[Chapter 845: Lost Faith]
The Mexican financial crisis had shaken the global economy, and natural disasters rattled places like Japan. The start of 1995 was less than promising.
Wall Street buzzed with more energy than ever. The volatile stock market could easily send adrenaline rushing through anyone who followed it. There was an old saying: if you love someone, bring them to New York because it's paradise.
But the real beasts of Wall Street, the titans of finance, were not the ones frequenting trading floors. Warren Buffett wouldn't be there, nor would William White.
Indeed, it came down to fear. No matter how steadfast someone's resolve might be, once they entered that atmosphere, it could drive them to madness. The winners believed they could keep winning, while the losers thought they could bounce back. Those who enjoyed fantasy novels understood this phenomenon well--the aura that surrounded them influenced their thoughts and actions.
Hence, the wise kept their distance.
Oil prices plummeted, gold declined, and everything seemed to be on a downward trend without any sign of recovery.
When people thought of international capital players, the name that immediately came to mind was George Soros.
In reality, no matter how esteemed Soros was, he didn't represent the full picture. The capital circulating in the market was close to ten trillion dollars, with no single market capable of accommodating that.
Typically, this capital diversified its investments. Some leaned toward precious metals, while others favored bonds; though the goal was always profit, the approach differed.
Mexico didn't hold significant sway in that market, merely a secondary investment. But Japan was a different realm altogether, attracting serious money from those optimistic about its future.
So, given Japan's troubles, capital would certainly seek other targets.
It was easy to speculate, but when it came to implementation, reality struck hard. The fact was, there seemed to be little worth investing in. Even Soros had taken considerable hits in Japan.
Soros had a reputation not just because of the size of his Quantum Fund but because many other investors tended to follow his lead.
"Another big quake? Jason, do you have a vendetta against Japan? I had no idea," a voice joked.
"Cut it out--this isn't about any personal issue. Just like anyone, I have my reasons for skepticism about them."
"Hey, be careful how you talk. You might have a different status now. Some things should go unsaid."
"Come on, it's not like anyone is around to hear, right?"
William White shrugged, disappointed. There was no need for such comments.
"Let's not go there. While a recurrence isn't out of the question, it's unlikely."
"Why? I didn't know you were an expert on earthquakes."
William shook his head with a wry smile. There was no need to be an expert; he simply understood the landscape.
"Jason, if there's another quake, then the current shake-up is the aftershock. Earthquakes come from tectonic pressure--which is normally slow to build. After a violent upheaval, there's usually a period of calm."
"If this is an aftershock, Japan might truly be in serious trouble. If it's significant, we could be looking at something close to a nine on the Richter scale."
"Nine? If it really hit like that..."
"Even if no one died in the quake itself, a tsunami would take everyone out, regardless of where they were. If that happens, it'll be like the end of the world. Hawaii and other places wouldn't stand a chance."
"Looks like Japan's situation might just line up that way."
"Of course, don't get sucked into doomsday hype. I'm currently shorting Japan; if you start spreading panic, the last thing I need is to be blamed by them."
William's words weren't just for Jason. In fact, media outlets under White Communications had received similar directives. The gist was clear: in terms of assistance, those sensational predictions were best left unsaid. Japan was already on edge, and any wrong move could have serious repercussions.
Despite America's penchant for disaster films, promoting doomsday scenarios wouldn't win favor here.
When it came to events like the Great Flood or Noah's Ark, modern ethics couldn't explain them away. If divine beings had such power, they shouldn't have allowed such calamities to unfold. And as for punishment--what became of the innocent?
Those who preached about the end of the world rarely had noble intentions. That idiot who prophesied 2000 as doomsday was just one example.
Whenever a major disaster struck, there would always be someone looking to profit from it--spewing nonsense and trying to cash in.
Faced with purportedly insurmountable forces, humanity often grew vulnerable. As the largest media conglomerate, White Communications wouldn't amplify that fear.
What even was this concept of doomsday?
If the end truly came, the last people who'd walk away with gains would probably be the wealthiest. There were plenty of investments still to be made; if it all ended, crying wouldn't help.
It was baffling--if the world were slated for destruction, why put faith in those so-called gurus? Did they possess any real means to save the world?
If they did, surely they'd act to prevent such calamities. If they didn't, why not focus on enjoying life and making the most of every moment?
"Son, we took care of those guys," an associate mentioned.
"Good. Aren't they the ones who claim to champion science? Can earthquakes even be explained scientifically?"
"They're just a bunch of frauds. I don't get why such an obvious scam remains untouched. But they're all pathetic anyway. By the way, keep an eye out, the Russian mob has shown their faces again."
"Ha! Those fighting men couldn't stand back; of course, they'd dive right into action. Negotiating? That wouldn't even be on the table."
"Right, just be careful not to let anyone overly boastful slip through. They still have to keep a low profile."
"Sure, I'll have our lookout attentive. The surface crowd is already disconnected from us."
"Great."
After finishing off the last of his whiskey, William couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed only the mob had a firm grip on things these days. The world had become a ridiculous place.
"Sir, we're looking at a loss of about 150 million pounds this time."
"Damn it, how did it get so high?"
"Sir, there weren't buyers to absorb the losses, and the Nikkei faced a sharp decline. If we hadn't acted quickly, it would've been worse."
Soros sighed heavily. He had hoped to face off against William White, but it seemed the fates favored White instead. What had started as an even playing field had tilted dramatically against them.
"What about the White Fund?"
"Not much action there. They pulled back on shorting U.S. stocks and increased their focus on shorting London. Overall, the changes in capital were minimal."
"Got it. Let me have a moment of peace."
*****
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