuable! How come you now admit it’s a significant figure!" Jerome Patterson’s lips curled into a smile, his tone slightly teasing as he inquired.

"This..." Eugene Galin fell silent again, and after a while, he spoke: "Governor, we also need to expand the market, and expanding the market requires money!"

"Then let me concede 2%, making it an 8% profit! I also promise that should a new manganese mine be discovered, Paris Northern Industrial Group will have the priority purchase rights!" Jerome Patterson offered Eugene Galin a step back.

After contemplating for a while, Eugene Galin gritted his teeth and said to Jerome Patterson: "Governor, my maximum limit to offer you is a 6% profit plus 500,000 francs!"

"Alright! I’ll step back again! 550,000 francs plus 6% profit; if it works, it works! If not, I’ll find another company!" Jerome Patterson resolutely said to Eugene Galin.

"Deal!" Eugene Galin finally agreed to Jerome Patterson’s terms.

Because Jerome Patterson is the Emperor’s nephew, if it were anyone else, he definitely wouldn’t show them any courtesy.

"Pleasure doing business!" Jerome Patterson extended his hand to Eugene Galin.

"Pleasure doing business!" Eugene Galin shook hands with Jerome Patterson, then added: "Governor, if I may be frank! Your talent should lie in commerce rather than here! You are truly an outstanding businessman!"

"You flatter me!" Jerome Patterson modestly said, aware that his success merely stemmed from having a good uncle, "By the way! Regarding the lumber processing factory I mentioned earlier, do you want to reconsider?"

"Governor, with your strong recommendation! How dare I not comply!" Eugene Galin replied to Jerome Patrin.

After Eugene Galin departed, Rastigne appeared in Jerome Patterson’s office.

"Governor, how did your conversation with the Northern Industrial Group go?" Rastigne curiously asked Jerome Patterson.

"550,000 francs plus 6% profit!" Jerome Patterson calmly replied.

"Gasp!" Rastigne’s face showed a surprised expression, "Governor, only you could secure such generous terms!"

"It’s nothing!" Jerome Patterson shook his head, saying to Rastigne, "However, I must inform His Majesty the Emperor about these matters with Paris Northern Industry! If not addressed soon, there could be serious trouble!"