The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 82
“Biddle Group has implicated numerous parties. Senator Thomas has already been approved for subpoena by the state court...”
“Many firms across the state are involved in this shocking cross-border tax-evasion scandal, with far-reaching consequences...”
“So far, eleven firms are under investigation by the Federation FBI, the IRS, the Federation Security Committee, and other agencies because of ‘Biddle Group.’ Operations have been temporarily suspended, and workers have held marches demanding that the investigation end as soon as possible so they can return to work...”
Whether in the newspapers or on television, news about Biddle Group’s tax-evasion scandal had gradually begun to increase recently.
This was, in fact, a very clear storm warning. First, voices came through certain channels, making the public realize that many things might change in the short term. That way, when the storm truly arrived, everyone would not appear completely caught off guard.
Perhaps people would even tell those around them, “I fucking knew this day would come,” to show off their foresight. At the same time, it was also a reminder to certain people: those who should report should report, and those who should run had better run.
In other words, the people above Biddle Group could no longer take care of this “little brother.” Its backers might already have abandoned it, or been dragged down by it. The battle at the senior leadership level had already ended. That was the reason. They could not wait any longer. Nothing would change.
“What do you think?” Mr. Fox Jr., sitting off to one side, was also reading the newspaper. Recently, he had developed the good habit of reading newspapers. He had learned it from William.
Much of the time, William would take time to read the papers. Newspapers were still the mainstream news channel in today’s world, at least within the Federation. Even television found it difficult to steadily suppress traditional print media in terms of news mediums and channels.
Quite a few people believed that within the next ten years, television would eventually replace traditional print media and become an important way for people to obtain news and information. They were too optimistic. This would actually continue for a long time, all the way until the birth of small portable technological products that could be carried around. Only then would print media be replaced.
Before that, television could never achieve the portability of print media.
You could take a newspaper out of your briefcase while riding in a car and use it to pass the time.
You could casually pick up a newspaper while waiting for something and kill a little time.
You could even read a newspaper in the bathroom while enjoying the relief of clearing yourself out, using it to ignore the peculiar smell in the space. Sometimes, after the newspaper was finished, it could serve another purpose too. Of course, if you did that, you had to wash your ass a little more carefully afterward, because the ink would stain it.
Television could not do that. People could not carry a television weighing several dozen pounds to and from work. The reason traditional print media had not been replaced by television lay in convenience.
Just like now. William could casually pick up a newspaper and find the content he liked to read, enjoying this brief reading time. But he could not carry a television in his arms and make it obey his will by broadcasting whatever he liked.
During his time in contact with William, Mr. Fox Jr. had changed some of his views. For example, people mixed in with society’s rank and file were not necessarily all brainless.
He had thought that way before. Now, he no longer dared think that way. William was not only smarter than him, but smarter than Mr. Fox Sr.
William casually put the newspaper down and shook his head. “I lack supporting evidence, so I won’t comment on or discuss these things.”
In truth, he had it. He simply did not want to say it. Without exception, the companies implicated by Biddle were all joint-venture firms. Combined with William’s thorough study during this period and his deepening understanding of this world, he had already realized where the problem lay.
But there was no need to tell Mr. Fox Jr. these things, and even less need for Mr. Fox Sr. to understand them. It had nothing to do with their lives. There was no need to trouble them over it.
William’s words carried a trace of unwillingness to continue discussing the subject, and Mr. Fox Jr. quickly shifted topics. “Recently, Father and I have been discussing something. We plan to invest in some other industries at the appropriate time. Legal industries. What do you think?”