American Adventure: My Uncle is Don Quixote

"Let’s go. We can talk as we walk." Elizabeth glanced at Amanda saying goodbye to Li Wei in the distance, a flicker of wariness and disgust in her eyes.

The moment the two of them stepped out of the living room, Elizabeth turned her head and asked, feigning casualness, "You and Amanda seemed to be hitting it off just now?"

"Not at all," Li Wei said, shaking his head. "She was just telling me a piece of gossip about Alister."

"It already sounds messed up. Don’t tell me," Elizabeth said, covering her ears. "I don’t want to hear gossip about my relatives’ private lives."

Li Wei just smiled and said nothing.

"And you should be more careful from now on," Elizabeth said sternly. "Her circle of friends is nothing but trouble. Get mixed up with them, and you’ll end up in a real mess. I’m telling you this for your own good. After all, I have to keep an eye on you for Anya."

...

With the help of the servants, they changed into heavy windbreakers and snow boots, then walked side by side through the magnificent gates of Mellon Manor.

Although the blizzard that had raged the previous night had stopped, the snow behind the manor was still thick, and Elizabeth had to struggle with every step.

After walking through the snow for several minutes, they finally caught up with the group ahead.

Dressed warmly, Alexander Mellon stood in the center of the shooting range. He was the center of attention, surrounded by bodyguards, assistants, servants, and an attendant medical team.

Seeing the two of them approach, Alexander handed the exquisitely engraved double-barreled shotgun he was holding to a nearby servant. He then took off his safety goggles, revealing a kindly, grandfatherly smile.

"Liz, come over here," Alexander said kindly, beckoning to her. "I took a look at that art gallery in Brooklyn. You did a wonderful job with it."

Elizabeth was touched. "Thank you for the compliment, Grandfather."

"You’re far more capable than that idiot Charles Mellon, who only knows how to screw things up," Alexander snorted. "And you’ve done a wonderful job handling Richard and Sergey’s funds."

He waved his hand, motioning for his entourage to step back. "We’re family, so I’ll be direct with you," he said to Elizabeth. "I desperately need that one billion USD you’re holding to use as startup capital. I hope you can convince Phoenix to vote in favor."

This was seemingly the first time her stern grandfather had ever genuinely praised her work, and it made the normally mature and composed Elizabeth feel a little light-headed.

Combined with the pressure that had built up over the years, she instinctively wanted to nod and agree.

However, just as her lips parted, Li Wei suddenly snapped a twig underfoot. The crisp sound pulled her back to her senses.

’If I agree, I’ll have nothing left.’ She instantly came to her senses.

"I’m sorry, Grandfather," Elizabeth said, taking a sharp breath of the cold air and lowering her head. "I can’t hand over this money."

"That’s fine," Alexander said, his smile tightening slightly. "What do you want?"

"I want power!" Elizabeth’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally firm. "I want shares in the Free Port. I want a seat at the table."

"Ambitious. Like a true Mellon. I like it."

Instead of getting angry, Alexander let out a soft chuckle.

He took Elizabeth’s hand, presenting her to the onlookers.

"Finally... finally! This is my granddaughter," he boasted proudly, then turned to Elizabeth. "I can give you 5%."

Elizabeth’s brow furrowed slightly. While 5% was not an insignificant amount, it was far from enough considering the one billion USD in cash flow, the risks she would be taking, and the returns she wanted.

"That’s too little, Grandfather." She pulled her hand away.

Alexander stared at her for a few seconds before slowly raising two fingers. "Double. 10%, Liz. That’s my bottom line. Don’t let greed blind you."

After all, a 10 billion USD valuation for the Free Port wasn’t unreasonable, so trading one billion USD for 10% of the shares wasn’t a bad deal.

Richard Mellon had only asked for a 5% annualized return. The Free Port, however, could easily generate returns of over 20% annually. By simply acting as the middleman, Elizabeth could skim over 100 million USD a year from the difference, not to mention casually drawing a 10 million USD annual management fee.

She was starting to waver.

Just then, the Jester’s Skull beside Li Wei chimed in with a sneer:

"On the surface, it’s a little drama between the old King and the little Princess. In reality, it’s all business. That’s royalty for you."

"The old King is extremely anxious. He’s even willing to play the family card to get what he wants. How amusing. And the little Princess, of course, is completely oblivious."

’What’s his absolute limit?’ Li Wei asked. ’Tell me.’

"As my master commands, I shall take a closer look."

With that, the Jester’s Skull flew in front of Alexander, and the light from its ruby eyes turned to gold.

[The Incessantly Chattering Court Jester’s Skull] has activated the Gold-tier skill [Probe].

Seeing that Elizabeth was on the verge of agreeing, Li Wei suddenly spoke up.

"The snow may have stopped, but the wind’s still pretty strong," he said, interrupting the conversation between Alexander and Elizabeth.

Alexander turned his head to look at Li Wei, his eyes narrowing. "I wasn’t aware one needed to study the weather for a bit of shooting, kid."

The golden light in the Jester’s Skull’s eye sockets died out, and it flew back.

"Twenty percent!"

It cackled.

"The old King is willing to part with twenty percent of the port’s revenue, all for the little Princess’s jingling Gold Coins!"

"Of course, Mr. Mellon," Li Wei said with a shrug. "When you’re shooting clays, you have to account for at least a 20% deviation. Otherwise, you’re likely to miss."

Elizabeth had been about to nod in agreement to the 10% figure, but Li Wei’s seemingly random remark sent a jolt through her.

She glanced at Li Wei, understanding his meaning instantly.

"I want 20%, Grandfather," she said, raising her head. "10% isn’t enough. The risk is too great. And I want an independent seat on the Free Port’s board, with full voting rights!"

Alexander Mellon’s icy gaze fixed on Li Wei’s face like a pair of steel daggers.

Too bad for him, Li Wei’s skin was now thick enough to stop a 7.62mm bullet head-on; he completely ignored the pressure from Alexander’s stare.

"Of course, Liz," he said, placating Elizabeth first. "Phoenix already has one vote. He can transfer those voting rights to you."

"As for you, Mr. Li Wei," he asked suddenly, "do you know anything about skeet shooting?"

"I’ve never tried it before, Mr. Mellon," Li Wei said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Alexander smiled as well, turning to make a gesture to a servant.

The servant immediately ran forward and presented the exquisitely engraved double-barreled shotgun with both hands.

"This shotgun was custom-made for me by the Beretta Workshop," Alexander said, taking the gun and casually tossing it to Li Wei. "Since you feel a 20% adjustment is necessary, why don’t you demonstrate for us?"

As Li Wei caught the shotgun with one hand, a system notification suddenly popped up:

[You have received a new quest: A Grand Display]

[The arrogant King seeks to humble you with the game he excels at. The weapon in your hands was custom-made for him alone and possesses strange properties. He does not believe you possess the legendary skill to pierce a rabbit’s eye from five hundred paces.]

[Quest Objective: Consecutively hit 10 aerial targets.]

[Quest Reward: 0.1 attribute points.]

Li Wei hefted the double-barreled shotgun in his hand.

"Custom-made, you say?" He looked at Alexander. "Can I take a few practice shots first?"

"No," Alexander said, shaking his head.

"You’re really putting the pressure on," Li Wei chuckled. "I assume that means there’s a prize?"

"Of course. Just as you suggested," Alexander said, bending down to scoop up a handful of snow and watching the wind scatter it from his palm. "If you can hit ten consecutive doubles, I’ll agree to Liz’s terms—20% of the shares. But if you miss even one, it’s 10% of the shares, and Liz has to accept on the spot. How about it?"