Chapter 104 Someone came to the door

Fabian had something important to discuss with Xiao Peng.

Pascal was very efficient and the offshore company had been registered. Now Xiao Peng needed to consider where to register his underwater salvage company.

There's a reason they're in such a hurry: not everyone gets to witness history.

Mata Hari is quite well-known in Western countries. There are countless games, movies, TV shows and books about her. She even appears in Japanese anime. Mata Hari's popularity in the West is almost the same as that of Empress Dowager Cixi among the Chinese.

If it can be proven that these are Mata Hari's relics, people will go crazy for them.

This matter is also a matter of mutual benefit. What Xiao Peng needs is money; what Fabian needs is status in the family; and what Pascal needs is greater fame in the collecting circle.

Although Xiao Peng's salvage company lacked a salvage vessel, personnel, or modern tools, it was already registered. It was a joint-stock company, with Xiao Peng holding 75%, Pascal 20%, and Fabian 5%.

Giving these two brothers shares wasn't without reason. First, Pascal had funded the offshore companies used for tax avoidance, and he couldn't let his money go to waste. Furthermore, if anything was salvaged in the future, Pascal would need to handle it. Fabian would handle all the government affairs. The three of them each had their own responsibilities.

And now it is time for this batch of jewellery to be unveiled.

As expected, when Fabian held a press conference and announced that he had found some of Mata Hari's jewelry and invited major jewelry experts and history experts to come to Marseille for appraisal, the whole of France was in an uproar: the French have never stopped searching for Mata Hari's heritage for nearly a hundred years, and they didn't expect that it would really be found!

This matter attracted a lot of people's attention.

"Tsk tsk, look at Fabian's high-spirited look, it really seems like that!" Xiao Peng said as he sat on the roof and pointed at the TV placed aside.

Pascal ate the skewer in his mouth and said, "I don't like the Cousteau family because they are so inhumane. The capable are on top and the weak are on the bottom. You've been to Cape Adeg, too. Can you imagine how Fabian feels being there every day? I have to say you're his lucky star. Things are getting better and better for him since he met you."

"Eat slower! Why are you holding something in your hand while eating?" Xiao Peng snatched a skewer from Pascal and put it in his mouth: "I can't even finish the grilled meat faster than you can!"

Pascal spread his hands and said, "I don't like barbecue, but I didn't expect that your Chinese way of grilling, where you cut the meat into small pieces, would taste so good! If someone had told me that barbecue could be this delicious, I definitely wouldn't have believed it!"

Xiao Peng said helplessly, "Is this the reason you eat here every day? If you have time, why don't you think about selling these jewelry?"

Pascal shook his head and said, "Now is not the time."

"Why?" Xiao Peng asked puzzledly.

Pascal said: "The reason is simple: now countless people want to prove that our jewelry is fake."

Xiao Peng stopped what he was doing and looked at Pascal with a puzzled look on his face.

Pascal explained, "When we were chatting earlier, you mentioned a very good term, 'pink eye,' which means 'someone is angry, but others are not.' Why did I say to invite all the major jewelers first? Those big jewelry brands will keep records of custom jewelry orders from celebrities like Mata Hari! So first, let the jewelry experts prove that these treasures are authentic, and then let the archaeological experts find data to prove that these are indeed Mata Hari's jewelry. This batch of jewelry is large and needs to be individually authenticated. This process will take at least several months. Only when all aspects are clear can it be sold at a high price."

"A few months?" Xiao Peng's eyes widened. "What the hell are we going to do during this time? Are we going to just sit around and eat up all the savings? I'm counting on getting the money to buy a boat! We can't just sail a small sailboat and go salvage, right?"

Pascal waved his hand. "Why are you so excited? The ship isn't the problem for you right now. The problem is the people!"

"What do you mean the boat is not a problem?" Xiao Peng asked puzzledly.

Pascal explained, "Neptune's Asylum has completed its bankruptcy liquidation. I had an expert inspect their ship, the Marseilles Neptune, and it's in excellent condition. It's ready to use right out of the box. As shareholders of the company, Fabian and I decided to buy it right away."

Xiao Peng blinked after hearing this. "That's too much, isn't it? I haven't even settled the bill for registering the offshore company yet. How can I accept that?"

Pascal said, "How much? Compared to the shares you gave us, this is a small amount, okay?"

"What?" Xiao Peng blinked. "How much are those jewels worth?"

Pascal asked in return: "How much do you think it's worth?"

Xiao Peng thought for a moment and said, "Such a large quantity of jewels, how much can it possibly fetch?"

Pascal said with a half-smile, "So that's why you're willing to give us 25% of the shares, right? I understand. You calculated my contribution and gave me two million as compensation, right? Then you should reconsider the equity distribution issue now while these jewels are still here! You greatly underestimated the price of these jewels! Let me tell you this, Ivan has already offered three million for the emerald brooch you showed me the photo of!"

"What?" Xiao Peng exclaimed, "Three million? Just for that brooch?"

Pascal said, "But I didn't sell it. Friendship is friendship, and business is business. His offer was a bit cheap, but I'm quite confident in my judgment. This piece of jewelry must be genuine! You can't measure the value of this piece of jewelry by the price of ordinary jewelry. Let me put it this way, you've made a fortune this time! The price of this piece of jewelry is at least nine figures! So, do you regret giving us too many shares? There's still time to redistribute the equity now!"

Xiao Peng controlled his shock, smiled, and shook his head, saying, "No, no, no, you're overthinking it. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known this batch of jewels was worth so much! Everyone has their strengths. If you think I gave you too much, then try your best to sell it for a higher price!"

Pascal smiled and nodded: "This is what I'm good at!"

Xiao Peng smiled and said, "From now on, I'll be in charge of catching them and you'll be in charge of selling them. Fabian will be in charge of promoting and expanding the influence. Let's have some fun together!"

Pascal and Xiao Peng high-fived.

At this moment the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Who is it?" Xiao Peng stretched his head to look and saw a strange man with a backpack standing at the door. Although he had a handsome face, his unshaven beard gave people the first impression that he was down and out.

"Are you Mr. Xiao?" The man looked up at Xiao Peng and took a deep breath as if to muster up courage. He said, "I want to talk to you about something!"