Chapter 40

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The research team is like a securities company’s guideline.

Though it differs by company.

Usually research teams scrape together various information to summarize, and pick rising stocks in advance to recommend them.

And analysts write reports based on information entering the research team.

While there are people who make cold and realistic analyses.

There’s always one person who writes delusions like some fantasy novel.

But there was someone who made even analysts writing such delusional reports shake their heads.

“Team Leader. Research request from the Prime department.”

Exactly the Prime department’s head, Jeong Jin-ho.

When requests come from this department, the eyes of team members who were writing reports like dying people become sparkling.

“Yeah. What is it this time? What’s he asking for again?”

“He requested a detailed scenario about England’s EU exit and materials about it together.”

“What? England exiting the EU?!”

How could they not wait for this?

It was a topic that stimulates dopamine just hearing about it.

Since the China shock, Department Head Jeong Jin-ho always requested reports on peculiar topics before major incidents like Greece’s default.

Each time, research staff always wrote in reports that it’s impossible, but the problem was Jeong Jin-ho’s predictions always hit the mark.

Even receiving divine revelations couldn’t be more accurate than this.

“But England exiting the EU?”

“Isn’t that called Brexit?”

“Right. But when England acts like king in the EU, would they try to leave?”

There are exactly three countries playing leader roles in the EU.

France, Germany, and England.

Among these, England was a country standing tall economically and militarily.

Having the most influence in the EU, the highest speaking rights, and accordingly paying the most contributions.

The actual leader.

But such England exiting the EU?

“Even at a time like now?”

“If they suddenly do Brexit now, won’t other European countries’ opposition be severe? Europe’s already having terrorism everywhere, so this is exactly when they should combine forces.”

If the EU’s leader and superpower suddenly says they’ll pull out here, that day they’ll be branded a traitor.

Moreover, England was more sensitive to external views than expected.

Isn’t there even a meme that when something happens in world history, pointing at England roughly gets it right?

Since they rampaged across the entire world from the 18th-20th centuries, they committed every evil deed imaginable. So they’ve made many efforts to erase such negative images.

Such England withdrawing at such an important time?

This was no different from saying they’d be pointed at by people worldwide.

“No matter how you look, it doesn’t make sense, right?”

“Obviously impossible.”

“Right. Would England be crazy and leave the EU?”

But the scary part was that whenever Department Head Jeong Jin-ho made such requests, related incidents always burst.

“Nah. This can’t be it though.”

“If England leaves the EU, they’ll take such huge economic damage. The economic experts there aren’t fools either.”

“But Brexit talk was coming up bit by bit. Especially complaints about immigrants were really severe, and this terrorism situation added fuel there again.”

“Even so, there are too many constraints for England to leave the EU, and the aftermath is too severe to go that far. I can bet my entire fortune on this.”

This was probably normal people’s thinking.

Even staff writing reports with peculiar ideas were adamant Brexit absolutely couldn’t happen.

“What does our thinking matter? Did everyone forget? The research team’s expansion was all thanks to Department Head Jeong Jin-ho. We can receive salaries thanks to him.”

The president’s office directly ordered expansion seeing Department Head Jeong Jin-ho frequently use the research team.

They also didn’t forget instructions to receive that side’s requests with top priority even postponing all other work when Jeong Jin-ho requests.

“Still, topic selection here is always interesting, right?”

“Right. Good that it’s not obvious.”

“Then everyone hurry up and work. The president expanding us means to handle work quickly and accurately.”

Will that man’s prediction be correct this time too?

Waiting for that result was their only pleasure.

A really convenient thing while attending our company was the research team.

After learning that information gathers and intuition flashes through that information, I’ve been using the research team heavily, and since hyung-nim reinforced the research team, materials come over very quickly.

“Brexit-related materials, Department Head.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

I quickly scanned through the materials.

First, the problem is England’s currency.

EU member countries use euros as base currency.

But England judged that European countries and their homeland run on different economic systems, so they insisted on pounds instead of euros.

Especially since pounds were one of the world’s four major currencies, they couldn’t give it up even more.

“But four major currencies ultimately means stability, right? But if Brexit really bursts, economic uncertainty grows tremendously, so pound prices will inevitably drop.”

“Not just pounds, but England’s tourism industry will take tremendous damage. Exiting the euro means everything from visa issues to immigration checks becomes complicated. Even now England does immigration checks a bit even with fellow euro countries, so it’ll get worse.”

“Usually businesspeople frequently stop by England for European business, but if they suddenly exit the euro, it won’t be an attractive business model anymore.”

Working with England was the same as working with all of the euro.

So usually to start business on the European side, France, England, Germany are top priority targets.

Because they’re the euro’s leaders.

But England, running at the top among them, leaving the euro?

Even at such a sensitive time?

First, euro union countries will try not to work with England out of spite, and their pressure will also affect businesspeople.

“But Department Head.”

“Yes?”

“Ah. Never mind.”

I felt department people watching me.

I know why they’re reacting like this.

“What does everyone think? Brexit.”

“That obviously. Can’t happen, right?”

“We know resentment toward immigrants is very severe, but even so, they won’t try to make such a worst move.”

This was a normal reaction.

So I too had Brexit-related materials brought to check once more.

Plus I’m also steadily studying investment, so I’ve gained an eye for viewing economics.

So I knew well how absurd Brexit was.

But what I learned through experience is that even understanding with your head a hundred times, world affairs don’t flow rationally.

“..”

I brought my hand to stocks that would be hit first if Brexit really bursts. Then force entered strongly enough to tear paper, making my fingers tremble.

Rationally no matter how much it’s not, this sensation boiling up from my core is telling me.

That the English guys are crazy.

“I think this way. Politics, corporations, religion, human relationships, etc. Whatever it is, if people do it, emotions always precede reason.”

“What?”

“If we sell all currently holding stocks, how much capital comes out?”

“A bit over 1 trillion won.”

1 trillion won.

As defense industry stock prices all surged, we became the 1 trillion club again.

“Then recover all remaining money tied up there too. And we’re going all-in on Brexit.”

“!?”

Department people all looked at me with surprised eyes.

Stocks recommended by research were England-related stocks.

FTSE 250 index, pounds, English banks, airlines, hotels, government bonds, etc.

Especially tourism stocks expected to take the biggest hit mainly composed it, and among them LK Group was included.

“Department Head. That means really.!”

“Yes. We’re betting not on reason but on English people’s emotions.”

Because my intuition said so.

Crash!

Oh Jae-hyun watching overseas news dropped his glass.

“Wh-what is this.?”

His body trembles so his voice doesn’t come out properly.

“I-is anyone outside?”

“Yes. Chairman. Did you call?”

“Qu-quickly gather all executives. Hurry!”

Seeing the chairman’s face turn bright red, the secretary sensing something serious happened rushed outside.

“Why do things like this keep happening.?”

Oh Jae-hyun blankly stared at news content that appeared as breaking news.

No unfairness like this unfairness.

[England, Brexit declaration.]

Conservative Party Prime Minister Cameron is someone who always had complaints about the EU.

The moment he won this general election, he dropped a bomb statement.

Exactly that they’ll exit the EU.

No matter how much he’s prime minister, he can’t do as he pleases just because he says they’ll exit the EU.

The EU and England were tied together too long, so there are countless things to unravel, and even this matter should be decided through national referendum, such a major issue.

However, what’s important is currently the person called England’s prime minister, even the Conservative Party that won this election, officially declared EU exit.

Whether they really exit or not, that statement itself makes the market surge.

And for LK Group that essentially blew France from this terrorism and was putting their heart and soul into England, it was a bolt from dry sky.

“This crazy bastard!”

Unable to endure, Oh Jae-hyun threw a bottle at the TV.

But anger didn’t last long.

Because a bigger fear began assaulting him.

“What should I do about this?”

Even if Brexit isn’t decided, European countries’ opposition will be tremendous.

According to breaking news coming in consecutively now, France’s president directly came out denouncing England, and though they haven’t exited the EU yet, threatened to newly introduce tourism and export regulations.

Starting with that, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.

All European Union countries came out criticizing England trying to pull out alone at this important time.

Then England will definitely shake.

LK Group that staked their life and poured enormous marketing costs into England will just waste money again.

“Could it be.?”

There, one thing suddenly passing through came.

The shadow still not revealing its identity.

“Did that guy know this would happen?”

Even trusted England hit them from behind.

No one expected this.

Brexit!

That England exiting the EU!

Even if Brexit doesn’t pass through national referendum, tourism industry is essentially annihilated.

Because not only national leaders but all European citizens view England as an unloyal bad guy.

If that guy really looked this far, there’s no thought to even fight.

Because this is almost at the level of looking into the future.

“Then tomorrow is the immediate problem.”

This news will soon spread to financial circles.

Rumors that LK Group failed even England investment.

Then promissory notes will pour from everywhere.

The worst situation of not earning money at all but only having to repay debt.

Plus there’s possibility of not protecting LK Tower.

“No. No matter what happens, we must protect that.”

Whether political connections, going to banks banging heads, or selling affiliates.

Even if all limbs get cut off, they must protect LK Tower.

Because that’s LK Group’s final stronghold.

The feared Brexit finally burst.

And shortly after we aggressively shorted too.

Indeed Brexit was shocking incomparable to China shock and Greece default, so markets were surging considerably.

“Ugh. My head.”

Like that, today I stayed at the company until late night doing short-term trading until my brain seemed to burn, then came home with headaches.

Can’t just sit still with money during such rare big events.

Since I overran the engine after a while, rest was needed.

“Oppa oppa oppa!”

But today my sister came home unusually.

“Hm? Why’d you come when it’s not even weekend?”

“No. There’s something I’m too curious about. But couldn’t suddenly call while you’re working.”

My sister soon served expensive bread and snacks before me.

“Dear brother. You worked hard today too~.”

“Why are you being scary? I’m just going to wash up.”

“Aht. Sit down. This is really expensive bread. That famous overseas chef collaborated with our hotel to make it. The price is also tremendously expensive. Sufficient as bribe, right?”

“What is it?”

My sister glanced around needlessly then whispered to me.

“About LK Tower. I heard your company might take it. Is it true?”

“Is that worth lowering your voice?”

“Anyway! Is it true?”

“Yeah. But it’s not certain. First, collateral is definitely with us.”

I know hyung-nim’s head is hurting tremendously because of this.

With even Brexit bursting, LK Group crisis rumors spread throughout financial circles, and due to that, promissory notes are coming back from everywhere.

Not just money to repay us immediately, but they have to clear all amounts borrowed from other places.

But whether they’re trying to protect LK Tower somehow, they’re creating a picture of slowly pressuring Gwangwoon Securities by connecting lines to political circles.

Even losing everything, their stance seemed to be that LK Tower can’t be taken.

Plus there was another problem even if our Gwangwoon Securities really eats it.

That LK Tower was originally constructed to operate hotels.

But since Gwangwoon Securities isn’t a place that operates hotels, they can’t tear all those spaces apart either, so it’s truly an awkward situation.

“But did you come all the way here curious about that?”

“No. I work at Baekje Hotel, you know. The place that always competes for 1st and 2nd place with LK Hotel. Even this time when LK Hotel opens LK Tower, they’d cement 1st place, so even inside the company we were anxious. But when such rumors spread, staff are going crazy curious whether this is real or fake news.”

Baekje Hotel is an affiliate of Kangsung Group, Korea’s number 1 group.

To protect the pride of Korea’s number 1 group, Baekje Hotel was always fighting with LK Hotel over 1st place.

But they probably thought they’d hand over the throne forever when LK Hotel built a crazy building called LK Tower.

“LK Group wants to protect at least LK Tower, so it probably won’t be easy.”

“Really? Too bad. Ugh. Then does LK Hotel somehow protect the tower this time, bounce back and eternally occupy 1st place? We have to struggle day and night to take that? Going crazy.”

I burst into laughter hearing my sister’s complaints.

Now that oppa is earning tons of money, I told her to quit work and do what she wants, but she said what she wants to do is build a career at her current company.

Probably has her own goals and dreams.

She’s praiseworthy though she’s my sister.

“Snatching 1st place won’t be easy when LK Tower officially opens.”

If LK Group really endures to the end and protects LK Tower, they can somehow recover.

I picked up a fork.

To eat a bit of bread and snacks my sister bought.

“Exactly. How much more will they nag from above? If we knew it’d be like this, wouldn’t it be nice if we also built one splendidly like LK Tower?”

What I learned talking with my sister is when talking with girls, just empathizing is enough.

I nodded while eating bread deliciously.

“Right. They should build one. Kangsung Group has lots of money.”

A famous chef collaborated.

Indeed there’s reason for expensive prices.

“Right! Actually our family is entering LK Tower soon, but it happens to be where a rival company is. How nice if the hotel there was Baekje instead of LK!”

“That too. Mmph!”

“Hey hey. Oppa. What’s wrong? Choked? Wait. I’ll pour milk.”

“Ah. Th-thanks.”

Almost choked on bread blocking my throat.

Fortunately swallowed it well with milk, but definitely felt it.

“Some signal.?”

“Hm? Signal? What signal?”

I looked back and forth at my sister tilting her head and the bread I was eating.

“You said this was made collaborating with a famous chef?”

“Ah, yeah. Choked because it was too delicious?”

There once more came a feeling enough to make the fork shake.

Collaboration.

Seemed to be sticking exactly there.

Gwangwoon and Baekje.

No way, these two’s amazing collaboration?