[Daniel’s PoV]
1 Year Later…
At just six months old, I astounded everyone by taking my first steps, much earlier than expected. Since then, I've honed my walking skills and, with some effort, I've even begun to utter words in English. However, I've chosen to keep this newfound ability a secret for now, preferring to observe and learn from the world around me without revealing my so-called linguistic prowess to anyone.
Deliberately, I also started showing interest in picture books, a subtle move that has led my father and nanny to believe that I possess some sort of prodigious intellect. It's a strategic decision on my part, as I anticipate that demonstrating advanced knowledge at a young age could prove advantageous in the future. People are likely to dismiss any abnormalities in my behavior in the future as signs of genius, which will ultimately work in my favor.
Over the course of the past year, I've achieved remarkable progress in my status window, advancing to Level 6 as of now.
STATUS WINDOW
Name
Daniel Whitney Lewis
Age
1 Year 3 Months
Level
6 [566/1100]
Wealth
$401,911
???
???
I've observed that with each level I attain, the required experience points for the next level increase. This realization suggests that progressing further will become increasingly challenging as I advance beyond the initial stages. However, despite reaching Level 6, I still struggle to comprehend the significance of leveling up. It seems to demand the completion of certain quests, which I dutifully undertake, yet I fail to discern any tangible benefits derived from this feature.
The persistent presence of '???' on the window continues to pique my curiosity from time to time. Drawing from my experience with RPG games, I'm confident that these mysteries will be unlocked once I reach a predetermined level. It's merely a matter of time until these enigmatic features reveal their secrets, and I eagerly anticipate the day when I can finally unravel these mysteries.
As I analyze the wealth attribute, I observe a remarkable increase of 13.31% over the past year, while the S&P 500 yielded a return of 9.06%. This indicates that my Trust Fund assets have outperformed the market by more than 4%. Recalling from memory, the next significant downturn is anticipated in the years 1973 and 1974, primarily attributed to an oil embargo imposed on nations supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War. This geopolitical event triggered a substantial rise in oil prices and widespread shortages in various countries, resulting in significant economic disruptions.
The chronicles of the Yom Kippur War can wait for another day. Presently, my father has ceased his morning visits, and the strain etched on his face during his evening visits is palpable.
Sometime around my first birthday, I was finally granted the freedom to embark beyond the confines of my designated space, often referred to as my "room".
Venturing out of my room with my nanny has opened up a whole new world of discovery for me. Firstly, I learned that the estate where I reside boasts around fifteen similar rooms to mine. Located in downtown New York, my father is the proud owner of two of these rooms.
The realization dawned on me when I noticed the name emblazoned atop the building: 'Lewis Townhouse'. It was a subtle yet profound revelation that shed light on the true nature of our residence.
Initially, I had assumed that my father either purchased these rooms with his hard-earned money or leased them for our accommodation. However, the sight of the estate's nameplate, coupled with the surname 'Lewis' adorning the neighboring rooms, dispelled any lingering doubts.
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, painting a clearer picture of our living situation. It became apparent that the Lewis Townhouse was not just any residential property; it was a private domain owned by the Lewis Corps, reserved for the extended members of the Lewis family.
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Guess my father isn’t qualified enough to be given a detached home in the estate.
Seated casually on the couch, I feigned interest in the colorful illustrations of the picture book spread out before me. However, my true attention was fixated on the open page of The Wall Street Journal resting nearby. The headline boldly proclaimed concerns about overvaluation looming over the stock market, a consequence of its robust performance during the mid-1960s.
I have studied this topic once or twice in my last life. In the mid-1960s, the U.S. economy experienced a period of robust economic growth and stock market performance. This period, often referred to as the "Go-Go Years," was characterized by strong corporate earnings, expanding industrial production, and rising consumer confidence. As a result, stock prices soared, and investors were attracted to the potential for high returns in the stock market.
However, as stock prices continued to climb, concerns began to emerge about the possibility of overvaluation.
Overvaluation occurs when stock prices rise to levels that are not supported by the underlying fundamentals of the companies, such as earnings growth, dividends, and future prospects. In other words, stocks become more expensive relative to their intrinsic value.
Additionally, uncertainties surrounding the Vietnam War contributed to investor anxiety and market volatility.
As a result, investors became more cautious, and some began to sell off stocks, leading to a correction in the stock market.
A stock market correction is defined as a decline of 10% or more from recent highs. In the case of 1966, the correction lasted from February to October and resulted in a significant decline in stock prices.
With the current timeline only in August, there remained a window of time before the anticipated correction materialized. However, given my circumstances and inability to directly intervene, I resigned myself to the notion of simply observing the events unfold. While the prospect presented an opportunity, it wasn't significant enough to warrant active interference. In the grand scheme of things, missing out on this particular moment seemed inconsequential, especially considering the vast expanse of future knowledge at my disposal.
*knock knock*
As the sound of a knock echoed through the room, my attention sharpened, and my ears perked up in response. Nanny swiftly rose from her position on the couch, hastening to answer the door. A sense of anticipation filled the air as I watched the scene unfold before me.
My father's arrival was heralded by a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Despite his attempt to mask it with a smile, I couldn't help but notice the tension lurking beneath the surface. Years of experience had honed my ability to discern between genuine expressions and forced pleasantries, allowing me to easily distinguish between his authentic smiles and the ones he wore as a facade.
As my father drew closer, his familiar presence enveloped me, filling me with a sense of warmth and security. With gentle hands, he scooped me up into the air, eliciting a spontaneous grin from me. The simple joy of being lifted into the air never failed to bring a genuine smile to my face, and as I beamed up at him, I could see a matching expression of delight spread across his features.
In that moment, as we shared a fleeting yet cherished connection, I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection towards him. Despite his occasional facade, there was no denying his genuine affection and care for me. Beneath his stoic exterior lay a soft-hearted man, a testament to his capacity for love and devotion as a father.
Then, my father gently lowered me back onto the couch before excusing himself and disappearing into the attached room once more.
After a brief moment in the adjoining room, my father emerged dressed in casual attire, carrying a handful of documents, a pen, and a pencil. With purposeful strides, he made his way towards me, setting his belongings on the table before lifting me gently from the couch. Placing me on his lap, he settled into the spot where I had been seated moments ago, positioning me comfortably against him as he prepared to delve into his work.
With focused determination, he began to sift through the papers, his movements methodical and precise as he reviewed each document with careful consideration. Despite the seriousness of his task, he maintained a calm and composed demeanor, his attention divided between the paperwork before him and the little bundle of energy nestled on his lap.
Unlike other children my age, I found myself drawn to the documents laid out on the table. While most kids might have been content to play with toys or gaze at picture books, I felt a magnetic pull towards these pieces of paper. There was a sense of intrigue and possibility in the air as if these documents held the keys to unlocking secrets and knowledge that could shape my future.
Hmm. So, there are three documents here. The first document caught my attention immediately—it was a physical stock certificate. It had been quite some time since I had seen one of these relics. In the future, with the rise of electronic trading and dematerialization, these tangible certificates will become obsolete. Instead, everything would transition to digital platforms, with shares being held and traded electronically through brokerage accounts. The sight of this physical certificate was a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era of financial transactions.
From what I could discern, this certificate is issued in the name of Adam Astor Lewis, my father, and it represents shares in the company 'Lewis Corps.' It makes sense, considering that his father and my grandfather is the chairman of 'Lewis Corps.' The certificate lists the share price as $12.13, and it indicates that my father owns 7,500 shares.
The total value of the shares is calculated as $91,125. This amount may seem relatively modest, especially considering that he's a Lewis, and his stock options don't even amount to a hundred thousand dollars.
But then, my attention was drawn to something mind-boggling.
The Date of Transaction.
It said: April 11, 1954.