Chapter 220: The Overconfident British Gentleman

Words : 1110 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

The war was over, and England finally had something to boast about. At this moment, they weren't fighting alone; someone named Nelson seemed to be watching them from afar, hoping for their resurgence. Well, they might have been overthinking it. If that Nelson guy were alive, he would likely be furious. Both the UK and Argentina were taking a gamble. Now, with the gamble concluded, the losing side had nothing much to say and should step down quickly. Hanging on would only make things worse. As for the victors, they were, of course, flaunting their prowess. Unfortunately, those broken-down ships were easy to bring over but would probably need a tugboat to get back. The people back home weren't worried about such details; they'd been repressed for too long. The last time they heard about victory was the year some mustachioed guy committed suicide. The result of such long-standing repression was an explosive celebration. Calls praising the Iron Lady's wisdom and might echoed endlessly. As the victors, being teased a little was no big deal. Isn't this just Don't Cry for Me Argentina? Well, it was indeed a bit nauseating. It wasn't a victory without casualties -- a two-billion-dollar cruiser was sunk by an Exocet. If the Argentinians hadn't run out of missiles, the ultimate winner wasn't so certain. The Russians and Americans were also taken aback. The ship that was blown up wasn't just any old junk; it was as good as any nation's. This was no second-hand gear. England insisted they won the fight, but this victory was debatable. The Exocet missile wasn't a major threat, and the French weren't idiots. How could they not tweak it before selling? Even with this half-done product, they managed to sink one of the world's most advanced warships. The cost of that single warship could probably buy half of the enemy's army. In the end, it was fortunate the French stopped selling weapons; otherwise, England would have been doomed. ... Hollywood bigwigs were a bit smug about William White's art film. They even hoped for the English to lose the war. If they did, the movie called Evita would be so awkward. Think about it: if they won, getting mocked wasn't a big deal. But if they lost? They'd probably be furious in embarrassment, right? When the well-dressed British folks went to the cinema, the bigwigs felt conflicted. They couldn't understand why those folks liked being ridiculed so much. The opera's success, coupled with the film's, left people speechless. "Boss, do the Brits really like self-punishment?" Jason asked. "Ha ha, Jason, it's because they won. If the cruiser sunk on opening day, they'd get bombarded with criticism." "So that's pretending to be open-minded, huh?" "Exactly! It highlights their gentlemanly demeanor. I just catered to some of their small desires. You see, they got insulted and still bowed in response." "Dang, boss, you're shameless." "Am I? I'm a pacifist. Don't talk to me about war; it's an ill omen." In fact, in the US, the box office wasn't too bad. With two masterpiece films out, the current performance was an unexpected joy. "Jason, isn't your mother causing troubles for you?" William asked. "Tsk, it seems a bit like the Falklands. Could there be a conflict?" Jason wondered. "Haha, their expeditionary fleet would be dismantled on return. Maybe another one sinks on the way, so what could they use to threaten? Besides, the situation there isn't good. Who knows when it'll be resolved?" "Afraid not, if they lost or didn't win quickly on the Falklands, they'd compromise soon. Pity they won; now they might face trouble." "No fight, right?" "Nah, look at how cheerful the British are. But the finance guys are bleeding. Lost the latest warship and so many soldiers." Wars bring disasters; it's hard to understand anyone profiting from them. Now they've seized the Falklands back. What about interests? There's oil! Heh, maybe in the future, not now. Who's foolish to dip into this mess? Oil tycoons aren't fools; keep the oil fields for yourselves. William White was gloating. Sure, you're all excited now, but there'll be a reckoning. ... "Sir, it's Barry Diller on the phone." "Okay, I'll take it." William White was also stressed. After that FBI incident, he worried about phone security. Yet digital wireless phones were still a pipe dream, and costly satellite calls could make one faint. Having no choice, he avoided phones for private matters. Barry Diller's call likely wasn't a big deal. "Sir, the BBC wants the rights to American Idol." "We're not selling it. We want a share of the ad revenue; you can negotiate the details. A buyout is impossible." "Got it, sir." These British guys were quick to catch on. They saw potential in the show. Of course, if they thought they'd get a deal, they were dreaming. ... Thinking of his busy recent weeks made William White mad -- so much attention, not just from one or two, but from many. Regardless, his phone security needed consideration. "Filson, any commercial satellite phones available?" "None, just maritime satellites for ships, which are big." "Tsk, check them out, just in case." "Alright, sir." No need to ask why William White wanted these -- Filson knew. The FBI Director stepped down, and Watergate wasn't long ago. Anyone familiar with these tricks? His caution was warranted. When he caused that blackout for Citi, the FBI took notice. If they'd found evidence, trouble would have come knocking. Other matters were manageable, mostly costing money. But the securities market was different -- it's the world's most regulated. Though evidence was lacking, the truth was obvious. Honestly, the regulators were furious. If this became a habit, they'd lose their jobs. Investigate William White? Ha, his trades were clean, nothing to probe. Crucially, nobody wanted to hit the headlines. William White wasn't foolish; some things are best left alone. If necessary, ensure nothing sticks to him. Getting caught in a scandal would bring huge trouble, with countless crocodiles hunting for a meal. If tied up, the Hunter family would face ruin. The once-so-called first family is now a joke. In no time, this family would crumble, even if still wealthy, forever losing its advancement possibilities. Even those who once opposed him, now his old allies had no hesitation about distancing themselves. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.

Chapter 220: The Overconfident British Gentleman

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