Chapter 1055: Collapse and Salon

Collapse and Salon

In the end, Luo Si's "courage" still could not overcome his "cowardice"; he was not as strong as he had imagined himself to be.

"General Luo Si" would eventually become a joke that made people roar with laughter!

At this moment, the eyes of the whole world were drawn to the political changes within the Dantela Trench, but there was also a group of people whose eyes were locked firmly onto Lapa.

For example, Ku Bo.

"Hiss...", Ku Bo took a drag of Devil Smoke and leaned back on the sofa. He was naked from the waist down, and two young, beautiful girls were performing manual labor.

Devil Smoke was a very popular cigarette in Detelan. On the basis of regular cigarettes, some other seasonings were added. Once some special substances inside entered the body, they could produce a more intense pleasure, or even hallucinations.

In fact, many people knew what was inside: spore powder of the Ghost-Face Mushroom. This mushroom had a certain toxicity, but as long as it wasn't used in too large a quantity at once, there wouldn't be any major problems.

As the "divine medicine" of the indigenous people, through countless years of evolution in the past, the indigenous people had also mastered the method of neutralizing these toxins by chewing the rhizomes of a certain plant and swallowing the juices within.

Therefore, Devil Smoke and "God's Finger" needed to be used together: while smoking the cigarette containing Ghost-Face Mushroom spores, one had to vigorously chew that small, white, tender piece of rhizome in their mouth to obtain more and more intense satisfaction.

At this moment, Ku Bo was flying in the sky; his mind was already somewhat unclear. At this moment, even if God appeared before him, He would have to take a few punches before He could leave.

It was just that unreasonable, and powerfully unreasonable.

He could fly in the sky, travel through the universe; he only needed to wave his hand to wipe out a nebula, as well as the strange alien species on those planets.

At this moment, God had to step aside, because he was the only true god! Pleasure was his greatest feeling right now, ever since the stock prices began to soar—some time ago, Hope Mining submitted an authorization document to shareholders and the three major exchanges regarding the agency of all Lapa state-owned assets.

President Die Ge, the supreme ruler of Lapa, authorized the handover of almost all state-owned assets to Hope Mining for operation; this was absolutely super-sized news! The moment the news spread, Ku Bo, whose holdings had originally grown from over 100,000 to over 200,000, saw his stocks surge again to nearly 500,000!

This was the charm of the financial market. As long as one was bold enough, had a good enough eye, and luck wasn't too bad, seeing one's net worth double or multiply several times over in a short period was as common as the ordinary topics they chatted about with friends and colleagues after work.

Here, doubling was no longer a miracle; multiplying by ten or a hundred times was the real miracle!

Ku Bo had also heard of one thing: someone used off-market financing, and their net worth multiplied by more than ten times in an instant, almost becoming a new upstart in Detelan!

He also craved that kind of life. He continued to increase his investment in this stock because everyone believed it would continue to skyrocket.

To explain it using the words chatted about by investors in those stock salons: once Hope Mining took over all of Lapa's state-owned assets, Hope Mining would be equivalent to monopolizing a country's resources.

In this country, they possessed pricing power outside of the government contract prices. Simply put, they signed an agency contract with the government, which stated that Hope Mining only needed to provide materials every quarter according to the list and quantities on the resource list given to them by the Lapa government.

The excess portion could be sold to the market. After deducting management fees and Hope Mining's profits, the remaining portion of the profit would enter the hands of the Lapa government.

Someone had specifically calculated this account: out of 100 yuan worth of ore, after removing other costs, there was about 70 yuan left. Out of this 70 yuan, the Lapa government could only get 17 or 18 yuan, and the rest was all Hope Mining's income! This was an astonishing figure, because Lapa's resources were very rich; they not only monopolized the resource market supply relationship within the Lapa Trench.

At the same time, they could also sell these resources to companies on the Federation side.

Added to some preferential policies given by the Federal government, such as importing some key materials and special supplies, there would be extra subsidies and tax rebates, so their profits were actually even higher.

Stimulated by such huge positive news, let alone doubling again, rising several times or more than ten times was not impossible! After all, that was the resources of an entire country! Ku Bo finally experienced the pleasure brought by revenge, and under the guidance of his stockbroker, he attended several rather special parties, and then he became deeply trapped within them.

Not many normal people could resist the temptation of this... promiscuity. Those beautiful female stars, or opposite-sex stars who were like male stars, never knew how to refuse at this moment.

No matter what you asked them to do, they would do it. There was no dignity, no personality, only the most primitive desires in the depths of their hearts being vented!

In his daze, Ku Bo suddenly felt a sense of horror. He had been flying in the sky! Suddenly, some mysterious force dragged him back to the ground fiercely. He crashed into the ground, leaving a huge crater, just like the crater left after a meteorite hit a planet.

At this time, God suddenly ran in front of him, swung His fist, and unleashed a storm of output at his face, instantly beating him "sober."

He opened his somewhat confused eyes and looked at the stockbroker standing in front of him. After a brief moment of astonishment, a smile appeared on his face, "Did you come to play too?"

The stockbroker's expression was ugly as hell, "Something happened!"

Ku Bo was just about to take another drag of Devil Smoke, but before the cigarette holder touched his mouth, it was knocked to the ground by the stockbroker.

Looking at the Devil Smoke that had fallen to the ground and was gradually extinguishing, Ku Bo's mood became somewhat irritable, "Fuck, what are you doing?"

He stood up, and the two girls continued to serve him with dazed eyes; such scenes could only be considered a small matter to them.

As long as the service was in place, they could earn in one day what others could only earn in a month, or even a year.

Earning enough money to last a lifetime while they were at their youngest, most energetic, and most attractive, and then starting to enjoy life properly, was the ultimate goal of these new-era boys and girls.

The stockbroker slammed the newspaper in his hand onto his chest, "Are you fucking addicted to this all the time?"

"Look at the newspaper, something happened!"

Ku Bo rubbed his face, "You'd better not lie to me, I'm even afraid of myself when I get angry!"

He said as he shook open the newspaper, and was immediately attracted by the headline on the front page—The Biggest Financial Tragedy of the Century.

Below the headline was a large, color-printed photograph. In the photo, a group of desperate people were scattering the stocks in their hands, and on the billboard not far from them, staff members were clearing the "pinned" status of Hope Mining.

Seeing this scene, Ku Bo suddenly sobered up. He rubbed his eyes hard, slapped his cheeks a few times, and began to read the report seriously.

Because he was too high, he couldn't even stand steadily while standing in place; his body was constantly swaying, and he didn't know when he would tilt or fall over.

The stockbroker gave the two girls some money, let them finish their work early, and then pushed Ku Bo onto the sofa.

His attention was entirely on the newspaper; he didn't even realize he had fallen.

These were a few dull minutes, during which there was only the sound of breathing that kept getting heavier.

A few minutes later, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the stockbroker, "So, how much money do I have left now?"

The stockbroker's expression was also very bad, "There's about... 170,000 or 180,000 left."

170,000 or 180,000 was not a small amount. After the stock price was cut in half, it was still making money for Ku Bo, and a big profit at that.

His total principal, including the later investments, did not exceed 150,000.

A profit of 20,000 or 30,000 yuan was still a significant sum.

If he hadn't once possessed 500,000, perhaps he could be satisfied now, but now, this money couldn't satisfy him.

During this period, he had spent quite a bit of money, deducting a little here and a little there. Even if he sold all the stocks in his hands now, he might even be at a loss.

Those who haven't been to heaven won't feel how hard hell is to endure.

He panted heavily and looked at the stockbroker, "What now?"

The stockbroker looked at him, "There are two choices now."

"First, clear your position and leave the market immediately, regardless of whether you lost or won."

"Second, continue to observe."

He said as he prepared to sit down, but seeing some stains on the sofa and Ku Bo's naked lower body, he held his forehead and turned to look elsewhere, "Motherfucker, you need to put your pants on, egg!"

"It's too bad here, we need to change places, go to the exchange!"

Although he had seen many bananas, seeing this thing while discussing serious business was somewhat disgusting.

Ku Bo finally remembered. He hurriedly found a pair of pants and put them on haphazardly, then sighed, tidied up, and left with the stockbroker.

At the door, he showed his "Lucky Card" and then signed the bill.

He didn't have much cash on hand now, but he had very high-value stocks in the stock market, so the bank was willing to give him some convenience.

Like this bar, as well as some restaurants and some shopping malls.

These commercial institutions that had a relationship with his account-opening bank had signed a cooperation agreement with the bank. The bank helped users who issued "Lucky Cards" to advance funds to the merchants first.

Then, every cycle, the bank would collect these debts from these users and charge a certain service fee.

The current service fee was 15%, not a low percentage.

Although its "cut" was high, many people were still willing to do so because they didn't have much cash in their hands.

Especially for some cash-strapped clients.

These clients were not poor people without money. For example, Ku Bo, who had 500,000 worth of stocks in the stock market. Possessing this money, he couldn't say he was in the top 5%, but top 10% or 15% was certain.

But he didn't have much cash on hand, and at the same time he needed to consume, so what to do? The Lucky Card played a key role.

He glanced at the bill, which read 1,170 yuan, with the odd change already wiped off.

He didn't even think about it, signed his name, and was personally sent out the door by the manager.

He got into the stockbroker's car. The two were silent on the way to Detelan, not knowing what they were thinking, or perhaps trying to accept the fact.

After intermittent traffic jams, they finally returned to Detelan. Just as they parked the car and prepared to enter the exchange, the stockbroker saw someone he was familiar with walking toward the office building next door.

The office buildings around the exchange were the most expensive places in Detelan, and even the entire New Jincheng. Whether buying, selling, or renting, the prices were ridiculously expensive; "every inch of land is worth an inch of gold" was not an exaggeration.

The reason why the housing prices here were ridiculously expensive was that they were close to the exchange.

Investors needed some social places outside the exchange, such as investor clubs or stock salons, which were all good choices.

Operating these places didn't require much expenditure, but they could obtain huge profits.

For example, salons held by some well-known figures cost several thousand for one session, and this kind of business didn't happen once every few days; it happened almost every day.

After the close of every trading day, these investors were always unable to hold back their temper and wanted to sit down and chat with others. What to do? Previously, they could go to public places like bars, order some drinks, and chat while drinking.

Now, bars were basically all closed, and considering their own safety, if they were caught because of drinking, they might miss the trading day, so they needed more hidden places. This kind of closed salon was a good choice.

The stockbroker chased a few steps and waved his hand, "Where are you going?"

The person he called out to tilted his head, "A salon about Hope Mining is being held inside. I heard there's inside information, I have to go listen."

The stockbroker's eyes lit up, "Take me with you, we want to go too."

His friend glanced at Ku Bo, then looked at the stockbroker, and didn't refuse.

The three entered the office building next door, then took the elevator to a certain floor, and under the guidance of the staff, they entered the salon.

It was already packed with people, and there wasn't even a place to sit.

Ku Bo had often attended such salons before. The salons he attended previously were basically not full, and most of the time there would be some empty seats.

But today, there were too many people here; he couldn't even squeeze in! "... We are currently at a very critical node!"

There was a guy in the middle of the crowd expressing his point of view. This was also the most common situation in salons. Some hosts or organizers would instill their own points of view and ideas into others here, and then everyone would discuss them.

They called this "intense collision of ideas." In reality, salons were essentially places for mutual brainwashing. Whoever could convince whom would be brainwashed.

The room was relatively quiet at this time. Ku Bo could feel that people seemed to trust the guy in the middle of the room very much.

"Why do I say this?"

"Because the situation has changed again. The remaining native states have issued the slogan of recapturing Zhuolan and annihilating the rebel army. They are marching toward Zhuolan."

"They themselves represent the orthodox ruling class of Lapa. If they can expel those anti-government armed forces from Zhuolan, or even annihilate them all."

"Then there is still hope for this matter!"

"As long as they continue to recognize the agency documents signed by Die Ge, then the stock price will soar again!"

"Of course, this is not absolute. It is possible that they will not recognize the documents signed by Die Ge, then the stock will be hit hard!"

The people in the room suddenly became noisy. Everyone seemed to want to express their point of view at this time node, and it was very noisy.

The host slapped the microphone a few times, and the harsh sound came out of the loudspeaker, which calmed the excited emotions at the scene.

"Listen to me first!"

"I gathered everyone today because I want to analyze the real situation of this matter with you, so that you, including myself, can look at the whole thing rationally."

"If anyone makes loud noises or quarrels again, please go out. We don't welcome you here!"

"Now, if you leave by yourself, we can still maintain our mutual decency. If you don't intend to leave, then you'd better learn to respect me, otherwise it will be very embarrassing to be thrown out by me later!"

"Everyone gathered here today is an elite of Detelan. If you are thrown out by me, you will become the joke of the entire Detelan tomorrow!"

After he finished speaking, he waited for a while. The room was very quiet. Ku Bo looked toward the door, and no one left.

"Very good. Since no one left, then be a civilized person. Don't fucking interrupt me before I finish speaking!"

He said as he smoothed his hair, "Just now I said the stock would be hit hard, not that it would be based on the current foundation, but that it would be hit hard on the target in our minds."

"In fact, gentlemen, before Hope Mining announced that they were acting as agents for Lapa's domestic state-owned assets, the stock price was even higher than it is now."

"Because we all favor Hope Mining's development in their core business, and the huge development potential is also the reason why we invested in it."

"Now its price has plummeted, mainly due to panic selling."

"After people react, its price will inevitably rise again to a reasonable price."

"I mean, even if it loses the Lapa government state-owned asset agency contract, its price will still be much higher than it is now."

"So you don't need to worry about this point at all. Just now in the exchange, I saw many 'hyenas' who are buying the stocks in your hands at unreasonable, extremely low prices."

"These hyenas just want to take advantage of our emotions collapsing in a short period of time, losing the ability to think rationally, and make a big profit from our hands!"

"So, gentlemen, what you need to do most now is to stop the panic selling."

"This is actually no big deal. As long as Hope Mining's basic foundation is still there, we are still the big winners!"

Ku Bo, who was originally extremely nervous, heard the host say this, and his tense body, including his emotions, also relaxed.

He and the stockbroker looked at each other, and both saw hope in each other's eyes.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1056 =====