When Mike arrived at Caroline's suburban villa, a police cordon had already been set up around its perimeter.
"Give us back our hard-earned money!!"
"Go to hell, you damn Channings!!"
"Oppose Channing Enterprise's bankruptcy, we want to live!!!"
...
With Channing Enterprise's bankruptcy, countless small and medium-sized entrepreneurs who had been swindled, unable to find the main culprit, all gathered outside the villa where Caroline was staying.
Crowds of people held up signs and protested loudly, looking so frenzied that they could storm the villa at any moment.
"Drive straight in!"
Given the extremely complicated situation outside, and to avoid provoking those who had lost all their family assets, Mike did not intend to show his face there.
So, when the car was stopped by the cordon, Mike showed his MIB identification to the cordon squad leader and smoothly drove into the villa.
The protesting crowd around did not get a clear look at Mike, only assuming he was an insider, so it did not attract much attention.
"Mr. Mike, may I ask why you're here?" The cordon squad leader escorted Mike's car all the way to the villa's parking space.
With Titanic's recent unparalleled momentum, Mike was now quite a famous person.
Of course, the cordon squad leader's enthusiasm for Mike was due to Mike's identity as a MIB.
Since the MIB began to be exposed, Mike's reputation as a new legend was actually more famous within the police system than he had imagined.
"I'm here to pick someone up; she's the eldest daughter of Channing Family." Mike stated his purpose, then generously pulled out a wad of tips and handed it to the cordon squad leader, saying, "You brothers have all worked hard. Please use this money for coffee."
"It's no hardship, this is our job!" The cordon squad leader felt the thickness of the tips, feigned a couple of refusals, and his smile became a few points more sincere, then revealed, "I heard from a friend in charge of the Channing Building's security that the situation there is even more serious. Someone has already hanged themselves at the entrance of Channing Building, and others have rushed into the building, preparing to jump from the roof..."
It must be said that the bankruptcy of Channing Family, a trillion-dollar enterprise, indeed affected many people.
The cordon squad leader's words also served as a reminder to Mike, letting him know the situation Channing Family was currently facing.
After bidding farewell to the squad leader, Mike entered the villa hall with Needy.
Caroline was currently sitting on the sofa in the villa's first-floor hall, looking in very poor spirits.
Clearly, the girl had also heard the curses from the crowd outside.
"Mike, you're finally here!"
With Mike's arrival, Caroline seemed to have found her pillar of strength and tearfully threw herself into the man's embrace.
"It's okay, everything will be fine." Listening to the girl's faint sobs, Mike gently patted her back as comfort.
After a long while, Caroline's emotions finally stabilized, and she asked for help, "Mike, can you help my dad? He's currently locked up in jail. As long as you can bail him out, our family can slowly repay the money we owe outside."
Perhaps she had been too well-protected by her father, Caroline completely misunderstood the hardships of ordinary people; her words were somewhat naive.
"Do you know how much money Mr. Channing owes? At least several hundred billion. If he's bailed out now, are you sure he won't be torn apart by the people outside?" Mike explained the current situation of Channing Family to Caroline.
"This..." Caroline's eyes widened, and she said in a daze, "Then let him stay inside."
Caroline, a graduate of economics from the University of Pennsylvania, was merely unworldly, not truly foolish.
After realizing how much money her father owed, she suddenly understood why the protesting people outside were so agitated.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to my friends at the police station to ensure Mr. Channing isn't bullied while in prison." This was the only thing Mike could do for Mr. Channing at the moment.
Due to the massive amount of illegal fundraising and economic fraud, Mr. Channing might have to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Of course, for him, this might not be a form of protection.
If he could avoid being bullied while in prison, Mr. Channing would probably prefer to stay inside.
At least he wouldn't have to worry about repaying money anymore.
"Mr. Mike, this villa will be sealed in half an hour. If you have anything unfinished, please do it as soon as possible."
Just as Mike and Caroline were talking, the cordon squad leader brought the latest notice from above.
"Okay, I understand." Mike motioned for the squad leader to leave, then said to Caroline, "Pack some of your commonly used items. We'll leave here first."
Ten minutes later, Mike watched speechlessly as Caroline carried large and small bags, piling them up in the first-floor hall.
Among them were various clothes, jewelry, handbags, cosmetics, shoes, and so on.
It was practically no different from moving house.
"Alright, Caroline. Just pick two items with sentimental value. If you really can't bear to part with this villa and the things here, I'll buy them all for you when the items are auctioned off." Seeing the girl exhausted from going up and down, Mike offered sincere advice.
Channing Enterprise declared bankruptcy due to debt, so all assets under Mr. Channing's name were confiscated. Assets like this villa and Channing Building would then be put up for auction or sold online for money.
Once these items enter the judicial auction process, their prices will be very cheap. If Mike was willing, he could completely acquire these assets.
Perhaps she was truly tired, Caroline also felt her behavior was a bit exaggerated, so she picked a pair of vintage earrings and a fur coat from the pile of items.
These two items were her mother's relic and a gift from her father on her coming-of-age day, respectively.
In short, both were of extraordinary significance.
Afterward, Mike took Caroline to the parking space, and they left together by car.
Looking at the villa being sealed in the rearview mirror, and the agitated crowd around the villa, Caroline unknowingly grew sad again.
"You've seen the situation outside. For this period, just stay at my King's Building. Once this storm passes, if you're willing, you can intern at my King Investment Group first." Mike planned the girl's future.
Given that Mr. Channing's actions were too big and he offended too many people this time, it was impossible for Caroline to enter Wall Street normally.
Apart from King Investment Group, there were probably no other enterprises willing or daring to take her in.
"No, I've already decided." Caroline said unwillingly, "I want to start my own business. I want to prove to everyone that Channing Family doesn't have a coward."
"Amazing!!!" Mike gave the girl a thumbs up.
He completely couldn't understand how the previous Channing had just started serving time, and how this Channing, who knew nothing, had such great determination.
"So, what's your startup project, and where will the capital come from?" Mike teased, "Let's be clear, I'm very willing to lend you money, at worst, you can owe a debt in return."
"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I have a few anonymous bank cards, and there should be hundreds of thousands in them. Speaking of which, I have to thank you for your previous reminders..." Caroline's face showed a hint of smugness, then she continued, "As for the startup project, I will slowly conduct on-site investigations later."
It could be said that Caroline's financial luck was quite good; she had somewhat listened to Mike's many previous reminders.
If Channing Enterprise hadn't collapsed so suddenly, the girl's anonymous accounts would probably have accumulated much more money.
"Alright, if you want to make a fuss, go ahead. At worst, I'll support you in the end—" Mike smiled and gave the girl a promise.
At this moment, he seemed to be glowing, causing Caroline next to him to experience a momentary dizziness and mystery.
But soon the girl looked away, her face red, and stubbornly said, "Don't look down on people. I'm a top student who graduated with an economics degree from Pennsylvania, I don't need you to support me."
"But, thank you anyway—"
Not knowing what she thought of, Caroline's tone suddenly softened, and she leaned against Mike like a koala.
Soon, the girl's even breathing was heard in the car.
In fact, Channing Enterprise's bankruptcy was also a huge blow to Caroline, so the girl's spirits had been tense before.
Now, leaning next to Mike, she felt a sense of security, which finally allowed her emotions to relax.
With this relaxation, the girl unconsciously fell asleep.