The defeated competitors, such as Greenland Group, Jindi Group, and Poly Real Estate, turned and left dejectedly. They had no face to stay and watch others bask in the joy of victory.
"You're too kind, Director Ma," Mavi responded with a casual smile. So this is what it feels like to spend lavishly at an auction—it was quite exhilarating.
"Haha! Earlier, when I saw you not bidding, Mr. Mavi, I thought you weren't interested in this land!" Director Ma laughed heartily. With this land auction, he had flawlessly completed the political task assigned from above.
"By the way, Mr. Mavi, did you know? Your bid of 200 million yuan just set a new record for the highest land transaction in Shanghai's housing sector!" Director Ma said, his tone filled with amazement as he gave Mavi a thumbs-up in admiration.
"Oh? Is that so? Then I'm honored. If the opportunity arises, I'd be willing to purchase two more plots in Shanghai," Mavi said, not just out of politeness. The A316 plot he won today was solely for developing Asia's top riverfront luxury residences. He still needed another plot for a commercial and entertainment hub, similar to Wanda Plaza.
Director Ma was instantly energized by Mavi's boldness. He quickly asked, "Really, Mr. Mavi? Our Land Resources Bureau is currently planning a new plot, which is 1.5 times larger than A316! The location is decent, though not in the Lujiazui Financial Trade Zone. Would you be interested?"
Mavi smiled at the offer but didn't rush to respond. The most valuable land in Pudong New Area was in Lujiazui. If the plot wasn't there, building a commercial center wouldn't be highly profitable.
It might be better to look at Puxi instead—places like Huangpu, Jing'an, or Luwan Districts. A commercial plaza in any of these areas, close to major business districts and subway stations, would guarantee high foot traffic.
"I'll consider it when the time comes, Director Ma. Thank you for your hospitality over the past few days." Though Mavi was a second-generation Russian oligarch, he upheld basic etiquette. No matter how rich he became—even if he made it onto the Forbes list—he would always maintain his politeness and humility.
"Of course, Mr. Mavi! I'll have my team send you the land details when the time comes," Director Ma said eagerly, though his real focus was on the fortune in Mavi's pockets.
After shaking hands with Director Ma, Mavi left with his bodyguards and drove away.
### Two Weeks Later
Mavi spent 2.8 billion yuan on a 90,000-square-meter commercial plot on Huaihai Middle Road in Luwan District.
In his previous life's timeline, this area was slated for the development of the iapm Mall—one of Shanghai's top three shopping centers, home to world-class luxury brands.
Having secured premium land in both Pudong and Puxi, Mavi was finally satisfied and prepared to return to Russia.
For his birthday splurge, he had extravagantly spent 5.6 billion yuan—equivalent to 70 million USD. However, while it seemed like a massive expense, the future investment return was expected to be at least 20 to 30 times higher, reaching hundreds of billions in yuan.
With the land secured, Mavi needed reliable partners for design and construction.
"Young Master, the preliminary quote from the American firms is at least 82 million USD, covering design, construction, materials, transportation, and other costs," Ivan, his butler, reported on the plane, handing him the proposals from two U.S. construction firms.
"82 million? They might as well be robbing me!" Mavi scoffed as he reviewed the cost breakdown and checked his bank balance.
After spending 70 million in Shanghai, his Citibank account only had a remaining balance of 127 million USD. He was dangerously close to dropping from a nine-figure balance to eight—a troubling situation, especially with looming investments in Google, VK, and Marvel Studios, all of which required significant funding.
If his cash flow didn't keep up, he could face severe financial strain.
"How much would the cost decrease if I hired American or German designers but used local Chinese teams for construction, without fully importing materials?" Mavi calculated in his head. The construction, materials, and transportation costs were absurdly high—practically daylight robbery.
By outsourcing construction to domestic firms, he estimated the total cost could drop by at least 40%.
"That would bring it down to about 50 million USD… but that would leave only 77 million in my bank. That's still tight…" Mavi continued weighing his options.
Meanwhile, a major research project he had proposed at Russia's Central Naval Design Bureau had recently been approved and was in the early stages. Within one to two months, the bureau's scientists would begin requesting funding for the development of a new frigate design.
When the time came, the Navy would undoubtedly ask Mavi how much he was willing to invest. After all, he was the one who had initiated the project.
If he contributed too little, the Navy would cover most of the costs themselves. In that case, even if the frigate design was successful, most of the resulting orders wouldn't go to Mavi's Northern Shipyard. At best, he'd receive a few minor contracts. Furthermore, his standing within the Russian Navy would take a massive hit.
Marvel was generating steady weekly profits of 10 million USD, but most of that value was tied up in the stock market—he couldn't sell shares quickly for cash.
His other investments—Google, VK, Amazon, and real estate—were all long-term holdings, incapable of solving his short-term financial needs.
Just as Mavi was feeling the pressure of his dwindling funds, a piece of fantastic news arrived from across the ocean, like a lifeline in a financial storm.
Blizzard Entertainment had nearly completed the development of Counter-Strike! The game was in its final stages of polishing and refinement.
"Mr. Mavi, I have great news for you. The Counter-Strike game you commissioned us to develop is expected to be fully completed within this week," Blizzard President Mike Morhaime reported enthusiastically over the phone.
This was two and a half months ahead of schedule. The high efficiency was due to three key factors: the hard work of Blizzard's entire team, Mavi's early and precise direction on the game's core mechanics and details, and, most importantly, the overwhelming success of Counter-Strike's promotional campaign.
The promotional video had gone viral, and all 500,000 pre-sale CD keys had sold out, boosting team morale. With such momentum, Blizzard's employees were more driven than ever, pouring their energy into the game's development.
And now, the much-anticipated release was just around the corner.