Chapter 86: Whatever the Winner Says Is Right
The next day, all the money William had made in the futures market was safely deposited into his account at the Swiss National Bank. Looking at the balance displayed on the computer, William jumped up with excitement and signed ten checks, each for $7 million, for the ten traders.
After the traders signed a supplementary confidentiality agreement, they couldn't wait to take their checks and leave to pack their personal belongings. They hadn't been home or even made a phone call in three months and were desperate to see their wives and children. The three who were single had already made plans to go on a trip together—the beautiful beaches were waiting for them.
In the bank's VIP room, the Vice President of the National Bank, Johnson, watched William hand out the bonuses, his face a mask of regret.
He wanted to slap himself. He deeply regretted not following his intuition when William earned his first $32 million. He should have pushed the board of directors to mobilize funds to invest with William. Even if the bank wouldn't, he should have taken out his own money and given it to William.
Although William hadn't said anything explicit, Johnson was no fool; he understood William's hints all too well. The regret had kept him up all night. If he had just given William $1 million, it would have turned into $10 million. A tenfold return! How many years would it take him to earn that kind of money? It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He prided himself on being a decisive man, but when the opportunity was right in front of him, he had failed to grasp it. He watched others make a fortune while he was left eating dust. There was nothing more painful.
Johnson felt like firing a full magazine into the bank's board of directors, who had opposed his proposal. Now, they could only watch as William earned over three billion dollars while they didn't see a single dime. The contract signed at the beginning was essentially a gambling agreement; if William won, the bank had no claim to his profits. What was most infuriating was that the National Bank had bet on the wrong side of this market crash and lost hundreds of millions of dollars.
After smiling and seeing the traders off, William looked at Johnson, who was forcing a smile, and said with amusement, "Johnson, is there something you need? Or are you just here to congratulate me? It's a shame you didn't invest some money with me."
Johnson's face twitched, his heart dripping with blood, but he had a mission to accomplish today. He had to feign happiness and offer his congratulations.
"First off, congratulations, Mr. Devonshire. In my fifty-plus years, you are the greatest genius I have ever seen. No one in England dares to call you a lunatic anymore. Most of the English newspapers are buzzing about how much money you made in this market crash."
"Everyone is looking for you right now, Mr. Devonshire. It feels like you have the wisdom of a man far older than I. If I were you, I would tell them everything, just to see the looks on the faces of those who mocked you. Wouldn't that be satisfying?"
Hearing this, William understood. The old fox Johnson was jealous and wanted to fish for some benefits for himself. Damn it, he was trying to use the media as a threat to get William to help cover the bank's losses.
Fortunately, William had a confidentiality agreement with the bank, so they wouldn't dare leak the specifics. The principle of client confidentiality was the bedrock of all Swiss banks. Still, William couldn't be entirely sure about the man standing before him. The National Bank was, after all, a state bank, and Johnson held a high position.
When the price is right, William wasn't confident Johnson would adhere to professional ethics. For a few million dollars, Johnson might secretly sell the details of his operation to interested parties. William had no confidentiality agreement with Johnson personally. As long as it was done discreetly, it would be untraceable, and millions of dollars would be enough for a comfortable retirement.
"Alright, Johnson, let's get to the point," William said, his expression turning serious. "I don't believe you came here just to compliment me. But don't push your luck. A few hundred million dollars can make a lot of things happen."
Seeing William's stern demeanor, Johnson knew his approach had backfired, making the new billionaire misunderstand his intentions. He had no intention of selling William out. After decades in the business, he knew that money was even more terrifying than power.
Johnson regretted that William's reaction was so fierce. Good heavens, he was just jealous; he wasn't idiotic enough to completely provoke William. For a few million dollars, there were people out there who would kill a man's entire family.
Ultimately, he was a veteran of the game. He quickly adjusted his composure and said with a smile, "Rest assured, Mr. Devonshire, I adhere to my professional ethics. As the person in charge of your account at the National Bank, I can guarantee that no one will learn the exact details of your earnings from this operation. I would certainly never threaten you."
At this, Johnson looked at William with a hint of shame. "The National Bank lost a great deal in this market crash. We know your understanding of U.S. stocks must be extraordinary; otherwise, you couldn't have timed your entry so perfectly at the market's peak. I was hoping you could give me some information, something to guide our bank's future operations."
William stared into Johnson's eyes. They were clear and calm, showing no sign of panic. *Damn it, this old guy's acting skills are truly impressive,* William thought. *He almost had me fooled.*
William thought for a moment. He wasn't truly afraid of people knowing he'd made a fortune from the crash, since he had already given the public a heads-up months ago. The worst-case scenario was hiding out in his Oxford castle for a few years until time made the public forget.
However, he did need to maintain a low profile. He didn't want to be the center of attention right now. Many investors who had gone mad from their losses, along with people with ulterior motives, would surely slander, harass, and try to frame him.
Even more troublesome was the fact that most people were followers. If his record was overhyped, the public would blindly buy whatever stocks he bought in the future. That would put him under the constant scrutiny of the stock market regulatory agencies. Every purchase would be meticulously examined, and the resulting delays would seriously hamper his future operations. Knowing which stocks would rise would be useless if regulators could freeze his trades under the guise of a review. That would truly drive him insane.
Thinking of this, William knew he had to appease Johnson. "Alright, Mr. Johnson, I understand your intention. But at a time like this, I don't think even God himself could accurately predict the specific trend of the stock market. No one can know to what exact point it will rise or fall. Do you agree, Mr. Johnson?"
Johnson nodded. That made sense. William wasn't God. Before a market crash, one might find clues and make a calculated bet. But in the aftermath, no one could predict specific index points with any accuracy.
"Based on my judgment," William continued, "I can give you a suggestion. I believe there will be a brief rebound, but the overall decline over the next one to two years is irreversible. I think the U.S. stock market breaking 2000 points is not a problem at all, and it's even possible it will fall below 1500 points."
Before William could finish, Johnson was stunned by his words. "That… that's impossible! Your conclusion is too insane! The U.S. market has already fallen by more than thirty percent. If it drops to 1500 points, wouldn't that be a seventy-percent decline in total market value? God, if that's true, how many people will be forced to jump from buildings?"
Johnson shivered, horrified by the image in his mind, and began wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
He grabbed William's arm in a panic. "So you think the market crash is far from over? God, this is truly the worst news I've heard in days."
But William was now the winner, and every word he said had to be treated with the utmost seriousness.
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