Over the past two days, the United States stock market, which was turbulent and rocked by a major disaster, suddenly fell silent.
This silence made people feel as though an avalanche or tsunami that was bound to happen had suddenly stopped at its peak.
It was weird and very unusual.
The financial policy institutions of most countries in the world, as well as the financial think tanks of major companies, and the professors and students of economic schools were all paying close attention to the strange stillness of the United States stock market. They knew this calm would not last long, and that it might soon be broken.
Once it broke, there would inevitably be the biggest change in the history of finance.
This would not only affect the development of the global economy, it would also be a landmark event in the history of modern human economics. Many top professionals felt extremely excited and nervous about being able to personally experience it.
What changed this situation was an announcement jointly issued by the United States’ highest department of finance and the Federal Reserve.
“In view of the current irrational turbulence in the stock market, the United States stock market is closed for 3 working days.”
The short sentence directly caused FTSE from the United Kingdom, the Nikkei Index from Sunrise Land, and DAX from Germany to plummet.
Three working days and a weekend in which no trading is done, which meant it would be 5 more days before any trading could happen. The fiercest war would come after a peaceful ending.
“They are trying to lock me in the United States stock market. In other words, it is impossible for me to admit defeat and exit the market now.”
Inside a private holiday villa on the outskirts of Waterhoof City, Jasper sipped his strong-smelling coffee and turned his head to the little prince who was lying next to him on a lounge chair as he sunbathed.
The little prince opened his eyelids lazily and snorted before saying, “Lock all your funds in the stock market? Since the market is closed, you can’t leave even if you want to sell for cash and pull out. Once five days are up, it won’t be so easy for you to leave.”
“Not me…”
Jasper shook his head, pointed at the little prince, and said happily, “It’s us.”
The little prince sneered and said, “I haven‘t agreed to cooperate with you yet. Why? Are you threatening me with the money I invested before this?”
“This is just an obvious fact. Not to mention that the West is threatening all of us. How exactly am I threatening you?” Jasper said.
The little prince said while feeling displeased, “I just made 10 billion from the initial 5 billion investment. It is really unfortunate that so many things happened before I even had time to celebrate.”
“Well, how can it be enough to just double the investment?” Jasper turned his head and smiled at the little prince.
The little prince’s eye twitched as he looked at Jasper. He said, “Sometimes I wonder if you are a hillbilly or a lunatic.”
“I am most annoyed by the academics. They like to act like they’re so knowledgeable after reading a few books, as though it makes them better than everyone.”
“For example, some capitalists would dare to risk their lives when they see 100% profit return, but is that how reality really plays out? Marx is turning in his grave now.”
“Furthermore, even if this was the case and it is obviously a death trap, the capitalists are very clever and mischievous. Just you wait and see who among them dares to go and risk their lives. To spend your money, you must still be alive in the first place.”
Jasper shrugged and said, “Little prince, this doesn’t sound like something you’d normally say.”
“Something I’d say? What would I say?” The little prince scoffed and pointed at Jasper’s nose before yelling, “You maniac! Who do you think you are? How dare you fight against the United States and the entire Wall Street?!”
“Were you confused because you got a little achievement? Who gives you the courage to do such a thing?”
“You can just go ahead if you want to die. Yet, you still want to drag me along to serve as your sacrificial victim! Do you think I’m insane?”
Jasper was not mad when he was faced with the little prince’s rare temper.
He only replied in a calm voice, “It’s 2001 now. Do you know what the land beneath our feet was called 80 years ago?”
“The settlement!”
Before the little prince could answer, Jasper answered, his voice powerful and resonating.
“What is a settlement? It’s opening up an extra-judicial land in Somerland, making it a country within a country.
“People of Somer descent are the lower-class in the settlement. The laws of Somerland don’t apply here. Over here, those foreigners are king. To them, people of Somer descent are just maggots who look like humans. We’re their slaves.”
“We’ve gone through so many hardships over those 80 years, and now, Harbor City has returned to the sovereignty of the mainland. Despite this, there are still people dreaming about slaughtering people of Somer descent like we are animals.”
“You’re the little prince and you’re a Royal, but so what if you’re the king in Waterhoof City? You can only make the people in Somerland fear you. If you have the balls and real ability to back it up, you’ll make those foreigners who ruled this world for hundreds of years fear you!”
“Our ancestors and elders did this decades ago, but now you’re scared?”
After hearing what Jasper said, the little prince did not interrupt him. Instead, he just looked straight at Jasper. He was looking at Jasper as if he had just seen some rare animal.
After some time, the little prince started chuckling softly. His chuckle was not disdainful or sarcastic. It sounded as if it was just a normally amused chuckle.
After he shook his head, the little prince was no longer as emotional as before. His rage was replaced with a calmness and steadiness that was more akin to his true self.
“Oh, Jasper, I think you’ve gone mad…”
“I understand the patriotic intent, but I understand the facts in front of me better. If you want to talk to me, you have to use the method of negotiation between businessmen. I will gain nothing from all the talk about history. You won’t gain anything from it either.”
Who said the top second-generations of the nation like the second prince were all hedonists?
Who said the righteousness of the nation was a useless argument?
The difference in attitude before and after had shown that the little prince had changed his mind. It was a good thing that there was a change.
Now, Jasper was confident he could pull the little prince firmly back down onto the chair that he was about to leave just moments ago.
