Chapter 129

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Welcome back, Executive Director!”

“Ah, y-yes.”

Executive Director Kim Jae-hyun returned to the legal team office and looked at the employees waiting for him with a troubled expression.

“So… did the meeting go well?”

“How are they planning to proceed with the lawsuit?”

Normally, employees would want to work as little as possible while getting paid a lot.

But the legal team here was different.

When the legal team was first reorganized, they recruited only aces from across the country as if preparing for a really major lawsuit.

The salary was industry-leading, and benefits were good too.

So they wondered what kind of lawsuit they were preparing to gather this many people.

‘But there’s been almost no work. For several years.’

But after joining, they had nothing to do.

Aside from minor lawsuits, there had been no major lawsuits that would shake the company.

“Are they going to sue Robinhood?”

So they were thirsty for work.

The thrilling, intense mud fights in court.

“Hmm. President Jeong Jin-ho made the final decision to proceed with the lawsuit.”

“Yes!”

“Finally doing real work!”

Being happy to work might seem strange.

But the legal team alone costs hundreds of billions in annual maintenance.

Yet they’re not given any real work, making them wonder if this is really okay.

“I heard our team was created because of President Jeong Jin-ho.”

“Right. I heard the Chairman personally created it because we need to step up if President Jeong Jin-ho has any legal issues.”

That was correct.

Chairman Hwang Dae-woon created the legal team solely for President Jeong Jin-ho.

After placing Executive Director Kim Jae-hyun in the executive position and putting him in charge of the legal team, didn’t he say that?

That the legal team’s only job is to protect President Jeong Jin-ho.

“But how could there not be a single major incident for several years? Is he really someone who follows the law well…?”

For someone in that position, some problem should arise at least once, but for several years there hadn’t been a single legal dispute.

“At least something came up now.”

“Right. But Executive Director, how much are they thinking for the lawsuit amount? We can build our strategy based on that.”

“About that…”

How should he explain this?

Executive Director Kim hesitated briefly, but that wouldn’t solve anything.

“100 trillion.”

“Ah~. 100… pardon?”

“W-wait, Executive. Not billion but trillion?”

“Yes.”

“Not 10 billion dollars but 100 billion dollars?!”

“You heard correctly.”

All the legal team employees froze in their spots.

Seeing that, Kim Jae-hyun let out a small laugh.

Because that reaction looked exactly like his own reaction earlier.

“Th-that doesn’t make sense. 100 trillion!”

“The highest amount in American legal history is 200 billion dollars, but that was the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement cases! There’s never been a single precedent where one company was ordered to pay nearly 100 billion dollars.”

The largest compensation in American legal history is 200 billion dollars.

But that was a lawsuit filed by 40 states against tobacco companies for deceptive marketing related to smoking.

In other words, not just one tobacco company but all tobacco companies in America shared that compensation.

But this is a lawsuit asking one company to pay 100 billion dollars.

Never in history has a lawsuit of this scale been filed against a single company.

“We might get compensation, but we’ll definitely never get 100 trillion.”

“That’s true. But now that I think about it carefully, President Jeong probably didn’t call for that amount actually expecting to get 100 trillion.”

“Pardon? Then…”

“He wants to grab the public’s attention. You said earlier—there’s never been a 100 billion dollar scale in American verdict history. There’s never been a lawsuit demanding that amount either.”

“Right. We’d be the first.”

“Yes. Naturally, the media will go crazy, won’t they?”

Even now, America and the whole world was heated up over Robinhood. A situation where they were waiting for someone to step forward and file a lawsuit representing investors.

“What happens if we step up then? And we’re placing the compensation at 100 billion dollars.”

“Everyone knows it’s an absurd compensation, but it’ll definitely get all the attention, right?”

“Yes. And at the same time, KW Exchange will aggressively launch marketing. They just made a new app this time so they can trade US stocks too.”

“Steal all the members from Robinhood?”

“Exactly. That’s our role. Make it as provocative as possible, announce it to media worldwide and scale it up. Advertising it as the first 100 billion dollar lawsuit in American history.”

Just hearing it sent tingles down their fingertips.

Wasn’t there no lawsuit in the entire world worth 100 billion dollars?

Moreover, at this time when all media attention is on Robinhood, they’re proceeding with such a major lawsuit? And our legal team!?

“But there’s something everyone must remember. Although we’re placing 100 billion dollars to draw people’s attention, we must approach this lawsuit with the determination to definitely get it. For the company it might be marketing, but for us, this is a fight we must win. Understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“Okay. Then everyone prepare the materials. We’re going into a meeting right away.”

After sending the employees off, Executive Director Kim Jae-hyun also busied himself for the first time in a while.

Then he suddenly recalled President Jeong Jin-ho’s expression as he mentioned 100 trillion won in compensation.

A smile overflowing with confidence and composure.

But it didn’t seem like he was simply doing this to actually get 100 trillion.

It was the face of a predator aiming for something else that Executive Director Kim couldn’t possibly imagine.

————————————————————————————————————————

“What? H-how much?”

“100 billion dollars. They haven’t formally filed the complaint yet, but they’re advertising heavily across all media. Saying if investors harmed by GameStop fill out simple paperwork, they’ll file the lawsuit on their behalf. And the compensation they’re demanding is 100 billion dollars.”

“These crazy bastards…! There should be limits even when putting on a show!”

After Robinhood removed the buy button, they had expected some member exodus.

They also assumed Gwangwoon and Mylon Tusk had achieved their goals, so they wouldn’t care anymore.

Indeed, Mylon Tusk hadn’t made any particular comments since this incident.

But the problem was Gwangwoon.

“It seems Gwangwoon was aiming for this from the start. As if they knew we’d remove the buy button, they’re moving very swiftly. They’re preparing the lawsuit in connection with major American law firms.”

“The real problem is member exodus. In exchange for Gwangwoon providing free proxy litigation, they’ve set a condition to sign up for KW Exchange. Come directly to the app and apply. Also, like our Robinhood, they’ve made US stock trading completely free.”

At first, they thought Gwangwoon was just crushing Robinhood, which threatened KW Exchange, to reduce its influence.

But their goal wasn’t simply to crush Robinhood.

They intended to absorb all the members at Robinhood.

“Is it at a dangerous level?”

“Yes. Very dangerous level. Actually, quite a lot of members are leaving. Moreover, Gwangwoon is using SNS to emphasize KW Exchange’s stability and financial power, while spreading only malicious news about Robinhood.”

In the past, TV ads and newspaper ads had the most powerful promotional effect.

But now, nothing surpasses SNS.

Isn’t SNS the ultimate promotional tool?

And Gwangwoon controlled that SNS.

“Th-then what happens now?”

“If this phenomenon continues… it’s a digital bank run.”

“!?”

Digital bank run, or broker run.

A phenomenon occurring when members gathered at a securities firm massively migrate to another securities firm.

Just as banks experience bank runs when people suddenly rush in wanting to withdraw money, securities firms are the same.

But bank runs rarely happen, and digital bank runs even less so.

Yet not anywhere else, but a digital bank run at Robinhood, which was #1 in America!

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean what! We have to stop it of course! Are we just going to watch all the money drain out and the company go bankrupt!?”

“B-but how do we stop customers who want to take their money?”

“Make some excuse somehow. Say there’s a server problem, or remove the withdrawal button like we removed the buy button! It’s because we removed the buy button like you all said that this mess happened!”

Watching Taines lose his temper, the executives were at a loss for words.

And at the same time, they felt it.

They needed to escape before it was too late.

————————————————————————————————————————

“This… the situation is getting bigger than expected, President.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The impact of the 100 billion dollars you proposed seems to have delivered a big shock to the public.”

“The media is writing excitedly even though we didn’t ask them to write articles. It’s the provocative material journalists want, right? ‘Unprecedented 100 billion dollar lawsuit in American history!’ They can decorate the headline like that.”

Currently, all American media were putting out our Gwangwoon’s 100 billion dollar lawsuit as their headline.

This phenomenon wasn’t happening only in America.

Overseas media were also covering this incident big, reporting that Gwangwoon had drawn their sword on behalf of countless victims.

“The community reaction is incredibly hot too. They’re saying Gwangwoon is bearing the costs on behalf of wronged victims. Public opinion overwhelmingly calls you heroes.”

“Of course, there are some people criticizing that this 100 billion dollar lawsuit is a scheme for KW Exchange to absorb Robinhood members… but that’s just a small minority. Right now, the majority of public opinion is cheering for our Gwangwoon.”

“On top of that, new members are flooding in from America and other countries. Since GameStop went viral worldwide, there are quite a lot of victims. Just signing up for our KW Exchange and filling out documents—everyone seems to be gathering for that.”

We had set the groundbreaking condition that we’d file a class action lawsuit on their behalf if any KW Exchange member filled out simple documents.

That was producing great results.

“What about actual user numbers?”

“Since US stocks are free to use, data shows over 80% immediately use Bitcoin and US stocks after signing up.”

We’re still collecting commissions on Bitcoin, but since US stocks can utilize a different system, we could make it commission-free.

Plus, our capital strength is exceptional, so even if a GameStop incident occurs, we won’t suffer damage.

If we really run short on funds, we can procure from Gwangwoon Group anytime.

Appealing exactly that point, we emphasized we would never do something vulgar like removing the buy button, and were gathering members.

“So talk of a digital bank run is starting to spread. Far more people than expected are fleeing from Robinhood.”

I don’t say this because they’re our competitor, but I don’t feel even sympathy for Robinhood.

Removing the buy button and forcing users to sell—is that something that can happen in the 21st century?

“Robinhood seems to have sensed the crisis too, and completely blocked withdrawals.”

“No… is that even possible?”

“A place that removed the buy button—blocking withdrawals is nothing for them. They suddenly mentioned server problems and blocked transferring accounts elsewhere.”

“That place is really something.”

“Yes. If they had bowed and apologized, maybe. But this way it’s even better for us. Due to backlash, even more members will flock to us, and presenting Robinhood’s outrageous history in court might lead to a more favorable verdict for us.”

But at this rate, Robinhood might really file for bankruptcy from the digital bank run.

“Looking at how things are flowing, it’s not impossible. The US government won’t just watch them forcibly block withdrawals either. One giant securities firm called Robinhood disintegrating into thin air.”

“Then it’ll have a huge impact on the stock market, right?”

“Yes. Actually, problems are already occurring in real estate products. REITs, real estate funds, bonds, etc. As Robinhood members start selling all their assets, especially real estate sectors that were famous for high dividends with lots of money in them are crashing.”

The manager brought me a separate report.

“This is an analysis of which stocks will be greatly affected if Robinhood really goes bankrupt.”

I looked at the report the manager gave me.

Real estate-related products had already started crashing, and there were many forecasts it would continue afterward.

But what caught my eye was something else.

“…Viterra?”

Only this company was intensely shooting light at me.

“Ah, it’s a Canadian company. Canada is the world’s 3rd largest wheat exporter, right? Viterra is a representative company among them.”

“A place that sells wheat?”

“Yes. Wheat is their main product. They export the most in Canada. The problem is last year Canada experienced extreme famine and had the worst harvest season in history. Because of this, the company is already struggling, and if Robinhood really collapses, the assessment is that Canada’s Viterra could be in danger.”

Viterra was acquired by a company called Ramsey last year.

The problem is this Ramsey company makes money in real estate, and took on large debt by recklessly acquiring several companies including Viterra.

“But recently as real estate products and bond prices crashed, this company called Ramsey became endangered?”

“Yes. The holding company is in a funding crisis, Viterra’s revenue decreased from Canada’s great famine, and if Robinhood is the final blow… there’s high possibility the group will be dismantled.”

I nodded and was about to pass over it.

I wasn’t particularly interested in the grain sector.

Plus, the company was said to be quite endangered from famine.

But to just ignore it, the light this company called Viterra was emitting wasn’t ordinary.

Why is such light emanating from a company on the verge of collapse?

“…”

Then should I try touching it on a gamble?

I casually and cautiously brought my hand to it.

At that very moment.

“!?”

The whole world turned red, and countless explosion sounds and screams rushed in from all directions, and it felt like my whole body was becoming paralyzed.

I had seen countless visions until now, but this was the first one this terrifying and scary.

‘Wh-what is this?’