"Could it really be that just because so many people lost money in that so-called stock market,"
"the world had become like this?"
Many years had passed. No longer the taciturn boy he had been when he first arrived at the Night Society, Jiang Ran had grown composed and rational. Now, after giving it serious thought, he voiced his confusion.
Hearing his question about the scene before them, Zhu Wen gave a soft chuckle and spoke lightly:
"Little Jiang Ran, the greater an event is in this world, the more countless causes and consequences become entangled within it. It neither appears easily nor disappears easily."
"Do you remember the greatest event in the world around ten-odd years ago?"
He started walking forward again. Recalling the lessons of another elder at the Night Society, the boy followed and answered:
"The world war that happened in Europe."
"Correct."
Smiling approvingly at the younger generation, the Night Watcher gazed at the prosperous cityscape as he strolled and continued speaking in an airy tone:
"This country gained enormous benefits from that war. It sold weapons, sold food, and nearly half the world's gold flowed into this country."
"They had a great deal of money, built many factories, produced vast quantities of goods, and drove the development of every industry."
"That was why people enjoyed those unprecedented ten years of prosperity."
As he listened to the elder describe that former prosperity, the boy also recalled his last visit—the overwhelming air of opulence and extravagance that had seemed to flood in from every direction.
Then the two stopped at another intersection.
Far ahead of them stood a towering skyscraper more than four hundred meters tall.
Looking at the magnificent Empire State Building, which was nearly complete, it felt as though he could sense the prosperity of