Chapter 501: A Payoff

[Chapter 565: A Payoff]

In July 1996, with an exchange rate of 2,342 Indonesian rupiah to one US dollar, Arthur seized the opportunity to offload over 20 trillion rupiah as instability gripped Indonesia. This prompted other hedge funds to similarly ditch the rupiah for dollars, leading to a depreciation of over 60% in just a month, with the exchange rate plunging to 3,796!

In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, at the U.S. Embassy, Arthur stood on the rooftop, gazing through binoculars at the march of students and citizens in the distance. He spotted soldiers firing rubber bullets and tear gas at the marching crowd.

"Those troops are commanded by Wiranto, the head of the Jakarta military district and Suharto's confidant, the top military official in Indonesia right now," explained Victor Rudy, the CIA station chief for Southeast Asia, who was standing nearby.

"Currently, he controls the best-equipped and largest military force in Indonesia. With Prabowo Subianto dead, no one near Jakarta can challenge him."

Arthur smirked. "Is he your chosen target for defection?"

Victor nodded. "A military coup, nothing unusual, but it seems he hasn't made up his mind yet."

"We can't wait any longer, give Wiranto a final ultimatum tonight. Tell him to quickly place Suharto under soft arrest and deal with his other confidants. We need to wrap things up swiftly with Suharto's three sons and two daughters."

After all, Suharto's second daughter had been killed in the explosion alongside Prabowo Subianto.

Upon mentioning this, Victor's eyes lit up. "Arthur, many departments are working together on this. Everyone's keeping an eye on Suharto's family assets."

Arthur turned and smiled. "The CIA's share is guaranteed, along with the Defense Department, and those capital sharks behind the congressmen also want a piece. What we Western Oil want is nothing but the oil extraction rights in Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi; the others can split what's left."

Victor nodded but couldn't help but scoff privately. They only wanted Java's oil? The financial collapse in Indonesia was merely a matter of time. When the IMF stepped in with aid, who would end up controlling the Indonesian finances? The aid's precondition was that Suharto must step down!

Victor couldn't even imagine how much wealth this financial titan Arthur could siphon from Indonesia.

...

Three days later, on a private island in the Komodo Islands in northern Bali...

In a room at the Seraphim base, Arthur sat in a chair smoking a cigarette when Mary Krause rushed in, anxious. "Sir, Wiranto has arrested President Suharto on charges of corruption and crimes against humanity!"

Then she turned on the radio. Indeed, it was Wiranto himself making a national address from Jakarta -- he was not only filing charges against Suharto to reclaim state assets but also dismissing him as president, appointing Vice President Habibie as interim president!

Arthur waved his hand dismissively. "What about Suharto's three sons?"

Arthur was not concerned about Indonesia anymore; the CIA had cleared out several of Suharto's confidants, and that fellow was unlikely to mount a comeback. Now, Arthur was solely focused on determining how much cash Suharto's three sons had managed to move offshore.

Mary frowned. "Karl is leading the team himself. Do you think they ran into trouble?"

An hour later, Mary received a call. "Sir, they've just arrived in Surabaya!"

"Let's go," Arthur said, standing up. Once they were in Surabaya, he'd be able to take it from there. The remaining team boarded a boat headed for Surabaya.

...

In the dead of night, Arthur met Suharto's three sons in a warehouse by the beach in Surabaya. Two of them were injured, and one was unscathed.

"They had someone escorting them out; we had a small skirmish," Karl Anderson explained.

Arthur nodded. "We don't have much time. Let's quickly interrogate them about their overseas assets, especially the cash in Swiss banks."

"Got it," Karl replied.

Moments later, blood-curdling screams echoed through the room as Mary rushed back in. "Sir, Victor's coming with his men!"

"Damn it, those bastards, coming to steal my pie," Arthur said, exasperated. "Fine, they've probably been keeping tabs anyway. Let's let them handle the cleanup."

Before long, Victor Rudy strutted confidently in front of Arthur. "Your mercenaries are quite impressive; their individual weapons are quite luxurious."

"Alright, let's check it out," Arthur replied, pulling Victor toward the adjoining interrogation room.

"Have they talked yet?" Arthur asked, glancing at the three men bound to the chairs.

Karl shook his head. "They say only their father knows."

Arthur sighed and stepped closer. The three men were bloodied and full of fear, pleading, "Let us go; our bank accounts are frozen, and we have nearly $300 million in assets at home we can offer you."

"What about your overseas assets?" Arthur asked softly, while he picked up a knife.

"We own several villas and castles in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland," one of them responded.

"Is that all?" Arthur asked with a smile.

"Uh, that's it."

"Thud," Arthur sank the knife into the man's jaw.

"Thud," and he was gone.

"Ahh, ahh, ahhh!" The other two were horrified, shaking in terror from the sudden act. Arthur's swift action stunned the two brothers and even made Victor wince.

Arthur pulled out the knife and looked at the other two. "How about you? A significant part of the international aid funds to Indonesia went into your family's accounts... so let's not waste time. It's time to buy your lives; otherwise, keeping that money will only bring your family suffering."

"3256..." The older son, unable to take it any longer, revealed a bank account and password. "That's a Swiss bank account, untraceable, with $3.5 billion in cash. It can be withdrawn at any time..."

"Whoa," Victor breathed out deeply.

Arthur glanced at Mary; it was daytime on that side.

Mary quickly took a satellite phone and left, coming back shortly after to nod at Arthur.

"Sigh," Arthur dropped the knife, and someone immediately picked it up for cleanup.

"Victor, the Suharto family's overseas assets won't be less than $15 billion; what's left is up to the government," Arthur chuckled.

"I'll take $2 billion from this $3.5 billion; the CIA can have $1.5 billion. Sound good?"

Victor nodded eagerly, "Of course! I'll arrange for my people to help you get them out. I'll take care of things here. When you have arms contracts, I'll send them directly to Seraphim!"

Arthur smirked. "Suharto's the big fish, but it's a shame I spent $90 million to bribe the local officials this time. I've also put in over $1 billion shorting the Indonesian rupiah -- this is hard work!"

Victor's lips twitched. Shorting the rupiah probably made over $200 million, right? Now he had $2 billion on hand; while it wasn't easy money, he believed Arthur would manage to secure it.

Though the CIA got $1.5 billion, it won't be much once it reaches their hands, huh?

He understood -- this was Arthur's payoff. He was indeed generous; the CIA liked this kind of person!

*****

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