Chapter 445: Chief Advisor? I'm Going to Become the Supreme Emperor!

The emergency statement from Downing Street exploded like a silent neutron bomb on the top floor of the Saint Remo Apartment.

It didn't destroy any physical object, but instantly erased the thinking ability of everyone in the room.

David Cohen, just struggling to sit up from a shock, heard Ye Ning recite that string of titles, rolled his eyes, let out a thud, and once again collapsed solidly onto the carpet.

This time, he even spared the convulsion, merely staring hollowly at the ceiling, his lips moving as if performing a silent confession.

Li Junjie and Zhang Qianru's bodies were stretched taut like two steel wires about to snap.

Huaxia merchants…

Chief Economic Advisor?

Of the UK Government?

The two phrases together produced an absurd-to-the-extreme chemical reaction, enough to completely dissolve the worldview they had built over decades, turning it into an incomprehensible chaos.

The coffee pot in Lu Qingjun's hand clanged to the floor, scalding liquid and shattered glass spraying everywhere, yet he remained unmoved, staring blankly at his older brother.

The man had just been threatened by the other side's Prime Minister, who pointed a finger at his nose and vowed he would never leave New York.

In the blink of an eye, he became the top person in this country handling the economic crisis?

What exactly happened in between?

Could it be that Her Majesty the Queen saw last night's news and thought my older brother could fight better than her Prime Minister?

In the apartment, the only one still showing normal vital signs was Lu Qingshan.

After hearing Ye Ning's report, his face showed not a hint of ripple, not even a twitch of an eyebrow.

He walked to the bar, ignored the mess on the floor, fetched a clean glass, and poured himself a drink of water.

"Looks like the Queen is far more attuned to the times than her Prime Minister."

He took a sip, his flat tone as if evaluating a freshly delivered business report.

"Boss…" Ye Ning's voice was as dry as sandpaper, "Is this… is this a trap? They… they want to use this hollow title to bind you in the UK, and then…"

"A hollow title?" Lu Qingshan laughed.

He set the glass down; the crisp clink rang like a command, making everyone's nerves jump.

"Ye Ning, do you think a position that can directly command the Finance Ministry, mobilize the Bank of England, and represent the UK Government in negotiations with Wall Street is merely a hollow title?"

Ye Ning startled sharply.

In Li Junjie and Zhang Qianru's brains, it was as if a high‑voltage current had been injected, rebooting them instantly.

They understood!

This is not a hollow title!

It is authority!

An authority, in this current chaos at its peak, capable of leveraging the entire Europe, the supreme authority!

The UK Government isn't crowning Lu Qingshan; they're handing over the scepter!

Because they themselves have completely lost the ability to control the situation!

At that moment, the red encrypted phone rang again.

This time, its ringtone was no longer frantic and harsh, but carried a cautious, almost humble rhythm.

Lu Qingshan walked over, took the handset himself, and pressed the speaker button.

"Lu… Consultant Lu, hello."

On the other end, a stranger's male voice, tinged with obvious nervousness and flattery, said, "I am James Reed. By Her Majesty the Queen's command, I am temporarily assuming the Prime Minister's duties."

It was the same arrogant Vice Prime Minister who earlier took a haughty stance on the Hong Kong Island issue.

"Mr. Ried, something?" Lu Qingshan's voice revealed no hint of emotion.

"No, no, no, I'm unworthy; just call me James." The James Reed on the line lowered his posture to the extreme, "I… I'm here to consult you about your appointment as Chief Economic Advisor. What do we need to prepare for you? An office? A team? Or…"

"None of that." Lu Qingshan cut him off.

"I accept the position."

Ried on the other end visibly exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

"But I have a condition."

"Please state it! Whatever the condition, we will do our best to meet it!" Ried's voice was full of urgency.

"It's not a condition," Lu Qingshan corrected, "it's the first order I issue as Chief Advisor."

The line fell silent instantly.

"First." Lu Qingshan's voice rang clearly throughout the apartment and reached Downing Street across the ocean, "Immediately lift the 'temporary trading restrictions' on all Xinghan Capital accounts in the United Kingdom and Europe. I want all channels restored to normal within one minute."

"Yes! Yes! I'll handle it right away!" Ried replied repeatedly.

"Second." Lu Qingshan continued, "Regarding the consulting fee I previously mentioned…"

Ried's heart suddenly rose to his throat.

"…I've changed my mind."

Ried's vision went black, nearly following in Thatcher's footsteps.

"I don't want twenty percent."

Ried felt his heart stop beating.

"I want twenty‑nine point nine percent." Lu Qingshan slowly uttered a new figure.

"W‑why?" Ried asked instinctively.

"British company law stipulates that holding over thirty percent constitutes a full‑takeover offer! Boss, this is a wild probe at the red‑line edge! He wants the position of the largest single shareholder but doesn't want to trigger the cumbersome full‑takeover procedures!" Zhang Qianru explained rapidly in a breathy voice.

"Because I like that number." Lu Qingshan gave an indisputable reason, shutting down any further argument.

"As for the price," he paused, "it remains fifty pence. This money isn't for acquisition but for an emergency capital injection into Barclays Bank's restructuring, to be counted as Barclays' capital. I want you to have the UK Finance Ministry and the Bank of England, in the name of the government, approve this injection."

Ried on the other end was completely bewildered.

He felt he wasn't talking with an economic advisor, but bargaining with a devil.

The other side not only wanted to seize the most valuable treasure in your home, but also demanded that you personally draft a "legal gift" certificate for him and affix the Queen's seal!

"Third." Lu Qingshan gave him no time to think, issuing the final, and most lethal, command.

"From now on, the UK Finance Ministry, the Bank of England, and all financial regulatory agencies must report every action in this crisis to me first, and may act only after receiving my approval."

"In other words, from now on, in London Financial City, I'm the one who decides."

"Mr. James, do you understand what I'm saying?"

On the other end of the line, a death‑like silence.

It took a full half‑minute before Ried's voice, like a dream‑like mutter, came through, full of humiliation and despair.

"I… understand, Consultant Lu."

"Very good." Lu Qingshan hung up the phone.

He turned around, looking at David Cohen, who had already gotten up from the floor and was staring at him with an expression as if gazing at the Creator.

"David."

"Present! My king! No! My honored consultant!" David stood at attention, standing perfectly straight.

"Go, make me a cup of black tea." Lu Qingshan ordered, "Use the finest Darjeeling, with milk, no sugar."

"Yes!" David took the order, turned and rushed toward the bar.

"Wait." Lu Qingshan called him back.

"Also, connect me to the US Treasury Secretary, Mr. Bowles, on the phone."

David's steps halted, a puzzled expression appearing on his face.

Lu Qingshan looked at him, flashing a smile that sent a chill through everyone present.

"Tell him that the UK Government Chief Economic Advisor wants to speak with him about how to 'stabilize' the global financial markets and… how to 'orderly handle' AIG's bankruptcy liquidation."