Chapter 36: Finding Someone that Can Help
Timothy had barely checked into a modest hotel near Clarke Quay when his phone buzzed again. The city outside was alive with neon and order taxis gliding in perfect rows, trains humming beneath spotless streets. Singapore felt like another planet compared to Manila’s chaos. And for Timothy, this planet was the firewall he needed. If the Philippines smelled sharks circling his money, this place offered gates of steel.
He opened his browser and typed: Singapore law firm company setup. Dozens of results appeared. Glossy websites promised speed, discretion, offshore services, nominee directors. It was overwhelming, but one firm caught his eyes a mid-sized practice in Raffles Place with experience in corporate clients and wealth management.
Their tagline read: "Where discretion meets compliance." That was exactly what he needed. He booked a consultation online for the very next morning.
The office tower was glass and steel, air-conditioned into silence. Timothy sat in a leather chair, still in his travel-worn hoodie, while across from him a senior associate, Ms. Lim, regarded him with the kind of sharp calm that made him feel both exposed and oddly reassured.
"You want a corporate vehicle in Singapore?" she asked, pen poised over her notepad.
"Yes," Timothy replied, his throat dry. "A company. A bank account. Everything that makes it real."
She nodded, as if she had heard this request a thousand times, though maybe never from a twenty-year-old student with a backpack. "The fastest, cleanest path is a private limited company. Incorporation can be done in a day if all documents are ready. The bank account, however, is what takes time. You understand?"
Timothy nodded, forcing himself to look calm.
She explained it plainly, without dressing it up. Singapore required a local director someone who was a citizen or permanent resident. For foreigners like him, there were "nominee directors," professionals who legally sat in that role while Timothy remained the true owner. It wasn’t shady, not exactly, but it came with high fees and the promise that banks would scrutinize every corner of the structure.
"You will also need a registered address here," she continued, "and a company secretary. That’s mandatory. We can provide those as part of our service."
It was a lot of formality, but Timothy realized it was exactly what gave this city its reputation. Singapore wasn’t a place where you could cut corners. Everything had to look and be clean. That was why NVIDIA would trust wiring money here.
When the topic of the bank came up, Ms. Lim’s expression sharpened. "For funds of this magnitude, you cannot simply walk into a branch. The bank will demand full disclosure. Proof of identity, proof of address, beneficial owner details. And most importantly source of funds."
Timothy felt the back of his neck heat up. "Source of funds...?"
"The bank will want documents. Contracts. Agreements. Something that shows the transfer is tied to a real business transaction. A prototype sale, perhaps. Intellectual property. Something that makes sense on paper." She paused, then leaned slightly forward. "If you try to mislead them, you will not only lose the account. You will invite investigation."
The weight of her words settled heavily on him. He had been half-expecting a magical shortcut, but there was none. It was all paper, process, and signatures. Yet that was what would make it legitimate. That was what would make eight billion dollars look like a business deal, not a lottery win.
She didn’t stop there. "Banks will also want to know what the company will do after the transfer. You need a credible business plan. Even two or three pages, describing your company as an IP licensing or R&D outfit. That will make the account stronger."
Timothy’s pulse quickened. He could do that. He could present himself as a small but visionary R&D founder licensing his design. That was close enough to the truth just omitting the part about a supernatural system.
"Okay, I can do that. I do have a contract with NVIDIA."
"A contract with NVIDIA? What kind of contract is that? May I see it?"
Timothy handed her his phone for her to see.
She adjusted her glasses and leaned forward, scanning the first page with a lawyer’s precision. The words "Agreement between NVIDIA Corporation and Timothy Guerrero" were bold and unmistakable.
Her brows knitted as she read. Then she reached the payment section.
Her eyes widened. For the first time in their conversation, her calm mask cracked. "Twenty... billion... US dollars?" she whispered.
Timothy nodded once, his expression carefully neutral, though inside his chest thundered.
"Eight billion upfront upon signing. The remainder in structured tranches tied to milestones." She looked up sharply, as though making sure he wasn’t joking.
"That’s correct," Timothy said quietly.
Silence stretched. The hum of the office’s air conditioning filled the room like static. Ms. Lim leaned back in her chair, the contract still in her hands. She regarded Timothy now not like some student playing at business, but like a man sitting on the keys to a kingdom.
"This," she said slowly, "is not a contract. This is a weapon."
Timothy tilted his head. "So... can it help me open the bank account?"
Ms. Lim gave a small, incredulous laugh, shaking her head. "Mr. Guerrero, this doesn’t just open an account. This makes you a VIP client the moment you walk through the bank doors. Any major bank in Singapore would clear entire departments to process you. With these figures, you’re not an applicant. You’re leverage. You’re power."
Timothy smirked faintly. "So they’ll take me seriously."
"They’ll do more than that," she said, setting the folder down as though it might burn. "With eight billion in one tranche, the bank will assign you private bankers, compliance officers, even government liaison support if needed. They’ll bend the rules to have you, because clients at this level redefine their balance sheets."
The words sank deep. Timothy had thought about hiding from governments, from the BIR, from predators back home. But here in Singapore, with this document in hand, the game shifted. He wasn’t prey. He was power.
Ms. Lim tapped her pen against the contract, her voice calmer now but still edged with disbelief. "I will arrange introductions. Not the standard corporate desks. You will meet private banking divisions — DBS Treasures, UOB Privilege, maybe even HSBC Jade. They will compete for you."
"Okay, what do I do now? And how much will I pay for your service?"
Ms. Lim simply smiled.