Chapter 31

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Nothing listed in our country.”

Stumbagen is Germany’s largest automobile group.

They have all overseas car brands we’d know.

Already holding over 20% market share in Germany, solidly maintaining first place.

Especially famous for aggressive investment in sports cars too.

“To trade here, only Frankfurt Stock Exchange.”

Though you can buy Stumbagen stocks through various derivatives, to trade in tens of billions units, directly entering German markets was better.

“Nothing particularly strange looking.”

I looked into recent issues related to Stumbagen.

Nothing special as issues go.

Rather a series of favorable conditions.

Sales were good, vehicle tests passed with good grades, and future prospects were also very good.

At this rate, Stumbagen seemed like they’d continue overwhelming first place ruling the automobile market.

“But why that feeling earlier.”

“Department Head~.”

While looking up things about Stumbagen alone in a cafe.

A clear voice came from behind.

“Ah. You came?”

“Wow. First time seeing Department Head in such casual clothes?”

Thinking about it, the deputy always wore suits.

Same for me.

Because we two never had occasion to meet separately outside.

‘Clothes make the man was all lies.’

I definitely feel appearance nerf when wearing suits versus casual clothes, but somehow the deputy was no different at all.

Charm unique to suits.

And also excellent charm of such modest attire.

“But what were you looking at? Not trying to look, but economic news was slightly visible.”

“Ah. About Stumbagen. Since I came to look at cars, just checking how that company is these days.”

“As expected, Department Head never rests. When I rest, I try not to think anything stock-related. But seeing Department Head today, can’t do that. Must always think only about markets for skills to improve. Learned one more thing.”

When I rest, I only think about games, don’t really think about markets.

“Then Department Head. Shall we go? I prepared a file separately.”

Not a lie, it was real.

The deputy handed me a file organizing vehicle types by each brand.

“Wh-when did you do all this.”

“I said I was looking into cars before. Didn’t know what was what then, so organized it, and using it like this?”

Attire was modest but.

Preparedness was no different from at the company.

“Then. I’ll guide you!”

Very briefly.

Really briefly.

I thought such thoughts.

Like dating with the deputy, not dating, seems like dating, such delusions.

But really the deputy covered domestic to overseas brands following me around dealerships.

“This brand definitely has good stability. Not just domestically, but received very decent scores in European safety inspections too. Above all, convenient options were added this time.”

Thorough preparedness.

Extensive knowledge accordingly.

Not even a speck of sweet moments in this companionship.

“Phew. Fulfilling. Right?”

“Yes. Learned a lot thanks to you. You’re hungry, Deputy?”

“Yes. Very.”

“Then shall we go eat dinner? You worked hard because of me today. I’ll treat you well.”

“Hehe. Then good.”

One thing I learned while doing company life with the deputy was that she eats food well whatever it is.

“Cut carbs for body management. These days bibimbap keeps nagging at my eyes.”

I tried to buy expensive things.

The place the deputy chose was just an ordinary Korean restaurant.

Well. Hearing last time while exercising, seems she manages food thoroughly.

“But, Department Head.”

“Yes?”

“Um. Outside work, can I call you Jin-ho like before.?”

“Of course.”

“Wow. Thank you, Jin-ho. Calling you this really reminds me of old times. No. It’s not that old. But feels like very long ago.”

“Right.”

As juniors, we ran around together diligently.

By feeling, it did feel like really old memories.

“But Jin-ho. I saw earlier you didn’t even look at Stumbagen group brands. Why? Aren’t those brands all well-evaluated?”

“Just somehow. Not drawn to it.”

“Ah, you have separate tastes.”

“What about you, Deputy? What brand do you like best?”

“Ah. I am. Wait. Before that, Jin-ho doesn’t need to call me Deputy outside work either.”

“Then. Hye-rin?”

“Yes. Hehe.”

Calling her Hye-rin instead of Deputy felt awkward yet good.

“I also looked into foreign cars. To save even one penny more to buy real estate.”

“Real estate?”

“Yes. In our country, real estate value is far higher than stocks. There’s a reason people buy real estate even taking loans. It rises automatically if left alone anyway.”

Very simple Korea-customized investment theory.

When I receive equal wages with someone.

If one side saves, the other side takes loans to buy real estate, 10 years later asset scale will be overwhelmingly the person who bought real estate.

Because real estate prices rise more than interest.

Of course, right now Seoul only, but over time, local area prices naturally were set to rise too.

Celebrities don’t buy buildings for nothing.

In our country, real estate was exactly the best asset.

“I should seriously look into real estate too.”

I was looking for a new house to buy anyway.

With lots of money, living in a spacious luxurious house at least once is everyone’s dream.

Buying one good-looking building and entrusting management to parents seemed good too.

Because they’re people who’d stubbornly refuse saying what to do playing at home even if I tell them to quit work immediately.

“Ah. Look into there too. LK Tower being built now. Building over 550 meters high.”

About 5 years ago, LK Group declared they’d construct a symbolic landmark of Korea’s greatest height then entered construction.

Soon not much remaining until completion.

Their ambition to make it Korea’s finest luxury building was currently ongoing.

“LK Tower residents get provided finest hotel service always, and above all boasts finest views you can’t see anywhere. How wonderful looking down on Seoul night view from that high place.”

I nodded while reaching for my cup then paused.

“What’s wrong, Jin-ho?”

“Ah. Nothing.”

Just briefly, but the feeling seemed to strongly pass by.

Is there something with LK Group now too?

“Then wishing you another pleasant day. When leaving work, please contact me and I’ll have the car waiting, Department Head.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Did they say humans are animals of adaptation?

How awkward when the driver first drove a luxury sedan waiting in front of my house.

But following hyung-nim’s words to absolutely not drive, after starting to ride, I’m using it very comfortably now.

“Good morning everyone.”

“Hello, Department Head!”

“Yes. Meeting starts in 5 minutes.”

Employees gathered busily preparing to the conference room.

“Department Head. The materials you requested last time came out.”

“Stumbagen?”

“Yes. Research materials on it.”

Stumbagen.

Market cap 119.3 billion euros.

Current stock price about 250 euros, refreshing all-time highs.

Brand value evaluated at 39.8 billion dollars, the world’s most valuable automobile brand.

Also currently accelerating global market expansion to surpass world sales number 1 Toyoda.

“Refreshing all-time highs again this time, research also predicts return rates will be high viewing long-term. Actually lots of Stumbagen-related ETFs are coming out these days. Plus domestic and overseas funds are putting money into this stock.”

Meaning very good stock scheduled to keep rising unless big issues arise.

“If you’re trying to take longs, using Frankfurt Stock Exchange directly is good, but to enter the German market with certain amounts requires mandatory reporting. Our assets are about 700 billion, so if putting all this into German markets, must report to BaFin.”

If our country has the Financial Supervisory Service, America has SEC, Germany has BaFin.

So-called German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.

Germany had strongest financial regulations in Europe.

That’s why investing specific capital requires advance reporting, and trying to buy over 3% stake in any stock requires additional reporting.

And strong regulations on short selling too, so even trying to short just 0.3% enters reporting targets receiving surveillance.

“You can view Germany as similar level as our country regarding regulations. Especially sensitive to foreign capital, surveillance and regulations far more severe than our country.”

I looked at investment methods research recommended while listening to explanations.

First, method of investing by directly entering Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

“..”

Bringing a pen close, no particular feeling.

Maybe because I didn’t distinguish long or short?

So I wrote Long and Short underneath.

“..”

Still no feeling.

What is this? Is investing in Stumbagen itself wrong action?

Was that intuition then actually about vehicle defects themselves, not Stumbagen’s problem?

I checked other routes to invest in Stumbagen written below.

‘US ADR. Hong Kong, Singapore hedge funds. Lots.’

Informed there are other routes if direct investment is burdensome.

But didn’t highly recommend.

Because putting money here costs more fees than direct investment.

“..”

I brought my pen to those methods.

This time too no particular feeling came.

Just in case, I wrote Long, but again nothing struck.

‘Did I really misunderstand something?’

While thinking so, the moment I wrote Short next to it.

“!?”

Intense feeling strong enough to make my pen tremble struck my body.

“..”

Section Chief Seo came out after talking separately with the department head after the meeting ended.

Team members were waiting only for him to come out of the department head’s office.

A monster department head who made a huge hit at FX exchange turning 500 billion into 700 billion.

Especially weren’t employees anxious not knowing when the department head would dump held volume that day?

The dopamine that popped when learning they dumped volume at the highest point still makes bodies tingle.

That’s why they couldn’t help being curious.

What exactly the department head’s next investment target is.

“Section Chief. Where did Department Head say next target is?”

“Seems like Stumbagen.”

“As expected, there was right. Stumbagen’s doing well these days. Then longs?”

“No. Surprisingly shorts.”

“What?”

Isn’t Stumbagen trying to catch up to Japan’s Toyoda’s sales volume?

A company doing well in the world these days.

“Maybe thinking corrections will come?”

“Well. Prices did rise a lot now. Wouldn’t be strange for corrections to come once.”

As you can tell from research materials.

Currently Stumbagen is expected to keep rising in price for a while.

Corrections might come, but only briefly.

“But seems like not trying to short because of those brief corrections.”

“What? Why?”

“Look at this.”

On the paper Section Chief Seo showed were lists Department Head Jeong Jin-ho directly checked.

“Hedge funds, ETFs, ADR, other derivatives? Majority investment concentrated in ADR and hedge funds.”

“Right. All indirect investment, not us directly entering Frankfurt Stock Exchange.”

Everyone seemed not to know what Section Chief Seo wanted to say.

“Can’t see? If we directly enter Frankfurt Stock Exchange taking short positions. And suddenly Stumbagen stock price drops greatly. What would BaFin think?”

“Investment from inside information?”

“Right. Could greatly suspect. Especially German side has thorough surveillance on foreign capital. They’ll create problems even without problems.”

If it was just investment aiming for short-term corrections, wouldn’t have instructed indirect investment but entered the market directly.

“Ah. Then perhaps.”

Only then did they slowly start understanding.

Department Head Jeong Jin-ho wasn’t entering the German market to earn pocket change.

If instructing this scale indirect investment, definitely meant something big is coming.

“Investing indirectly like this and Stumbagen stock price crashes, even BaFin makes us just faceless investors. Because it’ll look like money isn’t all sucked away by one specific account but pulled in from multiple places.”

Faceless investors. BaFin would just think funds or institutions conventionally shorting took profits, never imagine some department in Korea swept away thousands of billions investing.

“Wow. If it really goes as Section Chief said, like foreigners coming to our country causing chaos, this time we sweep the German market.”

“Right. If Stumbagen really falls. If Department Head’s bet succeeds, we’d earn thousands of billions, but conversely if it fails, we’d lose thousands of billions.”

“Gasp.”

As profits are big, naturally losses are big too.

That’s why securities firms always manage risk thoroughly.

“But this time too naturally Department Head.”

“Doesn’t have it. I said? Department Head’s risk management is just winning.”

“..”

Becoming faceless investors charging into the German market.

With not one piece of armor but just one knife.

Before enemies stab me, I cut enemies’ necks first.

That was Department Head Jeong Jin-ho’s risk management.

Just thinking made blood boil yet hearts pounded.

“Just hearing makes my heart tremble.”

“I’m already sweating.”

Working here long seems like dying before one’s time.