New Milestone!
Thanks to everyone's support, we have reached 200 chapter for this fic!
As a small bonus, expect an additional chapter today!
Peace Out!
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The next morning.
Lin BaoCheng came downstairs. Besides the butler Dorchy and the maids, Qin Lan was already up, and Isabella had also arrived.
Lin greeted Qin Lan: "Good morning, Qin Lan. How did you sleep last night? Are you comfortable?"
Qin Lan replied: "Good morning, Chairman Lin. I slept very well. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all."
"That's good," Lin nodded, heading toward the dining room.
The others followed.
Isabella said: "Chairman Lin, I've already brought Cliff Cooper and Brian Owen. They're waiting outside." These were the bodyguard candidates she had found for him.
Lin asked: "Have they had breakfast? If not, let them join us — as long as they're fine with porridge."
Isabella answered: "They've already eaten."
"Then let them wait inside. After I finish breakfast and review the gold futures investment documents, I'll meet them," Lin said.
Isabella nodded and instructed a maid to bring Cliff Cooper and Brian Owen into the living room to wait.
Lin invited Qin Lan to join him for breakfast. While eating, he reviewed the documents.
At Goldman Sachs, his gold futures investment capital had now grown to US$170 million. He had financed US$1 billion from Goldman for one year at 9.2% interest. Following his instructions, they began buying once gold fell below US$170/oz, buying more as it dropped. When gold neared US$165/oz, the operation was complete, with an average purchase price of US$167.7/oz.
Currently, the real‑time gold price was US$162.4/oz — a small loss of about 3%. Lin wasn't concerned.
His positions at Standard Chartered and Mitsubishi Bank, each with US$100 million capital, were losing more. Mitsubishi's cost was US$189/oz. At US$162.4/oz, losses exceeded 14%. If gold fell below US$152/oz — another US$10 drop — liquidation would be near.
But Lin would never allow those positions to be liquidated. For now, he left them untouched. If gold fell below US$160/oz, he would prepare funds to add margin.
At Bailong Commercial, the short positions had been closed when gold neared US$165/oz, sold at an average of US$165.3/oz. The original short cost was US$195.1/oz. With only US$100 million capital, profits after fees were US$15 million.
Earlier, a long trade had earned US$3.5 million. This short earned US$15 million. With only US$10 million initial capital, nearly doubling was not bad.
From short to long, profits plus the initial US$10 million brought capital to US$28.5 million. Lin then used US$200 million to go long. When he informed Iwasaki FengLong, he did not object — their Hong Kong cooperation had already guaranteed big profits.
At Bailong Commercial, the long position was US$28.5 million capital, operating US$200 million, with an average cost of US$164.3/oz.
Finally, Hutchison Whampoa. After closing short futures, they did not immediately act, to avoid affecting Hutchison's rising stock price. Once Hutchison broke HK$20, they began buying gold gradually. By then, gold had already fallen below US$165/oz.
At Hutchison, capital was US$275 million. Originally financed US$750 million, Lin had HSBC provide another US$750 million, totaling US$1.5 billion — over 5x leverage.
The average cost was lower, only US$163.6/oz.
Now all gold futures were long, fully bought. Though gold was still probing for a bottom and might fall below US$160/oz, Lin believed prices would rebound in the second half of the year. He expected a surge that would multiply his wealth.
The billions earned in Hong Kong were not brought to invest in gold futures. Lin intended to use that money to establish a home appliance company. If gold fell further, those funds could also serve as margin for Standard Chartered and Mitsubishi.
After breakfast, Lin met Cliff Cooper and Brian Owen.
Both were in their thirties, though they hadn't known each other before.
Cliff Cooper had served in the Navy SEALs. An injury had slowed his reflexes, forcing retirement. Though no longer at peak, he was more than capable as Lin's bodyguard. Lin needed protection against kidnapping or assassination, not military combat.
Brian Owen was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He had been lucky — the war ended just two years after he enlisted. Though not battle‑hardened, he had experienced real combat, far beyond ordinary police officers.
Both came from ordinary families. Otherwise, after discharge they might have entered government departments as leaders. With modest backgrounds, they needed jobs to support their families. Options were limited, and pay was low.
Working as private bodyguards for wealthy employers was suitable — and highly paid.
Lin had no complaints. The selection process had already filtered out unsuitable candidates. Those who came met his requirements.
The interview was mainly to see them in person, to judge if they suited him, and to confirm they had no racial prejudice. Lin would never entrust his life to someone with discrimination — that would be gambling with his safety.
Prejudice could be hidden temporarily, but over time it would show.
Contracts included clauses: if a bodyguard concealed racial prejudice, they would face massive compensation claims — enough to ruin them.
Cliff Cooper and Brian Owen were tall, muscular, with sharp eyes and strong presence. Clearly professionally trained. After speaking with them briefly, Lin accepted them as his bodyguards.