Chapter 264: Bulgari, Gucci, Fendi, Prada...

**September 19**

In New York, the aid group and the study group gathered for a crucial meeting and reception.

Leading the aid mission was Deputy Secretary of State Dean Acheson. The delegation comprised three teams: Hardy's California Consortium, the Rockefeller Consortium led by David Rockefeller, and the Citi Consortium team headed by Citibank President William Rhodes.

Dean Acheson, with his energetic demeanor and trademark mustache, greeted everyone with a warm smile. "It's an honor to meet you all, the chairman and the president. Since the implementation of the Marshall Plan last year, we've established relationships with European countries and distributed part of the assistance."

"President Johnson believes we can deepen our aid efforts, so I invite you to join this mission. Tomorrow, we set off together for Italy."

The venue was bustling with fifty or sixty people, many of whom were familiar faces in the business world. Conversations and handshakes filled the room.

David Rockefeller approached Hardy, offering a friendly handshake. "Hello Hardy, this is our first meeting. I'm David Rockefeller."

"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Rockefeller," Hardy responded with a smile and a handshake.

David Rockefeller, part of the third generation of the Rockefeller family and currently the chairman and general manager of the Manhattan Bank Executive Committee, was both impressed and curious about Hardy. At just 27, Hardy had achieved remarkable success, building a vast fortune from scratch, whereas David's own success was largely attributed to his family's wealth.

David admired Hardy's accomplishments, noting his rapid rise from a small company to becoming a significant player in the financial world. He had done his homework and was keen to learn more from Hardy's business strategies.

"I'm very interested in your experience, Hardy," David said. "Your business strategies often yield surprising results. We'll be working together, so I'd love to hear more about your methods."

Hardy smiled. "Certainly, I'd be happy to discuss it when we have the chance."

Next, Hardy met William Rhodes, President of Citibank, who was in his sixties and of Jewish descent. Their conversation was cordial and brief.

As the meeting continued, Hardy had the opportunity to connect with various American business leaders.

**September 20**

The mission's first stop was Italy, a country deeply scarred by the war but poised for recovery thanks to the Marshall Plan. The U.S. aimed to support Italy significantly to prevent it from aligning with the Soviet Union.

Italian Prime Minister Archid Gasbelli welcomed the aid delegation. Since the Marshall Plan's inception in 1947, the U.S. had already provided $130 million in aid to Italy. This visit marked the introduction of a new batch of aid plans and private investment opportunities.

The Italian government presented a comprehensive list of over 130 companies across various sectors: oil, power grid, natural gas, insurance, credit, automobiles, shipping, food, precision instruments, machine manufacturing, and luxury goods.

The three consortia each had their interests. David Rockefeller was particularly focused on the oil industry, while the California Consortium, represented by Hardy, showed interest in Zhongli Insurance Company. The Citi Consortium had its sights set on the Italian National Grid.

For some businesses, multiple consortia expressed interest, necessitating private negotiations and potential joint ventures. There were also opportunities for companies focusing on goods, such as Crocker Agricultural Company, which offered better and cheaper food products.

Hardy was intrigued by Maldi Shipping Company, which had lost most of its fleet during the war and was in urgent need of investment. The company operated ferries and freighters on Mediterranean routes and was in dire straits.

Hardy approached Mr. Pierce from the Ministry of Commerce. "Mr. Pierce, could you help me get in touch with Maldi Shipping? I'd like to discuss potential investment."

The official agreed enthusiastically and promised to arrange a meeting within a day. Hardy also inquired about investing in the luxury goods industry, despite it not being on the official list.

The official was surprised but confirmed that they could arrange a contact for luxury goods investments.

Later, Andy and the Wells Fargo president joined Hardy. Andy suggested Fiat Automobiles, noting its potential but limited external share availability. Hardy agreed with Andy's assessment and supported pursuing a 5% acquisition.

The Wells Fargo president was interested in acquiring a small, bankrupt bank in Italy to serve as a branch for Wells Fargo.

The next afternoon, Gerry Mardi, president of Maldi Shipping, arrived in Rome. He was the second-generation heir of the Mardi family and was eager to discuss investment possibilities.

Hardy offered two options: leasing or investing directly in the company. After negotiations, they agreed on Hardy investing in three Liberty ships and two Victory vessels, acquiring a 66% stake in Maldi Shipping, and leasing additional ships. This deal positioned Hardy to control a major shipping operation in the Mediterranean.

Finally, the Ministry of Commerce had put out a newspaper ad about Hardy's interest in the luxury goods sector. This led to a flood of responses from over 60 luxury brands, some well-known and others obscure.

Hardy reviewed the list and noted several familiar names:

- Bulgari

- Gucci

- Fendi

- Prada

- Zegna

The opportunity to invest in these prestigious brands promised substantial returns, setting the stage for significant future gains.