Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 36 Proposal to Make More Money

36  Proposal to Make More Money

"And ask about 50 percent shares? No thank you," Michael chuckled. "Oh, it's your turn."

"Is that what you think about investors? That they always prey on the young and ambitious, aiming to snatch away a significant portion of their dreams for a fraction of its worth?" Bridget raised an eyebrow, amused by Michael's directness. "Not all investors are cut from the same cloth, Michael. Some of us are genuinely interested in fostering innovation and supporting visionaries."

Michael paused, his cards momentarily forgotten. "I appreciate that sentiment, Bridget. But you must understand, my hesitation isn't without reason. I've seen too many promising ventures lose their way because they gave up too much control too early."

Bridget nodded, signaling the dealer to proceed with the next hand as they continued their conversation. "I understand your concern, Michael. But consider this—partnership with the right investor can provide not just capital but also guidance, network, and resources that can significantly accelerate your path to success. Solar panel was it? Well, assuming you partner with me, you'll unlock the market in Europe. France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark, you name it all." Michael hummed aloud. "How about another business plan that is surefire to amass a lot of money." "Hoh?" Bridget mused. "What is it?" "Do you know anything about cryptocurrency?" Michael paused, watching Bridget's reaction closely.

Bridget's interest visibly piqued. "Cryptocurrency? Yes, I'm familiar. It's quite volatile, but it's been gaining traction as a legitimate investment. Why do you ask?"

"Well, it turns out, it's going to fall soon and I'm planning on shorting it. Loan me five hundred million pesos and I swear I'll go to every bank, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Citibank, every bank that invested in cryptocurrency."

"Through what financial instrument?" "There are a lot of ways to short a cryptocurrency. But for the banks specifically, are you familiar with the credit default swap?"

"Credit default swap? You're talking about betting against the success of cryptocurrency investments held by banks? That's... ambitious. And risky."

Michael nodded confidently. "Risky, yes, but calculated." Michael pulled out a folder from his backpack and handed it to Bridget. "Look, inside that folder is the cryptocurrency that I want to short along with their current market values, trading volumes, and historical performance trends and then my prediction. Look, if a crisis in cryptocurrency is going to emerge, I have to capitalize on it, the problem is that I don't have much capital." Bridget opened the folder with an intrigued expression, her eyes scanning the pages filled with graphs, tables, and technical jargon that detailed Michael's plan to capitalize on the predicted downfall of cryptocurrency. She flipped through the documents, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to make sense of the complex analysis and predictions.

After a few moments of silent reading, she looked up. "Michael, I must admit, this is beyond my usual scope of understanding. The technical details and the market analysis here are...comprehensive, to say the least. But honestly, I'm not grasping the full picture. How confident are you in this prediction?"

"I am absolutely certain about it. Why else do you think I'm here at the casino risking the money that should go to my business? This is how much I believe in this venture."

Bridget scoffed softly. "You really think I'm going to give you 30 million dollars because you are confident. Do you even realize the amount of money you are asking for?" "Well I don't know, you tell me. You are part of the richest family in Germany, with an asset of billions of dollars. 30 million dollars would be just like…300 grand for you."

Bridget giggled, amused at Michael's wordplay. "Well, I need evidence that the crypto market is going to crash."

"Firstly, we're on the cusp of a breakthrough in quantum computing technology. This isn't science fiction; it's a reality that's about to hit us faster than the market can adapt. Quantum computing has the potential to break the cryptographic security that cryptocurrencies rely on. Imagine the chaos when the public realizes their 'secure' assets can be easily compromised."

Bridget raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "Go on," she prompted.

"Secondly, there's the regulatory hammer. Major economies, let's say the European Union and the United States, are moving towards stringent regulations against cryptocurrencies. They see it as a tool for money laundering and financial instability. When these regulations hit, the market will face a liquidity crisis as investors pull out en masse."

Michael paused to gauge Bridget's reaction before continuing. "And let's not forget the market saturation. There are too many cryptocurrencies with minimal real-world value. It's a speculative bubble waiting to burst. History has shown us time and again, from the Tulip Mania to the dot-com bubble, what happens next."

Bridget nodded slowly, absorbed in Michael's analysis.

"The environmental impact cannot be ignored either. The energy consumption of mining operations has already drawn public and governmental scrutiny. As climate change becomes an ever more pressing concern, we'll see actions taken against the most energy-intensive cryptocurrencies, further destabilizing the market."

Michael leaned back, letting his points sink in. "And finally, the shift towards new blockchain technologies or even entirely new digital assets will render many current cryptocurrencies obsolete. We're talking about a technological leap that offers better security, efficiency, and utility."

Bridget was silent for a moment, processing the flood of information. "That's a comprehensive analysis, Michael. But it's all speculative, isn't it? How can you be so sure?"

Michael smiled, the confidence in his prediction unwavering. "Because, Bridget, all these factors converge on a single point in the near future. The signs are there; you just need to know where to look. The market is inflated on speculation and hype, not on intrinsic value. When reality hits, it'll hit hard. That's why I'm proposing to short it through credit default swaps against banks invested in cryptocurrency. It's a calculated risk, but one that's grounded in an inevitable market correction. And if you did invest…the only regret you are going to have is that you didn't give me more. So what is it going to be?" Bridget bit her lower lip as she pondered her decision, and seconds later, she spoke. "Michael, your confidence and the way you present yourself have genuinely piqued my interest. It's refreshing, to say the least. Therefore, I'm willing to raise the stakes—let's make it 100 million dollars. However, there's a catch. If the market does not crash by 2024, I will withdraw my investment. Furthermore, the premiums you've paid for the Credit Default Swaps (CDS) to the banks will be converted into a loan. Failure to repay by the agreed date gives me the right to take legal action. I'll have my legal team prepare a binding agreement. Are you prepared to proceed under these terms?"

Michael felt a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. This is a huge money, and responsibility. Prelim Week