I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 306: Chapter 89: Put Options and Gold

Hawkins stared at him for a few seconds, a curious look in his eyes.

"Mr. Betelich, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but as someone who’s been in the oil trade for many years, I have to say—the market is very calm right now. There’s some friction in the Middle East, but it’s always like that over there. I don’t see any reason for oil prices to rise."

"Perhaps," Werner said, taking a sip of his whiskey. "But we’re willing to pay a small price for stability."

Hawkins looked at him for a few more seconds, then shrugged.

"Alright, the customer is always right." He stood up, walked to a file cabinet, and pulled out a contract template. "I can prepare the contract for you. You can come in to sign it tomorrow, then wire the margin deposit to our account. The goods can be delivered in batches, or..." He paused. "If you wish, you can also transfer the delivery rights."

A glint flashed in Werner’s eyes.

"Transfer the delivery rights?"

"Yes." Hawkins smiled. "Many clients sign the contract but don’t actually take delivery of the goods. Instead, they sell the delivery rights to other buyers. It’s quite common in the industry."

"I understand." Werner nodded. "That’s an excellent option."

"Then it’s settled." Hawkins extended his hand. "One million barrels, three US Dollars per barrel, delivery in three months, with transferable delivery rights. Will you come to sign the contract tomorrow afternoon?"

"No problem." Werner stood up and shook his hand. "A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Hawkins."

"The pleasure is all mine," Hawkins said. "By the way, Mr. Betelich, if you have time after signing the contract tomorrow, I’d like to treat you to a meal. The best steak in London. I’m sure you’ll love it."

"Then I’d be delighted to accept," Werner said with a smile.

As Werner walked out of Hawkins’s office, he glanced at his watch. It was 6:10.

’The first step is complete.’

Now, he needed to handle the second matter—shorting the stock market and going long on Gold.

*************

At 7:00 PM, Werner stood in front of an old building.

This was a small company located on the edge of the Financial City, with its office on the second floor. The hallway lights were dim, and the paint was peeling from the walls. Compared to Hawkins’s luxurious Victorian-style building, this place was far more modest.

Werner went upstairs, found the right door number, and knocked.

"Come in," a voice called from inside.

Werner pushed the door open.

Rosenberg’s office was small, just a single room, but its walls were covered with stock tickers and financial charts. His desk was piled high with documents and newspapers.

Rosenberg himself was a short, heavyset man in his forties, with thick glasses, thinning hair, and a slightly wrinkled white shirt. He looked more like an accountant than a stockbroker.

"Mr. Betelich?" Rosenberg stood up and extended his hand.

"Yes." Werner shook his hand. "Margaret should have told you about me."

"She did, she did." Rosenberg gestured for Werner to sit. "She said you wanted to open an account to make some... special investments."

"That’s right." Werner sat down and said bluntly, "I want to make two investments. First, I want to buy put options. Second, I want to buy Gold."

Rosenberg pushed up his glasses.

"Put options?" There was a hint of surprise in his voice. "Mr. Betelich, the market is doing well right now. The Dow Jones Index is already back up to 900 points, and many analysts are optimistic about the next few months. Why would you want to buy put options?"

"Because I have a different opinion," Werner said, his tone calm. "I believe the market will fall."

"Fall?" Rosenberg laughed, but the smile was a bit forced. "Mr. Betelich, with all due respect, Nixon just ended the Vietnam War, and the economy is starting to recover. I don’t see any reason—"

"Mr. Rosenberg," Werner interrupted him, "I don’t need you to agree with my judgment. I just need you to execute the trades for me."

Rosenberg was taken aback for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Alright, the customer is always right." He took out a form. "How much are you looking to invest?"

"One million US Dollars," Werner said. "Half a million of that to buy put options on the Dow Jones Index with a strike price of 900, expiring next March. The other half a million to buy Gold futures."

Rosenberg’s pen froze in mid-air. He looked up, staring at Werner, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

"One million US Dollars?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Betelich," Rosenberg put down his pen, his voice turning serious. "That’s not a small sum of money. I must remind you that options are a high-risk investment. If the market doesn’t move in the direction you expect, you will lose your entire principal."

"I’m aware of the risks," Werner said. "Mr. Rosenberg, this isn’t my first time investing."

Rosenberg stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

"Alright." He picked up his pen again. "Do you have proof of funds?"

Werner took a document from the Swiss Bank out of his briefcase.

"This is my proof of assets. The money is ready and can be transferred within three days."

Rosenberg took the document, glanced at it, and nodded.

"The funds are in order." He started filling out the form. "Will the account be opened under your personal name?"

Werner shook his head.

"No. Under a shell company. Can you handle that for me?"

Rosenberg looked up, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

"Of course," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "I have some partners in the Cayman Islands who can help you register a company. The nominal shareholders of the company will be our agents, but the actual control will be in your hands. It’s more... discreet that way."

"Excellent," Werner said. "Let’s do that. What are the fees?"

"Registration fees, agent fees, management fees..." Rosenberg calculated. "About ten thousand US Dollars in total."

"No problem. Deduct it from my account."

Rosenberg nodded and continued filling out the form. He wrote slowly and carefully, glancing up at Werner from time to time.

After a long moment, he suddenly stopped writing.

"Mr. Betelich," he said, "I’ve been in this business for twenty years and have seen all kinds of clients. But someone like you..." He paused. "So determined to short the market, and with such a large investment... this is a first for me."

Werner didn’t speak, just looked at him.

"You must know something," Rosenberg said, his voice even lower. "Some kind of... information that ordinary people don’t have."

Werner was silent for a moment.

"Mr. Rosenberg," he finally said, "some questions are better left unasked."

Rosenberg stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

"I understand." He lowered his head again and continued filling out the form.

Another ten minutes or so passed, and all the paperwork was finally completed. Werner signed the contract.

"There." Rosenberg stood up and shook Werner’s hand. "Mr. Betelich, the account will be opened within three days. I’ll notify you when it’s ready. Once you transfer the money, we can begin operations."

"Excellent," Werner said. "Mr. Rosenberg, I hope this partnership will be profitable for both of us."

Rosenberg gave a wry smile.

"Let’s hope so," he said. "But Mr. Betelich, with all due respect, if you’re wrong..."

"I won’t be," Werner’s tone was firm.

Rosenberg looked at him for a few more seconds, then sighed.

"Alright," he said. "Then I wish you the best of luck."

Werner picked up his briefcase and turned toward the door.

"Mr. Rosenberg," he said, looking back, "remember, this transaction is to be kept strictly confidential."

"Of course." Rosenberg pushed up his glasses. "Mr. Betelich, confidentiality is a fundamental rule of our business."

Werner nodded, pushed open the door, and walked out.

************

By the time he walked out of the building, night had completely fallen over London.

The streets were brightly lit, and pedestrians still thronged the sidewalks. Werner stood by the roadside, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

’Everything is in place.’

’The oil contract will make money for Koko, and a handsome commission for myself.’

’The put options and Gold are purely my own private investment, unrelated to Koko.’

’A two-pronged approach.’

’If everything goes smoothly, this coming oil crisis will make me a truly wealthy man.’

Werner exhaled a puff of smoke, watching it dissipate into the night.

’October 6th.’

’Ten days to go.’

’In ten days, war will break out, oil prices will skyrocket, and the global stock market will crash.’

’And I will be standing at the center of the storm, reaping the enormous fortune this crisis will bring.’

Werner extinguished his cigarette and hailed a taxi.

"Back to the hotel," he told the driver.

The car drove into the London night, the glow of neon lights flickering across the windows.

Werner leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

’The gamble has begun.’

’Now, all I have to do is wait.’

’Wait for history to unfold along the path I remember.’

’Wait for that world-changing day: October 6th.’

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