America 1919

Donnie Block, Amadei Gianini, and Anthony Rothschild were simultaneously operating in Washington, and even if they tried to keep things confidential, it was inevitable that the news would spread.

Although it was not reported in the papers, those who needed to know, knew.

In such circumstances, the most well-informed Wall Street was the first to react.

Prior to this, due to previous news, there was a cliff-like drop in the stock prices of the two listed banks under Italian Bank, caused by massive selling of Italian Bank stocks.

It can be said that prior to this, everyone believed Italian Bank was bound to be dismantled, so everyone aimed to minimize their losses.

Especially later, when Amadei Gianini officially responded to the New York Federal Reserve, preparing to formally exit Italian Bank, as the founder of Italian Bank, his departure dealt a heavy blow to Italian Bank's stock price.

But now, the situation might be a bit different.

"Them showing up in Washington at the same time, you expect me to believe it's unrelated? I don't buy that!"

"But what exactly is the reason?"

"Hasn't Hanover Bank consistently supported Morgan's actions? Why did people from the Rothschild family go to Washington too?"

"I'm more curious about why Donnie Block appeared in Washington, exactly whose side is he on?"

"Isn't it obvious? Of course, he's aligned with Morgan. Block and Gianini have been competitors in California, and with so much cooperation between Venus Bank and Morgan, I reckon Donnie Block went to Washington to thwart Gianini's actions!"

"Things can't be so simple, if Rothschild still maintains cooperation with Morgan, then their trip to Washington should also be to stop Gianini's actions."

"Indeed, if that's the case, Anthony Rothschild could have gone alone. Targeting Italian Bank shouldn't require Block and Rothschild to team up, right?"

"I just remembered, Block and Rothschild's relationship isn't too good."

"Great, this is becoming more complicated. I can't figure out what exactly they're planning to do!"

"Regardless of what they want to do, the only thing we can be sure of right now is that Italian Bank's affairs are not so simple."

Such discussions could be seen everywhere Wall Street's crowds gathered.

And these discussions weren't without purpose, one point could be confirmed: the downward trend of Italian Bank's stock price had stopped. As people could not yet ascertain the situation with Italian Bank, they wouldn't continue the frantic selling of its stocks like before.

Yet to say everyone had begun buying Italian Bank stocks would also be unrealistic.

In uncertain circumstances, the best solution is to wait and see.

Impulse actions are what gamblers do, these securities companies and brokers won't behave like gamblers unless they have no other choice left.

Of course, many on Wall Street also turned their attention towards Morgan.

At this moment, Morgan's stance could offer many insights.

However, Morgan's stance confused everyone. While the matter was already rampant on Wall Street, Morgan showed no reaction, as if the events in Washington had no impact on their plans.

"I can't make a move!"

Jack Morgan stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, beneath him lay Wall Street, and not far away stood the towering Block Building, clearly visible.

Unlike the perception outside, Jack Morgan wasn't indifferent to the matter, rather he understood very clearly.

If he made a move at this moment, it would be an admission that things had surpassed his previous expectations, then the sensitive Wall Street would certainly act at this time, leading to a rise in Italian Bank's stock prices, making it more difficult for them to covertly acquire Italian Bank stocks!

There is a procedural aspect here, the Federal Reserve accuses Italian Bank of monopolistic practices, under such circumstances, Italian Bank has only one way to respond under normal operations, which is dismantling.

Just like Morgan in the 1930s.

Morgan was accused of monopolistic practices back then and eventually dismantled, splitting into Morgan Stanley and Morgan.

Or like Microsoft later, similarly dismantled.

But dismantling doesn't mean the consortium truly disperses.

During Morgan's family split, it separated into Morgan and Morgan Stanley, with Morgan Stanley's controllers being Jack Morgan's youngest son Harry Morgan and Harold Stanley.

They aspired that one day, when the Glass-Steagall Act was repealed, Morgan Stanley could return to the Morgan family, reuniting into the Morgan Consortium.

Only this aspiration ultimately didn't succeed.

Or just like the Rockefeller family's Standard Oil dismantling earlier, though in reality, several oil companies remained under Rockefeller's control.

Therefore, dismantling is only the first step, subsequently capitalizing on the chaos during their dismantling process, acquiring their stocks is the true way to achieve control over a consortium.

Thus, Jack Morgan cannot move, moving implies he's lost control over the matter, resulting in Italian Bank's stock prices rising, increasing their cost of acquiring Italian Bank.