"Feel free to ask."

Xu patted his chest and said, "I, Xu, may not dare to speak of other things, but having been engaged in the land business abroad for decades, I still understand a bit about this."

"Alright."

Song Yun nodded and asked, "For us Chinese, is it easy to buy land abroad?"

"Well, it’s relatively easy. Outside, it’s a capitalist society, you know. In a capitalist society, interests come first. As long as you can pay, you can buy anything!" Xu said.

"Okay, buying land is easy, but what if I want to buy a... um, a small island or something? Can I buy a hundred-year or two-hundred-year property rights?" Song Yun asked.

"Well, buying an island is actually not difficult. The key is the property rights..." Xu said, "Nowadays, when purchasing islands abroad, they only offer usage rights, you know? You can spend a sum of money and get the island’s usage rights for several decades, which of course includes the surrounding maritime area. But ownership, that’s impossible to keep in your hands. Even if the land’s owner agrees, their country wouldn’t allow it. It’s akin to you buying their territory."

"Oh. Only usage rights?" Song Yun raised an eyebrow and said, "So doesn’t that mean they can take it away if they say so?"

"That wouldn’t happen," Xu said, "Although capitalist countries prioritize interests, they have a good habit of handling things according to contracts. Simply put, if you buy the island’s usage rights for a hundred years, they typically won’t interfere, like suddenly kicking you out after ten years. This is written into their laws, and if the system acted that way, you could sue them. This is incomparable to what we have here!"

"So, I could spend a sum of money, buy an island’s usage rights for a hundred years, and then live there for a hundred years without anyone bothering me?" Song Yun asked.

"Not exactly, sometimes you need to pay some value-added taxes and manage the island’s maintenance and its surrounding maritime area, all by yourself. In fact, many countries are quite willing to sell island usage rights. On one hand, they can make money; on the other hand, they can have someone help manage the islands. You know, the maintenance costs for these islands are quite astonishing, especially against the backdrop of the current global economic crisis. These costs are a significant pressure on the government’s mind. So, if you want to buy an island, this period is the best time to buy one. Prices are cheap, and the local government will offer many incentives. I’ve even heard that in the South Pacific, if you buy an island, the government will have special security forces to protect you!" Xu said.

"Oh!"

Song Yun nodded and asked, "What procedures are required to buy an island?"

"This does require procedures; around here, you need to navigate relationships, and the procedures are quite complex, but if you let me handle it, I can get it done in a day. So, Brother Song Yun, are you planning to buy a small island? Currently, buying small islands domestically is still quite rare. Firstly, the cost is too high; secondly, the national approval is strict. Even if you bought a small island, the government might still borrow it from you someday. The sellers won’t bother you, but our authorities certainly will, and Brother Song Yun, you must understand the nature of these people! As long as you’re a citizen of this country, they have the right to use anything of yours, including the usage rights of the small island you bought abroad." Xu said.

"Oh? Are you saying that even if I buy it, if someone upper-level wants to use it, my place will be used? Isn’t that truly a bit disgusting?" Song Yun asked.

"Of course, otherwise they might slap a big hat on you, which not just anyone can withstand. Otherwise, why buy an island abroad? Isn’t it for escape in the future? However, if it’s you, Brother Song Yun, then there’s nothing serious; your connections here are solid, and I doubt anyone would mess with you, right?" Xu flattered Song Yun.

"That’s true." Song Yun accepted the flattery contentedly and then asked, "Now, where’s the best place to buy an island? Which area has good environment without disturbances?"

"Generally, it’s better to buy around those islands in the Pacific, like Fiji. But now many people are buying islands in the Bahamas because the scenery is beautiful. Throughout the year, it’s still quite good there. Several islands have already been bought, the most famous being the world-renowned magician David Copperfield, who owns four islands there, developed into a beautiful place. The overall investment there is rumored to be over sixty million, though from what I know, David has invested at least one hundred million there. The returns, however, are very good. Brother Song Yun, are you planning something similar? The money comes quickly, but you need a strong consumer base!" Xu said.

"I don’t like crowded places," Song Yun said. "Somewhere with fewer people and better conditions, is there any?"

"Yes, there is," Xu said. That place is near the Hawaii Islands, where there’s a cluster of islands being sold together. The environment is quite good, and the conditions are suitable for human habitation. However, the price is excessively high. It’s said that the island master hopes that the islands can be sold for ten billion dollars. That’s simply impossible; even though the place is very beautiful, ultimately it’s not inland. Ten billion, just for a hundred-year usage right, who would buy it?" Xu said.

"Oh? How does that place compare to the Bahamas in terms of quality?" Song Yun asked.

"It’s obviously better. It’s called the Beville Islands, and there’s no mention of it on known world maps because the island master doesn’t let it be included. Moreover, they’re quite powerful in the Western World, so until now, Beville Islands have not been revealed to the public. I only learned about this group of islands after attending a gathering in the United States last year."

"Beville Islands? Who’s the island master?" Song Yun asked with interest.

"The identity of the island master is a secret to the outside world. However, I’ve heard from my friends that the master is Baron Rothschild."