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That event will not only determine who wins the WBA heavyweight title, but will also test the mettle of a new king and whether his major decision (accepting Klose's challenge) was wise or foolish.
Victor Lee put himself in a pressure cooker.
He must respond to all the doubts, anger, and challenges with absolute strength and victory in the boxing ring.
Otherwise, the dynasty he had just established might have collapsed in an instant, becoming a typical case in sports history of a rapid downfall due to arrogance.
The smell of gunpowder in the air was so strong it was almost unbearable.
The whole world is waiting for the clock to strike on December 8th.
However, everyone underestimated the impact of Black Monday. It was not a simple, ordinary Monday—as evidenced by the people falling from buildings in New York.
After Black Monday, the world seemed to come to a standstill.
Global markets plummeted one after another, and panic spread to every corner.
Government officials and senior figures have stepped forward to try to stabilize market sentiment, but with little success.
Banks and financial institutions are on high alert.
What Victor predicted happened.
Banks began to scrutinize loan risks with great anxiety.
Many businesses, especially those industrial companies that rely heavily on credit or have invested heavily in the stock market, suddenly found that the value of their collateral had plummeted and their cash flow had dried up abruptly.
The bank's collection calls and letters came in like snowflakes, and the tone was no longer polite as before, but urgent and even stern.
"I'm sorry, sir, according to the agreement, we need you to provide additional collateral..."
"The loan amount must be reassessed; please provide the latest financial statements as soon as possible..."
"If we are unable to repay this portion of the loan by next Friday, we will have to initiate procedures..."
These business owners are facing a more real predicament than the stock market crash.
A stock market crash may wipe out paper wealth, but bank debt collection could immediately take away the factories, land, and equipment they depend on for survival.
They ran around seeking help, but everyone was in danger and cash was king.
Countless individual investors, pension funds, insurance companies, and financial institutions have seen their assets shrink dramatically, and market confidence has suffered a devastating blow.
Large-scale protests began to erupt in various places, and countless people who had lost their pension and medical insurance began to join in, making the process increasingly massive.
The Chinese community in Chicago is incredibly grateful to Victor:
Because Victor had previously strongly focused Skywind City's work on real businesses such as restaurants, fast food, and food processing plants.
Not investing in high-tech fields that are easy to make money in is considered a failure.
But now, these measures ensure the basic livelihood of 200,000 Chinese residents in Chicago, and the increased profitability of Skywind City's restaurant express project is also due to the consumption downgrade caused by the bankruptcy of a large number of middle-class people.
More importantly, tobacco from the Tulsa region began to spread to major cities, cultivating "high-quality customers" among the many down-on-their-luck individuals.
Amidst this widespread devastation—Victor's Skywind Twin Towers project had been halted—Victor launched a massive operation.
Skycity Group has over 300 million US dollars in its accounts, funds raised by Chinese Americans in Chicago.
Viktor's own account also had over $100 million from bets, box office revenue, appearance fees, and other expenses related to winning his fights in four rounds. In Trump's Plaza Hotel, there were also IOUs for $120 million in appearance fees and box office revenue.
Victor prepares to act.
His office was brightly lit, and the core members of the team had all been gathered together.
Everyone's face showed a mixture of tension and excitement.
Victor stood in front of the whiteboard, which was already filled with the names of various companies, asset types, and estimated levels of distress.
"Gentlemen, this is a historic opportunity, one that we must seize now!"
Victor's calm yet powerful voice broke the silence in the room: "The panic is reaching its peak, and the banks' patience is wearing thin. For us, the window of opportunity is opening."
He pointed to the whiteboard: "These companies possess high-quality assets that we used to have little access to—suburban land, small steel mills, and machinery companies with core patents."
In the past, these were either prohibitively expensive or tightly controlled by established families and white capital; we couldn't even get to the negotiating table.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of his subordinates: "But now, the storm is coming. Their owners are being driven to desperation by the banks. Their asset prices have been driven back to square one, or even lower. And what is our advantage?"
He answered his own question, “It’s cash! Plenty of cash that’s readily available!”
His plan was ruthless and precise:
Wait patiently like a hunter, and select the most valuable targets;
Then, when the banks exert final pressure and those business owners are at their most desperate, they intervene in the negotiations.
Instead of offering timely help, they resorted to what was almost "robbery," imposing harsh conditions and buying up potentially golden goose-like assets with cash far below their actual value.
"Especially land, energy, and steel,"
Viktor emphasized, with an ambitious glint in his eyes, "These are the foundation of the real economy, the assets that can truly weather cycles."
Previously, it was difficult for Chinese capital to enter these sectors on a large scale. Now, Black Monday has opened that door for us! All we have to do is walk in and take it.
He assigned the task:
A team closely monitors the target company's finances and bank debts, and can communicate directly with bank managers when necessary;
Another group began preparing an extremely demanding acquisition plan, which required communication with the government.
The third group is responsible for communicating with several banks with which they have close ties, and can cooperate when necessary to exert pressure from the creditor level.
The meeting ended, and everyone left, eager to get back to work.
Viktor walked to the window alone again.
Chicago under the night sky is still brightly lit, but behind many of those lights lies endless sorrow.
Viktor's anxiety seemed to disappear spontaneously, as extreme focus and ambition replaced his unease.
He knew he was taking advantage of a disaster, but that's the American rule of freedom—the big fish eat the shrimp, I'm hungry, I eat you.
The wailing continued; some fell from the sky, but others, like Viktor, had already sharpened their hunting rifles, ready to harvest the seeds of the next era from the ruins.
Black Monday is over, but its aftershocks and the resulting redistribution of wealth are only just beginning.
A silent battle was quietly waged at the negotiating table, in bank conference rooms, and in the offices of factory owners on the verge of bankruptcy.
Victor summoned Blair and Jimmy:
"Now, you two do two things for me."
"Find someone to investigate the TLP Group."
"Find someone to spread negative news about TLP Group!"
Chapter 176 The fastest way to make money is by plunder.
As November 1987 arrived, the salty sea breeze of Atlantic City seemed to carry a rusty, bloody smell.
October's "Black Monday" was like a global financial tsunami. Although its towering waves have passed, it has left behind a scene of devastation and a chilling atmosphere.
The terrifying scene of the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeting 22.6% in a single day still haunts every Wall Street player and business tycoon like a nightmare.
Market confidence collapsed, liquidity dried up, and the wealth of countless once-glorious companies and individuals evaporated in an instant, like pieces of paper torn apart by a storm.
Those who couldn't withstand the pressure have chosen to leave, either quietly withdrawing or climbing to the top floor.
Those who survived this disaster were all tough guys who had been tempered by several economic cycles and whose nerves were as strong as steel; they were ruthless characters who could bite a spoon and then swallow it whole.
They licked their wounds, their eyes wary and fierce, searching the ruins for any possible opportunity, or... prey.
Among this group of survivors, Victor Lee swam calmly and efficiently, like a shark that had caught the scent of blood.
He was not hit hard by the stock market crash; on the contrary, thanks to his keen sense of opportunity and some advance planning, he preserved most of his strength.
But the small fish and shrimp in Chicago could not satisfy the appetite of Victor and the more than 60,000 Chinese families behind him. Even though within a month, 30 million US dollars bought assets that were originally worth more than 110 million US dollars, and all of them were physical goods.
But this is far from enough.
In order to live a better life, Victor had already set his sights on a huge target, in addition to continuing in Chicago—a part of Donald TLP's business empire built on huge debts and a glamorous reputation.
Following Black Monday, Victor's actions against the Trump Organization yielded unexpected results.
He consistently and precisely disseminated negative news about the Trump Organization through the media outlets he controlled or influenced:
The risks of excessive leverage, inflated asset valuations, massive debts due soon, and Trump's own predicament of being overwhelmed by the crisis.
These reports are like venom, dripping into the already fragile nerves of the market.
The effect is immediate.
The Trump Organization's valuation is falling every day, and banks and bondholders are making increasingly urgent debt collection calls.
To make matters worse, under Victor's subtle "pushing," the regulatory authorities' financial investigation into the Trump Organization also seems to be expanding.
All of this has plunged the usually high-profile and flamboyant Trump into an unprecedented predicament. He is like a bull trapped in quicksand, his angry roars unable to stop the sinking trend.
The crisis that was originally expected to occur between 1989 and 1990 began to emerge due to distrust and cover-ups.
Through a series of covert channels and informants, Victor successfully ascertained the true state of the Trump Organization:
Cash is extremely scarce, assets have shrunk dramatically, debt pressure is immense, and confidence is on the verge of collapse.
He knew the time was almost ripe—just a little longer.
So Victor Lee returned to Atlantic City.
This city, built on gambling and desire, appears even more bizarre and superficial against the backdrop of the financial crisis.
The neon lights still flickered, but seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze.
Viktor's stated reasons for this trip are impeccable:
He is fully preparing for his challenge match against challenger José Libarta on December 8th.
He appeared at the training facility, allowing reporters to film him training hard and sweating profusely, and discussing tactics and determination.
The sports section's coverage effectively masked his true intentions.
His real target was Ivana—TLP’s penniless wife, one of the core managers of the Trump Organization, and a key pawn he had carefully laid out months earlier.
In a secluded suite at a luxury hotel, Victor and Ivana had just experienced a passionate but formulaic lovemaking session.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive champagne and desire, but deep in their eyes there was little warmth, only calculation, weighing of options, and a desire to please each other.