INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

"I informed him that my family intends to finance the entire project ourselves," William explained and looked at Delmar who had widened his eyes.

"And he agreed?" Delmar asked, his voice laced with skepticism. He couldn't believe that a guy like Edward would give something so huge to William without any relation.

William nodded. "Yes, he did."

"But why? That seems like a reckless decision," Delmar remarked, causing William to furrow his brow in confusion. "Why would that be a bad move for him?"

"Because if he allows you to bankroll the whole project, you'll be the only one besides him who stands to gain once something of value is discovered. On the other hand, if he involved others, they would have contributed financially, mitigating the risk for everyone if things went awry. Plus, any returns would be distributed among the investors."

"Not to mention, Edward could have fortified his relationships with them too… which he probably already has," Delmar added thoughtfully.

William considered Delmar's words, piecing things together until he finally grasped why Edward might have accepted the deal. "Ah!... So that's why he agreed."

"Oh… you've figured it out?" Delmar asked, curious.

William hesitated. "I'm not entirely certain, but I suspect it's related to the budget."

'And also the fact that I passed his mental test?'

"How much did he ask for?" Delmar inquired, his interest piqued.

"Well, for now, he's requesting $550 billion. But as time progresses, I might have to allocate even more funds if he believes he's on the verge of a breakthrough or anticipates further discoveries."

Delmar paused, pondering. "$550 billion… that's a huge sum, but," he paused and gazed at William with a contemplative look, "it's evidently not enough to dissuade the other families. If they had been involved as they should have been, I'm confident the funds would have sufficed to sustain the project and perhaps even exceed expectations."

"So what's the catch?" Delmar asked, sensing there was more to it.

"Remember how I mentioned he might need additional funds down the road?" William said, and Delmar nodded. "Yeah, what about that?"

"Well… the amount he might eventually require— or what he's estimated— could escalate to $5 trillion," William disclosed.

Delmar fell silent, digesting the enormity of the figure. "$5 trillion…?"

"Yeah, and it could be even more if unforeseen complications happen," William affirmed.

"And you agreed to this?" Delmar asked, almost in disbelief.

William nodded.

Delmar was rendered speechless, his eyes fixating on William's as if searching for signs of sanity. Finally, he spoke, "I know this is blunt, but I have to say it, Boss… Are you out of your mind?"

William sighed, bracing for this reaction. He had anticipated such a response from Delmar but needed him to understand and back his decision.

"I'm aware it's an immense amount, but consider the potential benefits," William reasoned.

"What benefits?" Delmar asked, his skepticism undiminished.

"By striking this deal, I can establish a connection with the head of a prominent house. That alone is a considerable advantage."

"What sort of advantage? Knowing some influential, wealthy figure? It's not as if this deal will make him your best friend or anything. At most, he'll just be slightly more than an acquaintance."

'No, it won't make him my best friend,' William mused, 'But it will definitely make him a valuable ally.' He then said aloud, "There's more to it than that."

"What else?"

"He won't just be a close associate; his reputation and influence will attract more clients to my banking services."

"Yeah, that's true," Delmar conceded, but his expression quickly darkened. "But still… $5 trillion is an exorbitant sum. Do you even possess that much?"

"Yes, I do. And rest assured, it won't deplete my reserves. I have ample funds left before I'd ever have to worry about bankruptcy," William said, reclining in his chair with an air of confidence.

Delmar remained skeptical, but William's unwavering demeanor compelled him to ask, "Boss… If you don't mind me asking, is all this money legal?"

William scrutinized him warily. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just… it's an extraordinary amount of money, and I don't see you having any other legitimate enterprises besides the ones I manage. Also, none of your businesses seem lucrative enough that you wouldn't feel the sting of investing $5 trillion in something that could completely collapse."

"Alright… and what if I told you that all of this money is illegal? What then?" William asked, his gaze penetrating Delmar's as he mentally calculated his next move.

"Then I'd have to ask if you have a strategy to legitimize it. Because if you're moving this much capital without legal cover, and the authorities or military get wind of it, you can kiss your life goodbye."

William lapsed into silence, reflecting on Delmar's words. He realized that everything Delmar had said was, in fact, true. If something went wrong, it could lead to serious repercussions.

After a few moments, William sighed and admitted, "Alright, I don't have a way to make it legal. Can you help?"

"Me? What can I do, Boss? It's not like I'm an expert at money laundering. It's not as if I've been dealing with problems like this for years, and I'm definitely not some devilishly handsome guy with a talent for fixing sticky situations," Delmar said, his sarcasm evident.

William shot him a deadpan look. "Aside from that last bit, you can indeed manage the rest. So, can you help me or not?"

"Alright, alright, I'll help. But how much do you need me to launder?"

"Besides the $5 trillion… there's an unaccountable amount. Just think of it as a continuous stream that will keep flowing as time goes on."

"Well… shi*, Boss," Delmar muttered as the effects of the alcohol began to wear off. "I didn't realize you had that kind of wealth. If I'd known, I would've demanded a bigger slice of the pie for my work."

"I already compensate you generously, and don't think I'm oblivious to all the extravagant meals you charge to the business accounts I've set up," William said, narrowing his eyes at Delmar.

Delmar avoided William's gaze, coughing awkwardly. "COUGH COUGH, Alright, I'll start figuring out how to clean the money, but for now, let's focus on the deal."

"How much do you need to hand over to that guy right now?"

"$550 billion."

Delmar looked back at William. "And when's the deadline?"

"A week from now," William said, glancing at the calendar.

"So not only do I need to launder $5 trillion, but I also have to find you a legal team that's not only top-tier but also discreet enough not to ask too many questions about your, uh, unconventional sources of income… Just brilliant," Delmar said, contemplating the magnitude of the task.

"What? Is it too much for you? Why not look into your network of former contacts?"

"No, I can't tap into my connections when we already have an incompetent, potentially treacherous operative in our midst," Delmar shook his head slowly. "I need someone reliable and discreet."