Chapter 313: The Most Dazzling Bloom of Fireworks

The office door was flung open, and several traders rushed in as if they'd seen a ghost, their faces contorted with a mixture of terror and ecstasy.
“What’s the panic! What happened?” Wu Jianlin jumped to his feet, his heart nearly stopping.
“It’s crashed! Secretary Wu, it’s crashed!!”
“What crashed? Explain yourself clearly!”
“Global stock markets! Just after hitting an all-time high, suddenly! They’ve started an avalanche-like crash!!”
“What?!”
That sky-piercing peak was like the most dazzling fireworks display at the end of a firework!
After the flames subsided, only an endless abyss remained.
From that moment on, the candlestick charts of all global markets seemed to have been slammed down by an invisible hand, carving out terrifying vertical waterfalls!
"Why?! Why is this happening?!"
"Breaking news! The number of infections in various countries is surging exponentially!
The speed of the virus's spread has exceeded everyone's expectations. Several countries have already succumbed and begun closing their borders!
More importantly, there are rumors in the market that the WHO is about to declare a 'global pandemic.' This has completely shattered market sentiment!"
"A global pandemic?"
"Yes! That's a higher level than a 'state of emergency,' effectively acknowledging that the situation is completely out of control!
Once declared, it means that all countries in the world, including ours, must immediately, instantly, and completely close their borders!"
"!!"
Wu Jianlin, who had spent half his life navigating the financial markets, instantly understood what this meant.
"The Great Depression, is it really here?"
"Yes! For a global market to experience this level of panic selling simultaneously, I'm afraid the Great Depression is truly here!"
Closing borders, restricting the movement of people!
What a devastating blow this will be to the global economy!
It's unimaginable!
This is precisely why the most sensitive behemoth of the financial market has let out such a mournful cry!
“How…how are our positions?” Wu Jianlin’s voice trembled.
“Secretary Wu…all the short positions have turned a profit! Global prices are still plummeting!
At this rate, we might start making substantial profits today!”
“What if…this is just a one-day plunge? Just a technical correction?” someone expressed concern.
“That’s certainly possible.
Secretary Wu, should we seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and while we can still profit, clear our positions and leave as quickly as possible?”
From hell to heaven, that’s probably what it feels like.
The problem is, nobody knows how long this ticket to heaven will last.
So, while the gates of heaven are still open, being the first to rush out, would that be the wisest choice?
But…
“This is not something we can decide.” Wu Jianlin, surprisingly, remained calm.
"Ah, Secretary Wu?"
"Don't forget, the specific plan for the 'Pangu' project was devised by Fang Huan!"
He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"So, when to close the net, when to exit... only Fang Huan knows the answer!"
Everyone suddenly understood and nodded in agreement.
That's right, the mastermind behind this grand scheme was the mysterious Fanghuan Investment from beginning to end.
In the meeting room, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves:
"But...Fanghuan Investment, could they really...have foreseen even this?"
"A global pandemic...how did they know? This is simply..."
"It's really too bizarre. Last time the British stock market crashed, Fanghuan immediately bought up pharmaceutical companies at rock-bottom prices.
Then, just before this storm broke out, they precisely instructed us to establish such a massive short position..."
"Then...what does that mean? Could it be that Fanghuan Investment...is related to this virus?"
The moment this speculation was uttered, the air in the meeting room froze.
Wu Jianlin frowned and raised his hand to stop them.
"Stop! What kind of illogical nonsense is this!"
"But...but the timing is too coincidental..."
"Use your brains before you say that!
Don't forget, Fang Huan's pharmaceutical company is in the UK!
You need to understand, what the hell does it mean to create and spread a completely new virus that can paralyze the world?
That requires the world's most advanced biological laboratories, the most sophisticated intelligence network, and top-tier delivery capabilities to infiltrate foreign and Chinese customs and airport security!
And such a massive and complex plan has too many uncontrollable factors; not a single link can fail!
Can a single company handle this?
This is something even a nation might not be able to achieve 100% success with its full resources!
It's only because you laymen are spouting nonsense that you're being ridiculous. If the experts heard you, they'd laugh their heads off!
"Well, this virus in our country has indeed appeared very strangely..."
"I'll only tell you one thing, and once you leave this room, keep it to yourself!
Where was the World Military Games held last October?"
"...In Jiangcheng." Someone answered instinctively.
"That's right." Wu Jianlin's voice carried a chill.
"And according to intelligence held by the nation, which has not yet been fully verified, after that, members of a certain country's delegation developed symptoms highly similar to the 'virus'.
Even more coincidentally, several of them had unclear and inexplicable connections to certain notorious biological laboratories within their country!"
"Boom—!"
This news exploded in everyone's minds like a real bomb!
This was no longer just business speculation; it was a shocking conspiracy escalating to the level of biological warfare!
"Do you understand now?" Wu Jianlin's gaze swept over everyone again, his eyes filled with warning.
"The truth is far darker and more complex than you imagine! Fang Huan wasn't the mastermind behind the conspiracy.
It's just that their intelligence network may have detected these clues earlier than we did and deduced the terrifying potential of this storm!
That's why they 'planned ahead' by acquiring the pharmaceutical company, and why they made this earth-shattering 'Pangu' gamble!"
Hearing his explanation, everyone immediately found it reasonable.
After all, it was widely rumored in the industry that the intelligence networks of top investment banks were sometimes even more sophisticated than those of national agencies.
"Remember this! From today onwards, anyone who discusses this virus incident will be dealt with severely!
Also, our relationship with Fang Huan Investment is merely that of advisor and client!
All investment decisions this time were the result of my, Wu Jianlin's, arbitrary and headstrong actions!
Do you all understand?!"
"Secretary Wu..."
Those present weren't fools; they instantly understood Wu Jianlin's intentions.
This wasn't about taking all the credit; quite the opposite.
This money was earned in a way that was too outrageous, too...bloody.
Regardless of the final profit, it would inevitably cause a huge uproar, and someone would have to step forward and bear all the responsibility and infamy.
And Secretary Wu had long intended to shoulder this enormous burden himself.
“Don’t look at me like that. I was prepared for this from the moment I decided to do it.”
He waved his hand.
“Stop standing around! Get moving! No matter what, we must win this time!
And win spectacularly!”
“Yes!”
Everyone responded in unison, turning and leaving, leaving only Wu Jianlin in the office.
Only then did he feel his tense nerves suddenly relax, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed into his chair.
Finally… he could catch his breath.
But for some reason, he had a strong premonition.
This was just the beginning!