Chapter 43

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

[LK Group’s largest-scale search and seizure conducted. Former Chairman Oh Dong-young expected to be indicted.]

As soon as Kangsung Group stepped up, the LK Group investigation that had only been talked about finally began in earnest. Whether the situations just overlapped or Kangsung Group really pushed the prosecutor’s back, the government drew its sword.

As a result, LK Group that had been enduring finally raised the white flag.

They reached final agreement to hand over LK Tower to Gwangwoon.

“Wondered how long they’d hold out. It ended up like this.”

“LK Group held out long too. They’re probably busy transfusing funds here and there with the 2 trillion won they received from us right away.”

As expected, Kangsung Group’s power was tremendous.

Seeing them collapse LK Group that built fortress walls and entered iron defense at once.

“Suddenly from media to political circles attacking from all sides, it’s scary even though I’m not the one being hit. Feels a bit pitiful too. This must be Kangsung Group’s power?”

“Right. The term Kangsung Republic doesn’t come out for no reason.”

If Kangsung hadn’t intervened, how would this fight have ended?

Probably dragged on forever and only Gwangwoon Securities would’ve been beaten up.

“But isn’t it scary? Department Head designed it to turn out like this from start to finish.”

Predicting LK Group’s management rights battle and purchasing stakes.

Selling that for 3 times to secure LK Tower as collateral.

Even extorted the funds needed to acquire LK Tower from none other than Baekje Hotel.

“At first I thought it was just lucky. But they say our department head made Baekje Hotel pay 2 trillion won this time?”

“Yeah. Whether Kangsung or LK, they were all on the department head’s palm. Hehe.”

“Really gives me chills. What thoughts must you have normally to be able to eat LK Tower? With a securities firm at that?”

“Hey. Don’t try to understand. Anyway, he’s far beyond the scope we can understand.”

When first coming to the Prime department.

Section Chief Seo said that.

That working with Department Head Jeong Jin-ho, every day would be spectacular.

That was true.

“Everyone, good morning.”

“You’re here, Department Head!”

What will he excite us with today?

Always curious and looking forward to that.

“Before the meeting, please bring materials about Kangsung Electronics.”

“.What? K-Kangsung Electronics?”

“Yes. How much would Kangsung Electronics stock price drop, what incidents need to happen, etc. As detailed as possible.”

“Yes. U-understood.”

“Let me know when ready.”

All employees in the department froze.

“D-did he just ask to bring Kangsung Electronics materials?”

“Don’t tell me this time he set Kangsung Electronics as target. Right?”

It’s Kangsung Group that’s demolishing LK Group as soon as catching them.

Asking to bring materials about electronics, Kangsung Group’s core.

Something’s not right.

“Section Chief said it’d really be spectacular every day.”

“Now adding thrills to that.”

Working beside Department Head Jeong Jin-ho with so many incidents, thought there’d be nothing surprising anymore, but that wasn’t it.

Section Chief Seo gulped dry saliva with pounding heart.

“Europe’s backlash is very fierce because of this Brexit. Everyone’s issuing aggressive statements every other day.”

“England already started tracking down and kicking out all immigrants. Filling jobs only with English people.”

“The problem is when that happens, companies are actually reducing jobs due to labor costs. This phenomenon is spreading faster than expected, so England’s government seems flustered too.”

Brexit was never a good choice.

Everyone will say the same now and going forward too.

In other words, Brexit was a wrong decision where crowd madness and emotions tangled.

“It’s a democratic world, so can’t be helped. Even if it’s a wrong decision, if the majority wants it, must follow that.”

Haven’t exited the EU yet.

But seeing side effects bursting here and there already, England’s government seemed flustered.

So they’re somehow plugging holes, but Brexit is what they already announced.

Can’t turn back.

Probably England will regret Brexit for ages.

“The materials I requested?”

“Ah, yes. Here.”

Today especially, employees seemed somewhat tense.

I received the materials and looked through them.

“The K7 model came out well?”

“Yes. Evaluation is very good. Pre-orders are flooding in tremendously. Released yesterday, everyone says it’s a really well-made phone and evaluations are good.”

The materials had only Kangsung Electronics good news.

Not just domestic pre-order sales jackpot, but overseas sales trends are tremendous now too.

If continuing like this, looked like they’d hit Kangsung Electronics’ maximum sales.

‘But why did that happen then?’

The K7 phone my sister brought few days ago.

Then startled by excessive sparks, dropped it and the phone died.

Maybe because of that, even touching the broken phone, no particular feeling came.

‘Was that phone the problem?’

Should’ve bought one myself knowing this.

Currently no stock, so hard to get without pre-orders.

“Ah! Department Head. I changed phones to K7 this time. Want to see?”

Then Hye-rin waved her newly changed phone.

Already decorated prettily with character accessories and stickers.

“Then can I look briefly?”

“Of course~.”

I was about to receive the phone from Hye-rin but hesitated briefly.

Because if intense sparks fly again like then, this phone could die too.

‘Prepare mentally.’

Carefully received the phone.

“.Hmm?”

Was worried for nothing.

Actually receiving it, no particular feeling.

As expected, was that device strange?

“Huh? Deputy Lee also changed phones to that? Me too.”

Then Section Chief Seo beside also showed his phone.

Wait. Could it be.

“Section Chief.”

“Ah, yes. Department Head.”

“Can I see yours briefly too?”

“Yes. Here.”

Crackle!

As soon as my finger touched the phone Section Chief handed over, strong sparks shook my entire body.

The phone ended up falling on the table.

“Oops. Sorry, Department Head. My hand must’ve slipped.”

“No. I’m sorry. Is the phone okay?”

“Ah, yes. Put on a case and screen protector, so it’s fine.”

No feeling from that phone, but intense sparks from only this phone.

Could there be a device defect?

But this was a much bigger spark than Dieselgate.

I brought my hand to Kangsung Electronics stock before that feeling completely disappeared.

“.!”

That tingling feeling that was disappearing began surging again.

Got conviction there.

‘There’s something wrong with this model!’

Don’t know exactly what’s wrong.

But the phone Section Chief holds definitely seems problematic.

“..”

I checked where we currently placed money.

Been holding all along.

Is it saying this much is enough now?

The signal that hadn’t come was shaking my temples.

Finally time came to harvest the sown seeds.

“The money spread in Europe, let’s recover it all now. About how much?”

“Calculating fees and taxes and subtracting this and that. About 50%.”

“Wow.”

“500 billion.”

About 500 billion.

A tremendous amount.

A return rate hard to achieve without such big events bursting occasionally.

“Department Head. Could suddenly recovering the amount be. To put into Kangsung Electronics?”

“Yes. As expected, you know my heart well.”

“C-could it be long?”

“No.”

“.!”

Section Chief Seo heard my words and squeezed his eyes shut.

Thought he might oppose, but that wasn’t it.

“Shorting 1.5 trillion won will be hard. But will check how much we can put in through securities lending transactions.”

“Yes, please.”

Then I stopped Section Chief Seo about to move on orders.

“Wait, Section Chief.”

“Yes?”

“Earlier I dropped your phone because of me.”

“Ah, yes. That’s fine.”

“No. I’m not fine. Could I buy you a new phone?”

“What? Really, it’s fine.”

“You’ve been so helpful. Wanted to give a small gift.”

Then Section Chief looked at me surprised.

“A-a gift? Department Head, for me?!”

“Heard last time Kangsung Electronics sells gold phones as special edition. Though it’s not this model but the previous model. Would that be okay?”

The model’s also previous.

Worried he might dislike it.

But Section Chief was smiling ear to ear.

“For me, if it’s Department Head’s gift, it’s family honor. Will preserve it as family treasure forever.”

“Oh. No need to go that far.”

“Haha. But. Only for me?”

“Of course. It’s my special gift only for Section Chief, so please definitely use that?”

“Thank you, Department Head. Will use only that until I die!”

Section Chief returned to his seat smiling broadly.

Didn’t know he’d like it that much.

Should change it as soon as possible.

That phone is too unsettling.

Might be nothing.

Kangsung Electronics’ new phone model K7, that received very good evaluation domestically and overseas through preliminary testing.

The phone finally launched and was selling like hotcakes worldwide.

“Already sold out. Pre-orders filled so currently producing more quickly.”

“At this rate, can surpass historical sales?”

“Yes. At this speed, seems like we’ll record best sales since founding.”

“Good news already spread to markets, so stock price already rose over 10%. Many predictions that at this rate, stock price might really hit 200.”

Kangsung Electronics stock price that reached 1.7 million won was now eyeing 2 million won.

Not an impossible number if this good news continues.

“Keep monitoring market situations. Don’t spare money on marketing. Especially highlight this sales volume and performance as much as possible to stimulate purchase desire.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho breathed a sigh of relief.

Wasn’t there really much talk going around about illegal succession and such?

Also many questions about Chairman Kang’s leadership.

One fortunate thing was that thanks to LK Group fighting noisily, Kangsung Group succession actually got buried.

Moreover, thanks to Gwangwoon Securities joining and making the situation more chaotic, criticism toward Kangsung Group died down a lot.

So deliberately amplified the incident.

The more arrows of criticism aimed at LK Group, the less people’s interest in Kangsung Group succession problems.

‘2 trillion won was a bit wasteful. But also got hotel field number 1, demolished LK Group, and above all people don’t care about our issues anymore, so rather went well.’

Honestly didn’t like that only Gwangwoon Securities bastards sat and filled their bellies, but this much was win-win.

Even didn’t know K7, that could be called Chairman Kang Seong-ho’s first test stage, would sell this well.

If stock price hits 2 million won like this and succeeds until the next model, no one will doubt Kangsung’s leadership.

“Chairman. One thing to report.”

The Kangsung Securities president who attended executive-level meeting remained alone even after everyone left.

“What is it?”

“Well. A rumor is circulating in finance, so thought I should report.”

“Rumor?”

“Yes. A rumor that someone heavily shorted Kangsung Electronics.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho narrowed his brows.

Shorting means there are forces questioning Kangsung’s leadership.

But it was a somewhat incomprehensible judgment.

Betting on shorts now? In this situation where Kangsung Electronics is doing so well?

“K7 evaluation is very good, yet they heavily shorted knowing that?”

“Yes. Can’t know exactly when they shorted, but certainly placed it recently. Korea Exchange tallies daily short selling, and the amount increased sharply in few days.”

“That’s Kangsung Electronics side?”

“Yes. Comparing with our side’s selling volume makes it certain.”

Short selling is anonymous trading.

Also for cases like Kangsung Electronics with many foreign and institutional investments, can’t know at first whether this is simple profit-taking selling or short selling.

To know that, must compare with short selling tally data Korea Exchange discloses.

“Can you know who did it?”

“That’s hard to know immediately. Short selling is traded anonymously, and they do securities lending transactions through various institutions and securities firms. Will take some time to track.”

“Heard last time short selling regulations are changing. Still haven’t changed?”

“An obligation to disclose when short selling over 0.5% should arise mid-year or next year, but not applied yet. Even if that’s applied, hiding faces through securities lending transaction shorts is still easy.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho briefly hummed while stroking his chin.

Who’s holding memorial service now?

Audacious, but honestly seemed no need to care.

“Just leave it? Anyway if stock price rises, only those bastards lose. We’re pouring only good news.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho had some financial knowledge too.

If shorting wrongly then stock price shoots up, the opponent faces high risk of forced liquidation.

“That’s true but. Thought about using these guys to pump stock price once more, so mentioned it.”

“Pump stock price more?”

This was somewhat appealing.

“Yes. Heavily shorting by borrowing stocks like this is one method to hide identity and position as much as possible. Because if position gets exposed, might receive attacks from all sides.”

Borrowing certain amount of stocks through brokers and shorting is exactly securities lending transactions.

Easy to hide position, and convenient to hide identity of who’s shorting.

Above all, hard to heavily short with only volume released to market, so solving volume through securities lending transactions.

Then why do institutions do securities lending transactions?

Because they have nothing to lose and just receive fees.

“But we quietly spread this news. That some major force heavily shorted Kangsung Electronics.”

“Does that work?”

“Kangsung Electronics is rising with consecutive good news, right? If shorting such places, the opponent must receive margin calls when certain stock price rises.”

Then if unable to bear margin call pressure and forced liquidation happens, must buy stocks at current price.

Must repay what’s borrowed.

“That’s why short hunters exist. Raising stock price high to force liquidation on opponents for profit.”

Hearing that, a smile naturally formed.

Daring to make such reckless bet on Kangsung Electronics having no place to challenge.

“Sounds fun.”

“Shall we proceed?”

“Yes. Don’t know who that force is, but make them scream.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

After the securities president left, Chairman Kang leaned back in his chair.

Should find out who?

No. Probably no need for that.

Because when hunters worldwide gather and tear apart that stupid bastard, will automatically go on news.

Forced liquidation bankrupts 0000!

Like that.