Chapter 530: "King of Wall Street"

"Uproar—"

The commotion felt like someone had suddenly lifted the lid off a boiling pot.

Institutional representatives in the front row exchanged shocked glances, and someone in the back row stood straight up from their seat.

The shutter sounds in the media zone blended into one, and the flashbulbs illuminated the podium into a dazzling white.

Satsuki stood in that white light, neither moving nor speaking.

She just waited quietly.

It wasn’t until the hubbub subsided slightly that she spoke again.

"What Saionji supports is Salomon."

"It is the traders, sales team, and client network here; it is its value as a primary dealer of U.S. Treasury bonds; it is its qualification as a complete American financial institution to continue operating."

"But Saionji has never supported anyone’s position."

Gutfreund’s complexion faded bit by bit into an ashen gray.

Satsuki did not look at him.

"Next, I want to tell everyone Saionji’s true plan in its entirety."

"Saionji is ready to provide long-term capital to Salomon and provide backup credit arrangements when necessary."

"The specific amount and structure will be formally finalized with the board of directors after the due diligence is completed."

"This funding has three preconditions."

Satsuki’s gaze fell back onto the institutional shareholders in the front row.

"First, Mr. Buffett will serve as the interim chairman of Salomon, responsible for leading the board restructuring and management adjustments."

Discussions rang out in the venue once again.

Several institutional representatives looked at Buffett sitting in the front row almost simultaneously, while the latter just sat there quietly, as if what Satsuki had just mentioned wasn’t him.

"Second, Salomon must fully disclose internal materials related to this incident to the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Fed, and other relevant regulatory agencies."

Satsuki paused slightly.

"Including all versions of internal working drafts before the Washington talks this June."

Satsuki’s gaze swept slowly across the audience, pausing slightly when passing by Gutfreund.

Then, she nonchalantly continued to look at other shareholders.

Yet Gutfreund felt as if he had been dissected from head to toe in that instant.

The working drafts from June.

She knew.

Not only did she know, but in front of hundreds of shareholders and dozens of cameras, she said this matter out loud.

His line of sight instinctively swept toward the audience below the stage.

In the aisle seat of the fourth row, his legal advisor was lowering his head, staring fixedly at the notebook on his knees. From beginning to end, he had not lifted it once.

Gutfreund’s breathing hitched for a moment.

...So that was it.

"Third."

The young girl’s voice dragged him back from a mess of chaos.

"Those responsible for the decision to delay reporting must bear corresponding responsibility."

She put her hand down, resting it back on the edge of the podium.

"Lastly, I also want to clarify one point to everyone."

"Saionji does not seek control of Salomon. Salomon remains an American company operated by American management and subject to American laws and regulations."

"What Saionji brings is capital and business."

"Not a new master."

She bowed slightly toward the audience.

"The above is Saionji’s entire stance. Thank you everyone."

The banquet hall was quiet for several seconds.

Then, applause rang out from the front row.

At first it was just a few scattered claps. Immediately after, the applause became as dense as a rainstorm, spreading all the way from the front row to the back row, and finally merging into one piece.

Gutfreund stood at the edge of the podium, watching that piece of incessantly clapping hands.

A dozen minutes ago, these people were still nodding for him.

When Buffett stepped onto the podium, the applause had not completely stopped.

He didn’t adjust the microphone, just bent slightly like that, leaning close to the mic.

"What Miss Saionji just said is the common opinion of both of us."

"After this meeting ends, the board of directors will immediately hold a special meeting."

"I have told the other directors that if they need me to, I am willing to temporarily serve as the chairman of Salomon until this company regains its footing."

He looked at the audience.

"I don’t need anyone to resign to make me happy."

"I only need Salomon to become a company that tells the truth again."

...

When the meeting ended, it was already past noon.

Shareholders successively left the banquet hall. The media was blocked outside the door by hotel security, and across the thick oak door, the overlapping shouts of reporters could still be heard.

Satsuki sat down on the chair in the front row, taking the water cup handed over by Chizuru.

Having spoken for most of the day, she was indeed a bit thirsty right now.

"You did very well."

Buffett sat down next to her at some point, but his gaze fell on the empty podium in front.

"Especially that microphone part."

"The whole venue was so tense just now, but you, as soon as you went up and said a few words, made them laugh first."

The mouthful of water Satsuki had just drank almost choked her.

"...That really was stuck."

"I know," Buffett said, "That’s why the effect was best."

Satsuki turned her head sideways and looked at him for a long while.

"You don’t think I even calculated the height of the microphone, do you?"

"Who knows?"

The old gentleman spread his hands.

"At least everyone here today should remember you."

"Then I must thank that staff member from just now? Although I feel he should probably be fired."

Satsuki put down the water cup and looked back toward the podium.

Half an hour ago, Gutfreund was still standing there, explaining to hundreds of shareholders why they should continue to trust Salomon’s current management.

Now the podium was empty.

She was a bit curious about how he planned to speak to her next.

Just then, the curtain of the side stage was lifted from the inside.

Gutfreund walked out.

His complexion was livid, his gaze swept a circle in the banquet hall, and he quickly found Satsuki sitting in the front row, then walked straight toward her.

Chizuru noticed him first.

Seeing Gutfreund walking closer and closer, she took a step forward, blocking between Satsuki and him, and her right hand also fell onto the weapon inside her suit jacket.

Gutfreund’s footsteps paused for a moment.

He looked at Chizuru blocking in front of him, then crossed over her shoulders to look at Satsuki behind.

Satsuki put the water cup aside and raised her hand to gently signal Chizuru.

"Chizuru."

Chizuru turned back to look at her.

Seeing that Satsuki was only signaling herself to step aside slightly, she turned sideways, leaving space for the two to talk, but her gaze never left Gutfreund.

Satsuki then stood up, casually smoothing the hem of her suit.

Gutfreund took another two steps forward, stopping not far from her.

His tie was still tied meticulously, and his suit remained crisp.

But that face had long lost the vigor of chatting and laughing effortlessly in the trading hall three days ago; the tensed jaw and livid complexion made him look as if he had aged several years all at once.

He stared at Satsuki, glanced at Buffett sitting beside her, and finally spoke.

"Miss Saionji."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"You and Warren... when did it start?"

Satsuki looked at him.

She thought of the sea of magnesium flashes at the entrance of 7 World Trade Center, and that handshake that lasted for three seconds, enough for all reporters to capture.

She also thought of herself in another life, someone who also stood in front of a group of people without even having time to say a single word of defense.

At that time, she was pushed out by others.

But the man in front of her was not.

He had many opportunities, but every single time, he chose the path most advantageous to himself.

While she herself had paid the price with her life.

Satsuki gently took a breath, suppressing that sudden, indescribable emotion back to the bottom of her heart.

"Mr. Gutfreund."

Satsuki’s tone was very calm, even carrying a bit of polite smile.

"It was you who invited me to New York first."

Gutfreund looked at her, and a wave of anger suddenly surged up in his chest.

"So this is how you repay my trust?!"

His voice suddenly grew loud.

"I personally took you to tour Salomon, let you meet those old subordinates who have followed me for twenty years, and even agreed to let your lawyers look through the company’s internal materials! You clearly knew what I hoped to get, yet you kept letting me think there was still room for negotiation!"

"I never promised to support you to continue serving as chairman."

"Right! You indeed didn’t say it!"

Gutfreund almost immediately took over her words.

"But you kept making me think that way! Until I had no other choice, you suddenly demanded to delete that sentence in the joint statement."

"You clearly knew that at that time, it was completely impossible for me to give up Saionji’s support just because of a single sentence!"

He walked a bit closer to Satsuki, and Chizuru adjusted her stance accordingly.

"Miss Saionji, you are very smart, I admit. But this approach is unethical! You utilized a person who was already driven to a desperate situation!"

The smile on Satsuki’s face faded a bit.

"Are you accusing me now of not telling you in advance that I intend to let Mr. Buffett take over your position?"

"Isn’t it?"

"Then why didn’t you tell the shareholders in advance what you actually knew in June?"

Gutfreund’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second.

Buffett also spoke at this time.

"John, enough. You know where the problem lies."

"Of course I know!"

Gutfreund turned sharply toward him.

"And what about you guys? You sit here today, talking lightly about responsibility, talking about honesty, and then getting ready to take over the company I spent decades building!"

He pointed to himself, and then pointed to the empty podium.

"If I had stabbed all those things out back then, Salomon would have been done for long ago! What do you guys have left to invest in now? Warren, what chairman’s position do you even have to sit in?"

Buffett’s complexion sank.

But Gutfreund could no longer care about these.

"At the end of the day, it was I who protected this company for you until today! As a result, you are now taking the things I protected and turning around to tell me that I am not worthy to continue sitting in that position?"

"John."

Buffett looked at him.

"You are the one who brought Salomon to the point where it needed someone else to save it."

Gutfreund opened his mouth.

"And now you demand that the person saving it thank you?"

This sentence left him completely speechless.

Satsuki had also put away the very last bit of smile on her face.

She originally thought that by this time, Gutfreund would at least admit the mistakes he had committed.

Even if he was still unwilling, still felt that the board shouldn’t abandon him so quickly, it would all be understandable.

Yet the man in front of her was actually still blaming others for why they didn’t thank him.

Salomon’s credit had already been exhausted by his own hands, clients and banks retreated one after another, and in the end, it even required a company far away across the Pacific Ocean to step forward just to make the market believe it would continue operating tomorrow.

Until today, he actually still felt that he was the person most deserving of thanks in this crisis.

"Mr. Gutfreund, I think we have nothing more to talk about."

Satsuki picked up her small bag and signaled Chizuru.

Buffett also stood up.

Gutfreund looked at the two, seeming to finally realize that what he said just now was too excessive.

"Warren, I just..."

"John."

Buffett interrupted him.

"The board’s matters will be handled according to procedure by us."

He glanced at Satsuki.

"Let’s go."

Satsuki nodded to Buffett and turned to walk toward the banquet hall exit.

When passing by Gutfreund’s side, she paused her footsteps slightly.

"You had better think about how to explain things to the law enforcement agencies."

After speaking, she left together with Buffett.

Gutfreund stood in place, gazing at the backs of the two until they disappeared outside the banquet hall door, before slowly taking back his gaze.

That wave of anger from just now finally began to recede.

Replacing it was a feeling that made his stomach faintly chill.

...It’s over.

Over, it’s over.

What on earth did he say?

Warren had known him for many years. Even if today’s board meeting was destined not to let him stay anymore, the other party might not necessarily plan to push things to the absolute extreme.

Not to mention Saionji.

He clearly still had the opportunity to leave with dignity, and then have lawyers handle subsequent investigations and litigation.

Yet just now, in front of these two people, he personally spoke those words out loud.

And then personally tore his own dignity to shreds.

He slowly turned his head, looking toward the venue exit.

Over the past few decades, he had gotten to know almost everyone worth knowing in New York.

Those clubs, charity dinners, private gatherings—as long as he wished, someone would always reserve a spot for him.

Even leaving Salomon, he originally might not necessarily have been unable to continue staying in that circle.

But what about now?

Once today’s news spreads, how many of those people who used to be willing to take his calls will continue to take them?

And how many people would be willing to bear even a tiny bit of trouble for a former investment bank chairman who was unable to protect himself and had even completely offended Buffett?

Gutfreund stood in place, the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he felt.

He reached out to loosen his tie, and then raised both hands to clutch his head.

Damn it.

What on earth was he doing just now?

He rubbed his forehead hard, but his mind was still repeatedly echoing the words he had just spoken.

No...

He wasn’t usually like this.

He had spent decades on Wall Street, what kind of scenes hadn’t he seen? Even if he had lost completely at the negotiating table, he knew how to leave himself with a tiny bit of leeway.

But what about just now?

He actually, right in front of Warren and Saionji Satsuki, like a sore loser gambler, cursed out every accusation he could think of.

"Damn it!"

Gutfreund cursed in a low voice, annoyedly loosened his hands, and walked back and forth in place for a few steps.

What on earth was wrong with him?

Even if he couldn’t keep the chairman’s position today, he at least should have talked nicely with Warren about subsequent arrangements.

The people he had known over the years, the relationships he had accumulated, and so many things that could be utilized—could it be that because of a shareholders’ meeting, he was throwing them all away?

No.

It shouldn’t be like this.

He stopped his footsteps, raised his head, and let out a long breath.

It was also at this moment that his gaze inadvertently swept across the promotional display board beside the podium that hadn’t been removed yet.

Gutfreund’s movements slowly stopped.

Enlarged and printed on it was the report from The Wall Street Journal the day before yesterday.

In the photo, he was shaking hands with Saionji Satsuki.

That was one specially picked out by the public relations department from dozens of photos.

Himself in the photo leaned forward slightly, with a smile on his face he was all too familiar with. Satsuki beside him was also looking at the lens, looking gentle and cordial.

Below the title, there was also an eye-catching introduction line.

"King of Wall Street."

Gutfreund stared at that photo for quite a while.

He suddenly discovered that he could already somewhat not remember just how happy he had been when that photo was taken.