From legendary short seller to god of American capital

Chapter 413 A Bold and Outlandish Proposal: Logan Must Marry Anna

As Larry was leaving, King Astor IV saw him to the door, and Larry took the opportunity to speak privately with King Astor IV about Jay Gould.

"He died on December 26th last year from tuberculosis—though I think it was probably lung cancer!" Larry said.

"Cancer? That's a medical term, a very niche one, and you know that too!" King Astor IV remarked, turning to Larry, "—I know he died, but what I'm really concerned about is whether he was the one who plotted to bomb the Waldorf Hotel. I still don't know who the culprit was."

"It's very simple. After the old master passed away, his henchmen gradually left the Gould family. I've heard that his children are all unambitious good-for-nothings—you just need to pay more attention to his former subordinates to find out the answer."

After Larry's reminder, King Astor IV nodded repeatedly, "—Damn it, that old devil! He's finally dead."

“John, death absolves all debts—I want you to know that even if he really did it, the point isn’t him or his descendants.” Larry patted Astor IV on the shoulder and said softly, “I’ve always been worried that it was an organization behind him, or some other financier, that was directing him to do this. That’s the most dangerous thing.”

King Astor IV nodded. "I understand—this matter concerns my family, and I have been paying close attention to it."

"This is information only high-end circles would know—you'd have to find out yourself," Larry patted his elbow, then asked, "By the way, John, I have a question for you. I have a woman—her background isn't good, she's wanted in Europe, how can I clean up her act in New York?"

Upon hearing Larry's question, King Astor IV was visibly taken aback, even more so than when Larry had previously mentioned real estate mortgage trusts.

He was taken aback—but then a strange smile spread across his face, and the way he looked at Larry became—that knowing look between men.

"You little pony—hahahahaha!!"

King Astor IV laughed wildly.

Although he was a wealthy young man from old New York, he couldn't help but become unrestrained and rude when it came to intimate matters between men.

Larry blushed slightly, thinking to himself, "Logan, Logan, I've been too good to you. I'm taking the blame for you now!" After a big laugh, King Astor IV regained his composure, but a mocking smile remained on his lips. Then, he began to seriously consider—a complete outsider, with no family background, no huge inheritance, and perhaps even—some less-than-honorable past. If she wanted to quickly gain a protective reputation, a public image that would make those who wanted to cause him trouble hesitate, what should she do?

"Philanthropist? Ah, no! That requires time and real money—" King Astor IV muttered to himself, "Artist? Writer? No, that requires talent—"

At this point, King Astor IV's eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned to look at Larry, "Is your woman pretty? -- How's her figure? You're a rich man now, the woman you've found can't be bad."

"Very good!" Larry thought carefully about the mermaid he dared not mess with and came to this conclusion.

"That makes things much easier, actress! No, to be more precise—star, make her a stage star!" King Astor IV raised his voice, very excited.

"——Why?" Larry simply couldn't understand the logic of the Blue Blood Family. They said they would clear her name, so why did they want to turn her into some kind of celebrity instead?

"You see," King Astor IV said, growing increasingly excited, as if he had solved a long-standing puzzle, "New York is now at a remarkable turning point. The old aristocracy is still obsessed with opera and Shakespeare, but new money..."

Young people, and the rapidly growing middle class, crave more exciting, more direct, and more sensory experiences. Broadway's new theaters, though currently looked down upon by respectable people, are attracting increasingly larger audiences.

He turned to face Larry, gesturing with his hands to indicate the name. "Imagine a woman with an unforgettable face, a mysterious aura, standing center stage, being watched by five hundred, a thousand people at once. Newspapers will write her story, true or false. Social events will consider it an honor to have her invited. Her portrait will appear in magazines. She will become one of the symbols of the city's 'nightlife.' And once she achieves that status—"

King Astor IV paused, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "—Anyone who wants to touch her will have to think twice. Not because of the law, not because of the police, but because of public opinion. Harming an unknown person might just be a small segment of a news story. But harming a stage star who's the talk of the town? That would be a national scandal. The police chief would be held accountable, the mayor would face pressure, and newspaper editors would pounce like sharks smelling blood. Because harming a celebrity" would be tantamount to insulting all the public who idolize her—those who buy tickets to her performances, discuss her in salons, and...

Her posters are on the walls of ordinary people.

Holy crap?! ?! Is this even possible?!

Why is the problem-solving mindset of advanced players so different from that of ordinary people?

Larry then fell into deep thought, but after much consideration, he still felt that the idea was very—stupid.

Larry's previous idea was to send Anna to the west under an assumed name. Even though there was still a risk of exposure, it was still better than Astor IV's terrible idea. Being an actress would completely expose Anna's identity and would be a direct challenge to European law enforcement agencies.

What if someone exposes her secrets? Wouldn't she end up losing more than she gained?

No! No! This idea is too stupid. It's the wild fantasy of a landlord's foolish son!

But King Astor IV persisted, relentlessly pushing his "brilliant" idea: "—Moreover, a stage star possesses a unique protective ambiguity. She can be anyone. Today she plays a saint, tomorrow a prostitute. The audience chases the illusion she creates, not the real her. This gives her enormous room for maneuver. She can hire the best bodyguards under the guise of 'protecting the performance's safety.' She can cultivate relationships with politicians and celebrities under the cover of 'art salons.' She can even——have some friends or a past that are not convenient to disclose—as long as those stories are dramatic enough, they will become part of her charm."

Pure nonsense, wild fantasy—wait a minute!

A flash of insight struck Larry, his eyes instantly becoming vacant. An unprecedented thought surged from the depths of his mind, instantly taking over his thoughts—

"Making connections with politicians and celebrities?"

A socialite?!

Isn't this the "high-end intelligence source" I've been searching for? If Anna could truly become someone like Marilyn Monroe, she could become part of my high-end intelligence network, and her circle would become the best high-end intelligence source!

Thinking of this, Larry's heart pounded. He felt that although King Astor IV's proposal was somewhat fanciful, the plan was actually full of dangers and unknown difficulties for Anna.

But this plan is entirely beneficial to me!

If Anna were truly made into a late 19th-century "Marilyn Monroe," that would be too—

Larry had never had any romantic feelings for Anna, no matter how beautiful she was. This woman was dangerous, mysterious, and wouldn't be good for his future. Larry wasn't the type to be easily swayed by women, and he certainly wouldn't show her any mercy.

But if we could use her beauty to do something, or even make her a courtesan as King Astor IV suggested, it would be a win-win situation: Anna would be cleared of wrongdoing, and we would gain access to an intelligence network!

The whole incident is bizarre enough, but from an investment perspective, it's even more profitable than betting at a casino!

Yes, this is definitely possible!!

Larry's heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm. Meeting King Astor IV's gaze, Larry pretended to think for a moment before cautiously nodding.

"So," King Astor IV concluded, his tone carrying the characteristic, profound understanding of the rules of the game typical of upper-class youth, "if someone, like the one you mentioned, has a 'less-than-honorable past' and wants to escape certain—entanglements. For example, being pursued by certain foreign governments. Then becoming a stage star is almost the perfect choice."

"Is it really possible?" Larry asked at the opportune moment.

"Of course!!" King Astor IV nodded, his expression serious. "If it were domestic enemies, it might be more troublesome. But foreign governments—especially those in Europe—face many restrictions when operating in New York. They can send agents, bribe informants, and even create accidents. But they absolutely cannot openly and rudely target an American public figure. That would become a diplomatic incident."

He paused, then continued, "For example, if a German agent wanted to assassinate a French exile in New York, as long as he did it cleanly, no one would probably investigate. But if he wanted to target an American stage star who was performing on Broadway and received thunderous applause every night at the end of the night—even if that star was originally from France, Poland, or even Germany—he would have to think twice."

Because if the assassination attempt were exposed, or even if it were just an attempted kidnapping, the New York newspapers would go crazy, the German consulate would be besieged by reporters, and Washington would lodge a formal protest. Is it worth taking such a risk for a dangerous exiled individual?

Astor IV looked at Larry, his eyes deep, a smile playing on his lips. "So the answer is simple, Larry. If you want to protect someone, put him or her on stage, in the spotlight, in front of all of New York. Make a thousand people fall in love with him or her."

She had a hundred journalists write about her, and ten of the most powerful people consider it an honor to know her. At that time, anyone who wanted to touch her had to first ask these one thousand one hundred and ten people for their consent.

Birdsong filled the air around Astor Manor, and the occasional tinkling of carriage bells echoed from the road outside. Under the manor's porch, two young men stood facing each other. One had just finished an impromptu speech about reputation and security, while the other mentally recalibrated a dangerous yet meticulously planned scheme.

Larry was silent for a few seconds, then he gave a genuine, relaxed smile.

"John," Larry said, extending his hand, "thank you! This is probably the most valuable advice I've received today."

"Don't mention it!" King Astor IV's smile gradually faded as he held Larry's hand earnestly and said, "Making a woman famous isn't difficult. However, you need to make sure that the person you're going to protect—well, she'd better be really prepared."

Larry nodded slightly. "She's ready, John. She's been preparing for this moment her whole life."

Larry smiled as he said this.

In the driver's seat of the carriage, Brady the tiger and Al the dog watched Larry. Just as Brady was about to crack the whip after Larry boarded, he heard Larry shout, "Gentlemen, we're going to Morgan Bank—I need to talk to Logan!"

"Understood, boss!" Brady flicked the reins, and the two white horses circled once in front of Astor Manor.

Turning towards Wall Street.

Twenty minutes later, Larry was already sitting in the coffee shop across from Morgan Stanley on Wall Street, having found a quiet corner spot where there were no other customers around the table.

Larry watched as Logan rushed down the stairs, crossed the street, and hurriedly pushed open the glass door of the cafe.

Logan looked around as soon as he entered, then locked his gaze on Larry and strode over.

"Hey! You better really have something important to tell me, Larry. If the boss sees me showing up like this, he'll skin me alive!" Logan plopped down in the chair opposite Larry, complaining in a feigned huff.

To his surprise, Larry completely ignored him, keeping a straight face and simply looking him up and down.

Logan's gaze made him uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly asked, "—Hey, what's wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"

"I have a question for you, and you have to answer it honestly! It concerns your future and your happiness—" Larry's tone was icy, as if Logan owed him a million dollars.

"—Speak! Don't you trust me?" Logan felt a little uneasy. He thought for a moment and didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had done for Larry, but looking at Larry's cold face, his heart was still pounding.

Larry paused for a few seconds before asking, "Do you like Anna Herder?"

"Damn, so that's what you were asking—you scared me!" Logan relaxed instantly, but a blush crept onto his face. "You're just asking a question you already know the answer to, aren't you?"

"Say it! Do you like it, or do you not like it!" Larry said solemnly, word by word.

Logan gritted his teeth. "Of course I like her! I not only like her, I want to marry her."

"Have you thought this through—Logan, you know her background, it's too bizarre. She's killed people, and—all of this she said herself. You know, it might actually be even more cruel than she described!" Larry warned in a deep voice.

"I don't care! I like her," Logan blurted out.

Larry watched him silently, then continued, "—And one more thing, you know, he traveled all the way from Warsaw to Zurich, from Paris to New York—she probably slept with quite a few men. Can you accept that?"

Logan gritted his teeth and thought for a long time before nodding heavily and saying, "I can accept it! I really like her."

Driven by lust —

Larry mentally gave Logan a brief assessment: if this were in his own hands, Larry would never accept it.

After a few seconds of thought, Larry looked into Logan's eyes. "I can get you to marry her. Doesn't she want a chance to clear her name and be under my protection? I can make that happen, but I feel—we can't let her get away with it so easily. Since you like her, Logan, then she should..."

"I must marry you. Only when she is under your control can I feel at ease!"

"I—marry her?? Is this—really?" Logan was in a daze, unable to believe Larry's words.

"Of course—Logan, we're good friends who came from Boston together. What I'm about to tell you is the proposal I've been racking my brains for, the one that's most beneficial for you, me, and your Anna, even if it's a bit outlandish. But believe me—it's the best I can offer."

Larry looked into Logan's eyes as he spoke, uttering each sentence slowly and deliberately.

Logan nodded, bewildered. "You...you tell me—Larry, I know you would never hurt me."

Larry nodded, then told Logan the whole plan he had just received from King Astor IV. Of course, Larry wouldn't mention that the idea came from King Astor IV, nor would he reveal any of his own extraneous thoughts. But Larry did frankly state his true intention: to use the opportunity of promoting Anna to establish a high-end social intelligence circle.

After all, this matter needs to be clarified, because if it weren't voluntary, high-end social circles wouldn't be able to obtain more information.

Logan stared, his mouth agape, for a long time before he fully understood Larry's meaning. He thought for a moment, then said blankly, "I—I think, although it's a bit far-fetched, it's not impossible—my God! You, you fucking dare to think that way, Larry!"

Larry, with a sincere yet indifferent expression, solemnly stated, "This plan may seem absurd, but it is a..."

The best arrangement for that woman—and don't blame me for thinking this way is largely for my own benefit, but if I'm really going to protect her, she'll ultimately have to pay the price!

"Can you make her famous? Make her a stage star?" Logan then asked.

"Of course!" Larry said, then thought for a moment. "Your Anna, she certainly has the looks and figure—she's got the looks and the figure, and she's good at being an assassin, so her coordination shouldn't be a problem. She should be able to handle the song and dance performance, as long as she studies and practices diligently. By the way, how do you usually contact her?"

"I have my methods. She's actually broken away from the Boer organization and is hiding in Greenwich Village, only going to New York galleries at night to model—she lives a very secluded life." After answering, Logan thought for a moment before blushing and asking, "—I understand what you mean, but, but why do you insist that I marry her? We don't actually need me here. If she just agrees, you can make her a star. Why do you insist she marry me!"

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Larry asked.

"—Let's start with the fake one." Logan sensed that Larry's words had a hidden meaning.

"I'd like to grant your wish since you like her so much."

"Oh, okay, so, the truth?" Logan asked again.

"To be honest—Logan, I need you to keep her under control as much as possible," Larry said solemnly, his tone full of sincerity. "Although it may not be very effective against that female assassin, I can only feel at ease about investing in her if you can marry her, start a family, and have a child."

"No—what necessary connection is there between me marrying her and what I'm telling you?" Logan asked, his face full of questions.

"Of course!" Larry thought for a moment and said, "You can only control her as much as possible by spending every day with her. The road to a woman's heart is a tree-lined avenue."