Chapter 163: Selling Bonds
This was the peak of Nathan Kirk’s career. As a banker, he could make vast sums of US dollars with ease.
He even liked to boast that money, to him, was nothing more than numbers on a page.
Of course, he had no way of knowing that seven years later, he would become a wanted man for economic crimes, forced to flee to the very Western region he now despised. In the end, he would be captured by John and Sadie and taken in for the bounty.
At thirty-eight, Nathan Kirk’s hair was already thinning. Seven years later, he would be completely bald.
For now, at least, he hadn’t grown heavier—his build still looked normal enough, not yet the round-bellied, shiny-headed man he would eventually become.
“Carritt, my brother—it’s been ages since I last saw you. Looks like life in Valentine has treated you well.”
“You’ve put on quite a bit of weight since I remember you. Maybe it’s time you thought about shedding some.”
Inside the mansion at Land Farm, Davey had invited Carritt, the manager of the Valentine Bank, since he was the go-between for the deal.
After witnessing Davey’s wealth and influence—especially the large number of armed guards—Nathan’s tone naturally became more polite.
He still enjoyed teasing his cousin, but now wasn’t the time; after all, Carritt had introduced him to a major client.
“It’s rare to hear you speak like a normal person, Nathan,” Carritt said.
“But our family talk can wait. We should discuss Mr. Land’s business first.”
Carritt clearly knew who the real focus of the meeting was.
Hearing this, Nathan politely said,
“Forgive my forwardness, Mr. Land, but I should first examine the bearer bonds myself. Only then can I confirm their value—and whether it matches what my brother told me.”
Davey gave Hosea a quick look, and Hosea pulled the bonds from his bag, laying them neatly on the table.
Nathan stepped over and inspected them carefully. After reading through everything, he nodded in satisfaction.
“Yes—these are indeed the bearer bonds issued by the Cornwall Corporation. Quite the find. Worth the trip, without a doubt.”
“Since my brother introduced you, I’ll be frank. On the market, they’re worth somewhere between twenty and thirty thousand dollars. Not a small amount.”
“However, their notoriety has spread widely. Many people have learned about them from newspaper reports—so the practical market price will be a bit lower.”
Hosea frowned at that.
“Mr. Kirk, isn’t that valuation too low? The face value is eighty thousand dollars. Surely they could fetch much more?”
To Hosea, it sounded like Nathan was deliberately pushing the price down. From eighty thousand to twenty or thirty thousand—it was a huge cut.
Nathan replied,
“Oh no, sir. I believe you may not fully understand what bonds represent.”
“Their worth doesn’t match the printed amount. This is how capital works. Many companies in the East issue bonds to maintain liquidity.”
“First, note their twenty-year term. That means you’ll wait twenty years from the issuance date to receive the principal. But twenty years from now, eighty thousand dollars won’t be worth eighty thousand anymore—we must account for inflation.”
“Yes, they pay interest over time, but consider this: with that much money, wouldn’t investing in other ventures earn more?”
“Generally, bonds trade for about half their face value. And we must account for the operational risks of the Cornwall Corporation. If they go bankrupt within those twenty years, the bonds become nearly worthless.”
“And most importantly—these bonds carry no government guarantee.”
Hosea could not fully grasp the logic behind Nathan’s explanation; these were the dealings of capital he wasn’t accustomed to.
“Very well, Mr. Kirk,” Hosea said, getting straight to the point. “How many dollars are you willing to pay for them?”
Davey continued sipping his milk tea, showing no intention of getting involved in the negotiation.
Nathan didn’t answer right away. He glanced at his brother Carritt, then at Davey.
Seeing Davey quietly focused on his drink, Nathan felt confident enough to commit.
“Eight thousand dollars, sir. That is the highest price I can offer. And I doubt anyone else can beat it.”
“They’re far too recognizable. Anyone can tell at a glance that these are the bonds taken in the robbery.”
“And for me to move them, I’ll face many complications—and owe a few favors besides. So eight thousand dollars is a reasonable price.”
Hearing this number, Hosea was actually quite satisfied. Before now, not only had buyers been scarce, but the offers were pitifully low. And in this Western region, few were willing to risk offending Cornwall at all.
Perhaps the buyers Hosea approached simply lacked proper channels. If he sold to black market dealers, the bonds would likely pass through multiple hands—only to end up with bankers like Nathan anyway.
“Alright, Mr. Kirk,” Hosea said. “I accept your price.”
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