Chapter 49

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“So it ended up like this. Just as Department Head Jeong wanted. Right?”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho, who left angrily last meeting, was smiling today while filling my glass with alcohol.

“First 2 trillion won. This time 3 trillion won. Department Head Jeong is the first to extract a total of 5 trillion won from our Kangsung pockets.”

“When you put it that way, I sound like such a bad guy.”

“From our Kangsung’s position, you’re beyond a bad guy, you’re a thief! Haha.”

Yet he seems to be in a good mood.

Hyung-nim beside him filled Chairman Kang’s glass while saying.

“Still, Chairman. You’re not losing out, are you? LK Tower also has great long-term benefits looking far ahead, plus if you disassemble Kintetsu well, selling what needs selling and absorbing what needs absorbing, it’ll be very profitable for you.”

“That’s why I came here with a shameless face. When Department Head Jeong opened his eyes wide and told me to cough up 3 trillion won, I left in a fury. But coming back to receive it again is embarrassing.”

“No. If I were the chairman, I would’ve scolded this Jin-ho bastard and left too.”

Though Kangsung Group paid us 3 trillion won to buy the bonds, it definitely wasn’t a disadvantage for them.

Think about it.

If it were really a loss, Chairman Kang Seong-ho wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

“I heard, Chairman. You’re planning to take even Osaka Harukas? No matter what, Osaka Harukas is like Japan’s pride building, is that possible?”

“I wasn’t going to be greedy for that either. But you know. Since the Mossack Fonseca Gate opened, nobody’s defending Kintetsu Group.”

Plus by putting forward the company Osaka Orient, most Japanese citizens don’t know that a Korean company holds the leash behind it.

Just like how our country’s people didn’t know Japan was behind LK Group before.

Moreover, since even the Japanese government isn’t helping Kintetsu Group anymore, Kangsung Group could eat Osaka Harukas, Japan’s largest building.

“We’ll have to go through many procedures, but it’s just a matter of time. Ah. If you come to Osaka for travel next time, tell me anytime. We’re planning to put our Baekje Hotel in Osaka Harukas. We’ll treat you two as VIPs. Haha.”

Kangsung Group is happy eating up Kintetsu, an unexpectedly large group.

We’re happy receiving 3 trillion won without needing to do tedious work.

“Come. Cheers.”

Clink.

Like the glasses clinking making a cheerful sound, we both achieved a pleasant win-win.

“But I want to ask you two something. The 3 trillion won you’re taking from here. What are you planning to do with it now?”

“Well. A small-minded person like me would probably roll it in safe assets as much as possible.”

“Department Head Jeong doesn’t plan to do that?”

“Yes. What our Jin-ho hates most is safe assets.”

“Really? Well. Even I can see he’s no ordinary strong heart. Who in the world would think of extracting 5 trillion won from Kangsung Group?”

“Speaking now, I heard that and was so shocked I almost collapsed.”

Everyone’s only having light conversation.

Today’s atmosphere was just overall good.

We already handed over the bonds, and there’s no reason for the two companies to compete anymore.

“Ah. Sorry for a moment. I’ll take this call.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Hyung-nim went out to take a call.

So Chairman Kang Seong-ho and I were left alone.

“..”

An awkward silence flowed.

But soon Chairman Kang broke the ice first.

“Department Head Jeong. What’s your goal?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a whopping 3 trillion won. Department Head Jeong is rolling alone the money numerous fund managers work together to roll. Yet you show no signs of stopping. Honestly if you were an ordinary person, couldn’t you quit anytime? You could live lavishly forever just with the incentives you received.”

I sometimes think that too.

If I quit this job, what would I do?

What should I do with this tremendous money received as incentives?

But no matter how much I thought, besides buying a building to make our guild’s exclusive landmark, there wasn’t anything I particularly wanted to do.

Plus I’ve already realized one thing.

From the moment I set foot in the world of investment.

From the moment I got hooked on the dopamine bursting from there.

I can no longer go back to before.

“Do you know BlackRock?”

“I know. The world’s largest fund company. They roll about 7,000 trillion won? I heard their capital will increase to 10 quadrillion within 5 years?”

7,000 trillion is already an amount hard to gauge.

A whopping 10 quadrillion.

Truly fantasy-like capital power.

“My goal is to become a company rolling such massive capital. 3 trillion won is still far off.”

Then Chairman Kang burst into laughter.

“Big goal. Almost delusional.”

“Goals are better the bigger you set them.”

Of course, I also don’t think I can create a company surpassing BlackRock.

Just like how in games too, I admired and looked at number 1 rankers or number 1 guilds as goals, should I say it’s like that now too?

“Then Department Head Jeong.”

“Yes.”

“Want to come to our company?”

“.!”

I hesitated and looked at Chairman Kang.

His face was serious without a trace of laughter.

“What Department Head Jeong dreams of. You can achieve it within our Kangsung Group. Because we’re a company hundreds of times bigger than Gwangwoon. Capital, system, nothing lacking. And we’ll treat you at the industry’s highest level. How about it?”

“..”

Chairman Kang wasn’t joking.

I was surprised at first, but I gradually calmed down.

“I’m fine.”

“The industry’s highest treatment I mentioned isn’t in tens of billions. I’m talking hundreds of billions. Still don’t want to?”

“Yes. I like my current company. I like our company’s people too.”

Chairman Kang examined my expression then soon downed his drink.

“No matter how I look at it, you don’t seem to be trying to bargain. You’re really firm.”

“I’m grateful the chairman views me favorably, but I don’t want to leave a place I like.”

“Do you have values you pursue higher than money?”

His throat seemed dry as Chairman Kang quickly emptied his glass once more.

“President Hwang must be part of that? Every time I see you, you two don’t seem like boss and subordinate.”

“Yes. I suppose so. Though we don’t share blood, he’s truly like family to me. A big brother I can rely on. Above all, when I was having the hardest time, he was the first to step forward and help me.”

“Ha. Damn it. If you say that much, I have nothing more to say. I also hate most in the world people who backstab those who showed them kindness. Still it’s a shame, so thinking of it as three humble visits, I’ll ask just one more time. You really don’t want to? Not even a grain of hesitation?”

“No.”

Eventually Chairman Kang seemed to give up too.

“Alright. Can’t be helped.”

I thought that was it.

“Then are you seeing any woman?”

***

Chairman Kang got in his car after wrapping up the dinner.

“Chairman. Did you have a good meal?”

“Yeah. Let’s go straight to the hotel.”

“Yes.”

Then he suddenly became curious.

“Secretary Kim.”

“Yes.”

“If another company told Secretary Kim they’d give you a hundred billion to come over, what would you do?”

“What? A-a hundred billion?”

Secretary Kim’s pupils shook like an earthquake hit.

Right. This would be the normal reaction.

Even though it’s not a real proposal.

“Of course I’d refuse.”

“Yeah right.”

“I-I’m serious!”

“Alright. I was just joking.”

A hundred billion.

A tremendous amount.

An amount that could shake even the most loyal retainer.

But Jeong Jin-ho truly didn’t hesitate even for a moment.

Maybe he has confidence he can receive that much from Gwangwoon Securities too, but it wasn’t simply because of that.

Where is Kangsung?

Korea’s top company.

No matter how much Gwangwoon Securities earns, it can’t compare.

However, he had something he valued more than money.

‘He said President Hwang helped him when he was having the hardest time.’

Though I don’t know exactly what that was.

President Hwang, that gentleman is enviable. No. I’m envious to the point of madness.

I now understand Nolbu’s jealousy toward Heungbu.

Where on earth did he find such talent?

The guy even has loyalty.

That was truly admirable.

Unwavering loyalty like Mount Tai before money.

Plus though they share not a drop of blood, they’re blood brothers bonded tighter than that.

Truly romantic and enviable.

Probably because it reminds me of the three brothers of Liu Bei in Romance of the Three Kingdoms I enjoyed reading as a child.

‘.But Liu Bei’s three brothers were 3 people, right?’

Jeong Jin-ho and Hwang Dae-woon.

Exactly two people, so couldn’t one fill the remaining spot?

***

This bustling morning air.

Though coming to work must’ve been hard for everyone, once entering the company we were busy moving without rest.

Before the market opens.

Because we need to prepare a lot, quickly holding meetings and planning strategies in advance.

Should I say it’s the nostalgic air you can only smell in Yeouido?

“Oh my. Department Head.”

After the Japan business trip ended, I came to work at the department the next day.

The one greeting me most enthusiastically was Section Chief Seo.

“You worked so hard going all the way to Japan. Thank you for your efforts.”

“No. Rather I felt sorry for just playing too much.”

“Goodness. Playing? You earned a whopping 3 trillion won!”

“Right. We almost fainted hearing the price. How did you get 3 trillion won from Kangsung.”

While in Japan, I kept feeling something was empty, but coming here that emptiness feels filled.

No. Maybe I just lacked dopamine from not being able to roll money.

“Did everyone rest well? You didn’t need to come to work while I was gone.”

“We rested a bit. But when Department Head went to Japan and was fighting hard against Kangsung, how could we just play?”

“Don’t even start. Section Chief looked at Department Head’s empty seat sadly every day, eagerly waiting only for your return.”

“Ahem. W-when did I do that?”

But seems I wasn’t the only one feeling empty.

“When I actually tried playing at home, there was something strangely not fun.”

“Even resting fully and spending incentives lavishly, there was something that wouldn’t be filled.”

“Right. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.”

Seems I wasn’t the only one addicted to this taste.

“So we sometimes came to work and compiled analyses while monitoring current market situations.”

“Files organizing domestic and overseas market situations while continuously receiving data from research.”

Everyone overflowed with passion.

Reports were piled like mountains to read.

“This will take some time.”

“We’ll summarize as briefly as possible and report to you.”

Employees gathered in the conference room after a long time started briefing excitedly.

“The Mossack Fonseca incident is shaking the entire world situation now. So many people are involved, and especially since it was revealed funds here were used for terrorism, they’re being even more cautious.”

“Our country’s politicians and businesspeople were also revealed to be connected, so there’s talk of massive tax audits. Well. Won’t our country just let it slide?”

“Can’t tear anyone apart in this situation. National affairs are too chaotic.”

The Mossack Fonseca Gate’s impact was too huge.

Putting everything else aside, the biggest problem was that terrorism funds came from here.

If not for that, things wouldn’t have blown up this much.

Tax evasion happens in every country anyway.

“.?”

Then something caught my eye.

A report about Hanjong Shipping bankruptcy rumors.

“Ah. Hanjong Shipping. Actually ominous rumors are circulating in financial circles now. Content that Hanjong Shipping will go bankrupt soon.”

“They’ll really go bankrupt? As I recall, Hanjong Shipping had good news.”

“Yes. But there’s much talk it was fake. They actually received a contract worth hundreds of billions in orders, but somehow it fell through. But talk is it was actually a plan to raise stock prices short-term.”

Shipping companies literally do trade through the sea.

Doesn’t 90% of world trade happen through the sea?

In the past Korea, from shipbuilding to shipping.

They were making quite a lot of profit.

But now there are too many competitors worldwide, so our country couldn’t survive in that suffocating competition.

Not only Hanjong Shipping, but talk is going around that Daegwang Heavy Industries’ affiliate, Daegwang Shipping, is also struggling now.

“Then someone manipulated stock prices?”

“Yes. But since concluding the contract was real and it falling through was real too, the Financial Supervisory Service is investigating, but the problem is there seems to be quite a large manipulation force behind this. Research says it seems Elliot Fund is attached.”

Elliot Fund.

A force I know too.

The reason they’re famous is none other than because of Kangsung Group.

Like many of our country’s large corporations, Kangsung Group also manages through circular shareholding structure, and Elliot tried to take control of Kangsung Group by targeting weaknesses during succession work.

Naturally Elliot didn’t take Kangsung Group, but they gained big profits and pulled out.

“They’re quite famous. A bear raid fund going around Asia shorting. Like now, they deliberately raise stock prices to gather retail investors, then spread malicious reports and rumors to create an image that the company will collapse any moment, dropping prices to where they shorted.”

Bear raid.

Means a strategy of spreading malicious rumors about a specific company to drop stock prices then profit from shorting.

There are funds and investment companies specializing in this, and Elliot was one of them.

Not just Elliot, but there are more bear raid funds shaking our domestic market than expected.

Because of such bastards, our country implements many financial regulations.

The problem was that even with regulations, they find loopholes and repeat the same things.

“The biggest problem is this company’s owner and executives. I heard when stock prices rose from good news, these people disposed all their shares.”

“They’re in cahoots?”

“Yes. Only retail investors who were deceived are in big trouble now. Conversely, short selling forces like Elliot are probably popping champagne early.”

It was unfortunate for retail investors.

If stock prices keep dropping like this, Elliot will make big money and pull out, and since the owner and executives already escaped, practically only delisting remains.

Then when bankruptcy procedures proceed to final insolvency, all stocks retail investors hold become worthless paper.

People will wail, but nobody can rescue them.

The nation might give very little help, but it won’t even be 10% of the money they lost.

Unfortunately, this happens often in our country.

I also think it’s pitiful, but there’s no way to help.

Just be careful not to step on such shit.

“Hmm?”

Here it goes again.

Like last time with Mossack Fonseca when blood appeared on my thumb, scarlet blood spread.

But this time it wasn’t red but a refreshing blue like the sea.

‘Is this also a type of signal?’

I’ve been thinking that since last time.

People with games, sports, playing instruments, and so on.

When doing one thing repeatedly, they gradually develop.

The time comes when they jump up one level as skills improve.

Might this also be that?

‘Plus it’s not red but blue.’

When red spread, it felt eerie and chilling, but this felt like waves hitting my chest refreshingly and coolly.

“Department Head?”

“This. Hanjong Shipping.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we try entering?”

“What?”

Employees looked at me like they didn’t know what I was talking about.

Why enter a stock already dying from manipulation forces?

“Don’t tell me Department Head.”

Then Section Chief Seo started sparkling his eyes like he realized something.

“You’re going to reversely devour Elliot Fund?”