Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 88: The Pendulum (2)

In honesty, Ryan Anders had never cared about Bitcoin.

Not in the way tech evangelists spoke of it, with their half-mad sermons about decentralization and the downfall of fiat currency.

Not in the way degenerate gamblers pumped their life savings into it, praying for a miracle.

Not even in the way of common slight interest, maybe to even check it out, to decide for himself.

All of it to him — Ryan Anders — wasn't a revolution. It was a symptom.

A symptom of desperation. Of fools believing they could outsmart the system rather than learn to control it.

The creation of Bitcoin and the idea of cryptocurrency was simply drawn out of laziness. Those who involved themselves with it, were terrified of capital investments, investment in infrastructure, goods, physical commodities.

"What even is it?" Ryan asked. "Just numbers on a screen. You can't touch it, you can't see it. Real wealth is something you can hold in your hand, like land or gold."

"It's a gamble, not an investment. Up one day, down the next. How can you build anything lasting on such shaky ground? Real investments are stable and provide consistent growth, like well-managed property"

Here, he was highlighting the price swings and contrasting them with the perceived steadiness of physical assets.

Darren intrinsically agreed that this criticism of Bitcoin was true, but he didn't have to worry about that because the price swings were all laid before him like the answers to a deadly math quiz.

However, he also knew what was going on here. Ryan Anders was outspokenly being critical about Bitcoin so that Darren — who he suspects to be FuglyDuckling — would instinctively become defensive.

This would even prove more that he was most likely the man they were looking for.

Darren agreed. Ryan Anders was a man of cunning, a man who knew how to understand, gauge and even manipulate people's emotions and actions.

But this wasn't a trap that Darren was easily going to fall to.

Not with the Investor System by his side, giving him every single hidden emotion Ryan expressed towards Darren.

┏This person is being calculative towards you┛

┏This person is watching your every move┛

Darren found it slightly amusing. Ryan Anders was trying to figure out Darren's emotions and actions, while the system simply submitted his to Darren.

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Humorous indeed.

When Ryan finished with, "True wealth is about building something physical, don't you agree? Creating jobs, contributing to the real economy. These digital schemes don't produce anything of substance."

Darren leaned in, face as indifferent as a closed book. "I don't know what you want me to say really, Mr. Anders. I haven't put much thought into crypto of recent if I'm being honest to you. I used to really be intrigued by the idea of it. But I've seen too many collapses in the first year of its release to view it as anything other than untrusting."

Ryan smiled, taking another sip of the wine. "I agree."

Darren pursed his lips and sat back. Silence reigned for a while.

"I am curious though," Darren began. "I was called here to talk about cryptocurrency? Is that something your company wants to consider? I'm confused because you seem to be opposed to it..."

Ryan didn't answer. He subtly agreed that this boy was good, keeping his words and emotions in check. However, he continued to attempt establishing control, letting the room absorb his words.

"I don't care for crypto. MWMO doesn't deal in speculation, we deal in reality. Assets, commodities, tangible value. But what I do care about is why a ghost — a figure so elusive even the best in the industry can't pinpoint him — has decided to pour so much of his wealth into it."

Ryan steepled his fingers, his gaze sharp. "FuglyDuckling. A comical name, let us be honest. But I guess there's some enigma in the comicality of it. Tell me, Mr. Steele… why is FuglyDuckling so interested in crypto?"

Darren didn't flinch. He barely even blinked. He slowly turned his neck to Amelia who immediately looked away, and then to Ryan. "FuglyDuckling? I mean I've heard of the name. They bought over a million dollars in Bitcoin early this month. Got a notification."

He narrowed his eyes. "Why would I know anything about it?"

"Let's not waste time," Ryan said with an enamored smile. "I know you're FuglyDuckling."

A slow blink.

Darren tilted his head, considering. "That's one hell of a thing to say, Mr. Anders. Should I be flattered or insulted?"

Ryan ignored the feigned amusement. He leaned forward slightly. "A boy like you. A millionaire in only a month. From working as an intern to driving a car with only 76 other copies in the world. This isn't fiction, Mr. Steele."

Darren squinted his eyes."I don't think Bitcoin could make me enough money to buy a car."

That was true.

Anders pushed further. "You are a genius, aren't you? Hiding. I can tell. You're even hiding right now. This isn't the real you. This isn't Darren Steele, the intern, the millionaire, the mystery investor. This is a persona you've conjured up for this very meeting, isn't it?"

"I mean, you're right about the first part. I'm neither of those things. I'm Darren Steele, the owner of a startup company which I thought would be the subject matter of this conversation. Turns out I was wrong."

Darren shrugged.

Anders chuckled. 'He really is good, but it's time to make him know how we know. Let's see how he'll wiggle out of this.'

"FuglyDuckling has made two major Bitcoin purchases, one which we managed to trace back to a residential area. Malegreen Street," Anders grinned a gotcha grin. "Tell me, Mr. Steele, do you happen to live at Malegreen Street?"

There was a silence that lasted for a short period. Both men were just looking at each other.

Ryan pressed on. "I hired a talented hacker, so I don't think you can deny it. I also found out a bit about you, my dear subject. You, Darren—" his voice dropped just a fraction, a calculated move, "—you were a crypto enthusiast back in college. I have spoken to many of your colleagues back then and they all seem to cosign that."

Darren exhaled through his nose. "First of all. A hacker. Really? You trust the word of a hacker?"

Ryan's smile didn't falter. "I trust proof."