NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 273



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NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 273

Black Thursday (6)

The American economy was experiencing the Roaring Twenties, with unprecedented prosperity.

There were many people on the streets who had cars, refrigerators, and even radios in every house, and people called these people ‘middle class.’

American society had a diamond-shaped economic structure with a small upper class, a large middle class, and a small lower class.

Unlike other countries whose economies were poor immediately after the Great War and whose economic structures were close to a pyramid shape.

The current U.S. economy is in a boom period with continued growth.

But just like the old saying that there is nothing to eat at a famous feast, people smiled as they looked at the various graphs and charts that were appearing day by day, but some people had to worry about where to eat right away.

Clearly, by all indications, the U.S. economy is in a state of unprecedented strength in American history.

Trade between the European powers and the United States threatened the strongholds of the British Empire’s pound and the French Republic’s franc, which had previously dominated the world.

The dollar scattered around the world became the strength of the United States by its very existence, and even the European powers that ruled the world were watching the United States closely.

So, it could be said that the future of the United States of America was indeed bright.

Yeah, that’s what it should have been like… … .

“… … .”

“Sir, the tea has been brought out.”

“… … .”

“Elder?”

“… … I want to be alone, so leave me there and go back.”

“Yes, sir.”

John Davison Rockefeller, America’s richest man, amassed a huge fortune by monopolizing the global oil market from scratch.

While others sang happily about the bright future of the United States, his thoughts were different.

“Factories and companies are going bankrupt one after another… … .”

Since the last incident in the slums, Rockefeller has been locked in his study, looking at all the economic indicators and economic newspapers.

Like a fisherman catching time, he looked at a few lines of text and graphs that were twisted and turned as he pleased, hoping to see what others could not see.

‘In the midst of an unprecedented economic boom, manufacturing and agriculture, the foundations of this country, are being shaken.’

Since the end of World War I, the United States has emerged as the world’s largest agricultural nation.

Originally, the United States’ place had belonged to France for generations, but France suffered great damage in the last Great War, so the United States succeeded to the French throne.

Thanks to this, the United States, as the world’s largest agricultural nation, was able to reap enormous profits by distributing food to Europe, which was devastated during the war.

But after the war ended and the economies of European countries got back on track, the story changed.

‘The prices of agricultural products in the international agricultural market are falling year after year. This is not a level where individuals or companies can defend prices.’

Advances in fertilizers and farming techniques have enabled humans to produce more abundant agricultural products than ever before.

But the problem was that everyone became rich.

The number of people who would eat was determined, but the produce began to rot and overflow.

Supply began to far exceed demand.

As the scales began to tilt to one side, it was only natural that a recession would hit the market.

‘There have been quite a few farmers who have filed for bankruptcy in the past few years, and the companies and factories related to them are also going bankrupt one after another.’

In fact, agriculture itself was not a big problem.

In any case, if a really big problem arises here, the government will step in and try to somehow handle the situation.

The real problem is the businesses and factories.

‘Until a few years ago, there was no major problem for companies and factories to manage their finances. If they needed money, they could just issue a promissory note at the bank… ‘

But in recent years… … no, to be precise, in the past year or two, the financial performance of each company and factory has deteriorated rapidly.

“Why did it turn out like this?”

Rockefeller tried to find the reason, but no matter how much he looked through the documents and thought and thought, he could not find the answer.

“Why… … Why on earth is cash flow so bad… … .”

After struggling for several days like that, Rockefeller found the answer in a completely unexpected place.

-dripping.

“Who is it?”

“Sir, I have a letter from the State Department.”

“… … at the State Department?”

The letter sent to Rockefeller from the U.S. State Department was nothing special, but rather a polite greeting.

It was just a typical greeting asking how things had been and suggesting that they keep in touch through letters in the future.

Of course, the fact that the State Department sent such a letter to Rockefeller contained the State Department’s plan to keep him in check.

“Um… … . Yes?”

But the letter contained something he had never expected.

“The State Department is also working to resolve the unfortunate incident currently taking place in the United States… … .”

The State Department cited an incident, but did not provide details on what it was or how the investigation was progressing.

The letter mentioned that some incident had occurred in the United States and was under investigation, as well as the current volatile international gold prices.

To be exact, he added that there was a sharp fluctuation in the price of gold.

‘Is mentioning gold here an attempt to cool down the overheated gold speculation fever?’

Rockefeller put the letter down and became lost in thought.

‘The State Department is investigating the matter… At first glance, it seems like they are investigating the matter in order to cool down the overheated speculative fever in the gold market, but somehow the story above seems a little different.’

When Rockefeller read the letter from the State Department, he was reminded of a young man he had seen at a party a few days earlier.

To be exact, the counterfeit dollar bill that the young man had shown me came to mind.

“no way……?”

Rockefeller opened his desk drawer and found a business card among the pile of cards inside.

Unlike other business cards that usually list the person’s affiliation or position and then their name below that, the young man’s business card had no name, affiliation, position, or even a phone number.

All that was written on the business card was the address of a hotel in New York.

“… … .”

The unidentified young man was calling Rockefeller.

I couldn’t tell what he wanted, but one thing was certain.

‘It seems like this young man is somehow connected to the case the State Department is investigating.’

Rockefeller was lost in thought as he handled the counterfeit dollars the young man had given him.

‘The State Department and the unidentified young man.’

And the counterfeit money that connects the two.

“Hmm… … hmm… … . Hmm?”

As Rockefeller fiddled with the counterfeit money for a while, an idea flashed through his head like a lightbulb.

‘How much counterfeit currency is circulating that is indistinguishable from real currency?’

For a moment, Rockefeller looked at the documents strewn about carelessly, feeling a chill run down his spine.

“Could it be that there is a problem with the market’s cash flow…?”

What if the State Department got involved in investigating counterfeit money in circulation?

What if the Federal Reserve is gradually reducing the amount of currency in circulation in order to reduce the amount of cash in the market that has increased due to counterfeiting?

“… … .”

All sorts of terrible thoughts ran wild in Rockefeller’s head.

What I am saying is that situations that are too scary to even mention keep coming to mind.

* * *

Time passed and a few days passed.

Rockefeller was meeting a young man he had met the other day at a hotel in New York.

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“… … What on earth are you trying to do in the United States of America?”

“Haha, I don’t know what you mean. I was just enjoying a drink and the night view of New York like I usually do.”

“I found out everything, so stop making excuses.”

Mr. Lee from Gyeongseong just smiled as he looked at Rockefeller.

“Well, I really didn’t do anything.”

“Really? Then listen to my story.”

“Story… … . Of course, I have to hear the story of Mr. Rockefeller, who was once the richest man in America and dominated the global oil market.”

“joy.”

Rockefeller took the counterfeit bills and the State Department letter out of his pocket and placed them side by side on the table.

“There is counterfeit money here, and the State Department is doing everything they can to find it.”

“I see? They must be very busy too.”

“And as the international gold and silver prices skyrocketed due to reports of counterfeit money circulating in the market, the Federal Reserve Board reduced the issuance of dollars to limit the amount of cash in circulation.”

“Oh, like that.”

“But… … Strangely enough, as the price of gold rose, there was even talk that the faraway Japanese Empire was considering a gold embargo. What is this?”

“Oh my.”

The teacher only responded appropriately to Rockefeller’s words.

He didn’t say anything.

Then sparks flew from Rockefeller’s eyes.

“And from my own research… … I’ve concluded that about 5 to 7 percent of dollars currently circulating in the United States are counterfeit.”

“That’s a considerable number.”

“… … And yet the US economy is doing so well. Doesn’t that seem a bit strange?”

“It’s strange. Of course it’s strange.”

Rockefeller asked.

“What do you really want? The destruction of America? The end of the United States of America?”

Then the teacher shook his head.

“Why would I do something like that? I don’t hate America.”

“Then why… … !”

“Oh, please calm down a bit. First of all, I have nothing to do with counterfeit money.”

“What? Do you think I would believe that?”

Just as this teacher did not trust Rockefeller, Rockefeller did not trust this teacher.

“Well, if you don’t believe it, there’s nothing we can do.”

“I am the one who can report you to the State Department right now.”

“I know. But since Mr. Rockefeller came to me before the State Department agents, I guess you didn’t press charges.”

“… … I was just curious about the truth.”

The corners of the teacher’s mouth went up.

“The truth is… … . A person who values ​​human lives like flies for money wants the truth. Even a passing dog would laugh.”

“Are you insulting me now?”

“No. I’m telling the truth. What does Mr. Rockefeller want? The truth or money?”

“… … .”

“I was the first to realize that counterfeit money was circulating in the United States, and I had heard in advance that the Japanese Empire was about to ban the currency. That’s why I set out to find investors to make money off of this news.”

Rockefeller looked at him with suspicion.

“Is that really all? You didn’t intentionally spread counterfeit money?”

“Oh, what on earth are you thinking that leads you to believe that I distributed counterfeit money?”

“… … .”

Rockefeller nodded to the teacher’s words.

It is true that he discovered the counterfeit money, but it was only a discovery.

Because there was no evidence that he was involved in this incident.

That is why Rockefeller came to see him himself instead of going to the State Department.

But the keen sense that had led him here still doubted him.

Although he had no direct connection to the counterfeiting, it was true that he was suspicious of something.

“I think the price of gold will soon go into negative territory in the futures market.”

“……what?”

Rockefeller was more embarrassed than ever.

“If the price of gold is negative… … does that mean that gold sellers are selling it for money?”

“Yes, I think so. And I think every investor in America will think so.”

“… … If someone else had said that, I would have just laughed it off, but your words sound a little different.”

“Yes, that’s actually going to happen.”

“Phew… … .”

Rockefeller took off his hat and gently brushed his well-groomed hair back.

“If that’s true… … the American economy will suffer an irreversible blow.”

“Isn’t growth supposed to be accompanied by pain? The current U.S. economy is seriously wrong.”

“… … The government won’t stay still, right?”

“If those guys were capable of stopping me, they would have done something before the American economy got into this mess.”

“That’s true.”

Rockefeller nodded.

“I think the investment was 500 million dollars.”

“Yes, that will be enough.”

“… … I’ll fill your bank account by the end of the year, so go wild and have fun.”

Rockefeller’s eyes, which had washed away some of his past evil deeds through repeated donations and good deeds, returned to the days when he had wielded money and controlled people.