Chapter 85: Big Winner
Once market confidence is shaken, it is difficult to recover. This has forced many technology companies to repurchase their own stock to restore stockholder confidence, just to avoid a total collapse.
But things were not so simple. Capital betting on the rise and fall would not let go of this rare opportunity. Everyone was wrestling in secret.
William, however, only needed to wait quietly. Throughout March and early April, he never left the VIP room of the National Bank. He was too busy to even think about Alexander.
He spent all day discussing strategies with his men. In the past month, the NASDAQ had fallen more than 430 points, earning him over one billion US dollars in that time.
After not seeing William for many days, Alexander finally couldn't help himself and came to the bank to find him. William, in no mood to be humble, did not hold back from showing off his divine results.
After hearing William had earned $1 billion, Alexander pestered him every day for the next few days. He constantly persuaded him, hoping William would cash out, and even quarreled with him, threatening to go back to Brazil.
At this, William would say nothing. He refused to let Alexander return to Brazil at this critical juncture. *He* wouldn't leave unless his wife gave birth or he was deathly ill. This was the moment of the final, decisive battle—the moment the Devinhir family wealth would surge, and the best time to establish the Devinhir family at the pinnacle of England.
After sending Alexander away, William refocused on every whisper and movement in the NASDAQ and the US market. As William had hoped, a Federal Judge announced in April that, based on the collected evidence, a monopoly had been proven.
The court's announcement of the investigation's findings—accusing Microsoft of being a monopoly—was the real beginning of the US stock market collapse.
Microsoft's market value in this era was too high, soaring at $600 billion. If Microsoft was split, how much would be lost? For those who bought Microsoft stock with high-power leverage, this was a thunderbolt. Once Microsoft was split, how many people would go bankrupt?
As soon as the news broke, ordinary shareholders holding Microsoft stock began to panic, and a massive number of sell orders appeared. The stock market immediately began to fall. The computers at the exchange couldn't handle the volume.
A scene reminiscent of 1987 unfolded at the exchange as a huge backlog of orders waited to be transacted. This only increased the shareholders' panic. By May 14, the NASDAQ had fallen from 5048 points on March 10 to 3500 points.
William had already begun selling the three-month stock index futures he opened in March, starting when the NASDAQ index was at more than 3,700 points in May. He held the report Philips had given him.
His mood was indescribable. His selling points for the futures contracts this time were above 3600 points. During his contract period, the NASDAQ index fell a total of 1,400 points, and William earned $2.44 million. This time, he earned a total of $3.416 billion, in addition to his $350 million principal and $82 million in additional margin.
After the contracts were delivered, he had a total of $3.848 billion, all in cash. Two-thirds of that money was made from the 'island nation' (Japan). When William thought about this, he felt a cool rush of satisfaction.
Then he thought of paying taxes, which made William's heart and liver ache. Although he didn't know the exact amount, it would definitely be in the hundreds of millions. He was extremely reluctant to pay.
If you don't pay such a large amount, you're just waiting to be targeted by the authorities. The tax department will assign dozens, even hundreds, of agents to watch you 24 hours a day, all around the world. They will stare at everything you do, and any company or individual having commercial exchanges with you will also be scrutinized. If possible, they will even arrest people directly.
In short, outside of Europe and Asia, the federal tax bureau (IRS) is the most powerful, most hardcore, and most difficult institution in the Americas. If you don't comply, they arrest people, seal assets, fine them, and throw them in jail.
If William wants to live in Europe and the United States, he dares not go against them. If he wants to continue investing in the US, he cannot do this. It would be too easy for the federal tax bureau; mere suspicion could block all of William's investment intentions in America.
If you want to acquire more than 5% of the shares in an American company, you must declare it to the US government and get approval from several federal committees to complete the trade. At that time, as a suspected tax evader, William wouldn't be allowed to invest in the United States.
It was just like the Facebook co-founder (who owned 1.4% of the stock); he changed his nationality to Singapore to avoid taxes and has faced trouble ever since.
It seemed he had to discuss this with his lawyers and the National Bank. The tax still had to be paid, but there were many ways to pay and *where* to pay. Otherwise, why would there be so many lawyers in Europe and the United States? Although lawyers are expensive, they do help you save money legally.
Although there might be some trouble later, that was all in the future. William watched the excited crowd in the VIP trading room, walked to a table, and clapped his hands.
"Thank you all for your hard work and effort over the past three months. Guys, you truly deserve to celebrate. I will use 1% of this profit as your extra bonus. That means, for these three months, the 11 of you will each receive an income of $7 million. Congratulations, guys. You are all millionaires! Now, cheer and celebrate!"
"Long live, long live Mr. Devinhir!"
"Oh my god, I'm going to Hollywood! I'm going to the beaches in Brazil! Beach beauties, wait for me!"
William, having just announced the bonus, had to play the bad guy and remind them: "Okay, while you're happy, don't forget secrecy. Don't forget to manage your mouths."
"'No problem! I won't even tell my wife or parents! I guarantee not the slightest news will get out,' everyone vowed."
"'Alright, guys, after my money is back in the National Bank account, it's time for you to get your money and travel. Let's get this done,' William clapped his hands."
"'No problem, boss. We promise it will be in the account tomorrow,' Philips said, patting his chest to guarantee it."
William nodded and picked up the phone to call his private lawyer, Anthony.
"'Hello, boss, do you have any instructions?' Anthony's voice came over the phone."
William said, "Anthony, how is my castle? Have three months been enough to refurbish it?"
"'Of course, boss. Some of the most professional construction companies are eager for work. We found the 3 best design companies. Your mother, Mrs. Devinhir, has been overseeing the castle's construction progress in Oxford for the past three months. The main body and interior of the castle have been repaired. In a few more days, the grasslands, woods, and fountains outside the castle will be completed. Congratulations, Mr. Devinhir. All of England now knows you bought back the Devinhir family castle.'"
"'Thank you, Anthony. I have a case involving hundreds of millions of dollars in taxation. Would your office be interested?' William said."
"'Hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes? Boss, you made that much in the stock market? God, boss, you must be God's illegitimate son! Of course, we are interested. Boss, do you want us to go to Switzerland, or wait for you in England?' Anthony asked excitedly."
"'Just wait for me in England. I'll be back in Oxford in two days. I'll be waiting for you at the castle,' William said."
"'Understood, boss.'"
William hung up the phone and said to Philips, "Call a restaurant to deliver meals. After the money comes in tomorrow, everyone can take their cut and enjoy life. But stick to the gag order."
Philips smiled at William. "It's okay, boss. Everyone understands the importance of confidentiality. Besides, this whole operation was thanks to your decisions, boss. We each earned 7 million US dollars. No one has any dissatisfaction. They understand your approach."
"It's good that you understand. Haha, I just don't know if there will be such a good opportunity again in the future," William said.
He didn't know if the stock market would behave as it did in his previous life. Success this time still involved a large component of luck. The inertia of history was still very strong. However, because of his participation, the NASDAQ index had fallen more than 100 points *further* than it did in his previous life.
Although the broad strokes of the future might not change, it would be impossible for him to be as precise down to a few points as he was this time. History had already been altered.
The risk of high-leverage futures operations is extremely high. A shift of just a few dozen points can liquidate you. If you can't cover the position, losing your entire principal is normal.
This chance of getting rich overnight was gone. However, there were still plenty of opportunities in the stock market. US stocks would fluctuate over the next year, bottoming out around 1,400 points. By then, he could buy stocks in companies with bright prospects at low prices. Waiting for US stocks to appreciate, William's assets would rise several times over. Although it would take a long time, it wouldn't require the same audacity as this operation. William believed he would definitely be the richest man in England ten years later. It was entirely possible. Thinking of this, William felt wonderful. A beautiful life was waiting for him.
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