This is my gift for reaching 75 Power Stones in a single week!
Thank you very much for continuing to support this novel!
Peace Out!
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Friday night.
At the Peninsula Hotel, in the luxury suite where Iwasaki FengLong was staying.
After dinner together, Lin BaoCheng and Iwasaki reviewed their purchases and discussed next steps.
Iwasaki began: "In options, we've taken HK$220 million worth at the HK$6 strike. The rest came mostly after the big drop, but those were smaller — about HK$140 million, average strike HK$4.2. Altogether, we've absorbed HK$360 million worth of contracts."
Lin replied: "On the stock side, since we started earlier and kept buying on dips, we now hold 48 million shares at an average cost of HK$4.1 — nearly HK$200 million invested. That's 12% of the company's total shares. Quite a lot."
"Indeed," Iwasaki nodded.
Lin continued: "Hutchison's buyback started later, so they bought fewer shares, but at lower cost. After the close, I was told Hutchison repurchased 23 million shares at HK$3.56, spending HK$82 million. Only HK$18 million remains for buybacks."
What Lin didn't mention was that Cheng YuFeng had pooled HK$100 million from other companies. By today, they had bought 26.5 million shares at HK$3.54, spending HK$94 million, with just HK$6 million left to deploy.
Iwasaki said: "So Hutchison's buyback is nearly complete. Less than HK$20 million left — with current volume, it won't take long."
Lin nodded: "Iwasaki, you brought HK$840 million but have spent under HK$600 million. That's enough. On Monday we'll buy a bit more, then announce the truth that night. The remaining funds can lift the price, preventing shorts from pressing further."
"As you say," Iwasaki agreed. He smiled: "I doubt shorts will be foolish enough to keep pressing against strong positives. Rationally, they should surrender, hedge, and cut losses."
"You're right," Lin said. "Normally, that's how it should be. Refusing to admit defeat only worsens losses."
Iwasaki asked: "Lin, how high should we push the price?"
"At least HK$15," Lin answered. "What do you think?"
"Lin, that's too conservative," Iwasaki shook his head. "I had my people study Hutchison's recent performance. Last year profits were just over HK$100 million. This year will be better. Plus, with at least HK$500 million profit from futures, that's three to four years' earnings. With hype, the stock could easily double or triple from pre‑crash levels."
Lin said: "If it rises that much, wonderful. But HK$15 is my baseline. At minimum, we must hold HK$12. Our profit mustn't be too low."
"I think that's no problem," Iwasaki replied. "The stock plunged on false bad news. Once truth is revealed, the rebound will be violent. Not just HK$15 — HK$20 or higher is possible."
Lin cautioned: "Don't forget, Hutchison has 400 million shares. At HK$20, market cap nears HK$100 billion. Before the crash, it was only HK$2.6 billion. The higher it goes, the greater the pressure. Reaching HK$20 would already be excellent."
"Then let's wait and see," Iwasaki smiled. As a banker, he knew investor psychology. Once the stock surged, hesitation would vanish, emotions would drive it higher.
Of course, such emotional rallies collapse just as violently, trapping funds at the top. Without strong fundamentals or new positives, repeated resistance at highs would push it down again.
But Iwasaki didn't care about long‑term trends. He only needed a one‑month surge to profit.
"Good. Wait and see!" Lin laughed. The higher the price, the better for him. Even without selling shares, rising value meant bigger gains and easier financing for Hutchison.
After leaving the hotel, Lin returned to his villa in Repulse Bay.
At home, he called Shen Zhou to discuss coordinated action.
They agreed: together they would push Hutchison above HK$15. Below HK$15, none would sell heavily. Above HK$15, each could decide individually. Cooperation would maximize profit.
Without such tacit agreement, if everyone dumped at once, the price would collapse immediately — hurting all.
So they pledged not to sell heavily at certain levels, keeping the uptrend intact, while each judged when to take profit.