Building

"Grandpa, I know you are rich but I didn't know you were that rich. This big land must have cost a lot."

"If you are a super genius, why wouldn't your grandpa be super rich?" Sullivan finally got his grandson's attention and the stuffy feeling in his chest was gone. "Besides, even if those Watergate scandals and the Vietnam war are going on, the land business still has its own highs and lows. I was lucky enough to buy this at it a low period, so it is all good."

"I also already have my most prized factory in this area, so it was just a matter of time to buy out its surrounding infrastructure."

"It would still cost a lot. During dinner, I always hear you complaining about your toy business being badly battered. Why are you doing that when you have a lot of money to spare?" Alexander's tiny head had trouble wrapping around the inconsistencies that his supposedly normal grandpa are bombarding him.

"I've been saving up money even before your father was born. Of course, I would have accumulated a lot of money. How do you think I would have funded my widely spread franchises?"

"Stubbornly keeping the toy business afloat is just my way of preserving my life's work and maintaining a source of income for you and your father. If it truly goes bankrupt, there was always plan B where I could have had you guys use my savings to find other sources of income." Old Sullivan told his aspiration and means. "If plan B really came around, I fear your father would have probably wasted it in a lot of moviemaking."

"However, thanks to you, genius fella! I could continue the toy business while mixing it up with little parts from plan B. Making you the unexpected but much-needed plan C!"

"So, in short, you are a billionaire!" Alexander finally got the gist of it and his black pupils shone with admiration whenever he looked at Sullivan.

A billionaire is of the highest stature in the 21st century, so being a billionaire in the 1970s is an insanely impressive achievement.

"Shh!" His grandfather gestured to keep it down while saying to him in a low voice. "Your grandpa is a secret billionaire that even your father doesn't know about. Remember this Alexander, it is okay to be low-key but it is even better to have extra hidden aces up your sleeve. The Creeds followed this virtue for centuries and the money I have now comes in part from the efforts of our elders."

"Even though I am a large contributor to having that much money being kept under wraps. Your great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather were the ones who established the template that I am following."

Although he previously credited his moneymaking endeavors to Other Joe, Alexander was now seriously considering making his grandfather as his true role model.

From what Alexander knows of him, his Grandpa didn't even have a bodyguard unit or notable secretaries and only comes off as a common millionaire struggling to keep his business afloat.

His assets must only be known by the banks and not the people he works with. The ancestral Creeds must really be akin to dragons hoarding gold or in this case, green papers.

Old Sullivan was a real-life manifestation of the anime trope of being insanely powerful but disguising himself to be non-threatening.

Other Joe is the life to avoid while Grandpa Sullivan is the life to strive for.

Success! Sullivan inwardly celebrated as he achieved what he planned for. He was really jealous of Mark for getting Alexander to work with him and he was now able to even the playing field and had unknowingly surpassed it.

Everything he had said to Alexander was true and his most powerful trump card was wastefully used just so he can get high scores in his grandson's imaginary charisma board.

He was already in his sixties and even if he failed to make his name known to the world by tomorrow, at least his precious grandson would remember him at his best.

With the hidden agenda out of the way, all that was left was to enjoy the tour and breezily bond as grandfather and grandson.

Alexander was only able to walk around the safe area and most of the construction and renovations were still in the planning stages, so he made suggestions that Sullivan could incorporate into his building plans.

It was only about hiring experts to make the buildings as sturdy and disaster-proof as possible. Every engineer and contractor treats that as common sense in their field, so Alexander only wanted it to be as foolproof as possible.

Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and all sorts of natural disasters are prevalent in North America. Alexander was just being too paranoid in making sure that a building in Los Angeles would prepare for such contingencies, even if they are improbable.

"Whatever you say, Alex!" Old Sullivan wanted to continue showing off to his grandson, so he agreed. This would be the reason behind the making of a super-secure and disaster-ready building complex in California.

"How about I draw some building designs and have you check if they can be used?" The little boy realized that his grandpa was in a spoiling mood, so he decided to take advantage of it. He had a super-rich grandpa and he would be stupid if he didn't use his powers as a super-rich grandson.

"Of course, I could even have the engineering team check it for you." As expected, Sullivan acquiesced and the little boy outwardly cheered to show his happiness.

Alexander really found this trip totally rewarding. With his grandfather splurging, the little boy plans to make the Cosmic HQ deserving of its name.

Although engineers and architects of this time are known for building stable and long-lasting structures, their exterior designs were not much to be desired for.

Alexander didn't want to have to hole himself in buildings that would become obsolete in the next few decades.

However, his grandfather just told him earlier about being low-key, so he has to do it in moderation.

If he was really gearing himself to live up to his best aspirations, the result could really be as impressively sci-fi and futuristic. He had abundant resources in pre-inflation times, so it would be easily possible.

Unfortunately, he had to consider a lot of things, so he was now busy thinking of ways to make a 1974 building impressive but still fit his grandfather's grand yet subtle standards.