The Tyrant Billionaire

Chapter 196: Chapter 196 Hardy Joins The Mafia War

When newspapers report and radio stations broadcast, and their arguments were well founded, many people naturally believed them. The people of Las Vegas began to slowly feel that this was indeed the case.

Does Las Vegas still have a future?

Is there still investment value here?

Land prices are like stocks, they sell based on expectations. If a place has no development prospects, the land there is naturally worthless.

When Wash Mining bought that piece of land in New Mexico, 8,000 acres were worth only $200,000, equivalent to only $25 per acre.

There is plenty of desert land in Nevada and Colorado, and the government there also lists it for sale, with the lowest price being only a few dollars per acre, but no one buys it.

Due to the legalization of gambling, land prices in Las Vegas are now around five to six hundred dollars, with the most expensive in the city center reaching over $4,000.

If the gambling industry here is not profitable, or if the gambling industry disappears, the land here could drop to just a few dollars.

It should be known that this is the barren Nevada desert.

The original buyers who bought land and gambled on its appreciation began to panic upon hearing this news, asking around about the situation.

Some even listed their land for sale, but they were unwilling to sell at low prices, increasing the original price by tens or even hundreds of dollars.

Then they discovered that no one was buying.

The real controllers of Las Vegas are the gangs, or rather the various Mafia families. Now, with the five major families at war and other families watching and ready to join the war, no one is concerned with investment.

And these families typically have one or two pieces of land in their hands. They are not real estate companies, having one or two pieces of land is enough for them. More is useless, as land requires taxes.

Land in Las Vegas is sold as commercial land. Commercial land is taxed at 1% to 3% of its value each year, meaning if it doesn't appreciate, investors lose money every year.

Now, with gang infighting and no one buying land, ordinary people are even less likely to buy.

Adding to this the example of the Flamingo Casino, which invested $8 million and lost over $1 million in three months after opening, this is definitely not something an average person can afford to play with.

Mafia families set up casinos here primarily for money laundering. Few expect to make money from gamblers, as the newspapers rightly said, relying on a few tourists means the casino will definitely lose money.

So, the land listed for sale is completely unattended.

This further solidified the rumor that there was no room for land appreciation in Las Vegas. Some began to secretly lower prices, but they found that the lower the price, the fewer people bought, as no one wanted to be the one left holding the bag, and everyone was in a wait and see phase.

Hardy, with just a few articles right when the gangs were busy fighting each other significantly lowered land prices in Las Vegas.

"Boss, should we start large scale acquisitions now?" Andy asked.

Hardy shook his head, "No rush, the best timing hasn't arrived yet."

Andy paused and asked, "Boss, aren't you afraid of really killing Las Vegas? If there's a selling frenzy, it might really not recover."

Hardy laughed and shook his head, "Don't worry, as long as Nevada is still the only state with legalized gambling, this place will not decline, and the panic is only temporary."

Hardy is not in a hurry about the land. Business cannot be done in a day or two, and he has more important things to do.

He received a report from Henry.

Someone might be targeting Fredo.

Fredo is the second son of the old Godfather, Michael's elder brother.

The other families killed the Corleone family's heir Sonny, attempted to assassinate Michael, and now want to kill the old Godfather's second son. This shows how fierce the struggle between the five major families is now.

Hardy called the Corleone family, and the old Godfather answered.

After some pleasantries, Hardy said, "Mr. Vito, I am in Las Vegas now. My people received news that other families might target Fredo."

The old Godfather was shocked upon hearing this.

He had already lost one son and couldn't bear to lose another.

The old Godfather said hoarsely, "I sent Fredo to Las Vegas to let him live a stable life, but those bastards are now targeting him. Hardy, can you help me bring Fredo back?"

"No problem, Mr. Vito." Hardy replied.

The old Godfather was silent for a while and then said, "Hardy, can you do me a favor?"

"Go ahead," Hardy replied.

"Help me take down the casinos of the other four families!" the old Godfather said decisively.

"I know this will put you against the four families, but I can promise to fully support your business on the West Coast in the future, including using all my connections," the old Godfather said.

Hardy could sense that the Corleone family was in crisis under the attack of the four families.

The old Godfather was asking for his help, and in return, he offered the Corleone family's connections.

In fact, given Hardy's relationship with Michael, the interests of the two families were already tied together, and Hardy couldn't choose to side with the other four families.

Even without the old Godfather's request, Hardy would have taken action against the other Mafia families to occupy Las Vegas, as it was part of his long planned strategy.

Deploying HD Security to Las Vegas. Acquiring newspapers and radio stations.

These were all preparations for this goal.

It seemed the time to act had arrived.

"Okay, I promise you," Hardy replied.

...

Night fell.

The hot Las Vegas became much cooler.

The originally quiet gambling city seemed to come alive, with neon lights flashing on the streets and songs constantly coming from bars and dance halls.