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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: The Young Financial Tycoon Emerges & Wall Street’s Retaliation

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The Rise of 'DarkDragon'

Overnight, the name DarkDragon spread like wildfire across China's financial world.

Investors who followed his Baosteel prediction made 10%-30% profits in days.

On stock forums, his post was pinned as the "Golden Thread of the Year."

"In a battlefield dominated by institutions, an anonymous retail god has appeared."

"He knew everything. It's like he sees the future."

But no one knew this financial oracle was merely a 21-year-old university student, sipping cheap instant coffee in a small rented room.

"This is just the beginning."

Luo Chen's gaze sharpened. His real war was not with small domestic funds.

His target was far more ambitious—Wall Street itself.

Wall Street Strikes Back

In a sleek Manhattan skyscraper, executives from BlackEagle Capital, a notorious Wall Street hedge fund, were in a closed-door meeting.

"We lost over 300 million USD on that Baosteel short. Someone manipulated us."

"Find out who's behind this. We can't let a ghost trader from China embarrass us."

Their retaliation was swift.

Massive short positions were opened against China's tech sector.

Coordinated media articles predicted a "dot-com bubble burst" for Chinese internet companies.

Influential Western analysts downgraded major Chinese tech firms overnight.

This was financial warfare—classic Wall Street suppression tactics.

And their primary target was clear:

"Crush the so-called 'DarkDragon'. Show them who rules global markets."

Luo Chen's Counterplay: The Tech Bull Trap

But Luo Chen had been expecting this.

"Tech sector? You couldn't have picked a better battlefield for me."

He activated the system's "10-Year Tech Sector Forecast".

Before his eyes, the future of giants like Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu, and JD.com unfolded with terrifying precision.

He saw Tencent's WeChat revolution.

Alibaba's e-commerce empire.

The unstoppable rise of China's digital economy.

Wall Street's attempt to short these companies was like trying to block a tsunami with a sandcastle.

"I'll turn your shorts into fuel for my rise."

Luo Chen quietly accumulated positions in key tech stocks:

Tencent (0700.HK)

Alibaba (NYSE: BABA)

Baidu (BIDU)

He also used the system's Market Manipulation Module to subtly nudge daily price swings, creating false bearish signals.

Wall Street funds, thinking their plan was

working, increased their short positions—walking straight into Luo Chen's bull trap.

The Bull Run Ignites

Two weeks later, a bombshell report was released by the Chinese government:

"Nationwide Digital Infrastructure Plan Approved - Massive Tech Sector Subsidies Incoming."

The news exploded across markets.

Chinese tech stocks surged as domestic funds piled in, triggering a violent short squeeze.

Wall Street's short positions began to collapse.

Tencent soared 15% in a single day.

Alibaba's valuation skyrocketed.

Baidu reclaimed market dominance.

BlackEagle Capital alone suffered losses exceeding 500 million USD.

"Impossible! How did this happen again?!"

But for Luo Chen, this was all within his calculations.

Ding! [Mission Complete: Defended Chinese Tech Sector from Foreign Suppression]

[Reward: Capital Pool Expansion +100,000,000 yuan]

[Unlocked: Global Financial Influence (Level 1)]

One hundred million yuan.

In less than three months, Luo Chen had grown from a penniless student to a nine-figure financial tycoon.

And now, with Global Financial Influence Level 1, he could subtly affect international capital flows, increasing his control over cross-border investments.

A Storm Brews

In Beijing, top officials began noticing an anomaly.

"Who's this DarkDragon that single-handedly defends critical industries from foreign attacks?"

"Find him. We might have a strategic asset on our hands."

At the same time, within BlackEagle Capital's war room:

"This DarkDragon is now a declared enemy of Wall Street. Prepare for full-scale retaliation.

The battlefield was no longer limited to the Chinese stock market.

Luo Chen had declared war on the global financial order.

"Come then, Wall Street. Let's see who gets destroyed next."

The Foundation of an Empire

With 100 million yuan now under his command, Luo Chen's financial might had quietly surpassed many second-tier funds.

But money was only one piece of the puzzle.

"To fight Wall Street, I need more than capital. I need an empire."

Luo Chen activated the newly unlocked Global Financial Influence (Level 1).

Instantly, streams of data connected:

Cross-border investment patterns

International capital outflows

Currency exchange fluctuations

Offshore hedge fund movements

He could now detect and influence small shifts in global financial currents, enough to manipulate mid-cap stock trends and cause chain reactions.

"It's time to build my Shadow Financial Empire."

Recruiting the First Chess Pieces

Luo Chen began identifying elite talents who had been suppressed by traditional financial giants:

Genius analysts blacklisted for exposing corporate fraud.

Young algorithmic traders forced out by conservative institutions.

Bold economists silenced for contradicting Western narratives.

Using the alias "Dragon Financial Group", he quietly recruited them.

In three weeks, Luo Chen had formed a core team of 15 elite operatives — each a future legend in their own right.

But no one knew their true master

"You will be the hidden blades, and I will be the unseen hand."

Beijing's Invitation

One evening, as Luo Chen was analyzing the next target sector, his encrypted terminal buzzed.

An official-looking message appeared:

[From: Strategic Economic Security Bureau]

"Mr. Luo Chen, we would like to discuss matters of national financial security with you. Location: Zhongnanhai."

Zhongnanhai.

The heart of China's political power.

Even the most powerful tycoons tread carefully around that name.

Luo Chen's eyes narrowed.

"So they've finally found me."

But instead of fear, a faint smile appeared.

"Good. It's time to step onto the real stage."

First Meeting with Power

The next day, Luo Chen entered Zhongnanhai, dressed simply, yet exuding an aura that made even veteran officials take notice.

In the meeting room sat high-ranking figures from the:

Ministry of Commerce

People's Bank of China

State-owned Assets Supervision Commission

One of the elder officials, eyes sharp as a blade, spoke first.

"Mr. Luo Chen, or should we say... DarkDragon?"

There was no point in denying it.

"I assume this invitation is not for a lecture on my online posts."

A chuckle echoed.

"Indeed not. In fact, we see your actions as having defended key sectors from foreign financial warfare. Tell us, Mr. Luo, are you interested in a more... official collaboration?"

Luo Chen did not answer immediately.

Instead, he posed a question of his own.

"Do you seek a protector of domestic markets or a weapon to strike back at those who manipulate the global financial order?"

Silence fell.

But that silence was more telling than words.

Finally, the elder smiled.

"Both."

Luo Chen leaned back slightly.

"Then let us discuss the terms. I am not a charity. But I also believe—some battles are worth fighting."

That day, Luo Chen was offered special economic privileges, access to state-backed capital pools, and protection from regulatory interference — in exchange for strategic financial operations beneficial to national interests.

It was not an order.

It was a pact between a rising emperor of capital and the guardians of a nation.

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