Chapter 30: The Golden Gamble
Meanwhile, back at Quinn's apartment, he sat in his office, staring out the window, pondering his next move. The city lights of New York flickered in the distance, a reminder of the constant hustle of the world outside. He was about to discuss something critical with Nexus when his female robot assistant, Ara, called him. Her synthesized voice carried a calm professionalism as she delivered the news.
"Master Quinn, I have just received confirmation that Ross Garcia has successfully wiped out the Sanchez cartel and the Lopez family," Ara stated. "All agreed-upon assets have been transferred into our accounts."
Quinn smiled, the corner of his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. "Sell the assets to Ross at 10 percent lower than market price," he instructed coldly. "And ask him if he needs more weapons. Let's see if he's eager to expand."
Ara's eyes blinked, acknowledging the command. "Understood, Master. I will notify him immediately."
Quinn leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. It had been a long road, but he was already well on his way to amassing a fortune that few could ever imagine. However, the pace felt too slow, especially now that he had larger ambitions—an island to build and an empire to cement.
His mind flickered back to the grand vision he had: an island that would serve as his fortress and stronghold, a place away from prying eyes where he could control everything from the shadows. It would take an enormous amount of capital, but with Nexus and his relentless ambition, he knew it could be done.
"Alright, Nexus," he said, sitting up straighter. "It's time to shake things up in the market again. This slow crawl to riches through conventional means isn't going to cut it. We need a big win, and we need it now."
Nexus, as always, responded with a voice as smooth as silk. "Of course, Quinn. But first, you should decide what to bet on. The market offers many opportunities."
Quinn pulled up several screens, each displaying various commodities, currencies, and indices. He scrolled through them, watching the minute-by-minute changes in global markets. After a few minutes of research, his eyes settled on gold.
"Gold," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "People have always trusted it. It's been a symbol of wealth for centuries."
Nexus chimed in, offering insight. "Gold's price is heavily influenced by global tensions, inflation fears, and central bank actions. We could exploit that. Shall I begin manipulation?"
Quinn nodded decisively. "Yes, but here's the plan. Make gold rise steadily for the next ten minutes. We'll let the world think that something is brewing. As the market goes long, we'll come in and short it. People won't see it coming."
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Quinn stared at the screen, waiting. Then, Nexus went to work. On global exchanges, the price of gold began to inch upward. Slowly at first, just enough to catch the attention of traders who followed the commodity markets religiously. Then, the rise gained momentum. News outlets started reporting the surge, attributing it to growing fears over currency instability and international tensions.
Quinn watched as the price rose by 6 percent in ten minutes. It was just as they had planned. Now, it was time for the real play.
"Place the short orders," Quinn commanded, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his desk. "We'll crush the market when they least expect it."
Nexus complied instantly, and Quinn placed a staggering $100 million in short orders. The market, still riding the wave of optimism, absorbed the orders with ease. The unsuspecting traders thought they were in the middle of a long run, and everyone wanted a piece of the action. Quinn's orders disappeared into the market, unnoticed by anyone, as the price of gold continued to rise—until it didn't.
Nexus initiated the second phase of the plan. Within minutes, the gold market began to unravel. The price, which had been rising steadily, suddenly started to plummet. At first, it was a gentle dip, but then it turned into a freefall. Panic gripped the markets as traders scrambled to understand what was happening. The once-booming gold rally was now a catastrophe for those who had gone long.
In less than twenty minutes, the price of gold had dropped by nearly 7 percent. Billions of dollars were wiped from the market as investors watched in horror. Quinn, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear. He had made $800 million in less than an hour.
"Nexus, let's reverse our position," Quinn said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Place long orders, but this time, double the amount. Let's see if they can absorb that."
Another $700 million worth of long orders was placed, and, as before, the market was only too eager to absorb them. The panic from the previous crash had caused massive demand, and now everyone was buying up gold again, thinking the worst was over.
Once more, Nexus manipulated the market, sending gold prices soaring within minutes. Traders, thinking they had weathered the storm, piled into the rising prices, confident that the market had stabilized. They had no idea that they were playing into Quinn's hands.
As the market rose again, Quinn repeated the process, letting it climb to dizzying heights before pulling the rug out from underneath. The second crash came even faster and harder than the first. In the blink of an eye, billions more were lost by those foolish enough to bet against him.
When the dust finally settled, Quinn checked his balance. His heart raced as he saw the numbers on the screen: $4.3 billion in cash. His liquidity had reached an astronomical figure, far beyond what most could even dream of.
He leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. This was power—real, unshakable power. And with $4.3 billion in liquid cash, he could now move forward with his plans for the island. He had the capital to build not just a hideaway, but a fortress, a base of operations from which he could control everything.
"Nexus," he said, his voice calm but filled with determination, "the island project begins now. Get everything ready."
"Yes, Quinn," Nexus responded smoothly. "I have already started compiling the necessary resources for your island. With this capital, we can begin construction immediately."
As Quinn sat there, staring at the vast empire he was building brick by brick, he knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning. He had already conquered the financial world, but his ambitions reached far beyond that. The island would be the foundation of something much greater—something the world had never seen before.
And for those who stood in his way? They would be crushed, just like the traders who had bet on gold today.