Darkstone Code
Chapter 184 - 0182 Black October [Part 4]

Chapter 184: 0182 Black October [Part 4]

"What matter is important enough to interrupt my meeting?"

The President of Bail Federal stood somewhat displeased in the lounge. His Chief of Staff had just interrupted his conversation with several international affairs experts, making him feel impolite. His tone at this moment was naturally unpleasant.

The Chief of Staff sighed with a bitter smile, "Mr. President, the issue with the bonds has been exposed. How should we proceed next?"

The expression on the President of Bail Federal was initially one of impatience, but upon hearing this news, he immediately became tense.

During the period before the end of the world war, war bonds had always been a political maneuver he was particularly proud of, using the purchase of war bonds as a form of paying protection money, preventing the flames of war from reaching Bail Federal.

Moreover, after the war, these bonds could be converted into a vast amount of wealth. He considered this one of the brightest policies in his political career. At the time, he used the slogan "We don’t participate in the war, but enjoy the fruits of victory" to promote this idea, which won much public favor.

Recently, he had been trying to find ways to solve this issue, and the pressure on him was not insignificant. This was because those qualified to acquire these bonds in large quantities were primarily banks and some financial institutions that could represent national interests to a certain extent.

Yet

These groups usually remain silent but manipulate the fate of many people and are closely related to people’s lives.

His intention was to find a way to rally some neutral countries to form a rights defense alliance, then solve part of the bond issue, ease the anxious emotions, and then slowly sort out the subsequent matters.

He and his staff believed that difficulties were only temporary unless those victorious countries wanted to push them into the defeated country’s camp.

Unexpectedly, it exploded at this time. Feeling nervous, he was also somewhat annoyed, "Which fool did this?"

The Chief of Staff then explained the whole story. In fact, neither the President nor his Cabinet, including his staff officer, had anticipated that those banks and financial institutions would so shamelessly transfer the risk.

Despite knowing that those bonds were practically no different from white paper, they distributed these bonds to financial companies and hyped these foreign bonds through some maneuvers, making ordinary citizens the main victims.

"That damned, greedy mongrel!" The President cursed a few times and then solemnly looked at his Chief of Staff, "You need to come up with some strategies as soon as possible. Also, restrain the media and shut them up. I don’t want to stand at a press conference looking like an idiot when I don’t know how to solve these problems, understand?"

The President annually allocated millions of funds and countless invisible benefits to maintain these staff teams. Now was the time to show their value. The Chief of Staff solemnly nodded, "I know what to do. In no more than twenty-four hours, we will have measures in place!"

The President’s expression finally eased a bit. He adjusted his collar and tie and turned towards the conference room, "I hope the next time we meet, you’ll bring me good news as you said!"

Subsequently, calls from the President’s private office virtually notified all mainstream and non-mainstream media, even those charity magazines and ads. Now they were racing against time.

Even if they couldn’t stop the sudden eruption of the situation, they had to come up with a truly effective solution before the big explosion arrived.

However, some matters ultimately don’t go as one wishes.

Mainstream media like the "Trade Report," "Federal Times," "Bail Daily," and "International News Retrieval" indeed followed the President’s private office’s requests and arrangements, halting the publication and printing of this news. However, some smaller papers did not comply.

"Happy Every Week" was one such newspaper. Its name was related to the content it published. Their mission was to provide targets for philanthropists with money who were willing to assist some girls.

Some people always need help, and some people are willing to help others. Such platforms exist in every state of the Federation, and everyone has become accustomed to it.

After all, solicitation is illegal in many states, but aid is legal, and the newspaper would naturally earn some intermediary fees, which was one of their main sources of income.

Historically, such charity newspapers have had no connection with morality, ethics, or current affairs, because they knew that even if they published such news, no one would read it.

Readers would instead call and curse at their operators for half an hour, then tell the newspaper that if they didn’t see tits on the front page of next week’s newspaper, they’d never subscribe again and wouldn’t dial their phone services.

So, no matter what happened in the outside world, such newspapers remained indifferent, but today was different.

"The majority of our clients in our community are actually beneficiaries of financial transactions!"

In the editor-in-chief’s office, the general editor, chief proofreader, and various editors-in-chief gathered. Although the newspaper was small and its content unique, it had everything it should have.

The owner sat in his chair, puffing on a pipe, "If a financial crisis really occurs, our clients will become poor, and we will also become poor because our clients are poor."

"No one buys the newspaper, no one dials the hotline, no one pays us intermediary fees, so we must publish this news to alert our clients and help them minimize their losses!"

The editor-in-chief couldn’t help but interject, "But the President’s office asked us not to report this news."

The owner nodded, "That’s indeed the case, but so what?"

He looked at the people in the office and said nonchalantly, "Behind those big newspapers are either consortia or politicians. They have to obey their masters’ orders. Their masters will give them a bone, but we only have our clients behind us."

"Without clients, what do we eat and drink? What do those girls eat and drink?"

"When we’re about to go bankrupt, do you think Mr. President and those consortia will save us?"

The owner shook his head, "No, the only ones who can fill our bellies are our clients. Listen to me, start the presses immediately." He paused for a moment and spoke the words everyone wanted to hear, "Even if there’s a reckoning, I will bear the consequences alone!"

Soon, "Happy Every Week" began issuing a special edition, which only happened during significant events, like when some new girls needed funding or when some adult film companies were preparing to release some big-scale productions.

This piqued the curiosity of many subscribers, and the special edition sold out overnight, with distributors from all over calling to request additional copies.

This action also caused more newspapers and media to start reporting on this news, following the trend since only the first one to do it got in trouble.

In just one night, everyone in the Federation knew about this incident.

Banks refused to cash out any foreign bonds, and the foreign issuing countries also refused to redeem the bonds people held, rendering bonds people bought for thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands as worthless as scrap paper!

What’s more terrifying is that many people, like Frank, had just received their personal credit loans and had invested this money in bonds.

The situation quickly spiraled out of control. As the storm’s epicenter, Frank and his broker probably didn’t realize that they hadn’t just lifted a scab—they had directly pierced an artery.

The next morning, around nine o’clock, there was a commotion outside a standalone mansion, accompanied by police sirens.

Frank, who had been lounging on a comfortable sofa all night, was suddenly awakened. This sofa was so comfortable, even more so than his bed. This was the value of money.

With his mind still groggy, he walked to the window and looked outside, and all his sleepiness was instantly shocked out of his body.

Outside, a large number of police officers were gathered, including armed police and some people who were clearly from the military. He cursed under his breath and ducked back behind the window.

That damned broker, he must have called the police. Frank already had this feeling when the broker didn’t return last night, but he was still waiting, hoping—or rather, the broker calling the police was part of his plan.

If the broker really couldn’t redeem those bonds, this place would become the scene of a crime. He had watched many TVs and movies with similar content.

When criminals take hostages, they can make certain demands, such as asking reporters and media to gather here so that he can explain why he’s doing this.

By then, the entire Federation would be shaken by this, and people would sympathize with him and support him. Even if he ended up in jail, at least his money would be safe.

This idea was admittedly very constructive. An ordinary person wanting to gather a large media presence was virtually impossible, but a criminal attempting it was easy.

But some matters, especially in reality, do not always follow a movie script.

While Frank was waiting for the negotiator to call out in the bedroom, a special action team had already begun breaching the door. From the start, these people’s goal was very simple—to eliminate Frank and shut him up.

The matter was exposed and irreparable. Therefore, Frank’s life and death became irrelevant, and some needed to vent their anger. A dead Frank evidently satisfied some people’s desires.

From the start of the operation to the sound of gunfire, it lasted barely five minutes.

The operation team’s captain eventually reported the situation to the on-site commander expressionlessly, narrating a frightening event in a regretful tone.

Frank resisted stubbornly and wielded a lethal weapon, intending to harm hostages. To protect the hostages’ safety, they had to kill the attempted murderous kidnapper Frank on the spot.

The on-site commander raised an eyebrow, "That really is a regrettable event!"

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