"Get rich?"
Johnny adjusted his glasses and asked, "Boss, could you explain that a bit more clearly?"
Instead of answering directly, Lucas asked, "How much money do I currently have in my accounts?"
Johnny replied immediately, "Boss, you currently have 110 million dollars in liquid funds, and 800 million dollars allocated for investment purposes."
Of that amount, over 860 million dollars came from the capital assets provided by various financial conglomerates at the previous global summit.
Naturally, Lucas had no intention of letting that money sit idle in a bank. He promptly hired a top-tier independent brokerage team to manage it.
As a result, using the 860 million as principal, he had already earned more than 50 million dollars in profit.
After thinking for a moment, Lucas asked again,
"If I were to use my existing equity holdings as collateral, how much capital could I raise?"
Johnny froze for a second, but his professional instincts kicked in immediately.
"Boss, the stocks you hold belong to premium-grade corporations. I strongly advise against using them as collateral."
"To be frank—even if your investment were to fail, the dividends from those shares alone would be more than enough to guarantee you a lifetime of comfort."
Lucas paid no attention to the warning.
A broker's job was to assess risk and advise caution—that was simply professional duty.
He continued calmly, "Just tell me how much I can borrow using those stocks as collateral."
Johnny gestured politely. "Please give me a moment. I need to run a quick valuation based on current market conditions."
About seven minutes later, Johnny spoke again.
"Boss, if you proceed with collateralization, you could secure approximately 6 billion dollars in bank loans."
Lucas stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"So that means my total assets would be around 7 billion dollars, correct?"
Johnny nodded, smoothly delivering some flattery.
"That's right, Boss. At your age, possessing wealth on this scale makes you one of the rarest individuals on the planet."
Lucas was unimpressed.
This outcome had been part of his plan since the moment he was born into this world.
Some people often asked why, with Saiyan power, he had lived such an ordinary childhood.
Lucas could only say those people had been poisoned by too many rebirth novels.
Before threats were cleared and strength fully developed, how exactly was a child supposed to make money?
Rob a bank?
Draw the attention of every major power and get dissected in a laboratory?
And then there were those geniuses who suggested diving into the ocean to salvage treasure.
Did they think the DC and Marvel oceans were empty swimming pools?
Or that scavenging underwater could somehow net seventy billion dollars?
Even more ridiculous were those who claimed money was useless in the Marvel or DC universe.
Why not go ask Tony Stark or Lex Luthor that question?
Money was useless?
What a joke.
Lucas snorted softly, then looked back at Johnny.
"What if I add leverage?"
[Author/PS: I don't fully understand finance—please correct me gently if I'm wrong.]
He briefly imagined the absurdly exaggerated leverage used in rebirth novels—surely that would be exhilarating.
Johnny looked slightly awkward.
"Boss, under normal circumstances, the U.S. stock market doesn't allow that kind of leverage."
"Even with margin trading and short selling, you'd be limited to roughly two times leverage at most."
Lucas scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Sorry, I'm not very familiar with this. So according to you, I could short up to around 13 billion dollars?"
Johnny sighed.
"Boss, let's put aside whether you can even raise 13 billion dollars."
"Even if you could, that amount is impossible to deploy against most companies."
"Mid-sized firms are out of the question, and even most large corporations wouldn't work."
"They simply don't have enough publicly traded shares to absorb that scale of short selling."
"In the entire U.S. stock market, only a handful of ultra-large corporations could withstand that level of pressure."
"And more importantly, moving that much capital at once would immediately raise red flags."
"You'd likely be discovered before you even made a move, triggering countermeasures and a coordinated financial attack against you."
"Also, you'd need to post margin—usually five to ten percent."
"So in practice, you'd only have around 11 billion dollars of effective capital."
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"Speak human."
Johnny coughed lightly.
"Boss, you need to tell me which corporation you plan to short."
"Stark Industries," Lucas said flatly.
Johnny's mouth fell open.
"My God, Boss, are you joking?"
"Do you realize that nearly twenty million dollars of your recent profits came from investing in Stark Industries during its stock surge?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Then why can't I short Stark Industries?"
Johnny sighed.
"Boss, Stark Industries recently announced the Jericho missile."
"The stock just experienced a major rally."
"Shorting it now is no different from setting your money on fire to keep warm."
Lucas nodded calmly.
"Johnny, just tell me—can my capital be used to short Stark Industries or not?"
After a long silence, Johnny finally answered,
"Yes. And it would be executed very quickly."
"Precisely because the stock is surging, Wall Street will be more than happy to lend you their Stark shares."
Lucas smiled in satisfaction.
"Good. Then tell me—how long will it take to complete this operation?"
Johnny's facial muscles twitched violently.
This was the first time he had ever seen a client so eager to walk straight into financial suicide.
Stark Industries was a deeply entrenched colossus, backed by Congress, the military, and—rumor had it—a mysterious power operating behind the scenes.
A corporation of that magnitude could shake America just by stomping its foot.
"Three days," Johnny said through clenched teeth.
"I guarantee it will be done."
"Excellent," Lucas replied. "Proceed immediately."
"And Johnny—listen to me."
"I think highly of you. If you follow my lead now, you'll still get some soup."
"Otherwise, when this is over, you may not even get to smell it."
Lucas smiled warmly.
---
After hanging up, Johnny sat in deep thought.
Normally, someone with this level of wealth wouldn't be mentally unstable.
And judging by Lucas's confidence, he didn't look like someone terminally ill or insane.
There was only one explanation.
The boss had insider information.
But Stark Industries was at the height of its power, supported by the three greatest pillars in America.
Among government agencies feared by corporations, Stark Industries could practically walk sideways.
"Dear Johnny~ what are you thinking about?"
At that moment, Johnny's seductive secretary walked in, locked the door, and sat on his lap.
"Still reminiscing about me from last night~?"
Startled awake, Johnny narrowed his eyes and said firmly,
"Christina, I need you to do something for me—right now."
She smiled alluringly, breathing into his ear.
"One thing? Ten things are fine~ but do you have the stamina for it?"
"This is not a joke," Johnny grabbed her wandering hand and frowned.
"Go mortgage all the assets under your name. Immediately."
---
After ending that call, Lucas contacted Lex.
"Luthor, I need you to do me a favor," Lucas said bluntly.
"Say it," Lex replied just as directly.
"In two days, announce this to the public," Lucas said calmly.
"State that the head of Stark Industries has mysteriously gone missing in Afghanistan—suspected dead."
__
T/N:
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