The Tyrant Billionaire

Hardy nodded.

"While they're at it, they should also look into plant-based products like essential oils and floral extracts for the cosmetics industry, as well as natural dyes extracted from raw materials."

Andy jotted everything down.

In business, sometimes the less conspicuous ventures proved to be the most profitable. As long as they reached scale and mastered proprietary techniques, such businesses could generate earnings comparable to high-profile industries.

Contrary to popular belief, airlines didn't make much money in the long run. Meanwhile, seasoning and spice businesses—though often overlooked—commanded a global market worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually. With Hardy's extensive resources, now was the perfect time to enter the field.

The Hardy Governor's Residence in Penang had been completed. It was a stunning property—a European-style villa surrounded by gardens reminiscent of those in Granada.

...

The next day, Andy informed Hardy he was visiting the Haji family.

Haji Maryam, who was on holiday, was currently in Penang. Hardy strongly suspected that Andy had come along primarily to see his girlfriend.

At the Haji residence, Andy received the highest level of hospitality. The Haji family was overjoyed that their daughter was dating Andy. If Haji Maryam married him, the Haji family's status in Penang would rise significantly, ensuring a more stable and prosperous future.

Sitting beside Andy, Haji Maryam held his hand. Andy spoke sincerely to Haji Omar, the head of the Haji family: "Uncle, I've come to seek your and Auntie's blessing to marry Maryam. She truly hopes to have her family's support."

"Of course, we agree! How could we, as parents, oppose such a loving couple?" Haji Omar replied with a broad smile.

"Thank you, Uncle," Andy said earnestly.

"Thank you, Dad," Haji Maryam said, blushing as she expressed her gratitude.

That evening, the Haji family hosted a grand dinner for Andy, treating him as their future son-in-law.

The next day, rumors began circulating that Andy, the company president, had proposed to Haji Maryam, the second daughter of the Haji family, and that the family had agreed. A wedding was said to be imminent.

It was likely that the Haji family had deliberately leaked the news.

When Hardy heard about it, he laughed and said, "That guy—getting married has been so hard for him. He finally made it."

...

In 1956 A piece of news shocked the world.

The British Parliament passed a resolution granting Singapore independence, making it a member of the Commonwealth. This meant that Singapore had attained full sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Penang and Malacca remained as part of the Hardy Dominion, still under the British Empire's jurisdiction.

Following this, Singapore invited other states in Malaya to join and form a federal state together.

Johor was the first to respond.

Since Hardy orchestrated the downfall of the original Sultan of Johor and installed his brother in his place, Johor had essentially been under Hardy's control. By joining the federation, Johor could completely break free from British colonial rule.

Johor's participation created a significant ripple effect in other regions. Hardy's growing influence in Malaya left other Sultans hopeless about achieving independence. The British allowed them to join the federation, but it was clear that this federation would also fall under Hardy's control.

Faced with two undesirable choices, the Sultans hesitated. They wanted full independence to maximize their rights and benefits.

Hardy, however, was in no rush to deal with them. His focus was on Sarawak and Sabah, regions on the island of Borneo. They had previously been directly administered colonies, giving them a governance system more advanced than the Sultan-controlled regions of Malaya. Strictly speaking, the British had "purchased" these territories from the Brunei Kingdom.

By this time, Brunei had shrunk to a small area.

Hardy planned to incorporate Sarawak and Sabah into the federation. As for Brunei, discussions revealed they intended to remain independent.

...

1957 After Hardy introduced a series of preferential policies and social subsidies, Sarawak and Sabah agreed to join Singapore.

At this point, the Federation of Singapore was formally established, adopting a political system similar to the British model: a unitary parliamentary democracy with a cabinet system, as a Commonwealth nation. The head of the government was the Prime Minister.

At the same time, Hardy's son, David Hardy, retained feudal rights over Singapore, while the Sultan of Johor maintained limited powers similar to those of a noble system.

This arrangement laid the groundwork for persuading the Sultans of Malaya to join. It demonstrated that even within the federation, they could retain certain privileges and benefits. While they couldn't become kings, they would still hold prominent positions.
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In strategic terms, Hardy adopted a siege strategy: leaving one side open. Forcing opponents into a desperate fight could create greater trouble.

Sabah's area: 74,000 sq km Sarawak's area: 123,000 sq km Johor's area: 10,000 sq km Singapore's area: 700 sq km

The total area of the Singapore Federation: 207,700 sq km.

By contrast, the remaining Malaya Peninsula had only 100,000 sq km, with nine Sultans presiding over it.

In 1958 The Singapore Federation officially joined the United Nations.

On the Malaya Peninsula, the Sultans still governed as British colonies, though their power was dwindling. Observers could see that both the Hardy Dominion and the Singapore Federation were under Hardy's control. With Hardy's territory expanding, his power grew even stronger. Would he eventually annex them?

This left the Sultans uneasy.

They were caught between two undesirable options:

Independence: If they broke away from Britain, what if Hardy waged war against them? Who would protect them?

Colonial status: Remaining British colonies felt humiliating and unacceptable.

This indecision paralyzed them.

Hardy, however, ignored their turmoil, focusing instead on developing his own power. Ultimately, the world respected strength, and Hardy understood the need to grow his.

Economy: Hardy leveraged his Hardy Group's connections with the United States, Europe, and Japan, exploiting Singapore's resources to build a booming economy. The economic growth of the Hardy Dominion and the Singapore Federation outpaced the rest of Asia, seizing first-mover advantages for future profits.

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