Chapter 204: Corruption Spreads from Top to Bottom

Dawn's first light, Queen's District, Lei Ming City. At the entrance of an elegantly decorated tea shop, although the sky hadn't fully brightened, the air was already filled with excitement and tension.

On the street in front of the tea shop, a group of people dressed in various ways gathered together; some wore exquisite wool coats, while others were wrapped in slightly old-fashioned jackets.

The name of this tea shop is "Red Leaf," formerly a poorly managed clothing store. Ever since a mysterious businessman bought this place, the business operated here changed to black tea, providing hot black tea to people for 1 silver coin a cup.

1 silver coin a cup of black tea, even in the "Diamond City" where mattresses could sell for 20 gold coins, this could be considered a sky-high price. After all, the tea shop on the next street only needed 5 copper coins, and it also came with a spoonful of sugar and a small piece of sponge cake or thumb biscuit.

And those who could accept this expensive price almost all had servants to serve them and would never stand on the side of the road and exhale at the teacup.

All fellow operators were convinced that the boss of this shop would lose everything, but the situation after opening was the exact opposite.

They not only attracted the customers of those 5-copper-coin black teas, but also attracted the customers of 5-gold-coin black teas.

"Latest buy order 11 gold coins 50 silver, seeking to buy 100 shares, who wants to sell? Or does anyone offer higher?" A young clerk stood on a high stool, facing the bustling crowd, shouting like a bell.

Behind him was a blackboard with numbers, the quantity of pending orders, and prices, just like the bulletin board of a grain market.

That number was actually the order number; every guest who spent at least one cup of black tea could get a number to hang an order... equivalent to the handling fee for hanging an order.

And the people standing in front of him were full of excitement and expectation, talking in low voices, and occasionally looking at the blackboard behind him.

Besides the buy orders, the latest transaction price of Prince Prince Kelin Mining Company's stocks was also clearly written in chalk on the side—11 gold coins per share, a full gold coin higher than the "issue price"!

And there was a market but no supply!

So far, only buy orders were hung on that blackboard, and no sell orders had appeared yet, because once they appeared, they would be snatched up by the fanatical people immediately.

"Are there any higher prices? Or which generous gentleman is willing to pass the shares in his hands to those who need them?" The clerk shouted, wiped the hot sweat from his forehead with the hand holding the chalk, and hesitated whether to get off the ladder first.

The noise around was getting louder and louder.

At this time, an old gentleman with a wrinkled face took off his top hat, as if he had made up his mind, stretched his arm straight and shouted loudly.

"I bid 12 gold coins! I want to buy 200 shares! Please help me write it down!"

As soon as his voice fell, the crowd exploded like a pot, and a thousand faces looked at him with surprised eyes, as if there were a thousand looks on a thousand faces.

Some people thought he was crazy, some thought he was playing a big game of chess, or just simply envied his wealth.

A businessman wearing simple clothes next to him immediately squeezed forward and said hurriedly: "I have 150 shares in my hand, I'll sell them all to you for 12 gold coins!"

150 shares were traded at a price of 12 gold coins!

The two established a written note under the witness of the crowd, and then went to a nearby bank together.

The clerk erased the number on the blackboard, changed the 200-share buy order to 50 shares, and wrote the transaction record on the side of the blackboard.

Although these stocks were registered vouchers, the batch of stocks flowing into the market either had the names of banks or the original major shareholders, and this name could be changed at any time just like the ledger of Prince Prince Kelin Company.

However, relatively speaking, once the name was changed, one had to be prepared to hold it for a long time, or change the name back to the bank when trading next time.

In this era when the exchange had not yet been born, the bank played the role of guarantee and certification here, ensuring that the circulating vouchers in the hands of customers were true and that every transaction could be traced.

Looking at the latest transaction price, the people gathered around the tea shop to watch the fun all showed surprised expressions, and when they looked at the old gentleman with the top hat again, only envy remained in their eyes.

And that old gentleman was still unsatisfied, as if he was still regretting not being able to buy more and not being able to wait for a generous seller to make a move.

However, he was not the most regretful person.

The most regretful were those who bought stocks here for 10 gold coins 50 silver coins earlier and hurriedly hung them out for 11 gold coins.

Although they also made a lot, seeing that the price on the blackboard was heading toward 12 gold coins, they regretted in their hearts that they had made a move too early.

Think about it carefully, that was a company that even the Andes family favored; how could it only be worth this little money?

"I'm so stupid..." the man in the wool coat said annoyedly, starting to search in the crowd for the person who bought the stocks from him, pondering whether he could discuss with that guy and spend some money to buy those tickets back.

At worst, he would compensate that guy a little money.

However, this was obviously wishful thinking.

After all, the 12-gold-coin buy order 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 the one on the blackboard?

Just not far from him, a young man was so excited that his face turned red, holding the account book in his hand and shouting loudly: "Saint Xisi above, I only want 100 shares, just 100 shares! Which kind person is willing to sell to me for 11 gold coins 50 silver? Please, please!"

No one paid any attention to him at all, only thinking that this kid was wishful thinking.

"This is simply a casino!" A believer of Saint Xisi stomped his feet angrily, as if he had suddenly realized, shaking his head and turning away.

He was a rare sober person, at least he was now.

However, this didn't matter at all.

Because as soon as he left, the position he left was soon filled by more people, as if it had never been empty.

The clerks of the tea shop were busy, besides supplying hot black tea and snacks and facing the urging of guests, they also had to maintain order at the scene.

Looking at the tea shop with people flowing like weaving at the door, even the boss of the bakery on the next street curiously came over to watch the fun.

This grand occasion lasted from early morning until noon, and reached its peak in the afternoon.

At this time, the truly wealthy people in the Queen's District had already woken up.

And after these days of fermentation, most of them had heard of people trading stocks at the entrance of the tea shop on Queen Street, and they all strolled over to join in the fun.

"12 gold coins 20 silver!"

In the crowd, a fashionable noble lady shouted a new price, her hand clutching an exquisite money bag, her eyes full of arrogant confidence of winning, "I want 300 shares!"

The servant following her had already queued up to get the number and black tea, but she was too lazy to even look at it, and drove the servant away with her eyes.

"Sorry, Madam, that was the previous transaction price. Currently, the buy order has been hung to 12 gold coins 30 silver coins," the clerk sitting on the high stool swallowed his saliva, shook his head and glanced at the old gentleman holding a cane on the side, "or... you are willing to buy the sell order just hung by this gentleman at a price of 13 gold coins."

The noble lady raised the corner of her mouth and said without hesitation: "Then 13 gold coins! Hurry up, my time is very expensive, I don't have time to waste here."

I heard that as long as you become a shareholder of Prince Prince Kelin Mining, you can see the respected Mr. Prince Prince Kelin at the shareholders' meeting.

She was determined to get this ticket!

It had to be said that her train of thought was very novel, but she, with a clear goal, was not the most normal one among everyone here.

The citizens of Lei Ming City had gone crazy.

"It's really too crazy, clearly just a pile of paper... how long will this rise?" A young apprentice stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching the lively scene, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Who knows! I heard that Prince Prince Kelin Mining has new diamonds to be transported to the port; this price is afraid it will have to double!" Adjusting the felt hat with machine oil on his head, the companion next to him looked at the gentlemen and ladies who were spending money like water with envy, "If only I had some capital in my hands!"

This beast, although it had existed in the house for a long time, was probably the first time it appeared in the hearts of the citizens of Lei Ming City.

In fact, I am afraid that even the Andes family itself did not expect that the power in their hands was so terrible.

This craze lasted until evening.

Until the bell rang at five o'clock, the sore-backed clerk got off the high stool, and the people gathered at the door of the shop also went home one after another in an unsatisfied mood.

Because the jumping numbers affected everyone's heartbeat, many people even forgot to eat, and didn't feel hungry until everything was over.

Thanks to this, the business of restaurants on the whole street was good tonight, and the shelves of nearby bakeries were even bought to the point of price increases.

Whether it was those who bought stocks or those who sold stocks, they all felt that they had made a fortune, and their spending became generous.

Just when the guests at the entrance of the "Red Leaf" tea shop dispersed one after another, Watching Watching Pangke, who was sitting in front of the carriage, finally withdrew his gaze from the gathered crowd and sighed.

"I have lived in Lei Ming County for so many years, and this is the first time I have seen people so crazy about a few pieces of paper..."

Although he didn't feel that Mr. Prince Prince Kelin was planning to sell any tea leaves from the beginning, he couldn't think of it even if he broke his head that this respected gentleman was holding this plan.

No wonder he asked him to decorate in the style of a bank.

He was still too conservative!

Luo Yan, who was sitting in the carriage, was not surprised, pulled the curtain of the carriage with his index finger and took a look, then closed the curtain.

"This is nothing; they are still using their own money to buy and sell these things. When the banks in Lei Ming City lend them money, you will see more amazing miracles."

Unable to imagine that picture, Watching Watching Pangke swallowed his saliva and said incomprehensibly. "But I don't understand, who sold the first batch of stocks? Since Prince Prince Kelin Mining Company is so valuable, why did those people sell it?"

This question is well asked.

Why did someone sell something so valuable?

Luo Yan smiled mysteriously, but didn't answer.

"You guess."

Watching Watching Pangke smiled bitterly and said.

"I... can't guess."

"That means it's not time yet," Luo Yan leaned on the seat and said in a gentle tone, "Go back to the hotel."

His faith power was absorbed almost enough.

"Yes, Master."

Having been used to asking less about things that shouldn't be asked, Watching Watching Pangke responded respectfully, shook the reins in his hand, drove the carriage back on the road, and went in the direction of Dawn's Embrace Hotel.

Please... you... collect_(!)

Previously, Luo Yan went to the Andes family's manor at the invitation of Princess Ailin to have afternoon tea with her, and by the way, chatted with Yan Andes about the recent events in Lei Ming City, especially the recently popular "secondary market."

Although Luo Yan had never said that this matter was promoted by himself behind the scenes, this old fox Andes guessed that it was his handwriting almost in an instant, and guessed that people from the Prince Prince Kelin family were participating in the bidding at the public auction.

In terms of vision, Watching Watching Pangke was indeed unable to compare with Andes, and there was still a lot to learn. However, relatively speaking, he also had his own advantages, that was the ability to observe words and colors learned when training horses.

Getting off the carriage at the entrance of the hotel, Luo Yan looked at the snow that had almost melted in front of the door, pondering that it was almost time, so he opened his mouth and said.

"I need you to do a second thing now, acquire a newspaper office at the port of Lei Ming City, and recruit several retired personnel who have worked in banks to serve as editors... even security guards are fine, as long as they have acquaintances in the units they once worked in."

Lei Ming City has newspapers, and it is probably the first one in this world, but there is no moving newspaper like the Demon Capital, and it is not as popular as the Demon Capital.

After all, the Demon Capital is the territory of demons, where rituals and music are broken is daily life, while the land under the rule of Saint Xisi is different; people pursue holiness and orthodoxy more, and over time the newspaper becomes boring, and then slowly dies in the long river of time.

Of course, it is not excluded that the nobles of the Aus Continent deliberately let it die; after all, that is the legacy of the Aisaac Dynasty.

That destructive power left them with too deep a shock, and it was only in the last few hundred years that they gradually forgot it.

"Okay, Master." Watching Watching Pangke carefully recorded Mr. Prince Prince Kelin's instructions and took the coat from his hand.

Luo Yan didn't say much to him, but took advantage of the fact that the guests in the hotel hadn't noticed him and returned to the room directly.

Tomorrow is the day to set off for Silver Pine Town.

Originally, Ailin invited him to stay at the Andes family's manor for one night and set off together early tomorrow morning, but he still had some things to explain to the people below, so he used the excuse that he was not used to sleeping in a strange bed and came back, changing it to meet at the Andes family's manor early tomorrow morning.

When he came upstairs, Jack, the godfather of the Brotherhood, was waiting at his door.

Seeing the Demon King, Jack nodded and saluted, his expression respectful.

"Respected... Master."

"Come in and talk."

Luo Yan nodded to him, then opened the door, and while taking him into the room, recited the spell of soundproofing magic.

As for Sarah, she stood at the door.

Jack cleared his throat and continued.

"According to your instructions, I have sold all the 200,000 shares acquired at the auction, at an average price of 11.7 gold coins."

Compared with the current stock price of Prince Prince Kelin Mining, this price was undoubtedly sold cheaply; after all, a buy order of 13 gold coins had been traded tonight.

However, Jack didn't feel a loss.

After all, his cost was only 7 gold coins, and this back and forth doubled, 1.4 million gold coins became 2.34 million!

To be honest, even if he knew that worldly money didn't count for much to the Demon King, he still couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

This is simply faster than robbery!

No—

This is robbery!

And it is legal and reasonable, and everyone is willing.

"Very good."

Looking at Jack who did as he ordered, Luo Yan nodded approvingly and continued.

"The money earned is your reward. Now I let you do the second thing, find a few core members of the Brotherhood you trust to trade stocks at the entrance of the tea shops I specified, pick up the chips you threw out before, and by the way, turn those places into your 'territory'."

The trading market appeared before the exchange, and now this market has been formed.

Under the attraction of funds, various fish and dragons mixed people will soon stare at this cake. It is impossible to maintain order with just a few clerks, and at this time, it is necessary for the "Jianghu people" of the Brotherhood to take action.

This is actually not a new thing.

Although there is no precedent in the other world, it has happened countless times on Earth, and those who have been able to accomplish such things throughout history are strong organizations, the so-called gangs.

The most famous one is probably Wall Street. Before the NYSE was established, when most people were still buying and selling stocks in coffee shops and under sycamore trees, there were figures of the Irish gang maintaining trading order, and even the first SEC chairman, old Kennedy, was a member of the "black evil forces."

As for wearing suits and ties, that was all later.

Listening to the Demon King's instructions, Jack was stunned for a moment and said cautiously.

"No problem, but... if we don't take mandatory measures, those people probably won't easily hand over the chips in their hands."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and said in a gentle tone.

"They will, but the chips in their hands are not the key. Your goal is the chips in the hands of those who sat in the theater with you that night. Do I need to say it more clearly? You have to create a scene of hot trading by trading from left hand to right hand, push the price of each share to over 20 gold coins, and then hook out those real big fish."

"20 gold coins..." Jack couldn't help but gasp, trembling and saying.

"What if they sell all the stocks to us..."

The money in his pocket is not enough!

Doubling it is not enough!

However, Luo Yan was not worried, just continued unhurriedly.

"That's just right, the stocks of Prince Prince Kelin Mining Company will soon be halved, investors with insufficient faith will scramble to sell the stocks in their hands, and then we can pick up the chips from their hands at a cheaper price, and then pull the price to a height that everyone can't imagine when everyone is desperate..."

"And at this time, those you arranged to copy the bottom will become saviors in the eyes of investors. They will follow them like following the God-chosen ones. And those who originally doubted us will gradually change from doubting us to doubting themselves, and then become our most loyal believers. Or if you are interested, you can also do this thing yourself, so that your money of unknown origin can also be washed white with you at this opportunity."

"As for money, don't worry, I have greeted Andes, and I will advance a part of the 80 million gold coins used to develop the New Continent to save the market when necessary. Of course, besides Yan Andes himself, only you know about this matter, I don't hope there is a fourth person."

This guy is simply a devil!

Jack couldn't help but groan in his heart.

No—

He is one!

Sarah, carrying a tray, walked over from the side and placed the tea at the right temperature on the table in front of Luo Yan.

She was not interested in human money games, she only worried that the Demon King who had just returned from the outside was 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.

"Put your eyes on the long term, don't care too much about the gains and losses in front of you. Do you think I want their money? Or the paper in their hands?"

"Those are just props to buy them, what I want is their souls, their faith—"

"It's just that before harvesting these things, they have to experience despair a few times."