My capital is quite large.

Chapter 193 Waiting for the Best Price

April is just around the corner.

In the top-floor conference room of Haofeng Group's headquarters, a business game spanning half the globe is unfolding.

Several blond, blue-eyed American executives sat on one side of a long table, their expressions stern and tinged with an air of arrogance that suggested they were determined to win.

They were an acquisition delegation from Microsoft headquarters.

"Mr. Li, we see extraordinary educational value and creativity in the game Minecraft."

Microsoft's representatives offered their bargaining chip: "Microsoft is willing to invest $8 million to acquire all the copyrights to the game and its subsequent development team."

$800 million, which is equivalent to more than 5 billion yuan.

For an indie game made up of pixel blocks, this was an astronomical price in 2013 that would have driven any indie developer crazy!

"8 million US dollars?" Li Feng chuckled.

"Gentlemen, I think you haven't figured out the situation yet."

"Minecraft has surpassed 10 million copies sold globally across all platforms in the past year! It's more than just a game; it's the cornerstone of the future metaverse and sandbox ecosystem!"

"$8 million? Are you trying to fob us off like beggars?"

The Microsoft representative's expression changed slightly. He gritted his teeth and added another bargaining chip: "$12 billion! Mr. Li, this is the maximum premium we can offer!"

"My bottom line is $25 billion. Not a penny less, no discussion." Li Feng delivered his final verdict in an unequivocal tone.

$25 billion!

The Microsoft delegation was in an uproar when this number was released!

This is robbery! In their eyes, Li Feng is making a classic case of asking for an exorbitant price!

"Mr. Li, your offer is absurd! It's completely beyond our evaluation model!" The head of the delegation stood up, somewhat annoyed.

"Then come back to me when your evaluation model is updated."

Li Feng had no interest in saying another word of nonsense. He got up and led Zhang Xinyu out of the conference room.

He wasn't in a hurry at all.

As a reborn individual, he knew perfectly well that in his previous life, Microsoft had acquired Minecraft for a staggering $25 billion in 2014!

It's only 2013, and Microsoft's ecosystem development isn't urgent yet, but it has plenty of time.

Anyway, the game is making money every day in Haofeng's hands, so he put it down at the bottom price and then let the game department's business team slowly negotiate with these Americans.

If they can't reach an agreement in six months, they'll negotiate for a year. He's determined to get that $25 billion!

……

Back in the president's office, Li Feng had just sat down when Zhang Xinyu walked in with a stack of weekly departmental reports.

"Boss, this is a briefing on investment projects submitted by the Investment and M&A Department this week."

Zhang Xinyu placed the documents on the table and casually remarked as she flipped through them, "These are all documents submitted by small workshops. The investment department basically rejected them all with C or D grades."

"However... there's a 3D animated film project called 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back' that looks rather pathetic."

Zhang Xinyu pointed to one of the reports that had been returned with a D rating and mentioned it as a joke, "The director is a newbie named Tian Xiaopeng, who's been begging for money everywhere with a script that's like a monkey. I heard he even used up his wife's savings, and now his funding has dried up. The animation is half-finished and stuck on the computer, and he's begging the investment department to invest tens of millions."

"The assessment from the investment department is that the domestic market for adult-oriented 3D animated films has been sluggish for years, lacks box office appeal, has extremely low returns, and is considered a high-risk, non-performing asset."

"The Monkey King returns?"

Li Feng's hand, which was about to drink tea, froze in mid-air!

"Give me that report!" Li Feng's voice suddenly rose.

Zhang Xinyu was startled and quickly pulled out the D-level report that was underneath and handed it to Li Feng.

Li Feng quickly flipped through the report, his heart pounding as he looked at the familiar name and the rough concept drawing of Sun Wukong.

This is a Grade D non-performing asset?!

These incompetent people in the investment department know absolutely nothing!

The movie "Monkey King: Hero Is Back," which was originally released in 2015, broke the record for the highest-grossing domestic animated film with a box office of 9.56 million yuan!

It was not only a money-making movie, but it also started the myth of "the rise of Chinese animation"!

Starting with it, later films like "Ne Zha" and "Jiang Ziya" formed a Fengshen Cinematic Universe that raked in billions at the box office!

"Nonsense! What kind of bullshit D-grade rating is this!"

Li Feng slammed the report on the table. "Go, call the head of the animation division under the film and television department over here!"

A few minutes later, Xiao Chen, the head of the animation division, ran into the president's office, sweating profusely.

"Mr. Li, you wanted to see me?" Xiao Chen asked timidly.

"Have you seen this investment proposal for 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back' in your animation department?" Li Feng asked, pointing to the report on the table.

"I...I've seen it." Xiao Chen wiped his sweat. "But Mr. Li, apart from cartoons like Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf for kids, there's practically no market for 3D domestic animation for adults. Investing in it is just a waste of money..."

"The market is built by showcasing good works!" Li Feng interrupted him coldly.

"Starting today, let's establish a rule!"

"From now on, for any animation-related project, especially 3D Chinese-style animated films, all investment evaluation reports must be sent to me separately for my personal review!"

"Especially! If any script involves the IP of the three mythological figures Sun Wukong, Nezha, or Yang Jian, regardless of how the investment department rates it, bring them all to this desk!"

These three mythological IPs are an inexhaustible gold mine in the future!

As long as Haofeng Films can hold the copyright and distribution rights of this mythological universe, they can rake in billions of yuan in box office revenue every year, even if they do nothing!

Hearing the boss's instructions, Xiao Chen was puzzled, but how could he dare to say a word of dissent? He could only nod repeatedly and take notes.

After finishing taking notes, Xiao Chen mustered up his courage and tentatively asked a question:

"Mr. Li, since you're so optimistic about domestic animated films, how about... something like 'Boonie Bears' or 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf'?"

"It seems like 'Boonie Bears' is releasing its first feature film at the end of this year, and I heard they're looking for investors everywhere. Should we take this opportunity to secure a stake in the project?"

In Xiao Chen's view, if one is going to get into animation, then a children's animated feature film with a huge audience base, which releases one film every year without fail and is guaranteed to make a profit, is definitely the safest investment target.

Upon hearing this, Li Feng pondered for a moment.

Did the "Boonie Bears" movie make money?

Of course they make money! And they never lose money, reaping a steady wave of box office revenue every Spring Festival, with very stable profits.

But Li Feng still shook his head: "I won't vote."

Xiao Chen tried to speak up: "Mr. Li, but... those two animated feature films are very stable in the market. They're a guaranteed profit-making business every Spring Festival. If we..."

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Li Feng slightly raised his eyelids, his cold eyes sweeping across Xiao Chen's face.

With just that one glance, Xiao Chen's words caught in his throat!

He then realized that he had actually dared to question the boss's decision!

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li... I spoke out of turn." Xiao Chen was so frightened that he kept bowing his head and admitting his mistake.

Li Feng withdrew his gaze, his tone completely calm, and said, "Get out."

"Yes!" Xiao Chen felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly left the president's office.