Chapter 465 - Acquiring Marvel (Part 2)

Goodman was left speechless, and finally, in frustration, he slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "That's the only way! The company needs money to survive. What else can I do? But one day, I'll get them all back!"

Laila shrugged nonchalantly, "But when is that 'one day'? If Marvel is in my hands, I can start reclaiming all the rights now. Don't you want to see a truly complete Avengers team on the big screen?"

"...," Goodman sat back in his seat, his strength drained away. Her words felt like nails piercing his heart, leaving him lost for words.

Indeed, when would that "one day" come? The Avengers were his dream, his vision of bringing Marvel's superheroes together to create a universe. There, superheroes would join forces to defeat villains and save the world, creating one marvel after another. He believed that if he could bring the Avengers to the big screen, everyone would fall in love with them.

But he didn't have the chance now. To keep the company afloat, he had to sell his superheroes one by one, and his dream of the Avengers felt increasingly distant.

He had to admit that her words struck a chord with him, making him momentarily doubt whether his presence had indeed been detrimental to Marvel. Could it be that the company's dire straits were partly because of him?

"Four hundred million! Mr. Goodman, you should know this is a very generous offer!" Laila raised the original bid once again because she had detected his hesitation.

Hesitation was good; it meant he was wavering. She just had to keep pressing!

"I can bring back all the lost heroes, put superhero movies on the big screen, and even bring them to my amusement park, where they can become beloved idols and toys for children. Most importantly, Mr. Goodman, don't you want to sit in this position and watch all of this come to life?" Laila's confidence was infectious, and the clouds finally lifted from Goodman's face.

"Is that to say..."

Laila smiled confidently, "Exactly. Even if I acquire Marvel, I won't make too many changes to the company. I believe that Marvel will shine its brightest under your guidance, so I welcome you to stay in your position. With my support and cooperation, I'm sure Marvel will regain its vitality in the shortest time!"

Laila's words weren't empty promises; every word was based on facts. She had the money, a movie production company, and the benefits from her rebirth. If there was anyone in the world who could revive Marvel without detours, it was undoubtedly her.

Could Goodman do it? Maybe. But it would take at least seven to eight years to rise from the brink of bankruptcy by creating Iron Man. As for before that... he could only teeter between bankruptcy and struggling to stay afloat.

The Avengers were Goodman's dream, and he wanted to bring back the heroes who were outside. Every proposal Laila made seemed to address his deepest concerns and desires. If she could really do what she said, then selling the company to her might not be as bad as he had initially imagined. After all, she was someone who loved superheroes and comics, wasn't she?

With his decision made, he no longer hesitated, saying, "Alright, if you can include those conditions in the contract, I can agree to the acquisition."

Laila stood up with a beaming smile and extended her hand to him, "A pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasure doing business with you!" Goodman shook her hand, his gaze complex as he looked at her, "I hope this won't be a decision I'll regret."

"Reality will prove that you've made your best decision," Laila assured.

Laila's confidence had an impact on him, and the cloud of doubt in his mind began to dissipate. "Alright, let me introduce you to some of the talented staff members," he said as they stood side by side.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure."

The two of them left the meeting room in a harmonious atmosphere, leaving behind Quentin and his team members, who were all looking at each other.

"Boss, why do I feel like we just came here to be a wall painting?" one of the team members complained.

"Even as wall paintings, you're here to make money. What's wrong with that?" Quentin glanced at the complaining young man with a touch of annoyance.

Well, after today's events, he had come to believe that there really were geniuses in the world. Not the kind of genius people bragged about, but true monstrous talents.

Just a few words had achieved results that their negotiations had failed to produce for weeks. What else could he say? The only thing he hoped for now was that this matter wouldn't be mentioned by her in front of his future children, as it would be too embarrassing!

He had initially wanted to use the stubborn Goodman to give Laila some trouble, but the one who got slapped in the face was him.

"Hehe," he suddenly laughed. He really wondered how far she would have developed ten years from now. If a person from ten years in the future suddenly told him that she had ruled the entire world, he'd probably find it not so far-fetched.

A week later, Marvel officially announced its acquisition by Laila for $400 million, causing many to exclaim, "Goodman made a fortune!" As for his struggling company, even $40 million wouldn't have found many takers. Those who envied Batman and Superman movies could easily have purchased the rights to one or two superheroes, which was better than shouldering the entire burden of a company.

In contrast, comic book fans responded positively to the news. Perhaps it was because Aiden's coffee shop had boosted her popularity, and they all knew that Laila was also a fan of superheroes. They believed that a mega-fan taking over the comic book company wouldn't let it simply wither away, right?

What excited them even more was the series of plans Laila announced shortly after the acquisition.

First, she planned to bring back all the superheroes who were previously sold off.

Second, she would personally create a superhero movie within the year.

Third, she would invest $50 million in building a new superhero theme park, where comic fans and superhero enthusiasts could get up close and personal with the charm of superheroes!

These three plans stirred excitement among comic fans and enthusiasts. The second plan, in particular, made everyone jump for joy.

Who was Laila? She was a famous Hollywood director, a magical genius who never made a movie with a budget of less than $300 million. The X-Men from 2000 hadn't reached $300 million in box office revenue, and it left the production company overjoyed, with the media calling it unbelievable. What if Laila directed the new movie? It would surely amaze everyone even more!