Episode 1: World Crisis (3)

Boom! 

I tapped the microphone with my finger — making the audience startle slightly. 

“Everything exploded, the economy of the world crumbled, the global economic crisis broke out, in an instant it spread to everywhere. The New York Stock Exchange collapsed, cutting the world capitalization billions of dollars, followed by London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris. And it only took a second for the horrible news to arrive in Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Sydney, even Johannesburg. Everyone is panicking, the oil futures contract prices and commodities fall, world trade is drooping, the economy is slowing down, many countries declare recession. Some even rushed to declare bankruptcy, asking for help. —

— Nowadays we are busy discussing here and there, analyzing, wishing: wish it wasn’t done, wish there were regulations governing; but many more wishing: wish they sold their stock first then place a short selling transaction, wish there was cash ready in their hands, wish on the opposite transaction position. It would be a blessing beyond measure, partying hard amid the mass losses.”

“Sir, I apologize for interrupting.” A conference participant said impatiently, in his unique East Asian English accent, making the whole room turn their heads to him.

“The question and answer sessions would be available in fifteen minute before it ended.” The moderator, one of the well-known business school professors, hurriedly warned.

“No problem. Please.” I didn’t mind, nodded. 

“Eh?” the moderator looked at me.

“Thank you.” The participant cleared his throat. His tie  was drifting to a side and his hair was untidy, he must be worried about many things. “I think we don’t need to spend any more time hearing stories like the academic and bureaucratic sessions for a whole day like before. Have we come all the way to hear theories? We are tired. We need a quick and precise decision. Sir, you are praised by the mass media as one of the best financial advisors. Tell you what, since this crisis happened, frankly speaking, our company has been swaying from side to side, reporting the losses that have consumed twenty years of retained earnings, in negative cash positions, and customer payment claims are just a matter of time. What should we do? Or rather, what should the top executives of the company who have the same fate as ours do? Wait for a death sentence?”

Murmurs of approval rang out from many tables.

I chuckled, elbowing the moderator next to me. “Well, finally, now I understand why I am paid so well to be a speaker at this conference. You guys apparently ask for free financial advice. John, don’t forget to help send invoices to all participants.” 

The participants of the international conference laughed.

I rubbed my face, waiting for the room to return to silence, then said slowly, “The key to the solution is only three words: manipulation, manipulation, and manipulation. That is all. From the time of Pharaohs, from the time of Xerxes of Perisa, that is the only solution to face the great economic crisis. Including how to save your money, which is already buried in the company that is threatened with bankruptcy.”