Chapter 33

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Funds are a system where when we entrust money, managers operating those funds roll it.

There’s one disadvantage here.

With stocks, we can immediately withdraw when we sell, but with funds, you need to wait at least 3 days to get your money back.

That’s how ETFs came about.

ETFs have the advantage that we can trade directly on exchanges, and you can put money in and take it out anytime.

But currently, most of our money was in funds.

Though there were shorts using stock lending services through prime brokers, the amounts in various funds were far larger.

And these were funds with beast-like aggression.

Risk reaches its peak, but if the hunt goes well, places with certain return rates.

If I’d chosen directly, I would’ve never picked them, but my intuition chose those places. And the reason was finally revealed.

[Stumbagen CEO Winterkorn admitted all manipulation facts and resigned. Due to this, Dieselgate aftermath will grow even larger, and Stumbagen Group decided to recall a total of 11 million vehicles.]

Dieselgate.

It was revealed that Stumbagen had been selling vehicles for years while deceiving output by a whopping 40 times.

Due to this, the CEO resigned, vehicle recalls were decided, and penalties in the trillions were being slammed.

Penalties aren’t the only problem.

They also have to give compensation to buyers.

But as always, they’ll certainly lobby every way to give only tiny compensation amounts.

Meaning, only people owning Stumbagen cars became pitiful.

“..”

I examined the situation of each fund where our money is spread.

Usually when putting money in funds, you mostly can’t know where they’re putting money.

But that depends on contracts.

When securities firms directly connect with asset management companies to put money in, depending on contracts formed, even if not real-time, you can periodically check trading volume.

“Really like running a bot farm.”

In games too, there are people who run dozens of computers professionally running bots.

They’re called bot farms.

But somehow.

What I’m doing now also feels exactly like seeing a bot farm.

Should I say I’m spreading bots named funds everywhere making them scrape together my money automatically. Illegal in games, but not here.

Because here, auto-hunting is wise investment and legal!

“But everyone’s aggression is no joke.”

I chose only such places from the start.

Normally at exchanges they would’ve lost money, but when Stumbagen got badly wounded like now, they’re like hyenas silently watching for opportunities.

Since they know the opponent has no strength to counterattack anyway, they attack very aggressively.

“Seems already bitten enough though.”

Wouldn’t it be better to stop hunting now and recover money?

I checked the list where I put money one by one.

“..”

No feeling was coming from anywhere.

Despite Stumbagen stock price already dropping 20%.

Meaning, the hunt isn’t over yet.

This was just the beginning.

Seeing Dieselgate situation burst, President Hwang thought what was supposed to come finally came.

Because Jin-ho investing in shorts had reasons, and he was certain something would definitely burst.

And simultaneously, he also thought this.

“Executive Director Tak. Did you sell your car?”

“Yes. Sold exactly at the peak. It’s complete trash price now. Hehe.”

“Wish you’d sell at peaks usually too.”

“Hitting the mark so precisely leaves me speechless.”

There was a reason President Hwang gathered executives today.

“You all know the situation now, right? Stumbagen bastards screwed up so stock prices dropped 30% now. The problem is German financial authorities are scrutinizing this situation closely.”

BaFin is the financial supervisory service known as the strictest in Europe.

Stumbagen stock prices were shattered by Dieselgate.

Thanks to that, the German market was shaking.

The problem is someone had a money feast in this chaotic market.

Exactly forces that shorted.

“What’s German public opinion like now?”

“Rumors were circulating that there were forces that shorted considerable amounts before Dieselgate burst. Though unable to know which institution or what positions they took, you can notice just looking at overall short selling status or volume held in one place.”

“So there’s much talk that someone with inside information placed shorts. BaFin is also investigating this.”

That was exactly the problem.

In stock markets, when the majority dies and a minority has money feasts, witch hunts begin now.

Financial authorities also inevitably get pushed by public opinion to investigate.

They might try to find fault even unreasonably.

And the biggest problem is the culprit they’re looking for is exactly Gwangwoon Securities.

“Probability of our Gwangwoon Securities becoming a problem?”

“You can view it as converging to almost 0%.”

But despite having a money feast shorting with a whopping 700 billion, there was almost nothing that could harm Gwangwoon Securities.

“Department Head Jeong Jin-ho designed it really creepily well. Because he diluted it here and there so our colors wouldn’t show.”

“To BaFin too, it’ll just look like funds with aggressive tendencies did high-risk investment as always and luckily hit it.”

Jeong Jin-ho’s choice was truly exquisite.

Instead of investing directly in Germany, he spread money into high-risk funds with heavy gambling nature, making the source untraceable.

“He planned frighteningly meticulously. To properly strip the German market. Honestly, only our country got stripped by foreigners until now, but conversely we’re stripping them, so feelings are thrilling yet strange.”

When our country’s stock price limit recently increased from 15% to 30%, foreigners briefly came to plunder KOSPI.

Everyone knows the fact that they repeatedly raised and lowered stock prices as they pleased, stripped retail investors, then disappeared.

That’s why even domestic communities say when foreigners invade, raising both hands surrendering and staying still is best.

Those forces are in America, Europe, China, Hong Kong, etc.

Spread variously.

But now Germany was getting completely stripped by black-haired foreigners, unable to come to their senses.

“Of course, compared to foreign capital, 700 billion is still a really small number.”

“What’s frightening is this is just the beginning.”

Now it’s in hundred billions, but if crossing to trillions moving across overseas markets creating waves, that aftermath will be incomparably larger.

Even then, like now, no one will be able to know who owns the money.

Just imagining gives shivers.

“But President. Department Head Jeong Jin-ho. Did he know in advance that Dieselgate would burst?”

It was content everyone wondered about.

They all looked at President Hwang in unison.

“Whether Jin-ho knew in advance or not. That’s not important. We just need to protect Jin-ho from any harm. That’s why we’re sitting in these executive positions here.”

They nodded.

The financial market is ultimately an information war anyway.

Though they say to block inside information, ultimately those who know information in advance make money.

The financial market needs good luck too, but you can’t survive long on luck alone. That’s why you must obtain information and know how to utilize it well.

In that sense, they didn’t need to know whether Jeong Jin-ho had information in advance.

As President Hwang said, they just need to think about how to protect Jeong Jin-ho well, how the company can become an umbrella for him.

“Everyone open eyes and ears everywhere. If there’s anything threatening to Jin-ho, we must step up and block it.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll keep close watch, President.”

Protecting Jeong Jin-ho safely.

That was now their top priority.

“What? Security guards?”

[Right. I’m thinking of making a security team this time. For our company VIPs. For now it’s just you and me.]

“No. I’d understand for you, hyung-nim. But why me.”

[Of course you’re also VIP. I’ve told you repeatedly. At securities firms, whoever makes most money is best. From our company’s perspective, you’re more important than us.]

“Goodness. Of course you’re most important, hyung-nim. How can the body move without a head?”

[Hehe. This guy makes people touched again. Ah. But Jin-ho. I tried not to ask, but a bit curious.]

“Yes. Ask anything.”

[You. When are you planning to recover that spread money?]

Investment funds currently split into dozens of pieces still placed.

Like a bot farm, fund managers were diligently making money on my behalf.

“I’m planning to leave it for now. Since it’s the weekend anyway, I’ll watch and move when it’s time to sell.”

[Right. You must have thought it through. Sorry calling suddenly on weekend.]

“No. Of course I should answer hyung-nim’s calls. Ah. But I’m out with family now, so I might enter the game a bit late later.”

[Well, come in slowly. Meanwhile I’ll do backed-up homework.]

“What. You’re already in?”

[Of course. This game’s nasty because if you don’t play a bit, guys below climb up. What use if guild master is weaker than guild members? Must set an example. Then I’m going to game. Have good time with family.]

“Yes. Go ahead, hyung-nim.”

I hung up and returned to the waiting vehicle.

“Driver. Sorry on weekend.”

“Not at all. Since we work 365 days in shifts without holidays, you can call anytime. Rather, we have too little to do so feel more sorry receiving expensive salaries for free. Haha.”

In the car, Mom, Dad, and my sister were already in.

“Thanks to our son, we ride expensive cars like this too.”

“The company really provides all this?”

“Yeah. Their consideration so I won’t drive.”

When my parents first heard I received incentive bonuses in the hundreds of billions, they thought I was joking.

But seeing the amount printed in my bank account, Mom completely froze in place that day, it was chaos thinking something went really wrong.

“I still can’t believe it. What on earth did you do for incentive to be that much.”

“Hey. That’s all because our son did well. Would the company go crazy and give it for free? I believed our Jin-ho would do well. You were exceptional even as a kid. Hahaha.”

“Right. Oppa studied well even young. Just blooming now.”

When I succeed, when I feel best is exactly now.

Getting recognized by our family.

I sometimes think.

Where should I spend all this overflowing money?

I didn’t know the day would come when I’d have such happy worries.

Honestly, I had no aspirations like collecting all kinds of luxury goods or collecting foreign cars.

I just liked bursting with dopamine at work trading nonstop, and coming home gaming with hyungs.

Ah. Should I say it was good finally unleashing my frustration of not properly spending money in games?

But there was something that felt even better.

Exactly spending for our family.

And very generously!

“What. Moving to such a spacious place?”

“Yeah. You saw the news, right? This completes next year, and will become our country’s tallest building. Plus while residing, you can use all hotel services. So from cleaning to cooking. Everything.”

LK Group is famous for LK Hotels.

As Korea’s number 1 hotel company, when building LK Tower this time, they also promised the best hotel services.

Basic size ranges from 48 pyeong to 250 pyeong variously.

Especially the 250 pyeong ones are penthouses with only two units in LK Tower.

Though can’t directly enter to see since it’s before completion, you can check what structure it has through model houses.

“Wow. But the modeling is really well done.”

“Right. I heard they’re making it seriously this time.”

“Prices minimum 5 billion to 30 billion?! Isn’t that really insane price? Oppa. Really buying here?”

Not only here.

I was also planning to buy a building and entrust management to my parents who adamantly refuse to quit work.

Only doing this, they’ll reluctantly accept.

As I discussed with Hye-rin before, isn’t real estate the best asset in our country?

Nothing to worry about even putting all money into real estate.

“Wow. You saw the hotel service list? Just call 24 hours and they deliver items to underground parking, pickup service, there’s tons. Plus they give 5-10 parking spaces per household. Money really is best. Living in different worlds.”

“Then you should adapt too. Have to move in here next year.”

“Crazy. Later when my company people know my address changed to LK Tower, how do I explain?”

Seeing my sister’s grinning face, seems she’s already full of delusions.

Saying it’s too expensive, no need to pay such expensive money to buy.

As expected, seems she likes it.

“Pre-buying units in advance would be good too. Since it’s very popular. That’s why some people pre-purchased 3 units in advance. Expecting prices will jump tremendously after LK Tower completes.”

At the staff’s kind explanation, I nodded.

Then shall I also buy one more?

Even I thought prices here would definitely rise more later.

‘But. Been bothering me since earlier.’

Since listening to staff’s kind explanations, signals came bit by bit.

But too faint.

Don’t even know what they’re signaling for.

‘Last time talking with Hye-rin too.’

Even then, signals faintly passed by.

Could it be because of this tower?

‘Surely not shoddy construction?’

When LK Group is staking their fate on this project?

Or signals might be coming because of LK Group itself.

“..”

While family was looking around, I searched LK Group on my phone.

[LK Group Chairman Oh Dong-young. Succession work already finished. Giving everything to eldest son Oh Seung-hyun.]

[LK Group next chairman Oh Seung-hyun designated?]

LK Group is currently in full succession work.

Chairman Oh Dong-young giving his position to eldest son Oh Seung-hyun.

That part was fine, but what followed was the problem.

[LK Group second son Oh Jae-hyun revealed no interest in chairman position]

[Will actively help older brother becoming chairman. Second son Oh Jae-hyun’s aspirations.]

Casually clicking on interview article of Chairman Oh Dong-young’s second son, President Oh Jae-hyun, the moment I did.

“!?”

Tremendous trembling started shaking my body.