Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 274: Securing the Shipyard

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Michael Reyes and his team approached the gates of the Hanjin Subic Shipyard.

The sight was depressing, to say the least, with dilapidated buildings and rusting equipment scattered across the landscape. The once-thriving shipyard that had churned out massive vessels and contributed robustly to the local economy was now a shadow of its former self. Weeds sprouted through cracks in the asphalt, and the air carried the salty tang of the sea, mixed with the faint scent of rust.

Michael's expression was resolute as he surveyed the scene. "It's going to be a lot of work," he admitted, "but I see immense potential here." He gestured to the expansive dry docks and the towering cranes standing idle against the morning sky. "This place can be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility. I can already imagine the most advanced warships of the world being constructed right here."

"How much you said this was again?" Bridget asked.

"A billion dollars," Michael answered.

"Looks like a waste of money to me in buying this place," Bridget remarked. "But if you see potential and you have something up your sleeve, I don't mind supporting you as long as we have a solid plan for a turnaround."

"I completely understand why you'd feel that way. But after all these years of working together, I always surprise you, don't I?" Michael replied with a half-smile and continued. "We've tackled tough projects before, and we've always come out stronger."

"True," Bridget conceded, her tone shifting from skeptical to contemplative. "And your instincts have usually led us in the right direction. What's the first major step in this transformation?"

"Well, I have a list here," Michael said, pulling up a list from his digital tablet. There are drydocks, slipways, cranes, utility systems, and facilities.

As they were having a chat, the head of the operation manager, Alex de Vera, approached with a clipboard in hand. "Good morning, everyone. My name is Alex de Vera. I'm the one sent by Mr. Tan to assist you with the initial walkthrough and to provide any necessary operational details about the shipyard."

Michael nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Mr. de Vera."

"If you would be so kind as to follow me, I'll lead you to our first main concern, the drydocks," Alex said.

Michael and the rest of his team followed Alex towards the dry

docks, where the true scale of the shipyard's capability and current disrepair became even more evident. The enormous structures, designed to hold ships as they were built or repaired, showed clear signs of neglect. Large patches of rust pockmarked the metal surfaces, and some areas had debris and old tools scattered around.

Alex paused, gesturing towards the first drydock. "This is one of our largest drydocks. As you can see, the degradation is significant. The priority here will be to address the corrosion and structural integrity to ensure it can safely hold the vessels during construction and maintenance."

Bridget looked over the area. "And the repairs are already covered by the billion dollars?"

"Yes, Ms. von Reimann. But those are our estimates, things could change once we get a more detailed assessment from the engineering firms," Alex replied.

Michael nodded. "Let's move on to the cranes."

As they walked, Alex continued to explain the condition of the equipment. "About half of our cranes can be upgraded, but the rest will need to be replaced entirely. The new cranes will be more efficient and capable of handling heavier loads, which is important for modern shipbuilding."

Next, Alex led them to the utility systems. "Our electrical grid and water systems are outdated. They can't support the high demands of advanced shipbuilding technologies. Upgrading these systems is essential for our operations."

And they went on and on, looking and inspecting every corner of the shipyard. Each section revealed the extensive work required. And it was a headache for Michael. Of course, he'd expect at least some of the facilities needed repairing, but what he didn't expect was that almost everything needed refurbishments, replacements, or repairs!

But that's okay! Michael always thought of the best solutions to every problem. He turned to his team with a determined look.

"Okay…I must say, it was depressing when we toured around the facility. However, this is also an opportunity. We have a blank slate to create something extraordinary. We can rebuild this shipyard into a state-of-the-art facility, setting new standards in shipbuilding."

His team nodded their heads in agreement.

"So, Mr. Reyes. After seeing all the facilities of the shipyard, do you still wish to continue?" Alex asked, his tone neutral but eyes keenly observing Michael's response.

Michael didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. We knew this would be a massive project, but the potential here is worth every challenge. We're moving forward."

Alex nodded, seeming slightly impressed by Michael's unwavering determination. "That's a wise decision, Mr. Reyes. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoyed the walkthrough."

After that, Michael and his team took a group picture with one of the staff holding the camera.

***

Five days later, at the Golden Topper in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Michael met Lorenzo Tan again. This time, it wasn't for a discussion; it was to seal the deal.

They sat in a sleek conference room, papers spread out before them. Lorenzo slid the contract across the table towards Michael.

"Mr. Reyes, here are the final terms of the agreement. I would advise you to read over them carefully before signing."

Michael nodded, taking the time to review the document meticulously. He had already gone over the key points with his legal team, but he wanted to ensure there were no surprises. Bridget and Antoinette sat beside him, providing silent support.

After a few minutes of reading, Michael looked up. "Everything seems to be in order. I agree with the terms."

Lorenzo handed him a pen. "Excellent. If you could sign here and here," he indicated the marked lines on the contract.

Michael took the pen and signed the document. Lorenzo followed suit, and with that, the deal was sealed.

Lorenzo smiled, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Congratulations, Mr. Reyes. You are now the official owner of the Hanjin Subic Shipyard."

Michael shook his hand firmly. "Thank you, Mr. Tan. This is a significant step for us."

To commemorate the occasion, Michael signaled to an assistant who brought in a tray with two glasses of wine. They each took a glass, and he raised him in a toast.

"To new beginnings and successful ventures," Lorenzo said, clinking his glass against Michael's.

"To new beginnings," Michael repeated, taking a sip of the wine.