The reason David Rockefeller was so humble just now came down to the two words Leo had mentioned — "oil."
Ordinary people brought up oil, and David wouldn't even lift an eyelid. Small oilfields meant nothing to him.
But Leo was no ordinary man — his publicly known wealth already exceeded one billion dollars. And the Rockefellers, masters of financial acumen, knew full well that a man like Leo, who understood every tax shelter in existence, was worth far more than what appeared on paper.
According to the Rockefeller family's own estimates, Leo's fortune was at least three billion dollars.
And if a billionaire worth three billion took interest in an oil venture — then David Rockefeller had every reason to take it seriously.
The Rockefeller family might have investments scattered across industries — even the New York Stock Exchange, that mighty machine for wealth creation, bore their fingerprints.
But oil had always been their core business.
Just as Leo's empire was rooted in real estate — with all his other ventures, from media to retail, branching out from that trunk — the Rockefellers' foundation was oil.
They could afford to lose a bank, even one as vast as the Bank of America, and shrug it off as business ups and downs.
But if anything threatened their oil interests — their true lifeblood — they would fight to the death.
What's more, David's grand plan for the future was deeply intertwined with oil.
With oil, he could leverage — no, control — the wealth of the entire world.
And before that grand plan could be set into motion, no accident could be allowed to occur.
"Tell me, what exactly is this oil deal you're talking about?"
David asked the moment they sat down, barely hiding his impatience.
Leo didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked calmly,
"I own two oil companies — one in South America, one in North Africa. Their reserves are no less significant than what Standard Oil recently discovered in Saudi Arabia.
What I want to know, Mr. Rockefeller, is this — how much are you willing to pay to have the word 'Standard' placed before their names?"
At that, David's eyes gleamed. If what Leo claimed was true — oilfields comparable to the Saudi discoveries — then this was no trivial proposition.
"I'll need to verify it," he said.
Leo nodded and gestured to Tony Lip, who handed over two folders containing the companies' details.
David skimmed through them, page by page. At least on paper, there were no flaws.
"Three days should be enough for your people to report back," Leo said. "You'll find me at the Atlantic Realty headquarters in the Empire State Building."
A wise move, David thought. Leaving Leo to wait showed his confidence. The man's vision truly is extraordinary.
Once Leo left, David immediately picked up the phone and dispatched several trusted agents to Venezuela and Libya for on-site verification.
Three days later, David Rockefeller arrived at Leo's office.
"Standard Oil must hold the controlling stake," David said flatly. "That's our bottom line."
Leo smiled faintly.
"I discovered these fields. If you want control, I assume you've prepared an offer generous enough to impress me.
Go on then, David — give me your best number."
David's eyes lit up. Leo hadn't rejected the idea outright — which meant there was room for negotiation.
"The Rockefeller family can withdraw from this war," David offered.
Leo chuckled.
"Whether you withdraw or not makes no difference. I don't fear competition — in fact, I welcome it."
David had only been testing him. If Leo cared about that condition, he could save himself both resources and money.
But Leo didn't bite. So David revealed his true offer.
"We can trade Westinghouse Electric for your oil interests," he said.
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"Does that include their shares in the American Radio Corporation?"
He asked because that company owned the largest television broadcast network in the eastern United States.
"Including those, yes," David confirmed. "But understand this — once you acquire them, merging the largest east and west coast networks may trigger an antitrust investigation."
Leo waved it off.
"I've had plenty of experience dealing with antitrust issues. That's not a problem.
But Westinghouse alone isn't enough — we're talking about two massive oilfields.
I also want half of your shares in the American Telephone and Telegraph Company."
David narrowed his eyes.
"You're after Bell Labs, aren't you?"
Leo shrugged.
"You know I'm always planning for the future. And in that future, who can afford to ignore Bell Labs?"
"Aren't you building your own 'Bell' out west?" David asked.
"That's just a seedling — it needs time to grow," Leo said lightly.
He didn't mention that if he ever gained access to Bell Labs, he planned a massive talent raid.
It was 1950 — the dawn of the information age was still some years away. Even with David's formidable foresight, he still underestimated Bell Labs' true value.
Finally, facing the irresistible lure of those oilfields, David nodded.
"I can give you ten percent. That's the Rockefeller family's limit. If you want more, you'll have to convince the other shareholders yourself."
Leo grinned.
"Oh, I will. After all, some of them might prefer compromise to conflict."
Indeed — many of AT&T's other shareholders were also Leo's rivals in this financial war.
Among them were General Electric, with its Morgan connections, and United Fruit Company, which had been plotting to push him out of Central America.
The two men ultimately struck a deal — Leo relinquished control of his two oil companies.
But it wasn't a loss; he had thought it through carefully.
First, the oil industry required long-term investment and infrastructure. Even with Gulf Oil under his belt, Leo knew they lacked the expertise to manage overseas operations on that scale.
Second, the Rockefellers were in the midst of building a global oil trading system — buying into oilfields across the world. If Leo resisted them now, he risked total suppression.
And if it came to that, he knew the family wouldn't stop until he was utterly destroyed.
Third, and most importantly — Leo knew David Rockefeller had already begun preparing for the next era:
Breaking the Bretton Woods system's gold-dollar link and replacing it with a new standard — oil pegged to the dollar.
"Oh, by the way," David said with a smile, "there's a bonus to this deal. From today on, the Rockefeller family officially becomes your ally.
In the Pentagon's industrial chess game — you will no longer be fighting alone."
Leo laughed.
"How generous of you. But I've just sold off my only two oilfields. I can't afford to repay such kindness."
David's expression turned cold.
"We are generous, yes — but generosity has conditions.
My father asked me to remind you: if you see through something, don't say it out loud. Otherwise, the Rockefeller family will make you regret it."
The Rockefellers had never underestimated Leo.
His sudden interest in oil — an arena he'd never touched before — immediately raised alarms within the family.
They held an emergency meeting and reached a conclusion: Leo had likely already guessed their long-term strategy.
And that strategy — the oil-dollar system — was nothing less than a plan to control the world.
So, as a precaution, John D. Rockefeller Jr. ordered David to test him.
Leo only smiled.
"I understand — oil is your core, your future. But tell me, David — since the Rockefeller family is now allied with the Valentinos…
Does your train to the future still have room for a passenger who can make it run even faster?"
David froze. Leo clearly understood more than he should. The question was — how much did he know?
Still, curiosity got the better of him.
"Oh? And how do you plan to help us?"
Leo leaned forward slightly.
"You know I have many friends in Europe. Through them, I have influence in their former colonies — especially in the Middle East.
I intend to help establish a council — the Arab League Economic Council.
It can discuss many things, but when it comes to oil — we must hold absolute authority.
You know very well, David — beneath that war-torn land lies unimaginable wealth."
David shivered involuntarily. Hearing his family's most closely guarded secret spoken aloud sent a chill through him.
This man is not someone to be made an enemy, he thought.
And what's worse — Leo hadn't just exposed their plan. He had offered a shortcut to achieve it faster.
"Europe's influence in the Middle East is still strong," David said cautiously. "Are you sure your council won't just become another tool for them?"
Leo shook his head.
"Europe isn't what it used to be. Between us and the Soviets supporting decolonization, Europe is now both threatened and dependent.
They'll trade what remains of their old wealth for immediate returns — because soon, even that won't be worth anything."
"Why not wait until those nations fully escape Europe's economic grip?" David asked.
"Because then we'd be seen as conquerors.
If we move now, we'll be welcomed as liberators."
David's eyes brightened.
"So how do we begin?"
"Simple," Leo said. "I'll arrange for Saudi Arabia to allow the U.S. military to use Dhahran Airport. That will serve as our entry point.
At the same time, an American investment delegation will arrive — including someone who represents both the U.S. government and Wall Street.
That person will propose forming the Arab League."
David frowned.
"Finding someone like that won't be easy."
Leo smiled.
"On the contrary — your second brother is perfect for the role."
David paused, then smirked. "My brother? And what about you, Leo? You'd do all the work, and let him reap the rewards?"
"I told you — I'm just a passenger lending a hand on your journey."
Leo knew that if he didn't take the initiative, the Rockefellers would do the same sooner or later. The outcome would be the same — only now, he'd gain a powerful ally.
David's mind turned — and another idea flickered.
"I have a granddaughter…" he began, hinting at a possible marital alliance.
"My children are already spoken for," Leo interrupted with a grin. "But I'm still young — perhaps my next child will do."
The two men laughed heartily.
Just then, Tony Lip entered hurriedly.
"Mr. Valentino," he said, "Goldman Sachs just released several reports damaging to our real estate companies.
They published detailed financials and pessimistic analyses — the stock prices of several of our listed firms are plunging."
Leo and David exchanged a knowing glance.
David stood and said,
"Then let's make our first act of cooperation a lesson — let's wake Sidney up."
Meanwhile, at the Morgan family estate on Long Island, Roland Morgan raised a glass of champagne and addressed his guests.
"Welcome, everyone. Though we've never held a gathering quite like this before, we are all… old friends.
And tonight, allow me to introduce a new friend — Sidney of Goldman Sachs!"
As he finished, Sidney entered, bowing politely.
Around the table sat Jack Morgan, Will, Alfred du Pont, Samuel, Harry Truman, and other leaders of the anti-Leo coalition.
Roland continued,
"Sidney's arrival has already brought us tremendous advantage. Previously, our attempts to strike Leo's real estate companies failed because our data was incomplete — he always countered easily.
But now, thanks to Sidney — who personally handled their IPOs — we have full access to internal documents.
His recent 'analyses' have sent Leo's stocks into freefall!
His net worth has dropped from one billion to seven hundred million — a heavy blow to his war chest."
Applause broke out across the room.
Leo had always been nearly invincible — every assault deflected, every rival humiliated. Truman, for instance, was now a powerless president, unable even to issue effective orders from the White House.
And much of that strength came from Leo's financial resources.
If they could bleed his capital dry, eventually he'd lose his grip — and then they'd pounce.
"There's one more piece of good news," Roland said, tapping his glass again.
But then he noticed the seat to his left was empty.
"Did you not invite Mr. Rockefeller?" he asked his secretary, puzzled.
He meant David Rockefeller — whose cooperation with the Morgans, DuPonts, and Wall Street bankers had been crucial to their campaign within the Pentagon.
"I did," the secretary said quickly. "I'll try reaching him again right now."