540: Chapter 535 I'm just investing, this is just a transaction.

"I told him that he was the one who first pocketed the Family's interests."

"Grandpa didn't say anything at the time, but that very night, he transferred the authority over the European business from Roger to me."

Kevin picked up his water glass and drank it all in one gulp, as if recalling that heart-pounding battle.

"And there was my cousin, Marcus."

"He was always in charge of the Family's energy investments, getting along famously with those oil tycoons in the Middle East."

"You once reminded me that new energy is the future, and those old energy assets would eventually turn into liabilities."

"I advised him to transition, but he wouldn't listen; he even mocked me as an academic who knew nothing about business."

"So, I found an opportunity at a Family banquet to make a wager agreement with him in front of everyone."

"We bet on whose sector's profit growth rate would be higher over the next six months."

"He agreed without a second thought."

"Then, I invested in all those projects you previously gave me."

"Hydrogen energy, controlled nuclear fusion, graphene batteries..."

"Those projects seemed like pipe dreams back then. Marcus and his team mocked me daily behind my back, saying I was throwing money into the water."

"And the result?"

A proud curve lifted the corner of Kevin's mouth.

"Two months later, oil prices plummeted."

"Marcus's energy sector suffered losses exceeding thirty percent."

"Meanwhile, the graphene battery company I invested in achieved a breakthrough in technology, was procured by the military, and its stock price multiplied twentyfold overnight."

"That day, I personally asked Marcus to step down from his position as President of the Energy Investment Department."

He spoke quickly in one breath, seemingly wanting to pour out all the frustration, forbearance, calculation, and the thrill of turning the tables from that entire year to the only person present who could truly understand him.

Shen Yan just listened quietly.

He didn't interrupt, nor did he offer any evaluation.

He knew that what Kevin needed wasn't guidance, but simply an audience.

A witness who would allow him to drop all pretense and share the fruits of his victory.

In this vast Hossen Family, Kevin was the lonely King.

And he, Shen Yan, was the one forging the scepter for the King.

The waiters began serving the courses one by one.

The exquisite plates were set down gently, making faint sounds.

Kevin's one-sided monologue was finally drawing to a close.

His emotions settled, and he realized he had perhaps been too unrestrained.

"I apologize, Mr. Shen, I..."

He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, "I got a bit too excited."

"You did very well."

Shen Yan cut a small piece of steak. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"Even better than I imagined."

A simple compliment made Kevin's eyes instantly light up.

This satisfied him more than all the praise from the entire Board of Directors.

"Now, is there anyone left in the Hossen Family who doesn't respect you?"

Shen Yan inquired.

"A few distant uncles, and some elders."

Kevin's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

"They don't say it out loud, but they still think I'm too young and my methods are too radical."

"But it doesn't matter. As long as Grandpa still supports me, they can't cause any real trouble."

"That's enough."

Shen Yan put down his knife and fork and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

The appetizer was finished; it was time to get to the main topic.

"I need your help with something while I'm here in the US."

"Tell me!"

Kevin immediately sat up straight, his expression like a soldier awaiting orders.

"I need Hossen Capital to invest ten million US dollars into a lab called 'Dawn' under the guise of an Angel Investor."

Shen Yan's tone was very calm.

"Furthermore, I need you to personally appear and lend credibility to this project."

"'Dawn' Lab?"

Kevin paused briefly, "What do they do? Quantum Chips?"

"How did you know?"

"It was ranked first in the Future Technology Trend Report you gave me earlier."

Kevin replied instantly, like a student who had memorized his lesson.

Shen Yan nodded.

However, Kevin didn't agree immediately; he frowned.

"Mr. Shen, I don't understand."

"It's just a Quantum Chip project. Although its prospects are vast, it shouldn't require my personal endorsement, right?"

"Moreover, ten million US dollars for an Angel Round—this amount, for Hossen Capital, wouldn't even require a board meeting discussion."

"Are you poaching talent?"

Kevin's mind worked quickly.

"You've taken an interest in the lab's team, but they are hard to poach, so you want to use my name to endorse them and increase persuasiveness?"

"No."

Shen Yan shook his head.

"It's not about increasing persuasiveness."

"It's about applying pressure on their current owner."

"Their owner?"

Kevin was even more confused, "Who?"

"Vance Group."

Hearing that name, Kevin's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Vance Group? That ancient family dealing in energy and heavy industry?"

"They understand Quantum Chips too?"

"They don't."

Shen Yan picked up his wine glass and gently swirled the deep red liquid inside.

"But the legal heir of the Vance Group, Arthur Vance, he understands."

Then, Shen Yan concisely explained Arthur's predicament and his 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell' plan to Kevin.

After listening, Kevin remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Shen Yan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was shock, confusion, and even deeper awe.

After a long while, he finally processed everything and couldn't help but exclaim.

"Mr. Shen, sometimes I truly suspect you only came to the US specifically to do charity work."

He shook his head with a wry smile.

"The first time you came, you pulled me out of that quagmire and put me in the position I hold now."

"This time, you are going to casually save a dreamer who is being treated as a puppet by his own family."

"If you didn't have your own company, people would probably think you were sent by some reclusive family specifically to save us struggling princes."

Kevin's words carried a hint of teasing, but his eyes were extremely serious.

He knew better than anyone that every move Shen Yan made, seemingly effortless, required an immensely vast intelligence network and precise calculation of human nature behind it.

"I am not doing charity."

Shen Yan looked at him, his gaze calm.

"I am only investing."

"I invested in you because the Hossen Family's influence on Wall Street can provide a stable fulcrum for my future global layout."

"I invested in Arthur because his 'Dawn' Lab can provide the most solid foundation for my Artificial Intelligence empire."

"I help you because you can create greater value for me."

"This is just a transaction."