The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 805: Chapter 376: Britain, Do Not Cry for Me (Part 1)_3

Lionel was taken aback by his actions, but soon, it was replaced with a surge of anger. He stared fixedly at the stockbroker in front of him, unable to believe that this man, who usually fawned over him, could be so rough today.

However, quickly, Lionel understood. He also realized why his uncle James almost committed suicide in despair when the July Revolution erupted in Paris earlier.

Many stockbrokers and investors are people without much bottom line. If you can make them money, they can treat you like God, but if you lose them money, they hate you with a passion, wishing to drink your blood and eat your flesh.

Friendship, camaraderie, family ties, love, no kind of emotion is of any use at such times.

Lionel calmly said, “Jerome, you have been working with Rothschild for many years now, and you know our investment habits. We do not like to gamble without any information. Rather than making mistakes, we would prefer to do nothing. If you feel we are not on the same page, you can terminate the contract at any time. For the sake of our many years of partnership, I am making the decision for my father: if you terminate the contract now, I will only charge you half the penalty.”

“Half?”

Seeing that his strategy to anger Lionel had worked, Jerome quickly pressed his advantage, “Do you know how much I pay annually to get information from you? And now not only have you failed to make me money, but you have also made me lose money, and you still want to charge me half the penalty?”

Lionel bent down to pick up the bills Jerome had thrown at his face and handed them back to him, “Sir, this is the rule of the Financial City, and it is also the credit on which you as a stockbroker rely for your livelihood. You can certainly choose not to pay, but I must remind you that if you do not even pay half the penalty, then you can forget about being in the financial markets anywhere in London, Paris, Naples, Vienna, or Frankfurt, the whole of Europe.”

Overwhelmed by Lionel’s imposing manner, Jerome involuntarily took a step back. He looked at Lionel, then at the prices of the continuously declining stocks and bonds on the bulletin board. Finally, he gritted his teeth and snatched the bills from Lionel’s hand, “Fine! I’ll pay! Half the amount will be in your account by tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and shouted to his team, “Let’s go! We’re breaking ties with the Rothschilds!”

Jerome’s loud voice echoed throughout the stock exchange. As soon as he took his first step, he suddenly felt something was wrong and froze in place.

It was then that he realized the previously bustling stock exchange had suddenly fallen silent, and even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly.

All the investors and stockbrokers stood still, looking at each other with their transaction bills still in hand, but none of them waved them anymore.

A path had been cleared in the middle of the hall, with Scotland Yard officers in blue tailcoats and fully armed stationed every five steps, having taken over the place.

At the end of the path, a senior officer removed his hat, leaned against the transaction window, and asked the trader, “Excuse me, I heard that stock and bond prices are very cheap now?”

The trader’s gaze lowered to the handgun at Arthur’s waist. He was tense, but his highly disciplined professionalism still forced him to show a standard smile, “Yes, officer. Most stocks have fallen by thirty percent, some by almost half. As for bonds, the current price of British Public Bonds has dropped to 85.4 points. Are you planning to buy some now?”

“Hmm.”

Arthur nodded, fished around in his pocket, and pulled out stacks of bank drafts, placing them on the counter, “Some of this is my personal savings, and some is Scotland Yard’s money, a total of thirty-two thousand two hundred Pounds. Please buy all in public bonds.”

“Um…” Arthur’s words confused the trader, and he asked, “Officer, if I understood correctly, are you saying that this money is embezzled public funds?”

“Hmm.” Arthur calmly nodded, “That’s correct.”

Then he turned to the officers behind him and asked, “If I issue your salaries in British Public Bonds for the next few months, would you have any objections?”

“No objections!!!”

The officers’ reply was deafening.

“There.” Arthur turned back and said, “Sir, you see, they have no objections, so please be kind and help me with the purchase.”

The trader found Arthur’s behavior both amusing and frustrating. While counting the drafts, he said, “Officer, I’ve seen quite a few cases of embezzlement over the years, but you’re the first one I’ve seen doing it so openly. Aren’t you afraid of being investigated later?”

Arthur shrugged, “It doesn’t matter. As long as the bonds make money, my subordinates certainly won’t report me.”

“Arthur.”

Arthur turned his head and saw that it was the Jewish young master, Lionel Rothschild, who called him.

Seeing him, Arthur couldn’t help but smile, “I knew you’d be here.”

Lionel walked over and sat beside him, bending slightly and whispered, “Your presence here, does it mean something about Greenwich?”

Arthur didn’t deceive him and admitted frankly, “That’s right, things are terrible there.”

“In that case…”

Arthur quickly smiled again, “Forget it, just kidding.”

Arthur whispered in Lionel’s ear, “You understand, if we let the bond prices fall any further, things will get worse. Lionel, the only thing I can assure you of at this moment is that things are still under our control. If you trust me, then help me. I need you to step in now.”