This was a magnificent ballroom.
Dazzling chandeliers cast bright, soft golden light. A row of large gothic arched windows stood like black mirrors, reflecting the figures who had already entered the hall.
The walls were exquisitely and lavishly decorated. Crystal goblets filled the white-clothed tables, while waiters in white gloves carried trays through the crowd.
This was a glimpse of the highest echelon of this country.
Men who held wealth and power discussed land and oil over champagne, while elegant noblewomen and socialites in Evening Dresses chatted and laughed with one another. Everyone was pursuing what they wanted.
Networking, exchanges of interest, concessions of capital—countless undercurrents intertwined and flowed beneath this premier arena of fame and fortune.
In one corner of the hall beside the host's stage, a small band played a soothing piece, masking some of the low murmur of conversation.
As most of the guests arrived, the ballroom's "hierarchy" gradually became clear.
At the very center stood those closest to the host's stage. Some were presidents of airlines, some controlling shareholders in major conglomerates, and some the hidden bosses behind transoceanic businesses.
These people, who often appeared in financial news, chatted in small groups with relaxed expressions and postures. Every so often, they turned their eyes and conversation toward a nearby figure who deserved serious attention, considering whether to go over and exchange a few words later.
The middle tier consisted of elite professionals who, while unable to compare with those top tycoons, had achieved considerable success in their respective industries. Yet compared with the effortless composure of those in the tier above—
they carried an all-out determination not to miss any opportunity. Circles of varying sizes formed through personal connections, making this the most active area for conversation in the hall.
The instincts of capitalists told them