Chapter 104

Alvin put away his phone, a confident grin spreading across his face.

"Of course, I never go into a battle unprepared. I had Benjamin cook up some bad news ahead of time."

"Now it's time to drop the bomb."

"Alvin, what kind of bad news are we talking about here?"

"Quit keeping us in the dark!"

"Spill it already!"

Seeing Sam's relentless questioning, Alvin sighed deeply.

"Just check your phone, you idiot!"

At his words, they both quickly pulled out their phones.

They didn't need to ask Alvin; the news popped up as soon as they opened their apps.

"Oh my god!"

"This is huge!"

Shirley, standing nearby, chimed in, "Alvin, you're a genius."

"With this news out, those small investors and speculators are gonna freak out!"

"They'll pull their orders in no time."

"Shirley's right."

So, what kind of news had them so excited?

It was a scandal involving StellaTech Group's CEO, Benjamin.

According to reliable media sources, StellaTech Group's CEO Benjamin was caught soliciting prostitutes late at night.

The news was detailed, complete with a photo of Benjamin's face.

Although it was pixelated, these journalists never miss a single detail.

Soon, many comparison photos emerged, proving that the person in the news was indeed Benjamin, the largest shareholder of StellaTech Group.

Shirley, being sharp, searched for the news on different platforms.

Unsurprisingly, the news about Benjamin was everywhere.

It seemed Benjamin's actions were very effective, given the efficiency and the wide impact.

Perfect!

Suddenly, Sam frowned, looking worried.

"Alvin, is this really okay?"

"Even though this news is juicy, it's still just about Benjamin's personal life."

"Will it really affect StellaTech Group's stock price?"

"What if the market doesn't react the way we expect?"

Hearing this, Shirley wanted to knock some sense into Sam's head.

After all that explanation, he still didn't get it!

Her previous words seemed wasted, and Sam was still grinning like an idiot.

Shirley almost couldn't hold back her frustration.

Alvin waved his hand, signaling Sam not to worry.

"Sam, you idiot, what are you worried about?"

"I told you, everything is under my control."

"This news may seem like just Benjamin's personal issue."

"But you need to understand, for a publicly traded company, the CEO's image directly affects the company's brand and reputation."

Hearing this, Sam nodded thoughtfully, starting to grasp Alvin's intention.

"I get it now. This news will affect investors' trust in StellaTech Group."

"Especially those big institutions and foreign investors, they're very sensitive to scandals like this."

Shirley, seeing Sam finally understand, nodded repeatedly and quickly added, "Sam, you're finally getting it."

Such a simple concept, and Sam finally figured it out!

"Sam, usually this kind of negative news spreads quickly on social media."

"Then, it attracts widespread public attention, putting pressure on the stock price."

Alvin nodded, looking at Shirley with satisfaction.

Luckily, he had a smart ally like Shirley; otherwise, Alvin wouldn't know what to do.

"Shirley's right, but there's another layer you haven't understood."

Shirley looked surprised, raising an eyebrow.

Alvin just smirked.

"Sam isn't entirely wrong."

"Indeed, personal moral issues might not be too sensitive for the market."

"But what if it involves legal issues?"

"Then it's a different story."

Hearing this, both of them stared blankly at Alvin.

"Legal issues?"

"Isn't soliciting prostitutes just a matter of paying bail?"

Sam asked, puzzled.

"Sam, Benjamin is a public figure!"

"Countless eyes are watching! This isn't just about money anymore."

"Besides, did you even read the news carefully?"

Sam immediately checked the news again on various major news sites.

After reading, he quickly noticed the problem.

Sam found that every explosive news piece about StellaTech Group's CEO Benjamin was followed by an explanation of the potential legal consequences of his crime.

The news was highly popular, with many likes and comments.

Many netizens criticized Benjamin for his infidelity.

Some empathetic female netizens even exclaimed that rich men couldn't be trusted!

That comment alone had tens of thousands of likes.

It seemed Benjamin had indeed gained a lot of attention in a rather unconventional way.

These explanations detailed the possible legal penalties Benjamin could face if convicted of soliciting prostitutes, including detention and fines.

Hearing Alvin's words, Shirley rested her head on her hand, thinking for a moment. Then, as if she had an epiphany, she spoke excitedly.

"If there's a chance Benjamin could get arrested, then people will definitely think StellaTech Group's management will fall apart."

"They'll freak out, and this will definitely tank StellaTech Group's stock price."

Alvin looked at the two of them, smiling, clearly pleased.

"Exactly, this news isn't just about Benjamin personally."

"It concerns StellaTech Group's future and stock price."

"Ordinary investors have no choice but to believe it!"

Then, Alvin showed a cunning expression.

"This is the effect I wanted."

"The news I had Benjamin release will definitely work."

Sam and Shirley looked at Alvin, waiting for him to continue.

Alvin smiled and went on, "This news will make the market doubt StellaTech Group's future."

"Especially for short-term investors and speculators."

"Once those small investors and speculators start to panic, they'll follow each other like a herd of sheep."

"The news we released is the stick that prods the herd."

"Once they start withdrawing their orders, the stock price will drop."

"This will give us the opportunity to operate, and our short-selling will definitely succeed."

"Justin is still too naive to play information warfare with me."

The stock market battle was about to begin again, and the showdown between Alvin and Justin had just started.

Hearing this, Sam looked at Alvin with bright eyes, his admiration evident.

"Alvin! You're amazing!"

Shirley watched Sam's shocked expression and couldn't help but laugh.

"Am I amazing?"

"Think about how you and Shirley doubted me just now!"

"You two have been through thick and thin with me."

"Why do you get so nervous every time?"

Alvin shook his head, looking at them with disdain.

"I'm telling you, we're going to win this battle."

Sam nodded repeatedly.

"Alvin, when will I be as confident as you?"

Alvin smiled, suddenly looking thoughtful.

"Sam, like me? You've got a long way to go!"

Shirley couldn't help but laugh, then said, "Sam, don't try to be like Alvin."

"One Alvin who keeps secrets is enough; if there's another one like you, no one could stand it!"

Her words made Alvin squint his eyes, and the atmosphere cooled.

Shirley suddenly fell silent, looking around as if nothing had happened.

Seeing his crush threatened, Sam quickly jumped in.

At this moment, he didn't care about Alvin's status; Sam only had eyes for Shirley.

"Alvin, what are you doing?"

"You don't know how tense it was when you said you needed a nap earlier; it almost scared us to death!"

"We trust you, you have your plans."

"But Alvin, next time something like this happens, don't keep us in the dark!"

"Let us be at ease!"

Alvin sighed, blinking, trying to find an excuse for his behavior.

"Sam, Shirley, I wasn't keeping it from you!"

"I was just being smart!"

"Besides, you need to understand, the stock market is like a battlefield, like a chessboard."

"Every move needs careful consideration."

"But this game, I've already planned it out."

"So I won't be as worried as you guys! It's just a waste of emotions!"

Listening to Alvin, Sam fell into a cognitive trap.

He nodded thoughtfully, then spoke.

"Alvin, you mean you predicted Justin's moves and prepared in advance?"

Alvin nodded lightly, his eyes deepening.

"Of course!"

"I told you the general idea but didn't share the specifics."

"I set the stage before Justin made his move."

"It's like chess; I predicted his every step."

"Then set traps in advance, waiting for him to fall in."

Hearing Alvin say this, Sam's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

Sam always believed Alvin had a plan, but he didn't expect Alvin to be this extraordinary.

"Alvin, this is incredible! How did you do it?"

Alvin replied calmly, "It takes years of experience and a deep understanding of the market."

"The stock market is like an ocean; only those who truly understand its temperament can navigate it."

"Alvin, I've never seen you trade stocks before!"

"Where did you get all this experience?"

Hearing this, Alvin almost thought his secret of time travel was exposed.

But luckily, Sam wasn't too bright; his question had no deeper meaning.

"I don't need personal experience!"

"Just read more books, and you'll get enough trading experience!"

"You idiot!"

With that, Alvin looked at Sam with a smile.