He boldly pulled the maximum leverage on the investment; his 7,000 capital instantly became 70,000 in purchasing power. That meant if Soundwave's stock price dropped more than 10% from his entry point, his entire 7,000 principal would be force-liquidated automatically and completely wiped out, leaving him with nothing.
But likewise, if the stock hit the maximum 20% daily limit up, his funds would instantly become 21,000, tripling his money in a single day. That was exactly what he'd learned from the experienced broker's explanation.
Although he was admittedly just a complete beginner who barely understood candlestick charts or technical analysis, remembering the mysterious gray elf's confident words and specific timing, he decided to gamble everything on this single opportunity.
Worst-case scenario, he'd lose absolutely everything and go back to grinding taxi fares from scratch, starting over. Rowan might be somewhat lecherous and easily distracted by attractive women, but he learned remarkably fast and possessed genuine guts when it mattered.
Seeing all his hard-earned money now fully invested in Soundwave Company stock, displayed prominently on his phone's portfolio, he left the bustling exchange hall feeling both terrified and exhilarated.
Night fell across Liberty City, bathing everything in its neon glow.
Rowan drove his familiar taxi around the endless streets, picking up occasional late-night passengers. The car radio suddenly cut the relaxing music mid-song and switched abruptly to a calm female news anchor's professional voice.
Two important breaking announcements:
"Latest financial news: the well-known music enterprise Soundwave Company announced today a massive strategic investment partnership, with capital specifically allocated for aggressive development and promotion of an innovative new streaming platform…"
"Second breaking story: Philly Storage Company has triggered a large-scale worker strike due to months of unpaid wages. All warehouse facilities have suspended operations indefinitely, and the company now faces a severe operational crisis with potential bankruptcy…"
Rowan stared at the radio in shocked realization, his heart pounding violently. The news had literally just broken publicly, and the stock market hadn't reacted yet since it was closed for the night.
The next morning, the trading hall was packed with people.
Within a single trading day, Soundwave's stock price surged dramatically to the maximum daily limit of 20%, triggering automatic trading halts. Rowan watched the jumping green numbers on his phone screen with a massive grin that simply wouldn't leave his face. Those beautiful numbers would very soon become actual spendable cash in his account.
His original 7,000 investment instantly became 21,000 after the leveraged gains multiplied.
After mandatory broker fees and various deductions were subtracted, he received exactly 20,000 cash deposited directly to his account.
He immediately pulled the maximum leverage again and boldly reinvested the entire amount without hesitation, riding on the momentum.
"If it rises again tomorrow, I'll almost have enough to buy the entire taxi company!" he thought excitedly, calculating rapidly.
He deeply regretted his relatively small starting capital, otherwise he'd already be genuinely more wealthy by now. He also noticed that Philly Storage's stock had completely crashed after the strike news, dropping by nearly 40%.
He felt like he was beginning to grasp something important about how news and stocks connected… but couldn't quite articulate the pattern yet. The pieces were there, just not fully assembled.
Clara's POV-----------
"Don't move! Freeze!" a commanding voice shouted.
A catman thief, picking a car lock, nervously froze mid-motion and looked toward the source of the voice with wide eyes.
A white-haired deer girl wearing an official security vest walked quickly and purposefully toward him, her expression stern and determined.
He immediately ran without hesitation, abandoning the attempted theft.
Clara was now an official Rookie after passing the initial screening. After Judy's strong personal recommendation, Chief Bull had thoroughly investigated her background but ultimately gave her a genuine chance to prove herself, impressed by her sense of justice.
She had to start from the absolute bottom, issuing mundane traffic tickets while riding a three-wheeled patrol vehicle around assigned districts.
Car illegally parked on a public flowerbed? Ticket.
Vehicle somehow on a rooftop? Ticket.
Crashed into a utility pole and abandoned your vehicle? Ticket. Running red lights? Ticket.
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street? Ticket.
The police department's citation revenue and performance metrics had skyrocketed dramatically since she'd joined, and her supervisors were thrilled.
Now she'd spotted a catman actively picking a car lock in broad daylight, attempting theft. Her sense of justice ignited instantly once again.
She chased him aggressively on her patrol trike, accidentally hitting him at a moderate speed and knocking him completely flat onto the pavement.
Totally not intentional, of course, purely accidental.
The stunned catman tried desperately to scramble back to his feet.
"You're just a patrolman! Why are you preventing fuckin' theft?!" he protested indignantly.
Clara immediately pulled out handcuffs and secured them tightly around his wrists.
"Calling headquarters for backup and processing an arrest!" she announced proudly.
[Merit Points Acquired]
With enough accumulated merit points, she could eventually get promoted to higher ranks with better equipment. The system encouraged proactive policing.
Boshita's POV-----------
Meanwhile, Boshita returned to Ken's cluttered law office after successfully dropping off Mercedes at her requested destination.
The exhausted Ken had been sleeping fitfully on his leather office sofa and jumped violently in fear when the door suddenly opened, genuinely thinking Sonny had sent professional assassins to cut loose ends.
Seeing it was just Boshita, he immediately started complaining bitterly about their lack of progress. They'd gained no useful clues whatsoever from the expensive yacht party, so they desperately needed to try another investigative approach.
Ken told him about a well-informed professional fixer in the criminal underworld, Kent Paul, who knew everything happening in Liberty City's underground. Boshita remembered seeing him briefly at the party, the short green Goblin.
Learning Kent was currently at the Malibu Club conducting business, Boshita headed straight back there.
At the club's crowded bar, surrounded by pulsing music and flashing lights, a short green Goblin was enthusiastically flirting with a tall, muscular orc girl, buttering her up thickly.
He praised her endlessly and creatively, her intimidating fangs, her unique greenish skin tone, her powerful figure, calling her a genuine valkyrie warrior goddess.
She blushed happily beneath her green complexion, clearly charmed. Orc men were typically blunt, straightforward fighters without social skills, not smooth, sophisticated talkers like Kent, so she'd fallen completely for his flattery.
Then a tall blue figure approached purposefully.
Boshita's icy gaze and intimidating presence told the orc girl wordlessly to leave immediately.
She reluctantly departed, casting disappointed glances back.
Kent looked extremely annoyed at the interruption, scowling.
"Need something, or are you just ruining my evening?" he asked, irritated.
"You're Kent the information broker, correct?"
"That's me. Tell me what you want or get lost, you're costing me money."
Boshita asked directly about information regarding the stolen goods shipment and who'd orchestrated the ambush.
Kent clearly knew something but didn't want to cooperate at all.
"I know plenty. Why exactly should I tell you anything?" he challenged smugly.
"It's extremely important to me. Name your price," Boshita said.
Kent picked his nose casually and flicked something away.
"100,000. Non-negotiable."
"You're kidding me?!" Boshita exploded.
He couldn't afford that astronomical sum even if he literally sold himself into slavery.
"I like that price perfectly. Pay it or fuck off," Kent said dismissively.
Boshita slowly started smiling sinisterly. It was an expression, even a mother couldn't love…
"Ah! Stop! Stop hitting me!" Kent screamed moments later.
Boshita had quickly realized that in Liberty City, reasonable civilized discussion didn't always work out, but violence almost always did.
"Spit it out… are you going to tell me or not?" Boshita asked calmly between punches.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Just stop!" Kent surrendered completely.