Chapter 55
“I learned a lot.”
Jonathan broke the silence as he looked at the book as if it was something incredibly precious. Since I, the real author, could win over Jonathan, an expert in finance and economics, the public would fall for this. I had created the entire book based on my knowledge of financial theories that were not yet published, so no one could notice the truth except me, the actual author.?I included an extensive, in-depth and persuasive description of our success as a red herring, similar to how magicians diverted the audience’s attention away from the real trick.
As I expected, everyone was passionate about the publication, and even highly respected websites such as Financial Times and Wall Street Journal were talking about the book.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
Jonathan replied, “It’s the third reprint already. Sooner or later, it will be translated into Korean.”
“So many more would have contacted you for your popularity now,” I responded.
“Yes. Even the people who’re building cities in deserts are calling me,” he said wryly.
It seemed like oil money was also in contact with Jonathan.
“Then, the government will approve soon. What about Blue Rock and ANC?” I questioned.
He answered readily, “They asked me to wait with our pencils sharpened.”.
“So?” I asked.
“I did as I was told, and they prioritized mergers more than client buyouts. They knew that Jonathan Investment has just begun to grow,” he said.
I emphasized, “Don’t forget that the stakes of offshore companies could be tied to the New York firm depending on the interpretation. Okay?”
“So we only finished the client buyouts. They mentioned the asset management structure, but we said that there’s an acquisition that’s already in progress. Technically, it’s not a lie. With the approval from the government, the offshore funds that the New York firm can manage alone are over fifty billion dollars. So Sun, about England…” he said.
“No. Didn’t you doubt Gillian's abilities in the beginning?” I responded firmly.
“Let’s straighten things out. How can I evaluate the group account manager at Morgan Group? I was just comparing him to you. I researched a bit and realized that Gillian had a massive contribution to the design of the program there. Did you know about that?” he asked.
I replied, “I told you already that Gillain will manage our private property.”
“Yes, you did,” his ego deflated a bit.
“So Jonathan, you should concentrate on taking over the investment companies with Jeffrey Kay. Send your incompetent friends to the sales department, and recruit the best elites in Wall Street,” I said.
He responded, “Okay, let’s get this out of the way. Elites? They have nothing to learn under me. I should be learning from them.”
“They’re just looking for a chance to establish their own footing and don’t care about learning anymore. All they want is fame and money. We will get a reputation after the government’s approval,” I replied with a shrug.
“Sun, you are…”
Jonathan looked at me.
“You are in danger. If you need the fame you gave me, take it back and use it. I’ll take care of the rest,” he said.
I had no choice but to accept his suggestion, as I was still filled with despair and fear from my encounter at the dungeon.
“I apologize for belittling your friends. I told you to only look at their loyalty from the beginning,” I said.
“No need to be sorry since I wouldn’t be willing to let them manage our funds either. Losers should keep to themselves, but don’t worry about it. They are good guys who are grateful to us,” he responded.
***
There could be people other than Woo Yeon-Hee who would recognize Jonathan, so we stayed in. We ordered soft tofu stew for takeout, which was the only Korean food Jonathan enjoyed. He even remembered the name of the restaurant even though he complained of how spicy it was. However, the place must have closed due to the IMF crisis. In the past, the large majority of their customer base were the employees of foreign companies. However, as they all left, the restaurant’s sales would have fallen to the point where they couldn’t maintain their store. This was common in this period.
“This place is not good.”
Jonathan put down his spoon.
“You said you didn’t like Korea from the beginning, right?” I questioned.
He sighed. “That came out in a fit of anger.”.
“Really?” I stared at him.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Korean citizens are the only ones who have sacrificed voluntarily for this country after the IMF, and the government basically forced them into such a drastic situation. Nothing else,” he explained.
Jonathan mentioned the Gold Collection Campaign, which had collected more than two hundred tons of gold. He, of course, knew about it and even witnessed housewives bringing gold wedding rings. The gold was used to resolve the nation’s financial problems, but some of that money lined the pockets of corrupt officials. I didn’t tell Jonathan about this since he would tell me to immigrate to New York.
“Have you thought about it?” I asked while heading to the computer, and Jonathan replied as he followed me.
“What?”
“It’s not just our country. Where do you think all the foreign funds that came into Asia are right now?” I questioned.
Jonathan brought a chair and sat next to me. Then, he began looking at the websites I opened with real interest. Stock markets in Eastern Europe and Latin America were thriving.
“Are these your next investments? Isn’t it too late?” He asked.
He quickly came to the correct conclusion by himself, however. We had plenty of opportunities, but we were catching our breath at the moment. We were busy laundering the money we had earned in Hong Kong. Eastern Europe and Latin America were just the appetizers, and the main dish was somewhere else.
“The money used to burn Asia and the money that came from the people taken by surprise are going to Eastern Europe and Latin America right now.”
I pointed to the monitor, and Jonathan looked as if he was expecting me to do another magic trick. I continued my explanation, “There is one more place, Russia.”
Jonathan turned on the computer as I mentioned that country out of the blue, and he started chasing my hint. He scrolled through reports on Russia released by the Russian Finance Bureau and various financial institutions, and he seemed to have reached an inevitable conclusion. Just like those who had been fooled by my book, the global financial sector was being deceived by Russian data. Even Russian authorities believed their data was genuine.
Jonathan suddenly rejected his conclusion, “Do you know how many nuclear weapons Russia owns? They cannot be destroyed.”
Jonathan was accurate and to the point. That was the public’s general perception of Russia as well. I got up to see the reports he had read. He took his hand off the mouse when he found what he was looking for and said while stretching his back, “The short-term interest rates have reached forty percent. It’s definitely a sign.”
“The market thinks differently,” I replied.
Jonathan’s expression did not show an intention to refute me, but rather expectancy.
“It’s because of the IMF. Some of the foreign investment funds that came into Korea and international capital are now entering Russia. You can confirm the position of the hedge funds regarding Russian government bonds,” I explained.
“And?” He looked at me.
“Another reason why I’m focusing on Russia is their current regime’s incompetence. You said that our government is not doing anything right, but they are worse. Russia’s emerging elite? They are doing everything they can to take their money out of the country,” I continued.
Jonathan looked back at the report and said, “The export data is incorrect, then? If you’re right, their foreign currency reserves would be empty.”
He seemed to slowly realize the seriousness of the situation in Russia.
“Let’s look at something else,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Again?”
“About the impact of the IMF…What do you think will happen to the Russian bonds held by Korea? Korea is selling everything, including real estate and businesses, and Russian bonds are not important to us,” I explained.
“You mean…If your country starts to dispose of Russian bonds, ha! Something like Hong Kong will happen again!”
Jonathan then spoke with excitement.
“Yes, Russia will go bankrupt,” I nodded.
There were plenty of other reasons that I didn’t explain to Jonathan.
We had earned so much profit in the Asian financial crisis because I knew the exact tipping point where the decline began. Otherwise, using the highest leverage meant opening a dungeon box with a 99.999 percent chance of receiving a curse. Such an investment could only be executed by the Almighty One, who the Eight Virtues had ardently trusted.
I used to be able to use that method, but I needed more data now since history had changed due to the butterfly effect of my actions. For Jonathan, it would be a collection of evidence that Russia was doomed, and for me, it was confirmation that the general trends were still maintained.
“Bureaucrats suck. They can’t even follow the global trends. When will they stop using fax machines? At this rate, they will commit an affair by fax and divorce using it, too,” Jonathan said while folding his phone.
“Calm down,” I said.
He responded wryly, “Haha. I should go back to New York by the earliest flight since I can’t receive a fax here. I’ll spend tonight near the airport.”
“Why don’t you look at the investment proposal before you leave?” I questioned.
“Investment proposal? You’re totally certain that Russia will go down?!”
Betting?on things was easy, but a massive amount of work was required by excellent experts to exploit the situation and walk away with the pot.
Gillian, who was nestled in the Isle of Man, the British tax haven, was waiting for the proposal to come.
***
The Isle of Man wasn’t Gillian’s hometown; he had been born in Northern London. Since the island was administratively independent, it was ambiguous to call it his home country. However, they still shared the same sea and had the same queen.
Gillian headed to his favorite bar. Foreigners who came to the tax haven usually locked themselves in their mansion, but he had stopped accepting their invitations and going to their mansions after he came across this bar, as it reminded him of his school days.?Premier League games were always being broadcasted on television, and there were men who would rage and rant at the games even though they were watching a season-old replay.
He usually came here alone without his co-workers as he considered soccer holy. He especially avoided female employees, thinking they would know nothing about soccer. However…
“Jessica? How did you find this place?” Gillian asked.
“I followed the sound.”
Jessica looked at the television, and Gillian was surprised. There were many other places Jessica could go besides here like restaurants on the beach, mansions that the rich kept inviting her?to, and financiers’ salons. However, Jessica has come here just by hearing the sounds of Manchester United thrashing Arsenal. She was as smart as her wits and would have succeeded anywhere. Therefore, Gillian believed she would shine even more in the financial world. That was why he believed her and gave her access to his business email account.
Gillian realized that Jessica was different from her usual self. She was not one to get excited easily, but this time, she looked somewhat flushed.
“Did the investment proposal arrive?” Gillian asked.
“I don’t want to use the word genius hastily, but these people are!” Jessica replied in excitement.
New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on free(w)ebnovel(.)com