Darkstone Code-Chapter 878 - 876: Awooo

"Making money is so easy!"

In the lounge area of the big company’s hall, a senior company executive dressed in expensive clothes sat with his legs crossed, sipping coffee that costs over a dozen bucks per cup, chatting with the person beside him.

People frequently passed by here, warmly greeting him and the others around him.

Sometimes he nodded in response to those who greeted him, and other times he pretended not to see anything at all.

He was discussing his recent "secret to wealth" with the person next to him.

"If you pay attention to the Federation’s stocks, you’ll certainly discover some magical patterns. These patterns are the secret to our wealth."

He took a sip from his coffee cup elegantly, with a gentlemanly demeanor, just like an aristocrat.

Everyone around listened carefully. Every Federation citizen knows that the most profitable business in the world is in Bupen, within the financial sector.

Yet not many people actually manage to make money from it.

The gentleman beside them was obviously one of those few—he often made money, changing cars periodically, buying a new set of golf clubs, and even keeping a horse at the riding club.

His salary wasn’t enough to cover these extra expenses after household expenditures, but he had a trick up his sleeve—he could make money.

Initially, people might not have believed him, but he continually profited, making it impossible for them not to believe.

Before starting work, the management chatted, hoping to find some secrets from him.

He continued casually, "For instance, the listed company Every Moment Group, if you pay attention, during its annual spring exhibition and fall tobacco leaf harvest are the times when its stock rises."

"We don’t look at other times, only these two periods. The increase might not be so apparent, maybe just a slow rise of ten to twenty percent over one to two weeks."

"But gentlemen..." he started, seemingly realizing something, and apologized to a female manager beside him, "Sorry, and to our ladies."

The female manager forgave him, preferring to know how to make money rather than focusing on what might seem like discriminatory behavior for not putting "ladies" before "gentlemen."

"Every Moment Group can provide at least a fifteen to twenty percent return on my total investment annually."

"Especially during the spring exhibition, the growth is very stable. The fall might not see as much due to climate issues, but there are absolutely no problems with the spring exhibition."

As he spoke, he suddenly froze. At that moment, an employee walked into the company, reading a newspaper as he went.

His gaze was almost entirely drawn to that newspaper, disregarding the people around him. He quickly approached the employee and very ungentlemanly snatched the paper from his hands.

He just stood there, and after a minute or two, collapsed suddenly!

This scene played out across various parts of the Federation. The steady dividends and returns from Every Moment Group have always been a favorite for investors, especially during some special periods, often peaking for short-term investments.

But no one expected this accident.

At Every Moment Group’s headquarters, the president was wielding a medieval scimitar, originally hung on the wall for decoration, furiously chopping at everything in front of him.

A group of company executives stood aside, afraid to speak, only watching from afar.

Cursing in Mariluo-accented swear words spilled from his mouth, unabashedly revealing the vulgarity within his nature.

Every Moment Group’s stock price plummeted thirty percent instantly, continuing to fall uncontrollably.

As each person connected to the missing tycoons spoke up, it meant the company’s stock plunged once again.

There’s no way to control it, unless we find those missing tycoons now.

At this moment, he regretted making such a stupid decision. If he had allowed the ship to dock, the stock might have limited decline, and the support systems could still hold.

Now?

He could only hope his brother wouldn’t flay him alive and dry him out for messing up the business!

After venting thoroughly, until there was no more energy in his body for further release, he supported himself with his hands on his knees, panting heavily, and sat on the chair that had been chopped to pieces.

"Two things."

"First, find out who the hell is short-selling our stocks. They’re definitely involved with the cruise disappearance."

"Second, immediately issue a global reward. Whoever can help us find the ship and those damned tycoons on it will receive one percent of the shares!"

Seeing the management staff standing blankly at the door, he picked up a vase from the ground and hurled it at them, "Get to work now!!"

Every Moment Group’s one percent share, once this news was released, it not only tempted ordinary people but also intrigued the Federation’s politicians, military, and those from the underground world.

One percent of the shares, purely in terms of the company’s market value, would be worth tens of millions.

Those assassins could kill a peer for two thousand dollars; for tens of millions, if the Lord stops them, they’d dare kill even the Lord.

The entire Federation fell into madness, and Mr. Truman began to consider how to address the upcoming issues.

This isn’t a case of losing one or two people; it’s losing a shipful of millionaires and their relatives!

Handled poorly, this could evolve into a terrible political disaster—undoubtedly, when the Federation Government can’t find them either, the angry and irrational people will blame the Federation Government’s incompetence!

The first to bear criticism would be the President. They would say they donate so much to the Federation Government annually, and yet the Federation Government can’t even find a single ship.

Following this would be societal troubles. These millionaires’ businesses would certainly face problems after their disappearance; some might temporarily cease operations.

If such a thing happens, a massive number of workers would be temporarily unemployed, and these people would direct their anger at the government.

The President might be forced to resign early—before completing three months in office.

Just as he thought of this, the phone rang before Mr. Truman, with a red light indicating he must answer it, either from the highest commander of the Ministry of Defense or the President.

"Come to me immediately!" the President said and hung up, a significant breach of etiquette for an elder who constantly maintains his demeanor.

Soon, everyone gathered in the President’s Mansion’s meeting room, the President sat at the head seat, not speaking, deeply furrowed brows seemingly lost in thought.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was oppressively tense; everyone could sense the world-destroying despair constantly spreading outward.

"Our situation is very bad; based on the information we currently have, the cruise has been missing for several days."

"A Navy officer informed me that these few days are enough for the cruise to appear anywhere it wants, making it impossible for us to find it quickly."

"Unless it surfaces on its own, or someone’s boots have been watched by the Lord."

’Boots watched by the Lord’ comes from a small section in the Bible’s Revelations, describing Serbo lost in dangerous swamps but, wearing boots watched by the Lord, always finds the safest passage.

This phrase is often used for praying goodwill when searching for something.

The President felt hopeless, experiencing the previous President’s helplessness and anger upon leaving the position—

This damn thing has nothing to do with me; why must I take the blame?

Losing so many millionaires and not retrieving them, possibly only he could bear this burden in this capital-first nation.

He didn’t expect those in the office to solve this trouble for him, just like that secretary always smiling at him, surely not knowing how to solve this issue.

Or the President’s Mansion security advisor beside him, whom the President doubts ever left Bupen, possibly incapable of finding the cruise and getting himself lost.

Despair, even struggle and resistance have become meaningless.

The President glanced at Mr. Truman, casually and habitually asking as in every trouble encounter, "Truman, do you have any good solutions to solve this problem for us?"

Truman nodded; indeed, he had given up. This is...

"Did you just nod?" The President was a bit surprised, much like an exile at sea seeing this New Continent, filled with joy, "You nodded, right?"

Mr. Truman nodded again, and the stagnant atmosphere in the oppressive meeting room suddenly became lively.

The President, without any airs, walked to his side, intimately like a friend, standing behind him, pressing and pinching his shoulders, "Damn, I knew you had a way. I just knew it."

"Tell us, what’s your solution?"

Everyone looked at Mr. Truman expectantly, hoping he could provide an effective solution.

If the President resigns, the Conservative Party’s Vice President would step in, which is definitely not a good thing for them.

Although they won’t be transferred from their jobs soon, the work process would definitely not be enjoyable.

Haven’t seen those in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not even showing up right now?

"Actually, when they encountered trouble, I already got the message; Lynch sent me a telegram, and Darkstone Security also started to act."

"We just didn’t anticipate it would accelerate off-course, but we have countermeasures."

The President, suppressing his inner excitement to yell ’Woohoo,’ held Mr. Truman’s shoulders with trembling hands, "What measures?"