Chapter 367: Sharpening the Knife

"GameStation," whose stock price surged 134% in a single day, continued to write its legend under the world's gaze.
Market predictions widely held that it would easily reach a 200% peak the following day.
Countless newly arrived, enthusiastic investors were sharpening their knives, ready to enter the market.
Perhaps it was this overwhelming momentum that utterly terrified Robin's Man.
"I've lived most of my life, seen people unplug the internet, but this is the first time I've seen someone dare to directly disable a customer's buy button!
Is this something that can happen in the 21st century? This is America! Aren't they afraid of getting shot?"
Huang Fengwen, chairman of Fanghuan Group, sat on the sofa in Su Hao's office, utterly bewildered.
The most bizarre and absurd scene in financial history had unfolded.
As the US stock market opened and GameStation's stock price began to rise, the "Robin's Man" platform suddenly "physically castrated" it!
On the client, the red "BUY" button had vanished.
Only the green "SELL" button remained, hanging there forlornly.
Yes, only selling was allowed; buying was prohibited!
If they had suspended trading, the damage might have been less severe.
But this insidious tactic of leaving only the "sell" channel open instantly ignited market panic, triggering a massive, tsunami-like sell-off!
"I heard the losses are astronomical?"
"Yes, Chairman Huang," Su Hao replied calmly.
"The stock price plummeted from a high of $483 to $112.
Two hundred and sixty billion US dollars in market capitalization evaporated in just a few hours."
Two hundred and sixty billion US dollars vanished into thin air.
Naturally, the investors' anger had reached its peak!
Robin Hood, on the other hand, adopted a "dead pig doesn't fear boiling water" attitude, offering no response whatsoever.
"I heard you also put some money in? Three million US dollars?"
Huang Fengwen's gaze fell on Su Hao, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Yes. But we got in early, at $20, so even now, we haven't lost money yet."
"Yeah, when I received the report, I was puzzled for a long time too." Huang Fengwen looked at Su Hao with a smile,
"I was thinking, what are you trying to achieve by throwing a mere three million US dollars into such a hot market?"
To be honest, even when Robin Man unplugged the internet, Su Hao himself didn't fully understand the true intention behind his mystical intuition that led him to invest that three million US dollars.
“However, after this happened, I suddenly understood,” Huang Fengwen’s eyes gleamed.
“This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, right?”
“…?”
“Three million US dollars, what’s that to Fanghuan Investment?
It’s not a lot, but it’s not a small amount either.
It doesn’t seem like speculation, nor is it enough to constitute evidence of stock price manipulation.
Right at this critical juncture, our Fanghuan Exchange’s biggest competitor in the US, Robin Hood, has created such a shocking scandal…”
Huang Fengwen grinned like a weasel that had just stolen a chicken.
“Isn’t this a godsend? A perfect excuse that gives us a legitimate reason to act!”
"Let's be the great hero who speaks up for the people, fighting this lawsuit for those retail investors who've been ripped off!"
At that moment, a tingling current surged through Su Hao's body again.
So that's what it meant!
The three million US dollars he invested wasn't for making money, but to buy a ticket!
A ticket that would allow him to legitimately sue "Robin Man" in court!
"...Indeed, the one who understands me best in this world is Chairman Huang." Su Hao exclaimed sincerely.
"Nonsense! We're practically family!" Huang Fengwen laughed smugly, "Hahaha!"
That's right, if Fang Huan Investment hadn't invested a single penny in "Game Station," this whole thing would just be something to watch; they wouldn't have had a reason to get involved.
But now, it's different.
Su Hao, and the Fanghuan Investment he represents, is also an ordinary shareholder of "Game Station" stock, harmed by Robin's shameless actions!
"That's why I specially invited this friend over today. You two met last time, remember?"
Huang Fengwen gestured to the side.
"Ah, of course. Is this Attorney Zhao?"
"Yes, Chairman Su, thank you for remembering me."
A capable-looking, sharp-eyed middle-aged man nodded. He was the head of the legal department, Fanghuan Group's top-notch lawyer, whom they had heavily invested in.
"Chairman Huang has spared no expense in the legal department, investing massive resources.
It's no exaggeration to say that, at least in China, when it comes to litigation, we're second to none."
Attorney Zhao said confidently.
"So, that means transnational litigation is no problem either?"
"Of course. We've already contacted several top-tier law firms overseas.
Fanghuan will represent all the investors who suffered losses in this 'Game Station' incident, bringing them all together to handle this unprecedented class-action lawsuit!"
"Won't that generate a lot of buzz?" Huang Fengwen's calculations were working perfectly.
"Didn't our 'Fanghuan Exchange' get a license to trade on the US stock market?
We can use this opportunity to attract all of 'Robin's' users to our platform. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
A groundbreaking class-action lawsuit, a perfect marketing campaign that yields both fame and fortune!
Su Hao's intuition, this time, gave an incredibly clear and excited response.
This is a great idea!
“Now, the only remaining issue is the scale of the lawsuit,” Attorney Zhao adjusted his glasses.
“How much money do we want Robin Hood to pay?”
“Attorney Zhao, what’s your approximate estimate?”
“To be realistic…” Attorney Zhao pondered,
“I estimate the final compensation will most likely be in the range of several hundred million US dollars.
After all, the opposing legal team isn’t to be underestimated; the court will likely attempt a substantial settlement…”
While Attorney Zhao spoke eloquently, Su Hao silently pulled a small notebook from his pocket and quietly wrote something in it.
However… the numbers under his pen seemed to possess a life of their own, continuously climbing upwards, climbing…
Finally, the pen stopped abruptly at one point.
Su Hao stared at the final figure on the paper, stunned, and unconsciously murmured it softly.
"One hundred billion... US dollars?"
Upon hearing this, Attorney Zhao and Huang Fengwen's eyes immediately focused on him.
"Ah? One hundred billion US dollars?!" Attorney Zhao's jaw nearly dropped.
"Chairman Su, you mean, the amount of compensation sought in the lawsuit... you want to set it at one hundred billion US dollars?!"
Huang Fengwen, standing beside him, was first taken aback, then burst into laughter even louder than before.
"Hahahaha! Old Zhao, didn't I tell you? Chairman Su's vision is different from us mere mortals!"
"But...but Chairman Huang! One hundred billion US dollars! That's impossible! The court would never rule like that!"
"Hey, whether it's ruled or not is one thing, whether you dare to take it is another!" Huang Fengwen patted Attorney Zhao's shoulder with glee,
"A lawsuit for one hundred billion US dollars, isn't that sensational enough? Isn't that eye-catching enough? Hahahaha!"
"..."
Su Hao, meeting Attorney Zhao's dumbfounded gaze, as if looking at an alien, could only return a polite and harmless smile.