Chapter 41: The Hunter Family's Road to Ruin

William White had a unique advantage that others simply didn't possess -- he was extremely young. People could try to flatter him to the point of failure, but he would just play innocent. After all, he was truly a fresh face, and they couldn't really get mad at him. William White claimed he was diligently completing his studies, and his recent movie was merely a beautiful misunderstanding, with its moderate success owed to the audience's applause. He insisted that the results shouldn't be taken seriously. To not let down the audience's expectations, he decided to focus on his studies at school and hoped to repay the viewer's support with better results in the future. In the event his work wasn't up to par, he hoped audiences would forgive him and give young people more chances, promising to keep striving. This was truly humble talk, and it presented the simple truth: "Guys, I'm just a sophomore next year, so don't expect too much. I'm just not that capable." Okay, humility leads to progress and is also a virtue. To achieve such remarkable success yet remain so courteous and humble is definitely the mark of a good kid. For Hollywood giants, this was a real hit. These titans were downed by a group of freshmen, and there was no point in explaining away the defeat --it was almost a lifelong disgrace. They felt truly pained, and even if they wanted to retaliate, they had to consider the consequences. A poorly executed counterattack could easily backfire. A few more stumbles and any company could falter. ... The economic situation was worsening by the day, with unemployment on a constant rise and inflation growing more severe. Silver prices had broken past ten dollars, and gold was steadily climbing too. Honestly, people just couldn't fathom how much higher it could go, seeing as it had already increased tenfold. Silver was even crazier. Experts kept saying it was undervalued, comparing it to historical gold ratios. These experts ignored an important point: There used to be a silver standard, but after the Bretton Woods system, silver lost its financial role. No one in the world uses a silver standard now. Comparing with historical price ratios is laughable. Yet, a lot of people still believed these persuaders. Since the quantity of gold couldn't support currency needs, silver returning to the stage seemed reasonable. You couldn't just let America produce unlimited money; if things go on like this, people won't be able to manage. Americans didn't lack resources; their economy was just a bit weak. The cost of necessities hadn't risen, and the price of products like beef had even dropped. Other countries weren't so lucky. Inflation was skyrocketing worldwide, and nobody knew how to address it. In these dire circumstances, nations globally had started controlling precious metal exports, viewing it as a matter of national security. This scenario was what the Hunter family longed for. With 70% of America's silver in their hands, they could decide prices as they wished. In no time, they might become the wealthiest family in America. Such nouveau riche families lacked the wisdom to stop while they were ahead; they knew nothing of taking their winnings and going home prosperous. There was no overnight billion-dollar wealth in America. Sure, millions might be made quickly, but who had ever heard of someone becoming the richest American in a few months? That just hasn't happened. Families that erupt in wealth find their ascent stunted at a billion, never crossing into the top tier of aristocratic society, because the elite simply wouldn't welcome them. If you lacked the ability to maintain your wealth, it was best to walk the path of shared prosperity; otherwise, you could lose everything. Bill Gates stayed atop the wealth rankings for quite some time, but considering his company's market value, 50 billion was quite modest. The company was a trillion-dollar entity. This was the outcome of continuous compromise. At the time of IPO, he owned much more than that. Personal wealth at his level was more than sufficient, yet he never reached the status of a ten-billionaire. An unseen hand always seemed to tweak the world's mechanisms. Japan's economy was rising, affecting American security, which led to the Plaza Accord. Japan's semiconductor industry was so strong that it prompted Article 301. Even allies weren't spared; Alstom was taken apart by America, and Hitachi was nearly bankrupted by fines. They were gentler with American allies, but the outcome wasn't much different. Without a powerful backing, it's unwise to grasp wealth beyond your reach. The fortune the Hunter family coveted was shocking; did they truly think the powerful families were dead? Even the top ten conglomerates wouldn't dare play these games; and yet here they were, teaming up with desert billionaires to pillage? It was always America forming gangs to rob others. Such a self-destructive approach took some imagination! "Master, should we withdraw now?" William White paused thoughtfully, saying, "Well, Fulton, I reckon it'll go over twenty dollars, but we don't need to gamble. Once the price exceeds 15 bucks, we start reducing our holdings. If it approaches 20, we cash out completely." "Okay, young master. At this rate, it won't be long." "Haha, we won't worry about how high it climbs afterward. We'll only take what's ours. Start selling American side futures first." "Alright, I'll set things up." Recently, Fulton hadn't slept well. The profits were simply obscene, leaving him with an uneasy feeling. It seems his concerns weren't his own; Master felt something was off too. The risks were just too big, and it wasn't worth fretting over. ... The new film's cast had been chosen. If William had no further objections, they could start shooting. In a previous era, this film's actual production cost was under 5 million dollars, a decade later. Though it was very funny, it had numerous flaws. The two guys were clumsy thieves, but they weren't fools. The traps could have been designed more cleverly. And now, with summer in full swing, shooting in Toronto seemed best since the story was set in winter -- sweating profusely just wouldn't do. Once it snowed in America, there was no chance come Christmas season. This big-budget version of Home Alone had a budget of just three million dollars. William White decided to remain low-key for a bit and refrain from major productions. Once he matured a little more, Hollywood's jerks wouldn't stand a chance. Hollywood was in its worst period now. This year's box office was downright dismal; they couldn't even blame the wretched economy -- they just couldn't hit the note. It wasn't about the economy; look at how Police Academy performed. Every year there were lots of low-budget comedies. Throughout cinema history, comedies have played a significant role. United Artists' founder was Chaplin, a master of comedy, yet they couldn't tell a good comedy from a bad one. It was laughable, and the criticism United Artists faced was predictable. Albert was so mad he could kill that project manager. The company's current plight was largely his fault. If the initial high box office was due to marketing hype, its continued success was due to quality. However, that jerk faced a rough time as no one in Hollywood would hire him again. With no vision and a blabbermouth, it's no wonder he failed. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.