Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine: You're not counting on them, are you?

"Do you really think you can control everything?"

Patterson's body visibly trembled with anger, his suppressed voice sounding like a tiger ready to pounce.

"No, no, no, of course not. Patterson, you're overestimating us. If we had that ability, my Bass Bank would be renamed Manhattan Bank..."

Chuckling lightly and shaking his head, Old Bass seemed confident.

"But there are ways and means. We small fry might not have the power to achieve great things, but causing trouble...that's not difficult, right, my friends?"

"Flattery, flattery...By the way, Mr. Patterson, our DuPont's resin industry is doing well, and there's also plywood."

"Our Nelar's lumber and board manufacturing are also doing well, hahaha!"

No wonder!

Carter carefully considered the alliance of these three banks. Their downstream pine industry, one could even say, had too much reliance on Pearson City's economy. Once united, if they cut off loans to the related industries in their business area, it would directly impact Pearson City's economic development and employment.

But private banks, they could always find various reasons to limit loans, whether due to business adjustments or insufficient funds. You could criticize them morally, but punishing them legally...sorry, not possible!

"Alright, very good!"

When Patterson lifted his head again, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he were looking at enemies...

Wait...why haven't Carter and Goodman left yet?!

Patterson's resentful gaze didn't bother Old Bass and the others. Or rather, since they had decided to go down this path, they were prepared to offend people. Offend them they did, and at most this guy would just be careful with the accounts when he was back in Leftgia.

FDIC might have considerable power, but that only mattered when there were issues on their side. As long as they didn't give them any handles to grab onto, they were private institutions, and who would be afraid of who?!

Facing Patterson's hateful gaze, Old Bass not only wasn't afraid, he was even somewhat excited...

After all, his original expectation was forty-six thousand, but who would have thought Patterson would drive everyone away. This was God wanting him to make money! Truly blessed by God, he'd have to attend Mass a few more times after this...

Just as Old Bass was feeling smug, he suddenly sensed something was off. That hateful look didn't seem to be directed at him anymore?

This was a bit of a dampener for Old Bass, who was basking in the feeling of overcoming the FDIC. With the goal of finding out who had ruined his mood, his gaze followed Patterson's to where they were directed...

And then...

"Heh heh, Mr. Patterson! You're not counting on Burke Bank, are you? Oh, and Goodman, and...Young Mr. Burke, if you're not busy, you can leave now. I'll treat you to dinner later, and we can get to know each other better!"

"You son of a b****! Shut up! You old vulture! It's not your turn to talk here!"

Without waiting for Carter and Goodman's reaction, Patterson suddenly roared. Judging by the tightly clenched fists, he was on the verge of exploding...

"Goodman! Forty-three thousand six hundred! Can you accept it?! If you can, it's yours! And, you'll have my friendship, and I'll support you in the future!"

"Haha! Mr. Patterson, this is...ah, young man, don't get angry!"

After a hearty laugh, Old Bass's eyes seemed to be teary with amusement...

What a joke!

"I've investigated Burke Bank's situation. Their risk asset ratio shouldn't exceed 2.4%, right? It's probably still in the rectification stage...Sorry, Mr. Goodman, and Young Mr. Burke. With your current strength, I'm afraid even joint management would be difficult, let alone taking over Forest Bank..."

"Forget it, it's not your fault. Let's see what Mr. Patterson decides...losing once is no shame. In business, there's no guarantee of making money forever..."

"Get out! Get the hell out of here!"

"Alright, we're leaving! We're going now! Hope next time we meet, you'll still be as tough, Mr. Patterson..."

As Old Bass, who was in a triumphant mood, was directly scolded twice by Patterson, he also felt angry. Giving Patterson a cold look, and Carter and Goodman, they left the meeting room...

"Phew~"

When there were only FDIC staff and Carter left in the meeting room, Patterson suddenly sighed wearily. He sat on the conference table, legs dangling over the edge.

"Goodman! With no outsiders here, give me the real picture! I know there were issues with your accounts last year, I don't care what you did with that money, tell me, how much capital can you mobilize now?! Even if it drops the risk ratio below 2%, I can keep you afloat for two years!"

"Mr. Patterson..."

Pressing down Carter, who was getting excited, Goodman also suppressed his excitement and answered calmly:

"I can only tell you, if nothing unexpected happens, our Burke Bank now has sufficient strength to take over Forest Bank! As for what unexpected events...I believe Mr. Bass has made it clear just now..."

"Haha, yes! He's made it clear, I've lost this time! I was careless...Come, have some water!"

Picking up two bottles of drinks from the table, Patterson threw one to each of Carter and Goodman before giving a bitter smile.

"Actually, that old guy wasn't wrong. Even if we don't make a penny, as long as we can dispose of Forest Bank this week, my mission will be perfectly completed. But for someone like me, who's used to exceeding targets, that's a failure! Even if, at the current price of forty-three thousand, I hand it over to you, it's still a failure for me!"

"I've had it too easy these past few years. Having these setbacks is good. Now it depends on whether you're willing to gamble with me. If you take over Forest Bank, the days won't be easy...If it's just a risk warning, I can help you cover it up, but financially, I can't do anything."

"Let's be clear, I want revenge! This is the biggest humiliation I've ever experienced in my life. Help me, and I'll help you. As long as you can make money, revive Forest Bank...I don't care how you make money, even if you use depositors' money to sell leaves, as long as it's not too excessive and doesn't cause too much trouble!"

"I'll cover for you! When you stabilize Forest Bank, in the future, Bass Bank will also be called Burke! And those other two too!"

"I've said my piece, what's your stance?"

What stance? As Patterson said, taking over Forest Bank would inevitably come with trouble. But where was the core of that trouble? Money! Not unemployment rates...

That stuff certainly had an impact on banks, but what it really impacted was the government, not the banks! Banks only cared about account funds! Others were afraid because a rise in unemployment rates would increase bad loans, leading to financial bankruptcy.

Currently, what Burke Bank lacks the least is money! Even if the entire loan portfolio of Forest Bank goes bad, Carter still has enough confidence to ensure that Forest Bank will not collapse!

"Since Mr. Patterson has said so, then of course we will not hesitate!"