On December 25, the port, about half an hour’s drive from Bupen, was battered by a piercing cold wind. Yet, even in such weather, a large crowd had gathered here, including some heavyweight media like the Federal Times and the International Observer.
Among them were also many reporter friends from other countries, such as the Royal Daily from Gafura, and the reason they had gathered here was Lynch.
Lynch had sent them invitations, asking them to witness a miracle, so these journalist friends from well-known media found themselves braving the cold wind early in the morning.
Kamu, the lead reporter for the International Observer’s own column, was trembling in the cold. The newspaper he worked for was rapidly advancing from among the lesser-known papers to potentially surpassing the Federation Daily.
With escapism coming to an end, people began to pay more attention to the international community. Newspapers became the cheapest medium to understand international society, and the sales of papers like the International Observer doubled and continued to soar.
Many smaller newspapers also followed suit, reporting various international news, some true and some false, to gain people’s attention and sales.
To be honest, this strategy was quite effective. Some people who had never even left their city truly believed the content they read in newspapers. After all, this was a newspaper; how could the published content be fake?
But they could never have imagined that while they or their neighbors might be shameless, some media could be even more shameless.
In any case, the International Observer had already become a heavyweight media outlet, and Kamu was receiving all kinds of press conference invitations every day, giving him the privilege to choose.
Around eight-thirty, Lynch’s motorcade finally arrived fashionably late. Kamu grumbled a little, wondering if Lynch’s success over the past two years had gone to his head, since he dared to arrive so punctually despite inviting so many media outlets. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱
As he contemplated writing a column on the effects of arrogance on young people, he dutifully took out his notebook and pen, nudging forward a bit.
"Sorry, I might be late..." In front of the hundreds of media, Lynch raised his arm to glance at the time, "... by half a minute, but that’s not important. What’s important is the purpose for which I’ve invited you all here today."
The interview vehicles from over a dozen TV stations were capturing everything happening here in the city, and the journalists from traditional print media were also watching him. He pulled a one-dollar bill from his pocket and showed it to everyone.
"This is a currency, one Federation Sol. Many of you have seen it!"
Some reporters burst into laughter, "Mr. Lynch, not only have I seen the one-dollar note, but I’ve also seen the hundred-dollar one!"
Lynch nodded towards the reporter but said nothing. He simply placed the one-dollar bill between two pieces of glass, securing it on a base, then took out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and preserved it in the same manner between two sheets of glass, placing it on another base.
"A friend just mentioned having seen a hundred-dollar bill, so I won’t display it..."
At this point, people still hadn’t realized what Lynch intended to do. They simply thought... if it was merely to display currency or show off wealth, he didn’t need to do this at all.
Fortunately, Lynch’s identity and his reputation kept the reporters waiting. Lynch took out a bundle of new hundred-dollar bills—fresh from the bank—and placed them on another base, without glass this time, but with a weight applied to keep them down.
"This is a bundle with a total value of ten thousand dollars. Next is..." He took a common Bupen lockbox from a Senior Soldier, opened it, revealing it was packed full of hundred-dollar bills. "This is twenty Sol in cash. Honestly, whenever someone in a movie lifts a case and says it contains a million dollars, I always want to ask their director or writer if they’ve ever seen a full box of money."
As he spoke, he placed the lockbox on an inclined stand, allowing the reporters to get a good look at the money inside.
Then, two members of Darkstone Security placed a banker’s lockbox on the table, opening it, which left everyone inhaling sharply in surprise.
The cold wind made everyone shiver, but when so much money was gathered together, it was simply overwhelming.
"Two million, gentlemen. I’d bet some of you can’t lift this box with one hand, except for the cameraman!"
The Federation Sol bills contained gold powder, making them slightly heavier than those without. Two million plus the box weighed about thirty kilograms.
Though people still didn’t quite understand what Lynch was up to, their interest was piqued. Some excitedly asked, "Mr. Lynch, is there twenty million next?"
That’s how it is in the Federation; people may occasionally dislike the rich, but they do not hate them. Capitalists have spent years changing people’s perception of wealth, filling society with the belief that money is power and something to aspire to, rather than hate.
Lynch’s display of wealth only made people envy him and ignited their own desires and motivations to become wealthy.
But Lynch shook his head and then turned around, revealing the most stunning scene that left some bodies trembling!
A gantry crane at the port delivered a shipping container from afar, which drove some people’s voices to break into screams; but that wasn’t all.
The second, third, fourth, and then the fifth followed!
Nagariel’s currency was colorful and slightly larger than Federation Sols, so after calculations, each container could hold up to two point one billion Ngarels. Nearly one hundred billion was needed, requiring five containers to fill.
When the fifth container was set on the ground, Lynch nodded to the Senior Soldier, and soon some armed bodyguards moved beside the container and opened it. Instantly, everyone seemed to smell the intoxicating scent of fresh ink.
Standing in front of all that money, Lynch kept his hands on the table in front of him, leaning slightly forward, "Someone earlier mentioned they had seen a one-dollar bill. Now, may I ask if you’ve ever seen a hundred billion in cash?"
After a brief moment of shock, the reporters quickly entered a frenzied state, rushing towards Lynch in a frenzy. Kamu pushed people around like swimming, loudly asking questions.
The Senior Soldier and the team efficiently protected Lynch from being overwhelmed by the reporters, who, faced with the reporters’ frenzy, showed no fear. He extended a finger, "The first question is what this money is for."
"Our cooperation with Nagariel is proceeding in an orderly manner. As a friendly ally, we bear the responsibility to help Nagariel achieve prosperity and escape poverty."
"Along with the warming relations between our two countries and beginning collaborations in various fields, to resolve some issues, I, on my behalf, have acquired a hundred billion Nagariels as my personal foreign exchange reserve. I am very optimistic about Nagariel’s future development and foresee an infinite appreciation potential for Nagariels."
"Secondly..." He raised two fingers, "I just received news that in light of the warming Federation-Nagariel relations, the Nagariel authorities will increase the share and the quantity of Federation Sols in their foreign exchange reserves, potentially acquiring over a billion Sols!"
"Thirdly, the Federation will also acquire approximately several hundred billion Nagariels..."
Simultaneously, at the President’s Mansion press conference, Mr. Truman was delivering similar news.
"The Federation Government will acquire at least five hundred billion Nagariels as a scheme to maintain the stability of the Nagariel exchange rate, while the United Development Company will continually buy at least three hundred billion Nagariels. Our plan is, within the next two to three years, to achieve exchange rate stability for Nagariels..."
At Nagariel’s United Development Company press conference, this announcement was also made. The United Development Company will exchange some of their Federation Sols with the Nagariel authorities for Nagariels to use as foreign exchange reserves and for paying staff wages employed in Nagariel.
The moment this news was announced by various parties, the Nagariel currency shot up on the foreign exchange market, closely followed by a surge of international hot money.
This kind of state-led exchange rate appreciation had virtually no risk. Many international analysis institutions believed that the Federation proved its military might by winning the naval battle against Gafura, thereby demonstrating its powerful economic and political capabilities.
Even if the Federation suffered losses, it would not allow Nagariels to fail in their appreciation process, so they would be sure to withstand any challenges.
Moreover, at this time, no one would dare to make trouble for the Federation, whose military clusters could circle around others’ territories—costs could be far greater than profits in the foreign exchange market.
Thus, this was a secure channel for making money. The influx of hot money accelerated Nagariel’s performance in the foreign exchange market, and the "official" statements from Lynch, Mr. Truman, and the United Development Company added significant value.
Especially the display of a hundred billion Nagariel cash—it was so stunning that even those who doubted the Federation’s reasoning or necessity began to question themselves. Perhaps they had miscalculated?
In just a morning, Nagariel’s exchange rate surged by more than ten points—a historic, extraordinary appreciation. The entire financial exchange awoke from the winter chill and rekindled unthinkable enthusiasm.
The sunlight today was equally brilliant!
Standing at the port, welcoming the first sunbeam of winter, Lynch’s face was as refined as jade, shining brightly.