Blackstone Code

At nine o'clock in the morning, a large number of reporters gathered outside a certain provisional government department building.

The relevant work of the antitrust investigation is carried out here. The person responsible for the monopoly investigation of Fortune Bank will announce the results of the first phase of the investigation this morning.

This attracted a large number of reporters, and even some TV stations opened live broadcasts.

As the Flight Research Institute continues to send satellites into the sky, satellite broadcast technology has become more and more mature. As long as you are within the coverage of satellite signals, you can receive live signals with almost no delay.

Many people, including those in shelters, are watching this live broadcast because it is related to people’s lives.

Once Fortune Bank is really suspected of industry monopoly, it means that it will be involved in lengthy antitrust litigation in the next few years.

Eventually, some depositors may suffer losses due to the split of the business.

If the investigation team believes that the monopoly behavior is really established, then some of them may consider temporarily withdrawing the money stored in it.

At 9:41, the chief responsible for this antitrust investigation appeared in front of the camera.

He wore decent but inexpensive clothes and looked very incorruptible.

His expression was very serious, even when greeting the media and the people who came to hear the results, he also acted very serious, even a little indifferent.

But no one cared about his attitude, they just wanted to know the results of the investigation during this period.

"The cause of the matter was that we received a material used to report Wealth Bank's alleged industry monopoly. After discussions between the President and Congress, we finally decided to open a case for investigation."

"In the first phase of investigation and evidence collection, our main work content is to verify from multiple aspects that the witnesses, physical evidence, and related specific individuals or things in the reporting materials are real."

"So we did a lot of work. After nearly two weeks of investigation, we visited more than a dozen cities and dispatched more than 5,000 staff."

"Ultimately, we believe that the report on Wealth Bank's alleged industry monopoly..."

The shutters of all the cameras began to open and close crazily, and the camera lens also zoomed in so that his face almost filled the entire frame.

The reporters also excitedly held pens against their notebooks, waiting for him to record everything he said after he spoke.

Time passed very slowly, but very quickly. The officer did not delay for too long. He raised his head and looked straight ahead, "Not established!"

The entire scene boiled like a boiler. Many reporters left their original positions, wanting to get closer to ask questions they cared about.

Those flashes were about to blind people's eyes, and people who had not adapted to it closed their eyes.

After a while, the officer put on his sunglasses and the situation was under certain control.

But it was only a certain amount of control, and many people tried to ask loudly.

"If you cannot remain quiet, this ends today."

This sentence was very lethal, and the scene immediately fell silent.

The chief also nodded with great satisfaction, "The reason for not filing the case is that we found a large amount of fictitious evidence and witnesses during the review of the content of the reporting materials."

"These non-existent witnesses, testimonies, and evidence constitute 90 percent of the reporting materials."

"We found about 10 percent of the witnesses, testimony, or evidence that existed, but some of those witnesses and evidence were not legally valid."

"Or there may be some kind of hateful and hostile relationship between these witnesses and Fortune Bank, so that they and their testimony cannot be used as a criterion to promote whether to file a case."

"After discussion at our internal meeting, we finally sent it to the Presidential Palace, which agreed with our conclusion that we would not file the case."

"Next, I will answer some of your concerns, but I hope you can ask them in an orderly manner. If you continue to make a scene, I will leave directly."

"So..." He randomly selected a reporter from Blackstone TV, "Mr., you are lucky to have the first opportunity to ask questions."

Some people looked at the reporter from Blackstone TV and thought that there might be something going on here, but others felt that this just showed that there was nothing going on.

No matter what they thought, after the reporter from Blackstone TV got the microphone, he immediately asked, "I was surprised and shocked that there would be such a result, but I also felt that this might be the truth."

"I have a few questions. First, can we go through the reporting materials?"

"Second, does this kind of report, which is almost a false accusation, require legal responsibility?"

"Third, you just said that some of the witnesses or evidence are real. What circumstances made you decide not to open the case? We hope to get more specific reasons."

These are not sharp questions, but more like a supplement to the results of the chief's investigation, but I have to say that these supplements are what everyone wants to know now.

The commander thought seriously for more than ten seconds before he began to answer.

"Great question!"

He first confirmed the importance of these questions, and then started to answer the first question.

"We can't show you the reporting materials because some of them do contain the conditions mentioned in the materials, which involves privacy issues for relevant witnesses."

"For the protection of witnesses and physical evidence, we will not disclose any content of the reported materials to anyone except the members of this working group!"

"Including the media and society, so I'm sorry that I can't agree to your first request."

"The second issue is not our responsibility. We are only responsible for whether the listed materials are true and valid, and whether we should file a case against the person being reported."

“Issues such as holding whistleblowers accountable can be held accountable by the companies involved filing lawsuits in federal court.”

"As for the outcome, since it is not within the scope of our work, I cannot make any guesses about the outcome."

"As for the last question, we did find some valid witnesses and physical evidence during the investigation. At the same time, we also learned about the specific operating conditions of Wealth Bank after it merged some of the businesses of the five major banks."

"Judging from the evidence we have so far, the savings business of the five major banks is a 'business type', and at the same time, the depositors' account numbers and the property in the account are 'private property.'"

"After the five major banks sold these private properties to Blackstone Bank, they announced the closure of their own bank businesses. Blackstone Bank did not monopolize industry resources through mergers."

"All transactions were legal and compliant, and there were full records and legal documents, so we determined that this was a transaction that complied with federal law."

"At the same time, regarding loans and other businesses, the situation is the same as the savings business. The five major banks sold bonds to Blackstone Bank and shut down their own loan businesses."

"We believe that Blackstone Bank does not constitute a monopoly. These are legitimate business practices."

"And so far, the Federation has a total of more than 170 banks. Wealth Bank is not the only bank, nor is it the only bank with savings business."

"By the same token, it's not the only bank with a lending business."

“And Blackstone Bank reorganized itself after acquiring some of the claims and customers of the five major banks.”

"The overall equity structure is reasonable and meets the requirements of relevant federal laws. Therefore, we believe that Wealth Bank does not have industry monopoly behavior."

"As for the technologies related to the Global Communication business, Mr. Lynch said that they will not apply for patents on these technologies and encourage more funds to flow into the research and development field."

"They did not use their leading technological position to exercise actual control over enterprises with backward technologies."

"At the same time, the relevant technology is not exclusive or unique."

"Based on the above, we finally determined that Wealth Bank and Global Communications did not constitute monopolistic behavior."

The scene was filled with the sound of rustling writing. It was reasonable and well-founded, and I couldn't find too many faults.

Lynch did not insist that Global Communications not authorize others to use it. In fact, from the current satellite live broadcast to the transmission of data, Lynch did not set up any access system.

It's just that the handling fees for some businesses are very high, which forces other companies to give up using Global Communication, but it is not exclusive.

Lynch did not say that he was not allowed to use other platforms or payment methods, nor did he ask customers to choose between him and others.

Even though there may be disagreements in some places, overall, Global Communication's business does not constitute a monopoly.

Seconds later, the chief selected another reporter.

As soon as the reporter stood up, he asked a very presumptuous question, "Sir, did you encounter any force majeure during your investigation?"

"For example, some kind of hint from the top of the federal government, or some hint from some big shots?"

"So much so that the final result ended in such an unexpected way!"

"I personally think that Wealth Bank and Global Communication cover so many areas. If it weren't for external interference, it would be impossible to conduct such a detailed investigation in a short period of time!"

Some people looked at this reporter like a warrior. For the sake of news and ratings, some people are really not afraid of death!

The officer's expression didn't change much, but the way he looked at the reporter was clearly dissatisfied.

"Since the Antitrust Investigation Division was established during the... period, we have defeated dozens of super monopolies that once dominated the federal economy."

"There are super plutocrats and super politicians among them, but in the end they all paid a heavy price!"

"What I want to say is that from the day the Anti-Monopoly Law was born, we have been prepared and determined to face any difficulties!"

"So we will not make way for some people. As long as someone dares to break the law, we will dare to investigate and file a case!"

"To this reporter's question, my answer is -"

"No!"