"No problem, hehe, of course, I agree to this," William said with a smile, nodding without much hesitation.
Suddenly, he realized that involving these high-status young aristocrats in small ventures now could gradually expand his influence over them. When they eventually inherited their family legacies in the future, William's sway over them wouldn't just be strong—it would be a powerful asset.
"Really?"
Hearing William agree, Wilson's face flushed with excitement.
Wilson had been present two days ago when William met with his grandfather. Observing William's expressions during their conversation, he had a gut feeling that William wasn't someone who could be easily stumped by this kind of situation.
After learning from his mother about the events that transpired that morning, Wilson wasn't optimistic about his mother's plan to have him and Spencer each acquire half of Grosvenor's 4% stake.
Fortunately, his mother wasn't naive. Noticing Wilson's hesitation, she quickly proposed a backup plan: if William didn't agree, they could team up with young Grosvenor, who was visiting that day.
After all, between a brother and a son, if it were possible to benefit both, why not? But if a choice had to be made, naturally, the son would come first.
"Hehe, let's hope Grosvenor doesn't get so angry he has a stroke," William joked, his tone playful. "I heard that not long ago, he spent £80 million to get a 10% stake in the company. When its valuation doubled to £160 million in just a few weeks, he was throwing lavish parties and bragging about it everywhere.
"And now, he's so eager to sell just because of a little bad news? Is he short on cash?"
Seeing William's ambiguous look, Wilson began to sweat. He suddenly realized that if William decided to target Grosvenor, as the one who leaked the information, he might end up being the cause of animosity between their families.
Hurriedly wiping the sweat from his forehead, Wilson pleaded, "Mate, don't scare me like that. Making money isn't hard for you; do you really need to go after your own people?
"My father and old Grosvenor have been close friends for nearly forty years. I don't want to end up grounded at home for life."
"Alright," William replied, glaring at Wilson before dismissing the fleeting idea from his mind.
It wasn't worth completely alienating old Grosvenor—or the British aristocracy as a whole—especially when Wilson already knew about the matter. Quietly making a move wasn't an option anymore.
With a sarcastic tone, he said, "If young Grosvenor has such faith in me as his elder brother, and you two are short on funds, you can pledge some antiques as collateral. I'll lend you the money you're missing."
"Phew."
Hearing this, Wilson, though still a little skeptical, understood that William was subtly assuring him he wouldn't target Grosvenor.
"You almost scared me to death," Wilson said, finally relaxing as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead and hands.
"You have no idea—most of us have been repeatedly warned by our elders to never cross you. After all, who can compete with someone sitting on billions in cash? Not to mention, I know full well that you're far more than just rich."
"Hehe."
William narrowed his eyes, watching Wilson half-lounge on the sofa. Clearly, winning over these high-status peers wouldn't be as difficult as he initially thought.
"Alright, I'll handle acquiring land in London by myself. Stop acting pitiful in front of me."
Wilson rolled his eyes at William, then paused for a moment as an idea struck him. Hesitating for a few seconds, he asked, "You're really willing to lend us money? If so, can you transfer £25 million to us right now?
"If we delay, the whole deal could fall through. As for using antiques as collateral, once the shares are transferred, I'll discuss it with Miss Abigail."
William frowned briefly but quickly realized that Wilson was still feeling uneasy and wanted to test his sincerity.
After all, once the loan was given, Grosvenor would surely learn that his son and Wilson's funds came from William.
Knowing how shrewd the old man was, he'd soon figure out that William knew about his financial troubles.
"Haha, looks like you're getting smarter," William chuckled. He lightly tapped his earpiece, and within ten seconds, Wilson's phone buzzed with a notification for the transferred funds.
"Thanks, mate," Wilson said, leaping to his feet in excitement. Ignoring proper etiquette and William's disdainful look, he pulled him into a tight hug.
"I've got to go. Whether I can get on your ship and become a millionaire depends on this one chance."
After being shoved aside by William, Wilson crouched beside Lena and whispered to her for several minutes before leaving in high spirits. He didn't care if his deferential farewell to Lena was broadcast to all of Britain.
The match ended with Chelsea's victory, a 3-1 scoreline securing their position at the top of the league.
Lena, overjoyed, clung to William tightly, refusing to let go. With Jesse's constant praise, Lena's fondness for her grew even stronger. Pulling both Jesse and William along, she led them to the locker room.
After Swagger confirmed that the players were dressed, Lena entered the locker room first. Standing before the team, she announced, "If we win the championship this year, I'll personally contribute £10 million in bonuses, to be distributed equally among the players and coaching staff. The rest of the staff will share an additional £2 million in bonuses."
With 22 players and 4 coaches, each individual would receive close to £400,000. While this amount wasn't significant for star players, it was a substantial bonus for the team's average members, often exceeding their annual salaries.
This announcement ensured that no one on the team would slack off.
Moreover, since the promise was made publicly by the club's owner and her son, there was no reason to doubt its credibility.
William added, "To support my mother's commitment, the bonuses will be tax-free."
No one argues with money. The locker room erupted in cheers, with everyone shouting, "Long live the boss!"
For William and Lena, who had just received a £2.6 billion asset infusion into their family trust from Corvinus and Viktor, spending a few million pounds was a trivial matter.
That evening, a television show humorously discussed Wilson's deferential farewell to Lena. Midway through the broadcast, the host received a note from the production team and excitedly announced William and Lena's locker room promise of £12 million in tax-free championship bonuses.
The revelation sparked a wave of reactions. While some viewers criticized the extravagant gesture, most were shocked and impressed.
That staff members would receive £2 million in bonuses especially captured the public's admiration.
The next morning, as William woke up, Sunday's voice broke the silence.
"Sir, I think you should take a look at this."
A virtual projection appeared in the room, displaying a redacted document. Groggy and still half-asleep, William squinted at it and asked, "What's this?"
"This document pertains to the Nightshade Project, which you asked me to monitor," Sunday replied.
"Nightshade? Isn't that the codename for red mercury nuclear devices?"
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