Chapter 202 Corrosion Spreads from Top to Bottom
At dawn, in the Queens district of Thunder City, at the door of an elegantly decorated tea shop, although it was not yet fully light, the air was already filled with excitement and tension.
On the street in front of the tea shop, a group of people dressed differently gathered together, some wearing exquisite woolen coats, while others were wrapped in slightly worn-out jackets.
The name of this tea shop is "Red Leaves". It used to be a poorly managed clothing store. After a mysterious businessman bought it, the business here was changed to black tea, providing people with hot black tea for 1 silver coin per cup.
A cup of black tea for 1 silver coin is considered a sky-high price even in the "Diamond City" where a mattress can be sold for 20 gold coins. After all, the tea shop on the next street only costs 5 copper coins, and also comes with a spoonful of sugar and a small piece of sponge cake or thumb biscuit.
Those who can afford this expensive price almost always have servants to serve them and would never stand on the roadside and blow into a teacup.
All the people in the same industry were certain that the owner of this store would lose all his money, but the situation after the opening was completely the opposite.
They not only attracted customers who bought black tea for 5 copper coins, but also attracted customers who bought black tea for 5 gold coins.
"The latest buy order is 11 gold coins and 50 silver coins. We are looking to buy 100 shares. Who wants to sell? Or is there anyone who can offer a higher price?" A young clerk stood on a high stool and shouted in a loud voice facing the crowded crowd.
Behind him was a blackboard with the numbers, quantities and prices of the items listed on it, like a notice board at a grain market.
That number is actually the order number. Every customer who consumes at least one cup of black tea can get a number for placing an order...which is equivalent to the handling fee for placing an order.
The people standing in front of him had excitement and anticipation written all over their faces. They talked in low voices and looked at the blackboard behind him from time to time.
In addition to the buy orders, the latest transaction price of Colin Mining Company's stock was clearly written in chalk next to it - 11 gold coins per share, a full gold coin higher than the "issue price"! And there was no demand for it! So far, there were only buy orders hanging on the blackboard, and no sell orders had appeared yet, because once they appeared, they would be immediately snapped up by enthusiastic people.
"Is there a higher price? Or is there any generous gentleman willing to pass on his shares to someone who needs them?" the clerk shouted, wiping the hot sweat from his forehead with his hand holding the chalk, hesitating whether to get down from the ladder first.
The noise around us was getting louder and louder.
At this time, an old gentleman with a wrinkled face took off his hat, stretched out his arms and shouted loudly as if he had made up his mind.
"I'll pay 12 gold coins! I want to buy 200 shares! Please write it down for me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd was in an uproar, staring at him with wide eyes in surprise, and there seemed to be a thousand different expressions on the thousand faces.
Some people think he is crazy, some think he is playing a big game, or some simply envy his wealth.
A businessman in plain clothes next to him immediately stepped forward and said hastily, "I have 150 shares on hand, and I'll sell them all to you for 12 gold coins!"
150 shares were sold for 12 gold coins! The two signed the agreement in front of everyone and then went to a nearby bank together.
The clerk erased the numbers on the blackboard, changed the buy order for 200 shares to 50 shares, and wrote the transaction record on the side of the blackboard.
Although these stocks are registered tickets, the batch of stocks that flow into the market are registered either in the name of the bank or the original major shareholder, and this name can be changed at any time just like Colin's account book.
However, on the other hand, if you change the name, you have to be prepared to hold it for a long time, or change the name back to the bank during the next transaction.
In the period before the birth of this exchange, the bank played the role of guarantee and certification, ensuring that the circulating bills in the hands of customers were genuine and that every transaction could be traced.
Looking at the latest transaction price, the people gathered around the tea shop to watch the excitement all showed expressions of amazement. When they looked at the old gentleman in the top hat, there was only envy in their eyes.
The old gentleman looked unsatisfied, as if he was still regretting not being able to buy more and not being able to wait for the generous seller to make a move.
But he is not the most regretful person.
The most regrettable thing is that people bought stocks here for 10 gold coins and 50 silver coins earlier, and then hastily sold them for 11 gold coins.
Although they made a lot of money, when they saw the price on the blackboard was heading towards 12 gold coins, they began to regret that they acted too early.
If you think about it carefully, it's a company that even the Andes family is optimistic about, how could it be worth only so little money? "I'm so stupid..." The man in the woolen coat said angrily, and began to look for the person who bought the stocks from him in the crowd, wondering if he could negotiate with that guy and spend some money to buy back the stocks.
At worst he could compensate the guy a little money.
However, this is obviously wishful thinking.
After all, the purchase order for 12 gold coins was still hanging on the blackboard, and the people standing around were not blind, so how could they let him buy it back at a price lower than what was on the blackboard?
Not far from him, a young man, his face flushed with excitement, raised the account book in his hand and shouted loudly: "Saint Sis, I only want 100 shares, just 100 shares! Which kind-hearted person is willing to sell it to me for 11 gold coins and 50 silver? Please, please!"
No one paid any attention to him, and just thought that the boy was dreaming.
"This is simply a casino!" A Saint Sith believer stomped his feet angrily, as if he had suddenly come to his senses, shook his head and turned away.
He is a rare sober person, at least for now.
But that doesn't matter at all.
As soon as he left, the space he left behind was quickly filled by more people, as if it had never been vacant.
The tea shop clerks are extremely busy. In addition to serving boiling hot tea and snacks and responding to customers' urging, they also have to maintain order on the scene.
Looking at the tea shop with a constant stream of people at the door, even the owner of the bakery on the next street came over curiously to watch the fun.
This grand spectacle lasted from early morning to noon, and reached its peak at 1 p.m.
At this point, the really wealthy people in Queens have woken up.
After a few days of fermentation, most of them had heard that someone was trading stocks in front of the tea shop on Queen Street, and they all came over to join in the fun.
"12 gold coins and 20 silver coins!"
In the crowd, a fashionable lady shouted out the new price. She held an exquisite purse in her hand, and her eyes were full of arrogance as if she had won the game. "I want 300 shares!"
The servant next to her had already lined up and got a number and tea, but she didn't even bother to look at him and just drove the servant aside with her eyes.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, that was the previous transaction price. The current buy order is 12 gold coins and 30 silver coins." The clerk sitting on the high stool swallowed his saliva, shook his head and glanced at the old man holding a cane next to him, "Or... you are willing to buy the sell order that this gentleman just put up at a price of 13 gold coins."
The lady raised her lips and said without hesitation: "Then it's 13 gold coins! Hurry up, my time is precious and I don't have time to waste it here."
I heard that as long as you become a shareholder of Colin Mining, you can meet the respected Mr. Colin at the shareholders' meeting.
She was determined to get this ticket! Her idea was very novel, but she was the most normal one among all the people here because she had a clear goal.
The citizens of Thunder City have gone crazy.
"This is really crazy, it's just a pile of paper...How long will the price go up?" A young apprentice standing on the outskirts of the crowd, looking at the lively scene, couldn't help but sigh.
"Who knows! I heard that Colin Mining has new diamonds to be shipped to the port. I'm afraid the price will double!" Adjusting the oil-stained felt hat on his head, his companion looked at the gentlemen and ladies who spent money like water with envy, "I wish I had some money in my hands!"
Although this beast has been in the house for a long time, this is probably the first time it has appeared in the minds of the citizens of Thunder City.
In fact, even the Andes family themselves probably did not expect that the power in their hands would be so terrifying.
The craze lasted until the evening.
It was not until the clock struck five that the shop assistant, who was suffering from backache, got down from the high stool, and the people gathered at the door of the store went home one after another, still reluctant to leave.
Because the beating numbers affected everyone's heartbeat, many people even forgot to eat and only felt hungry after everything was over.
Thanks to this, restaurants along the entire street are doing good business tonight, and the shelves of nearby bakeries are so full that prices are raised.
Whether people who bought stocks or those who sold stocks felt that they had become rich, they started spending money lavishly.
Just as the customers in front of the "Red Leaf" tea shop were dispersing one after another, Punk, who was sitting in the front of the carriage, finally withdrew his gaze from the gathered crowd and said with emotion.
"I've lived in Thunder County for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen people go so crazy over a few pieces of paper..."
Although he had not thought that Mr. Colin was planning to sell any tea at the beginning, he could not imagine that this respected gentleman actually had this plan.
No wonder he had it decorated in the style of a bank.
I am still too conservative!
Luo Yan, who was sitting in the carriage, was not surprised. He used his index finger to push aside the curtain of the carriage, took a look, and then closed the curtain again.
"This is nothing. They are still using their own money to buy and sell these things. Wait until the bank in Thunder City lends them money, and you will see even more amazing miracles."
Unable to imagine that scene, Punk swallowed and said incomprehensibly.
"But I don't understand, who sold the first batch of shares? If Colin Mining Company is so valuable, why did those people sell it?"
That’s a good question.
Why would anyone sell something this valuable?
Luo Yan smiled mysteriously but did not answer.
"you guess."
Punk said with a wry smile.
"I...can't guess."
"That means it's not time yet," Luo Yan leaned back in his chair and said gently, "Let's go back to the hotel."
He had almost absorbed all the power of faith.
"Yes, sir."
Punk had gotten used to asking less questions than he should, so he responded respectfully, shook the reins in his hand, and drove the carriage back on the road, heading towards the Morning Embrace Hotel.
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Earlier, at the invitation of Princess Irene, Luo Yan went to the Andes family's estate to have afternoon tea with her. He also chatted with Yang Andes about what happened recently in Thunder City, especially the recently popular "secondary market".
Although Luo Yan never said that he was the one behind this matter, the old fox Andes guessed almost instantly that it was his work, and guessed that someone from the Colin family was bidding at the public auction at that time.
In terms of perspective, Punk really couldn't compare to Andes, and he still had a lot to learn. But on the other hand, he also had his own advantages, which was the ability to read people's expressions that he learned when training horses.
After getting off the car in front of the hotel, Luo Yan looked at the snow in front of the door that had almost melted, and thought it was about time, so he spoke.
"I need you to do the second thing now. Buy a newspaper in the port of Leiming City and recruit several retired people who used to work in banks to serve as editors... Even security guards are fine, as long as they have acquaintances in the unit where they used to work."
Leiming City has newspapers, and it might be the first in the world to have one. However, it is not like the animated newspapers in Magic City, and it is not as popular as those in Magic City.
After all, Demon City is the territory of demons, and the collapse of social order is a common occurrence. But it is different in the land ruled by Saint Sith. People are more pursuing sacredness and orthodoxy. Over time, newspapers become boring, and then slowly die in the long river of time.
Of course, it is not ruled out that the nobles of the continent of Oss deliberately let it die. After all, it is a legacy of the Isaac Dynasty.
The overwhelming force left such a deep shock on them that they only gradually forgot about it in the last few hundred years.
"Okay, sir." Punk carefully took note of Mr. Colin's instructions and took the coat from him.
Luo Yan didn't say anything more to him, but went straight back to the room before the guests in the hotel noticed him.
Tomorrow is the day we set off for Silver Pine Town.
Originally, Irene invited him to stay overnight at the Andes family's manor so that they could set out together early tomorrow morning, but he had some things to tell his subordinates, so he made an excuse that he was not used to sleeping in an unfamiliar bed and came back, and changed their plan to meet at the Andes family's manor early tomorrow morning.
When he got upstairs, Jack, the godfather of the fraternity, was waiting at his door.
Seeing the Demon King, Jack nodded and said respectfully.
"Your Excellency..."
"Come in and talk."
Luo Yan nodded at him, then opened the door, led him into the house, and recited the spell of soundproofing magic.
As for Sarah, she stood at the door.
Jack cleared his throat and continued.
"As you instructed, I have sold all 200,000 shares I purchased at the auction, at an average price of 11.7 gold coins."
Compared with Colin Mining's current stock price, this price is undoubtedly cheap. After all, a purchase order of 13 gold coins has been completed tonight.
But Jack didn't feel at a loss.
After all, his cost was only 7 gold coins, so it doubled, 1.4 million gold coins became 2.34 million! To be honest, even though he knew that worldly money was nothing to the Demon King, he still couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
This is faster than robbery! No -
This is robbery! And it is legal and reasonable, and everyone is willing to do it.
"very good."
Looking at Jack who did as he was told, Luo Yan nodded approvingly and continued.
"All the money you earn is your reward. Now I want you to do the second thing. Find a few core members of the Brotherhood you trust and trade stocks in front of the tea shops I designated. Pick up the chips you threw away before and turn those places into your 'territory'."
The trading market appeared before the exchange, and now this market has been formed.
Attracted by the money, all kinds of people will soon set their eyes on this piece of cake. It is impossible to maintain order by relying on a few shop assistants, and at this time the "gangsters" of the brotherhood will need to take action.
This is actually nothing new.
Although there is no precedent in the other world, it has happened countless times on Earth, and those who have ever been able to accomplish such things are strong organizations, the so-called gangs.
The most famous of these is probably Wall Street. Before the New York Stock Exchange was established, when most people were still buying and selling stocks in coffee shops and under sycamore trees, the Irish gang was there to maintain trading order. Even the first SEC chairman, John F. Kennedy, was a member of the "evil forces."
As for putting on a suit and tie, that came later.
After listening to the Demon King's order, Jack was slightly stunned and spoke carefully.
"No problem, but...if we don't take coercive measures, I'm afraid those people won't easily hand over their bargaining chips."
Luo Yan smiled faintly and spoke in a gentle tone.
"They will, but the chips in their hands are not the key. Your target is the chips in the hands of those who sat with you in the theater that night. Do you want me to explain it more clearly? You have to create a hot trading scene by transferring money from one hand to the other, push the price of each share to more than 20 gold coins, and then lure out the real big fish."
"20 gold coins..." Jack couldn't help but take a breath and said tremblingly, "What if they sell all the stocks to us..."
The money in his pocket is not enough! Even if he doubles it, it won't be enough!
However, Luo Yan was not worried and just continued speaking slowly.
"That's perfect. Colin Mining's stock will soon be cut in half, and investors who are not firm in their faith will rush to sell their stocks. Then we can buy them back from them at a cheaper price, and when everyone is desperate, we can raise the price to a height that no one can imagine..."
"At this time, those people you arranged to buy at the bottom will become saviors in the eyes of investors. They will follow them as if they were God's chosen ones. And those who originally doubted us will gradually doubt themselves, and then become our most loyal believers. Or if you are interested, you can do this yourself, so that your money of unknown origin can also be laundered with you at this opportunity."
"As for the money, don't worry. I have already informed Andes that I will withdraw part of the 80 million gold coins for the development of the New World in advance and use it to rescue the market when necessary. Of course, apart from Yan Andes, only you know about this matter. I don't want a fourth person to know about it."
This guy is simply a devil!
Jack couldn't help but groan in his heart.
wrong--
He was! Sarah came over with a tray and placed the hot black tea on the table in front of Luo Yan.
She was not interested in human money games. She was only worried that the Demon King, who had just returned from outside, would be cold.
Luo Yan picked up the teacup and took a sip to moisten his throat.
Looking at Jack who was holding his breath and unable to speak, he continued in a casual tone.
"Take a long-term view and don't care too much about the immediate gains and losses. Do you think I want their money? Or the pieces of paper in their hands?"
"Those are just props to buy them off. What I want is their souls, their beliefs—"
"It's just that they have to experience despair several times before they can harvest these things."
(End of this chapter)