New York, Delmonico's Restaurant.
In the late autumn of 1863, it was a crossroads of power.
Exquisite French crystal chandeliers cast bright yet soft gaslight, and thick Persian carpets absorbed all the street noise from downstairs.
The air was filled with a blend of roasted veal, aged Bordeaux wine, and expensive Cuban cigars.
Tonight, the most private King's private room on the third floor of the restaurant had been reserved by Oliver Ames, Chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
The main guests of the dinner arrived one after another.
Henry Ashworth of Barings Bank in London, Emile Leroy of the Rothschild family in Paris, and Van der Berg of Hope & Co. in Amsterdam—these three bankers, representing ancient European capital, were the first to arrive.
Their expressions held a polite detachment and a hint of ill-concealed confusion.
Chairman Ames's sudden gathering and his astonishing joint statement with Felix Argyle had disrupted all their expectations.
John Pierpont Morgan also arrived.
He was still impeccably dressed in a black suit, composed, as if he were the true host of the evening.
Upon entering the room, he shook hands with the three European representatives, conversing in fluent French and German, seemingly unaffected by the rumors circulating outside.
"John," Mr. Ashworth whispered, "What exactly is Chairman Ames up to? Did he really team up with that Argyle?"
"Henry, calm down."
Morgan smiled, pouring himself a glass of sherry.
"This is just a temporary public relations strategy. Two frightened businessmen huddling together for warmth. Tonight, they will realize they still need me, need us, to pay for their future."
Just then, the door opened.
Chairman Oliver Ames walked in, accompanied by another person.
Felix Argyle.
Morgan's pupils contracted for less than a tenth of a second in that instant, but quickly returned to normal.
He looked at Felix, even showing a warm smile on his face.
"Mr. Argyle."
Ames actively played the role of host.
"Thank you for honoring us with your presence. Come, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Ashworth of Barings Bank, Mr. Leroy of the Rothschild family, and Mr. Van der Berg of Hope & Co."
"Gentlemen."
Felix's demeanor was equally impeccable; he shook hands with the three European bankers one by one.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I've always admired the excellent reputation your families have established in the European financial world."
"Mr. Argyle, I've heard much about you."
Ashworth carefully scrutinized the young man before him. Was this the legendary figure who massacred rioters with machine guns in Nebraska and had a director assassinated on the streets of New York? He seemed... too calm.
"John." Ames finally looked at Morgan, "You've arrived too, excellent. We are all gathered here tonight precisely to clarify some unnecessary misunderstandings."
The dinner began.
The atmosphere was filled with subtle tension from the start.
Waiters moved quietly, serving exquisite dishes.
Chairman Ames diligently tried to liven the mood, discussing the grand prospects of railway construction and the latest war situation.
The European bankers politely agreed, but the questions they truly cared about were never brought to the table.
Finally, when the main course was cleared and cigars and brandy were brought out, Mr. Ashworth of London put down his knife and fork.
He broke the false harmony.
"Chairman Ames. We have come across the Atlantic at Mr. Morgan's invitation to discuss the underwriting of Union Pacific Railroad Company bonds in Europe. We initially saw a highly promising investment project."
"However," his gaze swept over Felix, "the unfortunate death of Director Crane, and the… perplexing conflict and reconciliation between your company and the Argyle Group. All of this has raised serious doubts about the stability of this investment."
"Exactly."
Leroy of Paris echoed, "Mr. Ames, Mr. Argyle. Are you two enemies or friends now? Everyone present needs a clear answer."
Here it comes.
Felix put down his wine glass.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Morgan's face. This was his chance to regain the initiative.
"Mr. Leroy." Chairman Ames was about to speak, using his pre-prepared explanation.
"Chairman Ames," Felix interrupted him with a smile, "Perhaps I should answer this question."
All eyes instantly focused on Felix.
Felix's gaze fell on Morgan's face.
"Gentlemen, the conflicts you've seen, the rumors you've heard, and Mr. Crane's misfortune. None of it was accidental. They... are all part of a meticulously planned conspiracy."
"Conspiracy?"
Ashworth's brows furrowed.
"Yes." Felix nodded, "A financial conspiracy, attempting to deliberately suppress the stock price of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and simultaneously frame me, in order to acquire assets cheaply from the ruins, through maliciously creating conflict, assassinating directors, and spreading lies."
Morgan's hand, holding the wine glass, paused in mid-air. The smile on his face didn't change, but his eyes instantly turned exceptionally cold.
"Mr. Argyle," Morgan's voice held a hint of sarcasm, "Your story is very compelling. But... where is the evidence?"
"I was just getting to that, Mr. Morgan." Felix smiled.
He gestured to Frost, who had been standing quietly in the shadows behind the door.
Frost stepped forward and placed a thin brown paper envelope in the center of the dining table.
"Everyone here is a top expert in the financial world." Felix said, "I imagine you are more accustomed to reading ledgers and confessions."
He took out the first document.
"This is the handwritten confession of Mr. Benson, John Crane's secretary."
"He admitted to receiving a bribe from someone named Sol, tasked with monitoring all of Mr. Crane's movements. And on that day, he tried his best to persuade Mr. Crane to come and meet me."
"And this Mr. Sol..."
Felix then picked up the second document.
"This is the sworn testimony of Timothy Finn, a New York customs clerk. Mr. Finn personally witnessed this Mr. Sol secretly escorting the wife and children of the assassin, Seamus O'Malley, onto a mail ship bound for Liverpool in a carriage."
"As for that carriage..."
Felix paused, looking directly at Morgan.
"...It is registered in your name, Mr. Morgan."
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
The breathing of the three European bankers instantly quickened. They looked at Morgan in disbelief.
"Absurd." Morgan's voice turned hoarse, "This is... this is a forgery. It's a frame..."
"A forgery?"
Felix interrupted him, taking out the third document.
"Then is this bank transfer record from Greenwich Village Trust also a forgery? Martin Slavin, the editor-in-chief of The World newspaper, received an anonymous deposit of five thousand dollars two days before publishing those malicious rumors slandering Miss O'Brien. And the source of this money... also came from a private trust account under your name."
"Finally, there's one more thing."
Felix placed the cipher book and ledger he had brought back from Omaha heavily on the table.
"These were found in Durant's safe. They not only record how he and Crane plotted to harm my employees, but also record that Crane explicitly mentioned in one telegram that everything was being done according to Mr. Morgan's proposal."
A series of evidence, like heavy hammers, struck blow after blow, shattering Morgan's perfectly disguised facade.
Henry Ashworth, Emile Leroy, and Van der Berg, the three European bankers, their faces had changed from initial shock to a rage born of being deceived and fooled.
They were not angry at how sinister Morgan's methods were.
But they were angry that... Morgan had failed.
Not only failed, but also handled things so clumsily, leaving so many fatal weaknesses.
He was even foolish enough to use them, the top financial institutions in Europe, as chips in his illegal, high-risk, and ultimately disastrous gamble.
"John."
Ashworth's voice was as cold as London's winter fog.
"Does your father... know about these things you've done?"
Morgan did not answer. He just sat there, looking unwell, and for the first time, panic appeared in his confident grey eyes.
He knew he was finished.
At least in the eyes of European capital, his credibility was utterly bankrupt at this moment.
Felix Argyle slowly stood up.
He didn't look at Morgan again, but turned to the three European bankers.
"Gentlemen."
His voice returned to the gentle tone of a businessman.
"Now, all misunderstandings have been clarified."
"As Chairman Ames said, our two companies are not enemies, but will be the most solid 'strategic partners' in the future."
"As for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, that bond issuance in Europe..."
He glanced at Chairman Ames.
Ames immediately understood and took over, his voice booming:
"Given Mr. Morgan's serious credibility flaws, the Union Pacific Board of Directors will immediately terminate all cooperation with Duncan, Sherman & Co. on this project."
Ames looked at the three European representatives.
"However, railway construction cannot stop. We still need the support of our European friends. Therefore, we have decided to join with Argyle Empire Bank to jointly resubmit to you a... safer and more valuable financing proposal."
Felix looked at the three European bankers, whose interest had rekindled in their eyes, and showed a victorious smile.
This war, meticulously planned by Morgan to destroy him, ultimately... became his own stepping stone to open the door to European capital.
'Thank you...Mr Morgan...'