Chapter 96 Unlimited Wealth
Chapter 96 Unlimited Wealth
While the residents of Wilkesworth were still reminiscing about the thrilling events of that night, London's major newspapers had already launched a massive campaign, with reporters who followed the story sending the dramatic tale back to their offices as quickly as possible.
They don't even need to embellish it, because the facts themselves are already bizarre and fascinating enough.
The Times reported the story on its front page with a calm and restrained tone, with the headline "Genius Writer Uncovers Trans-American Railroad Scam".
Other newspapers, however, were far less reserved.
The headlines in the Chronicle Morning Post are full of heroism.
Protecting the wallets of the British Empire's underprivileged with his pen! The legendary story of the brilliant writer Michel Leblanc!
As for Michael's London Express, it took sensationalism and gimmicks to the extreme.
Unlike other newspapers, they have exclusive reporting.
There was even an interview with Michelle, who was a participant in the experience!
They used an entire page to publish exclusive reports from the scene.
The title is simple and blunt, yet extremely impactful.
Liar! Script! And a lead plate that fell from the sky!
The newspaper's illustrators worked through the night to depict the most exciting scene of the previous night with highly expressive lines.
In the scene, the conman Vincent turns around in terror at the alley entrance as a huge lead plate stained with ink flies toward his face, with an angry crowd and raging fire in the background.
This illustration perfectly captures the essence of the entire event.
Justice, violence, and a kind of absurd black humor.
The perfect combination of visuals and text made this issue of the London Express an instant hit.
Countless people on the streets of London were captivated by this report.
A worker waiting in line at the entrance of a textile factory spent a penny to buy a newspaper.
He looked at the illustration, reading how Michel used a newspaper as a script to completely outwit the conman, and couldn't help but grin.
"Well done!" He handed the newspaper to his coworker.
"This Michelle is truly a good brother to us poor people!"
In a coffee shop in the City of London, a stockbroker puts down his coffee.
He frowned as he finished reading the London Express report, then let out a long sigh of relief.
Just last month, he almost invested in a so-called "African diamond mine" project, whose head was also a eloquent retired military officer.
Looking back now, that storyline was practically identical to Vincent LeBron's scam...
He picked up his coffee and raised his cup towards Michel's name in the newspaper.
This cup of coffee is a toast to the brilliant writer who saved his wallet!
Michelle's already high popularity has soared even further. It's safe to say that in London, someone might not know who the current prime minister is, but they will definitely know Michelle's name.
This outburst of emotion was most directly reflected in the sales of the work.
In major bookstores in London, "The Bentley Notebooks" is displayed in the most prominent positions.
"Boss! Do you still have Mr. Michel's magazine?"
"Sold out! Sold out yesterday afternoon! The new book is still on its way!"
"Would that kind of publication sell? I'm willing to pay double the price!"
Some people even collected past issues of the London Express that featured Michel's work, bound them into volumes, and sold them for a high price in no time.
In the offices of Bentley's Notebook, orders were pouring in from all over the country.
The magazine, which was already struggling to produce Sherlock Holmes stories, is now facing an even greater crisis.
Dickens was thrilled as he watched the sales figures climb.
"A miracle! This is simply a miracle in publishing history!"
"Michel isn't writing a book, he's minting gold coins!"
This overwhelming wealth came so suddenly that everyone was somewhat dizzy.
Unfortunately, Michelle didn't earn a single penny.
He had no money, so he was in the same boat as Chekhov.
He decided to be lazy for only a week, and the following week he would sit up and write...
The eye of the storm is always unusually calm.
In the small town of Wilkesworth, the LeBlanc family's social status also underwent a transformation.
Previously, people admired and flattered their family.
Many people were even jealous and envious.
So now, all that remains is the purest form of respect.
Anyone who says a bad word about the LeBron family will be met with a glare from the villagers...
The mayor personally paid a visit, carrying a basket of his own honey, to apologize for the previous misunderstanding he had about Charlie.
The church pastor also came. He expressed his shame, saying that he had been blinded by greed and almost became an accomplice to the swindlers. He then solemnly thanked the LeBlanc family for saving the soul of the entire town.
Charlie LeBlanc, the newly crowned "undercover hero," has become the most popular person in town.
Wherever he went, people would take off their hats to greet him.
His pitiful self-esteem was already overflowing with a huge sense of honor and pride.
He was no longer the failed businessman, but the father who saved the entire town.
He was extremely pleased with this identity.
Bella and Anna watched all this, their hearts filled with emotion.
In just a few months, this family seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
And the one who brought all of this to light was the young man who was sitting by the window, quietly drinking tea.
Yes.
After the matter was over, Michelle did not return to London immediately, but planned to stay at home for a few more days.
Michelle looked out the window; the town had returned to its usual tranquility, even more peaceful than before.
Even he couldn't escape being lectured by his parents at home.
What happened to being the head of the household?
"Michelle, tidy up the room, or people will laugh at us..."
Charlie and Bella always had a relative who made fun of them...
Humans are truly just repeaters...
Our family was most laughable when we were poor.
As a result, Michelle's rare holiday almost turned into Labor Day.
Although my parents' and sister's nagging was annoying, it also had a unique kind of warmth.
Just as he was enjoying this rare moment of family warmth, several newspapers delivered from London were placed in front of him.
Michael sent over all the recent newspapers about the "railway scam".
In the latest London newspapers, discussions about the "railway scam" have spread from the social news section to the economic and political pages.
A commentary published in The Spectator magazine caught Michel's attention.
The author of the article is an anonymous commentator.
In his article, he pointed out sharply that the scam in Wilkesworth was just the tip of the iceberg.
The current Company Law is riddled with loopholes, rendering the registration and supervision of joint-stock companies virtually non-existent, which has given countless fraudsters an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
The article concludes by directly questioning Parliament.
"Shouldn't we, the legislators sitting in the Palace of Westminster, feel ashamed when a writer needs a lead plate to uphold the dignity of the law?"
Michel put down the newspaper; he knew things were moving toward a deeper and more complex level.
He didn't just write a story; he punctured the festering sore of an era.
This also means that he will inevitably be drawn into an even bigger storm.
The hustle and bustle of London eventually reached this remote town.
Five days after Michelle exposed the scam, a magnificent four-wheeled carriage pulled up in front of LeBron's house.