Manhattan Reborn 1978

new York.

Morgan Stanley fourth floor.

David, Lilith and Polly listened to Mr. Odis Parker's story~

"Freemasonry, although most information places the official birth of Freemasonry in London in 1717~"

"But after I joined Freemasonry, some information I obtained showed that the history of this organization is much more than that~"

"I won't talk about it because it has such a long history. I once obtained some manuscripts and information in Paris that a Freemason left for his family after his death."

"The Freemasonry in Paris first appeared in 1688~"

"In 1721, some British Freemasons established France's first Freemasonry lodge in the port city of Dunkirk."

"The French Masonic Grand Lodge, established in 1733, is said to be the earliest Masonic Grand Lodge established in continental Europe~"

“It wasn’t until 1743 that the French General Lodge was officially recognized by the London General Conference~”

"Due to the restrictions on the conditions for joining Freemasonry, those who joined Freemasonry at that time can be roughly divided into two types~"

"One type is non-Catholic believers and people who believe in other religions~"

"In 1738, due to the continuous growth of various organizations represented by Freemasonry, Pope Clemens 12 of the Catholic Church issued an order prohibiting Catholics from joining Freemasonry. Violators will be expelled from the church~"

"So throughout the second half of the 18th century, the Holy See has been committed to suppressing Freemasonry~"

"However, in my opinion, these actions of the Holy See will only make the reputation of Freemasonry more famous and attract the attention of more non-Catholics~"

"At that time in Europe, Catholicism was the absolute dominant force in the religious field, and if people of other faiths appeared, they would often be brutally persecuted~"

"Therefore, in order to survive this harsh search, many believers invented various secret gathering rituals, passwords and passwords~"

"This prevents people outside the Freemasonry from easily infiltrating into the core of the real party, and greatly reduces the chance of them being thrown into the arena or put on the fire... for barbecue~"

Paxian's cold joke made the three of them smile. .

He took a sip of coffee and continued.

"The other type of people choose to join Freemasonry, mostly for the inheritance and preservation of knowledge~"

"In that era before the industrial revolution began, apprenticeship was a very important knowledge transfer system in many traditional industries with a long history."

"Many young people can only learn skills from their masters after becoming apprentices~"

"But these ordinary carpenters, masons and other people who have their own professional knowledge also hope to have a certain ability to protect themselves~"

"Whether they are facing persecution from those in power or facing various challenges, joining a secret society, staying in groups, and having more partners can make them feel more secure."

"So in the middle of the 18th century, when the Catholic Church implemented high-pressure policies, secret societies like the Freemasons, which openly displayed their banners, suffered an unprecedented... key attack!"

"However, these blows, as time went by, with the beginning of the first industrial revolution in the 18s, gradually made many Catholics feel that this foolish behavior of the church seemed meaningless."

“Because organizations like Freemasonry, which do not restrict their members’ beliefs, the most fundamental reason for their existence is that people want to protect themselves!

"They want to protect their knowledge, protect their beliefs, protect themselves and their families from being persecuted by some big shots, or when they face some injustice alone, they can get help from their partners~"

"So this kind of secret society similar to...a guild is basically a collection of professionals who shoulder the important responsibility of preserving a large amount of professional knowledge!

"After they slowly fell into silence with Freemasonry, they sprung up in large numbers~"

"The Freemasonry has also benefited from the continuous emergence of these guilds, which has helped share a lot of the church's attention and pressure, and has continued in a more low-key manner until now~"

Mr. Parker paused at this point.

He smiled at David and spread his hands: "I can talk about the situation of Freemasonry for days and nights. If you have any questions, just ask them directly."

David turned the note in his hand, frowned and thought for a moment: "Please tell me about the Freemasonry in the United States~ After all, it has always been around us, right?"

Mr. Parker smiled and nodded: "ok~"

"In the United States...in the last period of the 18th century, Freemasonry had secretly developed into an organization throughout Europe~"

"Its root system has absorbed many small secret societies as new members of the organization~"

"Its tentacles not only influence the lives of ordinary people, but also gradually gain the right to speak and dominate in culture, art, banking, finance, politics, etc."

"The United States, as a former colony of European countries, has also entered the scope of Freemasonry~"

“In 1801, in Charleston, South Carolina, the first Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Freemasons was formed!”

"According to an internal Masonic publication entitled The Truth of the Scottish Rite, in 1813 the Supreme Council of the North, as an extension of the Charleston Order, was established in Boston~"

"This Northern Supreme Council jurisdiction covers the fifteen states that were earlier divided in the north."

"The headquarters in Charleston was moved to Washington, D.C., and is responsible for the remaining 35 states."

"Throughout the 19th century, Freemasonry experienced a period of rapid growth in the United States, a land with little restraint. Especially in the late 19th century, the development of Freemasonry personnel reached an unprecedented level of prosperity!"

"In 1900, the United States conducted its 12th census in history, and determined that the permanent population of the United States was approximately 7600 million people~"

"At that time, there were more than 60 recorded Freemasonry members~"

"Furthermore, since the United States ended the Civil War and gradually grew into a world-class power, the benefits that the Freemasons have gained have attracted the attention of the top leaders of the Illuminati, allowing them to extend their tentacles from Europe to The United States!"

David frowned, raised his hand, and interrupted: "Illuminati? Isn't it the same organization as Freemasonry?"

Mr. Parker was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said, "What you said earlier...is basically correct~"

"The origins of the Illuminati can be traced back to the 16th century~"

"However, it was not until 1776 that a man named Adam Wippertz in Bavaria, Germany, was influenced by the Enlightenment trend and wanted to provide people with some scientific books banned by the church. Together with several of his students, he established the Omniscience The society was later renamed the Illuminati~"

"At that time, the Illuminati, like the Freemasons and a large number of secret societies, recruited many people from the elite to join in order to fight against the oppression of the church."

"Among them, Koenig, a Freemason, accepted Adam's invitation and joined the Illuminati~"

"Since then, because of Koenig's joining, the Illuminati and the Freemasons have entered a period of mutual penetration~"

"A large number of Freemasons have joined the Illuminati and have become members with status in both organizations... This also includes nearly half of the top elites of the Freemasons~"

"Unfortunately, the good times of the Illuminati did not last long~"

"Due to the mutual resentment between Koenig and Adam for some reasons, Koenig was expelled from the Illuminati~"

"After Koenig left the Illuminati, he leaked some secrets of the Illuminati, which aroused the alarm of Charles Theodore, the candidate for the Bavarian throne!"

"Later, Charles Theodore issued a number of corporate bans, prohibiting any secret organizations in Bavaria; any act of joining the Illuminati and Freemasons was an act of treason; anyone who joined the Freemasons and Illuminati would be Sentenced to death..."

"After the implementation of this series of laws, the Illuminati quietly disappeared and became silent. The founder, Adam Wippz, was also expelled from Bavaria and died after 40 years of exile~"

Mr. Parker paused, looked at David's rather disbelieving expression, and continued to explain with a smile.

"The Illuminati, as far as I know, is just an organization born in Bavaria that helps ordinary people gain knowledge and enlightenment~"

"Conspiracy theorists are just borrowing its name to go around and deceive people who don't know the inside story~"

"People involved in the writings of these conspiracy theorists include George Washington, Rockefeller, Ford Sr., Kennedy, Kissinger, etc."

"The events involved include the French Revolution, genocide, financial crisis, the end of the world, UFOs, aliens, etc."

"Some people even took out the internal organizational chart of the Illuminati in a serious manner, claiming everywhere that it is the shadow of Freemasonry, the mastermind behind all conspiracies, and an organization that controls the world and wants to subvert it at any time, haha ~"

"In fact, according to the information I have personally collected, many politicians and founding fathers of these European countries at that time were only members of the Freemasons - not members of the Illuminati."

"Most of them are like... George Washington, positive characters~"

"Those writers, critics, and media who want to attract people's attention compare the Illuminati to the most mysterious underground organization in the world. They just want to attract people's attention from a certain aspect and make more money~ "

David slowly closed his mouth, his expression became dull, and murmured: "According to you, the Illuminati... was made up?"

Mr. Parker continued with a self-deprecating smile: "Even if the Illuminati really exists in a corner of this world, a little guy like me probably won't be noticed by them~ Haha~"

"Little people?"

"Am I not a nobody? Why would you, as a member of the Freemasonry, invite me to join?"

"...You are different, David!"

"No, Mr. Parker, we also have one head, two eyes, and two hands, there is no difference!"

"... Do you know how many conveniences and benefits it will bring to you if you join the Freemasonry?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know!"

"I don't want to be exposed as a member of the Freemasons one day~"

"I don't even want to be one of the accomplices of the Masonic conspiracy written and spoken by those conspiracy theorists..."

Mr. Parker was speechless. .

He shook his head slightly helplessly: "Okay, if you change your mind one day, please tell me!"

"I am willing to join as one of your introducers..."

"Thank you, Parker!"

"No~ thank you, Otis!"

Mr. Parker raised his eyebrows when he heard the name change in David's mouth: "What? No longer doubt the reason why I approached you?"

"For now...yes~"

"Hahaha~ It won't be temporary! David!"

David curled his lips, pointed at Mr. Parker's coat and asked, "Here, open the coat and let me see if there is a bug inside this time."

Mr. Parker's expression froze, then he stood up laughing, took off his coat calmly, took two steps back, slowly turned around in a circle, and sat down again.

"Satisfied?"

"Haha~ I think you can understand me, Otis!"

"Hahaha~ I understand! Just like... I can understand Harold Stone~"

"Otis, on what date do you arrange for the new FBI director to meet...his new girlfriend?"

"Tomorrow night at eight o'clock!"

David picked up the pen, wrote down the time, pondered for a moment and asked: "Do you think... I should get to know this Mr. Stone?"

"... Of course ~ he may work in New York for a long time... I think it won't do you any harm to make acquaintance with him!"

"Ok~ Then please help..."

"No problem~ I'll book a few more seats at that restaurant."

"Tomorrow night, I will go with you and find an opportunity to introduce you to each other~"

"Okay! Let's... talk about the intelligence network you laid out in New York~"

"Now, how far has your plan gone?"

Mr. Parker tilted his head slightly and looked at Polly and Lilith with a smile. .

David waved his hand and said: "They are all our own people, I have no secrets that I will hide from them."

Mr. Parker raised his eyebrows, nodded slightly and said, "Do you remember the gold coin hotel we talked about last time?"

"..Remember!"

David inexplicably connected this Gold Coin Hotel with the Continental Hotel in his memory. .

"You don't want to... change the name of the hotel, do you?"

"Oh? Do you think the name Gold Coin Hotel is too unpleasant?"

"Uh.. No~ Forget it, go ahead~"

"Haha~ The person in charge of the Gold Coin Hotel is Winston. If you want to, I can introduce you to him in the future~"

"I have asked Winston to re-enact it in the Gold Coin Hotel..."

Mr. Parker's voice was slightly lowered and he told David in detail what he had told Winston.

David kept writing down a few important points, and when Mr. Parker stopped, he asked.

"Elena Mesa... what is your relationship? A partner or... your subordinate?"

"No, we are just friends~ When she was in Europe before, she took over several very difficult tasks from me and completed them very well~"

"After that, we became friends~"

"that's all?"

"that's it!"

Mr. Parker paused and then quickly added: "However, I heard that you lack a secretary? I can help convince Elena to give it to you."

"No need~"

"No!"

Lilith and Polly immediately interrupted Mr. Parker's suggestion in unison. .

"Haha~ Okay, I didn't say anything!"

David smiled and pointed at Lilith, then at Polly, and finally at Mr. Parker. .

"Otis, do you know what scares men the most in this world?"

"Um..." Mr. Parker glanced back and forth, smiling silently and shaking his head.

"Haha~" David smiled, retracted his hand, picked up the pen, and changed the subject.

"Otis, how much money do I need to invest in your intelligence network?"

Mr. Parker blinked and thought for a moment: "A mature and efficient intelligence organization that is self-sufficient is one of its greatest characteristics!"

"The organization I want to set up in New York does not require you to invest any money, but will bring you a long-term, stable and generous income~"

"Um...you mean, you can sell some business information to make money?"

"Yes~ The fact that the intelligence organization can survive itself means that people have an urgent need for this industry~"

"So, intelligence collection, intelligence analysis, intelligence exchange, and intelligence buying and selling are the basic businesses of our organization."

"According to my plan, before the end of next year, an intelligence network covering major industries in New York will be established. This can be regarded as the first phase of completion~"

"In three years, I will have this intelligence network spread throughout every New York community!"

"Even... every bar, every hotel, hotel, cinema, cafe, company, bank, government agency, school, etc."

"..."

In the office, David and the other three looked at Mr. Parker, who exuded strong confidence, and didn't know what to say for a moment. .

When David faced the pie drawn by Mr. Parker, he felt quite dumbfounded.

"Um...Otis, I don't need to know what movies are playing in each cinema, let alone that there is another bullying incident in that school..."

"I just think.."

Mr. Parker's expression turned serious and he said: "No, David! You may still have some misunderstandings about intelligence work~"

"Any small thing that seems to ordinary people may become important information in my eyes!"

"For example...do you know what use economists have in war?"

"..I don't know~"

"Economists' ability to analyze intelligence during war is more accurate than that of professional intelligence agencies~"

“During World War II, the Allies wanted to know the exact casualties of the German troops.”

"Economists came up with a way. They secretly collected obituaries published in newspapers across Germany, especially local newspapers."

"Because the German people are influenced by traditional culture, they have long attached great importance to obituaries!"

"The obituaries in these local newspapers will have detailed records and introductions of the deceased's year of life, occupation, class, workplace, cause of death, place of death, etc."

"So these economists, after getting these newspapers that published obituaries, can deduce a more accurate number of German casualties~"

"The Allies used this method and with the help of economists, they came to a conclusion after calculation and analysis~"

"For every German officer killed, 21 soldiers will be killed~"

"By obtaining the number of dead German officers from obituaries, the Allies derived the specific number of German soldiers killed in action!"

"This conclusion figure was statistically verified after the German army attacked the north and successive battles, and was confirmed and affirmed by the Allied intelligence agency~"

What David said to Mr. Parker felt like he was hearing an urban legend. His eyes widened and he said in surprise.

"And...such a thing?"

"Haha~ It's not just these!"

“That’s not what economists are better at!”

"What they are better at is estimating the German army's armament production capabilities based on some unclassified information or limited information that can be collected from the battlefield!"

"For example, in August 1942, Allied intelligence agencies, through interrogation of captured prisoners, came to the conclusion that the German tank production was approximately 8 vehicles."

"But this number was directly rejected by economists!"

"They obtained the serial numbers of 1200 tanks by analyzing vehicles and logbooks captured on the battlefield."

"Then, they discovered that these German tanks had only two manufacturers to produce the engines required for the tanks, and the gearboxes of the tanks were also produced by these two manufacturers."

"Then the final number of tanks assembled and produced by the German army in August will be much less than the number obtained by the intelligence agency through interrogation of prisoners!"

"After calculations by economists, the German tank production figure was 327 units."

"After the war, the Allies conducted a detailed investigation in order to verify it, and the result was 342 vehicles!"

Mr. Parker paused briefly, and then continued after David's surprised expression appeared.

"Besides, cost-effectiveness should also be considered in war!"

"Economists have put forward many good suggestions to the Allies on how to obtain the maximum benefits and maximum destructive effects at the minimum cost~"

"For example, a bombing attack!"

"Where should the Allies bomb to inflict greater losses on the Germans?"

"Economists used a large number of German aerial photos to invent various equations by analyzing costs and benefits, and finally arrived at the optimal solution after bombing the German oil depots."

"The Allies sent a large number of intelligence personnel and obtained a lot of information about the German army's oil."

"In March 1944, the German army's total oil reserves were about 3 tons~"

"So, the Allies formulated a series of oil depot bombing plans. After three months of continuous bombing, the German army only had 3 tons of oil reserves left in June."

"By September, the German army's total oil reserves were less than 9 tons!"

“After the war, the Allies learned from captured senior German officers that the shortage of fuel directly caused the German armored mobile units on the battlefield, which the Germans were proud of, to become iron coffins that could only lie in place. .”

"So David, if we change to a more public occasion and you change the way you address me, some people who are interested can understand that the distance between us has become even closer~"

David nodded silently, thought for a few seconds, and suddenly smiled: "Then from now on, I will only call you...Mr. Parker?"

"Haha~ Whatever, it's just a name!"

"Okay~ Since you don't care, I will just call you Mr. Parker from now on~"

"Regarding the intelligence network you are about to establish, I will not interfere in the future and leave it all to you~"

"Let's move on to the next topic!"

"Mr. Parker, what do you think of the public business investigation companies on Wall Street?"

"Oh? You mean..."

"Yes, I want you to come to the front desk and establish a formal business investigation and consulting company~"

A glint flashed in Mr. Parker's eyes: "Are you sure... you want to do this?"

"Of course!"

"Mr. Parker, I never thought that living in the shadows was good for your health."

"So, I plan to open this investigation and consulting company directly on Wall Street~"

"Tell everyone clearly that you, Austin Parker, are back!"

Mr. Parker's eyes slowly lowered, and after a while, he raised his head and smiled: "Okay~! You are my boss, I listen to you!"