Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 253 King Astor IV's Repayment
Springtime in New York is still very bright, with a clear gray sky and seabirds circling overhead from time to time, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

If it weren't for the thick black smoke billowing from the port of New York.

The two carriages, heading north along Fifth Avenue in the opposite direction of the port fire, reached the east side of Central Park, then turned west at the park's central intersection and continued north.

Larry had no idea what King Astor IV was up to, but Mr. Dunbar, sitting opposite him, seemed completely unconcerned, simply reclining in his carriage seat, gazing leisurely out the window at Central Park.

The carriage traveled along the tree-lined avenues dedicated to the park, flanked by beautiful lakes, lawns, and trees, completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Larry followed Dunbar's gaze out the window and exclaimed, "This is truly the choice of New York's wealthy. Even when moving within the city, they choose the most beautiful and private routes."

Dunbar smiled and agreed, “Yes, this is a special carriage road in Central Park prepared for the wealthy. If we were ordinary people, we would probably have to walk through Central Park or walk to the north edge of the park.”

Larry nodded in agreement, but still didn't understand where King Astor IV was taking him.

The afternoon sun dappled through the elm leaves, and the coachman skillfully turned the carriage towards the west at the intersection. Half an hour later, Astor IV's enclosed carriage, which had no family crest but was made of extremely fine materials, and Larry's carriage, came to a stop silently at the intersection of Central Park West and 72nd Street.

John Jacob Astor IV was the first to alight from his carriage, toying with a silver-tipped cane in his hand. His bodyguards then surrounded him.

Larry and Dunbar knew they had arrived at their destination, so they got off their carriages.

"Gentlemen," King Astor IV turned around, a mysterious and pleased smile on his face, "I'll show you something! The real good stuff in New York is never in the newspapers."

Then, he pointed his cane to a row of large buildings on the side of the road.

Larry followed his cane toward the row of buildings and immediately spotted a line of red lettering on one of them—Dakota Apartments. It stood at the intersection of Central Park West and 72nd Street, like a massive Germanic castle built of red brick and sandstone.

The main body is square and heavy, but the top is covered with intricate gables, spires and decorative sculptures. The towering towers have a majestic and awe-inspiring presence.

The outline of the building complex appears jagged and even somewhat strange against the backdrop of the sky.

The enormous arched windows are as deep as caverns, and the overall color scheme is somber, giving it a unique, austere, and mysterious air that stands out from its surroundings under the New York sky.

Larry gasped. The Dakota Apartments! This was New York City's most famous co-working space designed for the wealthy. Even a hundred years later, it would still be one of New York's most prestigious residences, once home to the Rococo family, John Lennon, the renowned pianist Vladimir Horowitz… though they probably weren't even born yet at this time.

But was this famous luxury apartment actually built at the end of the 19th century?

“Mr. Astor, what are we doing here?” Larry was still very respectful to his subordinates.

Astor smiled without offering further explanation, and led them directly through the massive main entrance, adorned with exquisite cast-iron decorations. Uniformed doormen stood guard at the entrance, while armed guards stood behind the inner door.

If Larry and Mr. Dunbar had come here alone, they would certainly have been questioned. But because King Astor IV was leading the way, the doormen and guards at the gate simply bowed respectfully to him and Larry.

The interior of the Dakota Apartments is another world—dark oak paneling, polished mosaic floors, soaring domed murals, and fireplaces burning huge firewood create the atmosphere of an old European aristocratic mansion.

King Astor IV did not speak, but led Larry and Dunbar through the spacious hallway and into the manually operated, gleaming brass-railed elevator.

Because of the limited space in the elevator, King Astor IV specifically put Larry and Dunbara in the elevator, while the others had to climb the stairs.

The elevator ascended slowly, operating almost silently.

The elevator stopped on the 7th floor, and the three people got out.

Despite its extremely spacious exterior, this place only has two apartments per floor. When they arrived at this unit floor, there were only two rooms on each side of the wide corridor: 7A and 7B.

"Come on, Larry, help me take a look at this house, what do you think?"

Astor IV took out a heavy brass key and opened the heavy oak door to room 7A.

The two entered the apartment one after the other, with everyone except Astor IV's bodyguards following them, leaving the rest of the people in the hallway.

Larry stepped into the apartment, and the interior was breathtaking.

Here, there is a dome that is nearly four meters high, and huge mahogany windows frame the spring scenery of Central Park into the room like a giant painting.

“This apartment occupies the intersection of the east and south sides, maximizing natural light and views!” King Astor IV explained.

This was Larry's first time in such a luxurious apartment. It was a large, single-level apartment of this era, but the rooms here, in terms of both ceiling height and size, were extremely impressive.

The room was surprisingly spacious. Larry walked on the wooden floor and quickly looked around. This apartment had at least 12 rooms. He roughly estimated that the apartment was more than 5000 square feet, or 400 square meters.

There is a central hall that can accommodate 30 people for a banquet, which is connected to a formal dining room. The living room is about 50 square meters and the dining room is about 40 square meters. These are two large rooms.

There is also an oak study with a full-wall bookshelf and a built-in safe, three master bedroom suites with separate fireplaces, each with a walk-in closet and a marble-floored, brass-trimmed private bathroom.

The master bedroom is about 30 square meters, and the study and the second and third bedrooms are each about 25 to 30 square meters.

The so-called 12 rooms include the morning living room, smoking room, and master bedroom bathroom and shower room in these suites, each of which is about 10 square meters.

In addition, there is a dedicated servants' area, including a kitchen, a pantry, and two servants' bedrooms, each 10 square meters.

The kitchen is about 20 square meters, and the foyer, corridor, and dressing room are not included in the 12 rooms, which together make up about 50 square meters.

The room layout and configuration at this time were not quite the same as in later generations. If judged by later standards, it actually consisted of 8 formal rooms and multiple functional areas.

The hardwood floors gleamed, the fireplace was carved from marble, and the gas lamps were made of crystal. But the room was completely empty—no furniture, no curtains, only a vast space and a heavy silence, waiting for its owner to imbue it with a soul.

"How about it?" King Astor IV's voice carried a hint of smugness. He walked to the window, turned his back to the room, and spread his arms. "East wing corner, the best view. The walls are as thick as a fortress; even if you fire a shot from inside, the neighbors won't hear you. In all of New York, you won't find a safer, more private, or more comfortable place."

Larry's gaze swept over every detail, and he exclaimed sincerely, "Unbelievable, John. This is simply... a vertical palace. I never imagined an apartment could be like this. The view, the space... perfect!"

Larry's praise was heartfelt; he was completely captivated by the building's grandeur and ingenious design.

Astor IV turned around, and the smug smile on his face transformed into a deeper, more sincere expression.

He looked intently at Larry and said slowly,
"I'm glad you like it. Because... it's yours now."

Larry froze, his admiration instantly turning into disbelief and shock. "What? John, this...this is too..."

King Astor IV raised his hand, gently but firmly interrupting him. “This is just a small token of my gratitude for everything you have done for me and for the Astor family. All the paperwork for this house—the shares in Dakota Apartments, the exclusive lease agreement—is complete and registered in your name. The money has been paid. You just need to sign, and it’s yours.”

"This..." Larry had thought that Astor would offer a reward, after all, he had once saved Astor's life, but he never expected that today, at this moment, the other party would thank him in this way.

The Dakota condominium has an incredible 5000-square-foot single-level apartment!

Larry was at a loss for words.

King Astor IV paused, admiring the rare, completely unprepared expression of emotion on Larry's face. Then, his smile became even more subtle, as if the first surprise was merely an appetizer, and the main course was about to be served.

Astor walked toward the heavy entrance door of the suite, leaving it open, then turned to the side, his gaze passing over Larry's shoulder to look at Dunbar, who stood silently guarding the porch like a rock.

“Mr. Dunbar,” Astor’s voice came clearly from outside the door, “please come in.”

Upon hearing the sound, Dunbar immediately stepped into the inner corridor, his expression alert and focused, wondering if Astor or Larry had given him some instructions.

Astor looked at him, then pointed to the exact same, tightly closed oak door across the way.

“As for you, Mr. Dunbar,” Astor said calmly, but his words were like a bombshell, “thank you for your precise and efficient protection during that chaos. If you hadn’t kicked me, I would have been shot as soon as I looked up, and I might not be alive now. I think it’s the most reasonable arrangement for my chief security advisor to live next door to the person he is protecting.”

He took out another brass key and handed it to Mr. Dunbar.

This sudden turn of events caused Dunbar to show extreme surprise for the first time, but he did not take the key from Astor IV.

Larry walked over, looked at the scene, and immediately understood. It turned out that the 7B apartment across the street was a gift from King Astor IV to Mr. Dunbar in gratitude for saving his life.

"Here's your key. You have the exact same unit on the other side. That way, you can appear wherever you need to be at any time. Of course, you deserve it." King Astor IV smiled as he held up the key, as if he had expected Mr. Dunbar to have this expression when receiving this gift.

Mr. Dunbar hesitated for a moment before hurriedly refusing, “No! Mr. Astor, I…I didn’t do anything, I don’t deserve such a gift, it’s even on par with Mr. Livingston, no, I can’t…”

King Astor IV deliberately frowned and said, "...Hey, Mr. Dunbar, do you think saving my life isn't worth as much as a house here?"

“No, I am… I am not, oh my God!” Mr. Dunbar began to ramble incoherently.

He looked at the key that King Astor IV had handed him, then at Larry, his face a complex mix of surprise and bewilderment.

Larry was in a similar situation, as King Astor IV's gift came without any warning.

The double surprise struck them like two heavy blows.

Larry looked at Dunbar, and Dunbar stared back at his boss in shock. A stunned and unbelievable silence filled the spacious room.

The magnitude and thoughtfulness of King Astor IV's gift far exceeded their expectations.

King Astor IV watched their reactions with satisfaction, placed the brass key in Mr. Dunbar's hand, and clapped his hands lightly.

“Alright, the surprise time is over.” He regained his tycoon-like decisiveness. “I’ve already taken care of things with the committee; you just need to sign some papers in a bit. Now, let’s go see Mr. Dunbar’s new home, and then… I think we’ll need a glass of fine brandy.”

He walked towards the door opposite first, leaving Larry and Mr. Dunbar behind.

After a while, Larry nodded and said to Mr. Dunbar, "You saved his life after all... Do you remember? When Astor IV hugged you at the NYPD that day, he said he was very grateful and would definitely repay you."

“But this is far too valuable!” Dunbar said, his lips trembling.

“Take it, it’s a kind gesture. Besides, if you hadn’t spotted the bomb downstairs at the Waldorf Hotel, we might not be standing in the Dakota Apartments right now!” Larry advised.

Standing at the door of room 7B, King Astor IV turned and said, "Yes! That's exactly right. Larry is right. You two not only saved my life, but also preserved the common assets of the Astor family. Even if I didn't thank you, my brother would have done the same..."

As he spoke, a smile returned to his face, and he continued, "Mr. Dunbar, please don't refuse anymore. Don't worry, after I give you this apartment, I'll ask my brother to reimburse you... Hahaha!"

Mr. Dunbar looked at him, then at Larry, and finally focused his attention on the brass key in his hand. He nodded and accepted the gift.

The door to room 7B opened, and Astor IV stepped in first, explaining, "It's 4300 square feet, perhaps slightly smaller than 7A, but still spacious and bright."

With a smile on his face, Larry pushed Mr. Dunbar into his own room and led him around the room, showing him around.

7B is slightly smaller than 7A, with 7 main rooms and a more square and practical layout.

There is a large living room/spoon room with walls large enough to hang maps; there is also a dining room and a study, as well as two master bedroom suites.

It also has a fully-equipped servants' area and additional storage rooms.

When they arrived at the storage room, Larry joked to Dunbar, "Mr. Dunbar, you can put all your favorite guns and equipment here. This is enough for you to open your own personal armory!"

Like 7B, 7A is tastefully decorated with plaster ceilings, oak parquet floors, and marble fireplaces, but its decorative carvings and moldings are relatively simple, giving it a more austere and rugged feel.

The building is also equipped with an electric bell system to summon the downstairs housekeeper and security guard, and has reserved electrical outlets for lights and hot and cold water; all doors and windows have been reinforced with internal latches and locks, reflecting an instinctive concern for security.

King Astor IV loudly beckoned the two men to come and see. After they entered the living room, King Astor IV pointed to the northwest-facing window and said, "The Hudson River is right outside! Because we're on the seventh floor, we have a panoramic view of the Upper West Side and the riverbank. The view here is just as good as Central Park across the street!"

Larry and Dunbar went to the window and looked down. From there, they could clearly see the flow of people and vehicles on the main street leading to the Dakota Apartments. It was an excellent strategic vantage point to monitor everything in the vicinity.

“Absolutely…perfect!” Mr. Dunbar concluded.

“Thank you, John!” Larry said sincerely.

King Astor IV, seeing that the two were very satisfied, also wore a gratified smile. He then walked to the doorbell and pressed it to summon the building manager.

A short while later, a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in a tailcoat, walked to the entrance of the building and bowed to King Astor IV inside, saying, "Edgar Thornton is at your service, Mr. Astor!"

King Astor IV pointed to Larry and Dunbar, who were still looking at the street scene from the window of 7B, and said with a smile, "Process the formalities for them! Remember, I vouch for them, so everything must be done with the utmost respect and without any mistakes, understand?"

“Understood! Mr. Astor, it is an honor for our Dakota Apartments to have your partner stay!” Thornton replied solemnly.

(End of this chapter)