The Rise Of A Billionaire 1943

What kind of preparations can be made in advance?

First, some members of the task force can be selected to study physics, especially nuclear physics, in the United States and Britain, laying a talent foundation for the future development of nuclear technology. No matter what you want to develop, talent is the most important.

Of course, it's also necessary to win over some big names—for example, He Jianxiong. This nuclear physics expert was a participant in the Manhattan Project. With her involvement, Borneo's atomic bomb could be completed at least five years earlier.

Naturally, some experts and scholars who participated in the nuclear weapons programs of Italy and Germany could also be recruited, perhaps even forming a team centered around them to engage in "peaceful use of atomic energy" research and development.

Of course, that's just a cover!

"The most important thing is still uranium!"

Without uranium, it's impossible to make an atomic bomb. Uranium is the most critical raw material for atomic bombs. In the other world, Western countries often prevented others from developing nuclear weapons by controlling uranium mines.

"Uranium mines… uranium mines…"

Muttering to himself, Pierre put down the report in his hand, stood up from the big table, walked across the room, and stood by the window, gazing down at the bustling people and vehicles in Manhattan's central business district. Manhattan, New York, is not only the heart of this financial empire, but also the financial heart of the world. No matter what detractors say, for at least the next century, it will remain the world's financial center.

In this financial empire, all kinds of people gather—not only Americans, but also many foreigners. Especially after the outbreak of war in Europe, many wealthy Europeans fled to America, to New York. Among them are all sorts of people, including board members of the Belgian Union Minière du Haut Katanga.

This company may not seem remarkable, but it owns the world's largest uranium mine. In 1942, to promote atomic bomb development, the United States bought as much uranium as possible. Although there were uranium mines in Colorado and Canada, nowhere in the world had uranium reserves that could compare to the Shinkolobwe mine in Belgian Congo.

The geology of Shinkolobwe can only be described as "a freak of nature." Nowhere else could such pure uranium be found. In the United States and Canada, ore with 0.03% uranium content was considered promising, but Shinkolobwe's ore contained up to 65% uranium. Even the tailings, considered too poor to process elsewhere, contained 20% uranium.

"Shinkolobwe uranium mine…"

Pierre narrowed his eyes, wishing he could take over that uranium mine immediately.

But it was just wishful thinking. Taking over Union Minière was simply impossible—they had long since been incorporated into the plans of the American military. In recent years, most of the uranium produced at Shinkolobwe had been sold to the United States, with a significant portion also going to Germany. This was because Belgian businessmen and colonial officials in Congo generally harbored pro-Nazi sentiments, allowing the Germans to obtain various materials there, including diamonds and uranium.

"Is there a way to use the Germans to get a batch of uranium first? Just a few hundred tons would be enough!"

In his heart...

With these calculations, Pierre had no choice but to face reality: he needed Berlin's help for this matter.

After all, only Berlin could help him obtain uranium ore. San Dezi had been operating around the world for a long time, and during the war, San Dezi's overseas intelligence agents conducted covert operations to collect intelligence and various strategic materials for Germany. It could be said that they made significant contributions to enabling Germany to sustain the war up to this point.

But with San Dezi's defeat, these overseas intelligence agents had all gone into hiding, fearing they would be arrested or even killed as spies or war criminals.

"It would be a pity if these people were disbanded."

Originally, Pierre had been focused solely on the uranium ore, but suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him!

"What if I took over San Dezi's overseas intelligence network?"

The moment this idea surfaced, Pierre felt a surge of excitement.

When a whale falls, all things thrive!

The collapse of an empire contains astonishing wealth, much of it intangible—for example, Germany's overseas intelligence network, which was an invisible treasure.

Striding back to his desk, Pierre sat down in his luxurious leather chair and glanced at the report spread out on his logbook—a dossier on the New Kolobwe uranium mine. After thinking for a while, Pierre muttered to himself,

"Maybe I can have them use uranium ore as their token of allegiance."

Who were "they"?

Naturally, those San Dezi intelligence agents who had gone into hiding after the war.

"By then, I could completely use them as the core to organize an intelligence agency independent from the current system. This agency would be like…"

Unconsciously, a term flashed through Pierre's mind—Hydra!

Thinking of the infamous villain from the Marvel movies he'd seen, Pierre couldn't help but curl his lips into a sixty-degree smile.

Create Hydra!

That seemed like a pretty good idea!

If he let his imagination run wild, during the Cold War, he could use "Hydra" to stir up trouble worldwide.

No, to be precise, he could use "Hydra" to do things that couldn't be done in the open. It could even become a third force, apart from the US and the USSR, participating in global affairs.

"Not global affairs, but the harvesting of wealth!"

Pierre began jotting down notes. What would the postwar world look like?

It would be a turbulent world, with one colony after another gaining independence, bringing opportunities beyond imagination. Those colonies were rich in oil and other mineral resources. Perhaps Borneo could seize the chance to get involved, but it would never be able to intervene as deeply as the US or USSR. After all, that would mean direct conflict with those superpowers, something Pierre would strive to avoid in the future.

But who could just stand by and watch such a heaven-sent opportunity slip away?

In just twenty years after the war, the colonial empires of Britain and France crumbled, and their colonies gained independence one after another.

When a whale falls, all things thrive!

If he seized the opportunity, the rewards would be unimaginable!

There were indeed some things Borneo couldn't do directly.

For example, helping colonies gain independence, orchestrating the rise of certain madmen, or even installing puppet regimes!

Having "Hydra" do these things would be perfectly normal.

Even if exposed and investigated by the US or USSR, what would they find?

Disgruntled remnants of San Dezi!

At most, intelligence agencies around the world would discover a secret organization called "Hydra." Perhaps its leader would be called "Red Skull," a mysterious San Dezi operative.

And Borneo?

It would remain perfectly hidden in the shadows, the other side of the coin.

Excited, Pierre even sketched out Hydra's emblem. Putting down his pen, he leaned back in his chair, whistling in satisfaction.

"Long live Hydra… All right, that's settled!"