Capítulo 16: Chapter 16: Blocked at Home by Reporters
Seeing his mother's happy and proud expression, William felt equally satisfied. Without the pressure of money and life's struggles, and no longer having to worry about her son's future, Lena seemed to be rejuvenated, talking much more than usual.
"William, The Sun is really incredible. They found out most of our family history in just one day. Although some things are inaccurate, most of it is true. It's a shame that I couldn't inherit your grandfather's title because I'm a woman. But it seems you have a chance to inherit the Earl's title. Aunt Mary Hendricks from Oxford told me the Earl of Oxford has been trying for ten years and still has no heir."
"Let's not bother with that, Mom. You know how suppressed the English nobility is now. Nobles don't dare to reveal their status. Besides a few paltry tax benefits, their social status and influence have plummeted, and they face restrictions everywhere. Only those whose careers and reputations have hit a ceiling seek the title of Sir to boost their visibility and expand their networks. Who cares about noble titles anymore?"
Lena nodded sadly. "Yes, if it weren't for the Nobility Inheritance Act, your grandfather wouldn't have borrowed money to inherit the title, only to sell the family castle and assets to repay the debt. By the time the title reached my generation, there were no male heirs to inherit it, and your grandfather died in despair. Henry's biggest regret was that the title was inherited by a distant relative with no familial affection. Even after ten years, that scoundrel hasn't produced an heir. The title will eventually come back to our family."
With William now possessing immense wealth, Lena couldn't help but entertain new ideas. She knew of a dormant force waiting to be reactivated, but she decided not to tell William about it yet, fearing it might affect his negotiations with the gaming companies.
Unaware of his mother's thoughts, William comforted her, "Alright, Mom, let's not dwell on this. Besides, what's the point of discussing it now? We'll talk about it when the time comes. Titles are just titles. Who knows when England might abolish the nobility? With so many people opposing the aristocratic system, we shouldn't concern ourselves with it."
Lena lightly slapped William's arm, "No, the title must be reclaimed. You were too young to understand your grandfather's pain and helplessness. Titles do have many benefits. Otherwise, why do you think Parliament works so hard to suppress the nobility? They're afraid the nobles will gain too many advantages."
"Yes, yes, Mom, you're right. But don't forget, I'm not a pure-blooded Englishman. If I were to inherit a title, who knows how many people would oppose it? We're doing fine as we are. You can live your life peacefully. When my children are born in a few years, our family will become lively again."
Hearing William talk about grandchildren, Lena playfully complained, "William, you can't bring me a grandchild now. I'm not ready to be a grandmother. I'm only 39. I haven't even accepted the fact that you've grown up. Thinking about becoming a grandmother gives me a headache. God, it means I'm getting old."
Thinking about a cute baby calling him daddy, William felt a mix of joy and nervousness. Having never been a father in either of his lives, he wasn't sure how to handle it. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm only 19 and don't even have a girlfriend. How could I become a father now?"
Lena, worried, said, "William, you should get a girlfriend. Otherwise, the newspapers will start saying you're gay."
William nodded in agreement. He no longer needed to pretend to be a quiet, studious bookworm. But finding a girlfriend should happen naturally.
The phone rang, and William saw it was Anthony calling. He walked to the window to answer it.
"Hello, Anthony."
Anthony's anxious voice came through the line, "Hello, boss. Have you decided how to respond to today's Sun article? Maybe we should send them a legal notice to warn them. We can't let them act so recklessly."
Thinking about using The Sun to position himself as a genius and push for keeping the game in England, William replied seriously, "No need for now. Today's report is fairly normal. While it may cause some negative impact, the benefits are greater. Offending the media now would be more detrimental. I need the media to speak well of us. As long as they're not spreading malicious lies, let them report."
After a moment of thought, Anthony agreed, "Alright, Mr. Devonshire. I'll do as you say and carefully review every paper's comments. I won't disturb you further. Goodbye, Mr. Devonshire."
"Goodbye, Anthony. Call me if anything comes up."
"Understood."
Hanging up the phone, William opened the curtains, and suddenly flashes went off, followed by a barrage of camera flashes. Looking outside, he saw that his house was now surrounded by reporters.
"William, William, can we have an interview?"
"William, I'm a reporter from The Times. Can you give me an interview?"
"William, I'm with The Telegraph. Can you give us an exclusive interview?"
Seeing reporters from major English newspapers like The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian, William felt his head swell. They had come so quickly.
Looking at the excited reporters outside, William knew he wouldn't have peace until he addressed them. It was also a good opportunity to convey some favorable messages about the game.
"Mom, there are too many reporters outside. I'm going to go deal with them."
"William, be careful with your words. Don't fall into their traps," Lena cautioned.
"Got it, Mom. I'll be careful."
Opening the door, William stepped onto the front steps and smiled at the photographers.
"Alright, everyone, I'll accept your interview. But please stay safe. You can ask me three questions. After that, please leave the street. You're disturbing the other residents, and they might call the police."
Hearing about the possibility of the police being called, the reporters quieted down a bit, but soon started shouting again. They weren't afraid of the police; they could just leave if the police came.
"Alright, only three questions. Otherwise, I'll refuse the interview. I have the right to do that," William shouted.
A clever reporter quickly asked, "William, I'm Linda from The Times. How did you calculate the £100 million asking price? Do you think anyone will pay that much?"
"That's two questions, ma'am. But since you're a lady, I'll let the first one slide," William smiled.
"The Sun's morning report already explained it clearly. The game discs alone could sell for over £60 million. Once the game becomes popular, I believe the merchandise could easily sell over £100 million annually. Note that I said annually. And that's not even counting plush toys, movies, TV shows, books, theme parks, and other merchandise. Plus, the game's intangible value in boosting the company's brand is significant. For public companies, this can be several times, even dozens of times, the purchase price."
"Just look at the stock market's enthusiasm for IT companies from 1995 to last year. If I were to sell for £200 million now, many companies would be interested."
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