Chapter 107

In the face of the reluctant Hunt family, the Chicago trading market took the first step. The denomination of silver futures paper was increased sixfold, now at $6,000.

To avoid forced position closures, traders had to increase their margin.

Surprisingly, numerous facts started emerging. In many offshore accounts, desert tycoons held a significant share, mainly concentrated in London. Americans seemed to have a sense of foresight.

The Hunt family was visibly stunned. Restricting transactions was like closing the door, and raising margins was a bottom line move.

Old Hunter, realizing the situation, began dividing his family. While still planning to fight back, he also sought to safeguard the foundation of the family.

William White received a more reliable offer from none other than Goldman Sachs. "Unexpectedly, it's actually Goldman Sachs? Are they trying to get a piece of the pork?" William White mused.

"Forbes, it's the price we decided to refuse. I only want cash."

"Boss, do you want to investigate who bought it?"

"No, it's impossible for the Hunt family. They can't play anymore, and they don't have time to play."

William White, curious but not intent on digging deeper, acknowledged that others had their plans.

"The other party has replied, no bargaining, cash."

"Didn't ask who they represented?"

"No, the other party responded quickly, and the offer is valid for one week."

"Alright, then complete the transaction as soon as possible, give them cash, and don't let our customers down."

The current high price of oil promised a good income. William White didn't want to hold onto these industries any longer. Oil had seen several tough years, and it was better to sell quickly before it went downhill again.

As a Texas native, William White sought to understand the inside story. If his memory served correctly, the Hunt family had been struggling for years, with only the farm and the oil company remaining. While they were no longer the richest, they were not anonymous.

A strange situation unfolded. It wasn't clear who set the trap. Someone cut off the Hunt family, and even a group of desert tycoons followed suit. The perpetrator seemed to operate at a higher level than him.

"The buddy has been very careful, yet there's still so much trouble. If all the capital were in the country, it might have buried the buddy too," William White reflected.

The inauguration of White Pictures' charity fund garnered widespread industry attention. The big bosses in Los Angeles even came to make an appearance.

Listening to William White's straightforward speech on stage, reporters below seemed confused. They recognized this was a local tycoon but weren't sure if it was a political speech.

The impassioned speech, delivered in Mandarin, stirred the audience. A reporter from Peanutton Post raised a potentially sensitive question about the fund's rational use.

William White responded confidently, explaining that the fund's accounts were public, welcoming media supervision. He went on to mention the elaborate details of where each donation was allocated.

Another reporter, this time from the Wall Street Journal, delved into rumors about White Pictures making at least 200 million in profits.

William White clarified that it was a rumor and stated that the follow-up peripheral profit would increase by about 100 million. He seemed content with the current estimate of 300 million.

William White also addressed the issue of taxes, claiming that all the money, including the charity fund, would be subject to tax.

The questioning took an unexpected turn when a reporter suggested that there were tax considerations for the generous donation, to which William White responded, "Your question is very unfriendly and easily leads to ambiguity. I refuse to answer."

This unusual response surprised the audience. However, the host intervened to maintain order, but William White remained calm, unaffected by the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Addressing the tax situation, William White made an interesting claim about a small mistake by the accounting staff. He assured everyone that the mistake would be corrected, and the tax department could verify it.

The reporters were now perplexed. Accounting staff mistakes were not usually addressed so casually, especially in matters related to tax.

As reporters continued to question William White, he responded with a mix of confidence and humor. Some found his responses amusing, while others were left scratching their heads.

The conference concluded with William White answering questions about the use of the significant sum of money generated by White Pictures. He downplayed the wealth, saying, "I don't have a strong concept of wealth. Money may just be a number for me."

The reporters were left in a state of bewilderment. What did he mean by money being just a number? The enigmatic businessman had left them with more questions than answers.