It was almost virtual —Billy's puts expired in November 1997, earning him twice the money, closing deals that reached into the billions. Through a mix of satire and steady victories by Tiger Funds, they uncovered a brilliant and worthy reality born from Billy's strategy —nine months of relentless pursuit of the Asian market. Each sale, each move, doubled down on the crisis, and under Billy's confident hand, they crushed Korea with such force that nearly every company with even minimal strength in any sector collapsed.
—Fools, fools, you're all fools! Who could ever do anything other than be a fool? —snapped Raimon, taking control of the trades and closing them in his favor. Almost no one noticed him except Gwen, who had long grown used to Raimon's madness. She watched the fluctuating movements as he shorted and traded stocks that rose and fell wildly —his specialty. He had perfected the art of stealing dollars in minutes, reading trades and acting instantly —a general rule for anyone bold enough to play with ideas, good or bad.
—To anyone who tries anything, or dares refuse me. —said Raimon. —I'm the best player in the world. I've made millions upon millions, and no one can stop me from buying a two-meter by two-meter illuminated table to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Raimon munched on a pack of carrots and cheese sticks —his replacement for the sugar and fat he once craved through burgers, fries, and soda. He had gone from 110 kilos, nearly 220 pounds, down to 95, slim enough now to see the tips of his feet. His daily routine of long walks and light exercise gave him focus —and in the coming months, he'd reach his goal weight of 90 kilos, enough to stretch, run, and live with the energy few others ever found.
—Who's the best runner in the world? —Raimon asked, finishing his second trade on the Hong Kong market, where he made enough to live twenty lifetimes —forever rich.
Though his nerves twitched, the confidence behind his words was real. All he had to do now was buy into steel companies, acquire assembly firms, and push what he called the ideal globalization for anyone living in the new world. It was simple —the only way to survive was to use globalization to his advantage, move materials across worlds, each with a positive balance and purpose.
—One month to sell Japan. —whispered Raimon. —One month to buy a Toyota. In that time, it'll all double or triple. I'll turn it into a starting bonus —a global company where every car will be the finest on the market.
Asia was moving while the West merely watched. The dot-com boom was brewing, and the crash of 2008 —still far off but inevitable— waited quietly. Few could foresee the true impact. Nations fell into muted silence, people's trades slowed, and the economy became a living organism that shifted and settled, binding whoever dared to hold or let go.
....
Billy received the report —the profits and cash inflows, along with the payment of a portion of the debt owed to the U.S. government. What could people do? For months, he had been carefully monitoring every one of Raimon's trades. Operating covertly under Tiger Funds, Billy maneuvered through acquisitions, buying shares in the companies he wanted to take over —and winning, bit by bit. He now held 180,000 shares, which would soon double in value. By betting on the fall, then climbing back up slowly through private funds and high-risk profiles, he maintained absolute control over nearly twice the money.
—The trades are for next month. —said Anne, watching Billy —her boss once again— as they reviewed the next comic series' print proofs.
—Your bets look solid for next year. —Billy replied, making Anne frown slightly, her tone sharp and precise.
—They're not bets. —
—I can say it plainly now: we've executed a market operation. The series isn't selling that well, but the American audience is used to TV-style releases. They get bored when there aren't periodic explosions, but when a series finally hits, it soars. So, some should be released in doubles or triples. —Anne explained, fully aware of the challenge.
—So, you're saying we should work on the series and cut it down to just four? —Billy asked.
—No, just make the releases longer —and when you do, close with a ffantasticstory. Those stories that hit hard at the end are the ones people truly love. —Anne replied.
—Impact over impact. —Billy said, studying Anne's metrics —they were sharp, and from every angle, he could almost taste success. Selling comics wasn't easy —for anyone doing something else, it was nearly impossible.
—They'll sell once we have the series ready. —Billy said.
—It takes time to win, and the bills don't wait. —
—The strategy is simple. —
—Sell in unity. Sell quality through local channels. From now on, you'll release by seasons, following a publication calendar. In Atlanta, they're already working on three series —one of them is Naruto. When people tune in, they'll realize just how good a series can be. The art, the symphonies, and the high-quality 2D animation will make every dollar worth it. —Anne explained.
A million for the first twelve episodes, another million by episode twenty-four —it was all planned up to the end of the Chunin Exams arc, around episode ninety. Billy's structure for the series included long, thirty-minute battles, and the occasional bonus scene showing how the Jonin fought —climbing the higher ranks, one frame at a time.
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