[Chapter 850: Radiant Cherry Blossoms]
With the arrest of Nick Leeson, the story of operational mishaps at the trading firm came to an end. A group of plump executives had ignored the misdeeds of their subordinate branches to rack up larger commissions.
Nick was just a scapegoat; he wouldn't have encountered such trouble if he hadn't followed the hype. Despite being imprisoned, he still believed wholeheartedly in America's three major credit rating agencies. Look at that, even Soros was bottom-fishing on Wall Street; what could there be to doubt? Sadly, the earthquake that struck was just the last thing anyone needed right then.
Sometimes, the elite could become so entrenched in their own views that they lost sight of reality. Even when thrown in jail, Nick remained clueless as to what he had done wrong. The UK's Financial Services Authority had set clear regulations; financial investments could not exceed 25% of a bank's capital. This figure wasn't just plucked from thin air; it was based on the lessons learned from countless failed banks. Why wouldn't they listen?
William White, however, cared little about their disputes. Spring had arrived, and it was cherry blossom season in Washington; he took the opportunity to enjoy a little leisure time.
The blossoms opened gloriously, then fell quietly; vibrant yet fleeting. The devastation of the Kobe earthquake was significant, but as he strolled through the National Cherry Blossom Festival, he noted the cheerful faces surrounding him.
"Fujita, it doesn't look that serious, does it? Those ladies still seem quite happy."
Fujita forced a smile. "What brings you to the capital, anyway? Of course, places like Kyoto and Osaka will be just fine. Death is viewed differently here."
"Sir, we believe that after death, people go to heaven. As long as one isn't too terrible during their life, they will become gods. You see, we're polytheistic."
"Fujita, are you saying everyone becomes a god?"
"Exactly, whether human or animal. Just like these beautiful cherry blossoms. Their lives are short but striking."
"Alright, that does reflect the spirit of the people here. I wondered why the suicide rate was still so high after the economic crisis; turns out there's a different perspective on life and death."
Though William made light of it, inwardly he scoffed. If there were truly that many deities, wouldn't they be fighting all the time? Humans aged and experienced illness; gods didn't exist in the same way.
And yet, anyone could aspire to divinity? If the threshold for becoming a god were that low, he might as well embrace the underworld. Buddha stated it plainly: "If I don't enter hell, who will?"
Buddha knew reality well; he preferred to remain comfortably in hell.
Given the criticism aimed at him for shorting stocks, now was an excellent time for him to assert his presence. He had not only increased his investments but also brought with him new orders. Most importantly, he planned to assist the earthquake-stricken area.
When it came to performance, he understood the importance of company image; it largely depended on the persona portrayed by the boss. A shifty vampire would hardly garner the same respect as a successful entrepreneur--it was as plain as day.
"That jerk, who really needs comic books in a disaster area?"
"George, was this loss really significant?" Alan Greenspan hesitated to chime in; he couldn't help but think of the countless tents and food supplies still visible. Their relationship was not that close; if this got out, it could cause serious trouble.
Whatever donations were made, they still helped the needy. A miser could hardly judge others for not doing enough, for failing to follow a particular protocol. "Let's be diplomatic; if it's just to spectate, then let's keep our mouths shut."
Soros felt irritated; while the money lost wasn't substantial, his reputation was taking a hit. Based on feedback they were receiving, it seemed William White didn't care much for hedge funds.
"Ah, the losses aren't that severe. Alan, you know we rely on our reputation. Mistakes might happen once, but if they continue, investor confidence will dwindle."
"George, if possible, let's avoid direct conflicts; William White is crucial. We need to market the American Dream, not the American Nightmare."
Soros was left speechless. "Come on, don't joke. He's just a privileged kid. You actually think that way?"
"Not feeling it? Sure, he had advantages many didn't, but how many could say they matched even half his achievements?"
Soros remained reticent; in business, gains and losses fluctuated. Yet one couldn't deny William's accomplishments.
A lengthy press conference concluded, and William returned to his hotel. He was there on a brief business trip, his agenda tightly packed. The politicians he met earlier didn't hold much interest for him. The upcoming period was bound to be unstable for Wall Street.
"Fujita, this issue of the comic looks solid; I'm very pleased with your work lately."
"Thank you, boss. I'll keep pushing forward."
"Recently, Wall Street hasn't had much luck. We need to emphasize uplifting content. For the darker material, let's keep it in the standalone volumes and remove it from the weekly."
"Understood, I'll make sure of it."
The boss favored optimistic themes, so his subordinates had to comply. In reality, those kinds of uplifting characters were soaring in popularity.
Uplifting content could be somewhat naive; it often presented a cheerful simplicity that didn't really convey much depth. It remained to be seen if this endured after the influence of some utterly insincere figures.
The next morning, despite a night filled with work, the wealthy mogul rose early. It wasn't easy dealing with such lackluster competitors.
Let's just say the mogul was bested by an innocent look and humble words.
Who knew mere apologies could carry such weight? The innocence and guilt shown by others struck a deep chord within him.
Yet, somewhat shockingly, he took it as a personal challenge for a second round.
Regardless, William White was in good spirits. Seeing a long line at the ticket booth made him even happier.
Disney, ah, Disney! They were certainly thriving. Those shareholders who had been pushed out when the stock crashed were probably regretting their decisions now.
"Michael, why does Wall Street always churn out new and exciting things? Look at this Mickey cake; it's fantastic, and there's even Minnie in a kimono, albeit a tad cheeky."
"Cough, boss, we've recently developed a Western theme park. Cowboy Mickey has received positive feedback."
"Cowboys? Alright, that's quintessentially American. I don't expect us to surpass Wall Street, but if the economy's improving, let's ramp it up. By the way, how's the Disney park in Rabbit Country coming along?"
"Sure thing, boss. The main hurdle right now is currency exchange issues."
"Yeah, they do place a lot of weight on foreign exchange. By the way, exports have been decent lately, so we shouldn't face too many shortages. Let's keep negotiating--if our profits can't be promptly repatriated, that would pose issues."
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