Chapter 201

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Jin-ho really told you to scoop up all these stocks?”

“Yes. Everything is proceeding under President Jeong Jin-ho’s orders.”

Chairman Hwang Dae-woon blinked looking at the stocks Gwangwoon Securities was gathering.

They were all stocks related to Trent.

So-called Trent themed stocks.

“How much is all this? It’s easily surpassing trillions of won?”

Tens of trillions of won were being poured into the market right now.

“Didn’t we say putting money into the stock market now is crazy?”

“That’s right. The world economy has been shattered by China’s regime collapse. So everyone is putting money into safe assets now. But President Jeong Jin-ho is pulling money from safe assets and moving it to the US stock market.”

Contrary to the beast-like disposition he had shown until now, Jeong Jin-ho had kept money parked in safe assets for surprisingly long.

“But didn’t we make a lot of money from that too?”

Why are safe assets called safe assets?

Because volatility isn’t high.

But those safe assets’ prices skyrocketed simultaneously with China’s collapse.

“He thinks now is the peak and is selling everything. Then moving capital to the next stocks.”

“So Jin-ho already knew these safe assets would hit their peak?”

“Yes. He predicted China’s collapse. That’s why he put money in safe assets long ago. Now thinking safe assets are at their end, he sold everything at the peak.”

Jeong Jin-ho hadn’t abandoned his beast-like disposition.

It only looked that way on the surface.

He had moved in advance knowing safe assets would break through their peak.

“But no matter how I look at this, I don’t understand. Why is he buying Trent themed stocks? Aren’t they complete worthless paper?”

“That’s right. Prices are all at rock bottom now. Since Hillis’s election looks likely, Trent themed stocks are all in the gutter.”

It was a difficult decision to understand. picking up such Trent themed stocks.

Isn’t Hillis’s approval currently overwhelming Trent?

America is already excited about its first female president in history.

“What happens to those themed stocks if Hillis gets elected?”

“They’re companies that came out targeting Trent and MAGA supporters, so delisting is possible.”

“And Jin-ho is still gathering those companies’ stocks?”

“Yes, he’s scraping up all themed stocks according to Trent’s campaign promises.”

“What about other securities firms? What about Wall Street? Are they also buying Trent themed stocks?”

“No. They’re still all piling into Hillis themed stocks.”

Hwang Dae-woon tilted his head once more.

“But only our Jin-ho is going against the current?”

“Yes. The places with fast information know Gwangwoon is scraping up Trent themed stocks. Yet they’re not changing course.”

“Because it’s already too late to flip things?”

“Most assessments say it’s difficult to flip things even if we wage a public opinion war with the media we have. That’s why Wall Street isn’t reacting much either.”

Jeong Jin-ho’s reputation had changed a lot from before.

If no one knew his name in the past, now everyone on Wall Street knows.

God of Investment.

That’s Jeong Jin-ho’s nickname.

But even Wall Street, which reveres Jeong Jin-ho like that, seems unable to accept this decision.

“Of course, there are rumors that Bear funds that follow President Jeong Jin-ho like fanatics have also aggressively entered themed stocks.”

“Anyway, you’re saying they’re far from mainstream.”

“Yes. They seem to think picking up Trent themed stocks right now is crazy.”

Actually, their opinions weren’t that important.

“What does everyone think?”

“That’s… no matter how many times I think about it, there’s absolutely no way for Trent to win. The world is helping Hillis now, isn’t it? China’s collapse was decisive. However…”

“However?”

“Since it’s none other than President Jeong Jin-ho who chose Trent, I think there must be a different reason.”

At those words, Hwang Dae-woon also smiled.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to say. It’s our Jin-ho’s decision, isn’t it?”

Then there must be something.

Though we can’t know what it is.

“How about the Chairman asks directly?”

“Me?”

“Yes. All this time we’ve only speculated about President Jeong Jin-ho’s intentions. we’ve almost never asked directly.”

That’s because Gwangwoon Group and Securities were kept thoroughly separate.

Whatever decision Jeong Jin-ho made, Hwang Dae-woon didn’t concern himself.

Because Jeong Jin-ho had always proved himself with results.

“Hmm…”

But this time even Hwang Dae-woon was curious.

What exactly was Jeong Jin-ho seeing to be so sure of Trent’s victory?

***

“It’s been a while since we came here. Right?”

“Yeah. This used to be a place we came often.”

“Hehe. Isn’t this all because of you? Our company got bigger so we’re busy, but your face is known everywhere now.”

“That’s because headquarters keeps pushing my face out there.”

“These days marketing is important, brand image is important too, so we have no choice but to put you front and center!”

I used to come to this samgyeopsal restaurant often with hyung-nim.

But my face became too well-known through media, reaching a point where I couldn’t just come to places like this.

“So today I rented out this whole place so you can eat comfortably.”

“The feeling is strange. I used to enjoy the bustling atmosphere while eating.”

“Right. The noise enhanced the flavor. But what can we do? This is the burden of being famous.”

Strangely it didn’t taste like it used to, but it was still good.

“By the way, hyung-nim.”

“Hm?”

“If you have something to say, just say it quickly.”

“What? Ahem. What would I have to say?”

“How many times have I seen you? When you do things you don’t usually do, there’s always a reason, right?”

“…”

Hyung-nim hesitated for a bit then carefully asked me.

“You know… about Trent.”

So it’s because I scraped up Trent themed stocks.

I somewhat expected this.

“Word is spreading on Wall Street that we’re gathering Trent themed stocks. But everyone’s reaction is negative. They don’t understand why we’re wasting tens of billions of dollars.”

It’s tens of billions of dollars now, but soon it’ll grow to hundreds of billions.

Because over 100 trillion won is moving.

“I have no intention of opposing your decision. I’ve never doubted you even once until now. Even if we lose all our money from this, I have zero intention of resenting you. I’m just curious. Like others are saying, even I see this election as hopeless for Trent.”

Hyung-nim is probably the person who trusts me most in this world.

Because no matter what risky investment I made, he never once interfered.

So he’s trusting and following me this time too.

That’s why I also wanted to clearly explain why Trent will inevitably get elected this time.

“…”

The problem is I don’t know either.

My intuition confirmed it to me several times.

That this election’s winner is Trent.

But I couldn’t know exactly how he wins.

Because intuition doesn’t speak to me directly.

“Is it hard to say?”

I tried to think about how to explain this, but a suitable answer didn’t come.

“It’s… hard for me to explain too.”

“Is that so?”

My intuition said so, so you just have to fully trust me!

I couldn’t exactly say that.

“I just hope you’ll trust me one more time.”

“Haha. Of course I trust you. I just asked because I was curious. If it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to. I don’t need to know everything.”

“I’m sorry. Hyung-nim.”

“No. You probably have a reason for not saying.”

I worried if I unnecessarily upset hyung-nim, but as if nothing happened, he downed a drink and immediately changed the subject.

“Let’s stop the stiff work talk. We did enough of that at the company. Actually, a suggestion came in this time. The US guild is saying let’s create a Trinity guild in Europe too…”

As expected, hyung-nim and I are the same.

Men in suits in finance, but outside the company, we’re just two simple men who like games.

***

“Any contact from Gwangwoon? Still nothing?”

“Yes. Nothing separate has come.”

“What about what I asked you to look into before?”

“I looked into it, and it was true. Currently Gwangwoon is spending over tens of billions of dollars scraping up all stocks related to the candidate. Wall Street is mocking it, saying Gwangwoon is finally doing something crazy.”

Wall Street’s reaction was understandable.

Even Trent would have mocked Gwangwoon’s actions the same way.

“What about approval? No hope of flipping?”

“Yes. Hillis is far ahead. But there’s still hope. In the previous election, the candidate’s vote rate was lower too, but you still got elected, didn’t you?”

That was possible thanks to America’s election system.

If they had simply calculated by vote difference, Trent wouldn’t have become President.

“You’re saying I need to hope for that kind of miracle again this time? The situation is quite different from then, isn’t it?”

“Still, try to have hope… Plus, that Gwangwoon is betting on the candidate must mean there’s something, right?”

But what exactly was Gwangwoon placing their hopes on?

That there’s something even Trent doesn’t know?

“Then shouldn’t they give me some sign? Why are they doing things like this?”

President Aiden had said this to the impatient Trent.

That when the time comes, you’ll know.

That’s always how Gwangwoon works.

“That I’ll know when the time comes…”

But he still didn’t understand.

If they’re going to give a signal, what form would it take?

“For now, you must focus on campaign activities. If President Aiden’s words are true, Gwangwoon will do Gwangwoon’s job, and the candidate just needs to do his best.”

Trent had no choice.

Just trust and wait.

So today too he focused on campaign activities.

“Butler, Pennsylvania is one of the regions that strongly supports the candidate.”

“Even now?”

“Yes. It’s a conservative region with strong Republican leanings, so the candidate’s approval is over 70%. So it’s definitely a place we must secure.”

Going to a region that supports you for campaign activities is always enjoyable.

Because no matter what you say, they respond with cheers and applause.

So a place like Butler always holds only good memories.

“I was feeling frustrated, so I should get some healing here at least.”

“Yes. Supporters have already gathered in droves, so feel free to speak your mind. Especially you must push harder on the PC ideology we’re directly criticizing and unfair trade.”

“Right, America must be America First to stand properly.”

Trent stood before the supporters waiting for him with a light heart.

And screamed about making America great again.

“Waaaah!”

“Trent! Trent!”

Then people chanted his name and heated up the atmosphere.

Even in that atmosphere, Trent felt heavy-hearted.

People were supporting him like this, yet looking at statistics, Hillis was ahead.

Anguish came.

What exactly was Gwangwoon trying to do?

What did they want?

Was there really an invisible divine move?

If so, what exactly was it…

BANG,!

Trent, who had been giving his speech while turning his head, felt something pass by him with great force.

And the sound of gunshots that followed.

“…?”

Momentarily flustered, Trent felt something flowing from beside him and touched it with his hand.

Sure enough.

Blood was flowing.

“W-What is this…”

“CANDIDATE!!”

Soon bodyguards rushed over and embraced Trent.

BANG,! BANG BANG,!

Gunshots and screams continued to burst out, but Trent’s mind suddenly snapped awake there.

Could this be… what Aiden was talking about? Gwangwoon’s…?

“!?”

Feeling something hot rising from his core, Trent raised his arm high.

In the chaos of everyone evacuating, all cameras were aimed at his arm raised high.

End