King of the Wilderness

Chapter 507: Chapter 277: The Complete Form of the Big Ship of Interests (Part 2)

But their final conclusion will be that there is no evidence of illegal collusion between hedge funds. Citadel’s bailout of Melvin Capital will be defined as a necessary measure to maintain market stability.

Their short selling was foolish, but it was also a legal market behavior.

They will do everything possible to investigate the real reason for Robin Hood pulling the plug. They will scrutinize all communications and margin requirements between Robin Hood and the clearinghouse.

But in the end, they can only helplessly adopt Robin Hood’s official statement that the restriction on buying was due to the clearinghouse’s margin requirements skyrocketing by billions of dollars overnight, which was for risk management purposes.

This is a perfect, unassailable procedural reason.

They will even investigate whether there was large-scale naked short selling. But the final conclusion remains that no evidence of large-scale, illegal naked shorting causing "Netherworld Ghost" stocks was found.

The over 170% short ratio will be attributed to a series of complex, but legal market behaviors.

Ultimately, this world-shocking battle, seemingly full of conspiracy and manipulation, will be defined in the official investigation report as an unprecedented extreme market fluctuation driven by social media.

No one will go to jail.

There will be no heroes, nor criminals—only winners and losers.

And Lin Yu’an is the only person in the world who had seen the game’s strategy in advance.

Lin Yu’an did not voice these inner monologues. He simply looked at the screen with eyes filled with absolute confidence, watching the three allies still in shock and doubt.

He finally said, "Trust me, gentlemen. The storm will pass soon. All we need to do is remain silent, then enjoy our spoils of victory."

Switching his tone, he glanced over at Scoot and Brian, with eyes like a scalpel, precisely cutting into the issue they cared most about: "And handle those... little troubles that got stuck."

This sentence, like a key, instantly opened a new topic for the meeting.

Brian and Scoot exchanged a glance, both seeing the same meaning in each other’s eyes. The more than 300 million dollar lock-up was no small figure.

They needed a strategy to unlock it, and the person in front who could accurately predict the peak was undoubtedly the only one capable of providing the answer.

Brian spoke slowly, his tone already carrying the sense of an equal business negotiation: "Regarding those positions that got stuck, do you have any suggestions? Or perhaps a new script for this?"

Lin Yu’an smiled, knowing that from this moment, this ultimate form of the secret alliance, consisting of four people that spanned entertainment capital, was truly born.

Their greed and errors bound them more tightly to his chariot.

"Sure, there are suggestions." He looked at the three pairs of expectant eyes on the screen, and said leisurely.

"Don’t move."

"What?" Scoot was stunned, "Just let this over 300 million dollars rot in there?"

"It’s not rotting in there, Scoot. Although the climax battle is over, it hasn’t completely ended. The Wall Street short sellers have been scared, but they’re not completely dead."

"And the anger of the retail traders hasn’t been extinguished by the plug being pulled, but rather transformed into a more enduring belief."

"In the next few months, longs and shorts will engage in several brutal tug-of-war battles."

He looked at Brian and Scoot, providing the next "Oracle."

"Hold your positions; there will be excellent opportunities to exit. The stock price will return to a level where you can all leave with substantial profits."

"As for the exact day..." he chuckled, "that depends on the ticket to the next game."

This sentence, like a tranquilizer, instantly relaxed the taut nerves of Scoot and Brian.

They no longer dwelled on the evaporated profits but pinned their hopes on the next opportunity depicted by Lin Yu’an.

The loss of money is temporary, but losing this prophet who provides information would be the real doom.

The meeting’s atmosphere shifted from previous tension and remorse to a kind of post-catastrophe relief and anticipation for greater future victories.

At that moment, Matty Singh, who had consistently maintained the most composure, resumed tapping his pen, drawing everyone’s attention away again.

Matty spoke: "Gentlemen, the unlocking is a future issue. The SEC investigation is a procedural hassle."

"But right before us, we have a more direct and vicious enemy, sharpening its knives to cut the largest slice from our profits."

Though his voice wasn’t loud, it instantly turned the relaxed atmosphere in the conference room serious once more.

He paused, looking sharply at everyone: "Internal Revenue Service (IRS)."

The letters IRS, like a cold splash of water, drenched everyone’s head.

Scoot’s facial muscles twitched; he had just calculated that his and Justin’s account net profit was close to 500 million dollars.

Based on the highest federal and state combined tax rate in California, they might need to pay more than 200 million dollars in taxes!

That meant they risked a heart attack, danced a waltz on the tip of a knife, and yet had to hand almost half of their spoils to Uncle Sam.