Chapter 484
The room was filled with top entrepreneurs, all engrossed in conversation about the fishing village project. Claude sat quietly among them, listening attentively and occasionally chiming in with his insights.
Tyler had been spearheading the initiative to acquire the fishing village. On the day the contracts were to be signed, they managed to get 3,900 out of 4,200 families to agree—a remarkable achievement. Yet, this was only the beginning. The remaining families, those who refused to sign, posed a significant challenge.
After leaving the meeting, Tyler’s assistant approached him. “The villagers want to meet with you to discuss some of their complaints.”
Tyler closed his eyes briefly and then asked offhandedly, “How is Camilla doing?”
The assistant was caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic and took a moment before realizing Tyler was asking about his wife.
“She’s with Ms. Olivia and hasn’t given us any updates. I think everything is fine there,” he replied.
Tyler closed his eyes again and leaned back, resting for a moment.
The assistant hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Should we meet with the villagers?”
Tyler opened his eyes. “Yes. Let’s go over.”
That night, they gathered at a restaurant in a tower in Vahari. Tyler entered the room where the village representatives were waiting and engaged in a meaningful conversation about the locals’ concerns.
The discussion soon focused on the village’s development. It was clear that the villagers depended heavily on the sea for their livelihood; losing their land would threaten their very survival.
The goal was for the Harris Group to understand the hardships faced by the villagers and possibly offer them better buyout terms.
Tyler understood their tactics. Calling themselves poor was a strategy—a first step.
He smiled calmly. “Our buyout offer is generous. The fishermen will be able to live comfortably. The fishing village is just a piece of barren land, but what we offer is education, opportunity, and a future.”
He paused to consider his next words. “Besides, no matter how much we pay, it won’t solve the real issue. The holdouts—the ones who refuse to sign—will be the hardest to convince. They just want more money. Now it’s a battle to increase the buyout price.”
One of the personnel advised, “You should be more generous. If the price is right, they’ll sign.”
Tyler shook his head. “If we treat them differently, what message does that send to the others who already signed? Once we give special treatment to the holdouts, the first 3,000 families will feel betrayed. We can’t allow that.”
He continued firmly, “Our rules are clear at the Harris Group. Those who sign early will receive the same compensation as those who sign last.”
The personnel were eager to finalize the deal. Developing Vahari would boost the economy significantly, and they were keen to see it happen.