After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 31
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Got Divorced and Found a Thousand Bitcoins Episode 031
There were several communities in Korea where traders gathered.
Among them, one piece of news was posted in a place where information exchange happened quickly.
-India market is in chaos.
-What happened?
-SEBI is going after some Chinese investment company.
-SEBI? Looks like it really blew up?
-From what I hear, the Chinese investment company was playing around with options.
└But wasn’t the India market originally a playground for foreigners? Why suddenly now?
└This time the Chinese investment company pushed prices too aggressively and left all the evidence.
└Crazy bastards. They did that while leaving such traces?
-The Chinese investment company is called Dongbang Partners. Seems like they lost big after investing in NextMove.
└Looks like they played dirty in India to make up for that.
-This is just a rumor. They say Dongbang did that because some big player interfered.
└Big player? Dongbang is in the top 10 in China. Someone interfered with them to that extent?
└Not sure about the details. Anyway, seems like Dongbang’s systematized trading patterns got broken and they got pushed back.
Rumors spread that Dongbang Partners had been defeated.
If it spread domestically, it meant related news had already spread to other countries too.
This fact was a humiliating result for Dongbang Partners.
However, their defeat in the market couldn’t be changed.
“Impressive.”
Richard Blake, who came across this news, was amazed.
“I wondered why they went to India. Was Dongbang Partners the target?”
The community didn’t reveal who the big player involved in this incident was.
But Richard knew that big player was KH Capital.
“Even though it’s just an India branch, their financial power should overwhelm KH Capital, yet they lost.”
Dongbang Partners manages AUM that ranks among the top in China.
The India branch had also grown its scale over 4 long years by earning overwhelming profits in the India market.
In other words, they lost in a battle of money.
Yet they won.
“Did they use magic or something?”
He knew that wasn’t the case, but that’s how difficult the result was to understand.
“How they won will be revealed soon. Anyway, Dongbang Partners will have a headache from this deal.”
The India branch, which had been a stable source of profit, was likely to be lost due to this incident.
Since SEBI would take action.
Combined with the losses from NextMove, he thought Dongbang Partners would face difficulties.
“I’m curious why CEO Kang Hyeon targeted Dongbang.”
Richard picked up the phone.
He was someone who had to resolve his curiosities to feel satisfied.
* * *
India.
SEBI’s Director Rajiv Maheshwari moved personally.
“Strip Dongbang Partners India Branch from head to toe!”
“Understood!”
The Director General of the Enforcement Department took command.
This meant one thing.
“We’ll clean out all these thieving bastards who are eating away at our country this time!”
“Yes!”
SEBI moved swiftly.
They raided the Dongbang Partners India Branch office, secured all materials, and detained related personnel.
“Ha! I knew this would happen.”
Rajiv identified their criminal activities from the secured materials.
Based on this, he froze the India branch’s funds.
[Dongbang Partners India Branch under intensive investigation by SEBI.]
[Did Dongbang Partners ravage the Indian stock market?]
[SEBI’s Director General of Enforcement, Rajiv Maheshwari, strongly criticized in an interview with local media, saying “The Indian market is not a playground for foreigners!”]
[A Dongbang Partners headquarters official drew a line saying “It was the branch manager’s independent decision. It has nothing to do with headquarters.”]
Financial media began covering the story.
And in relation to this, there was movement within Dongbang Partners as well.
“This is maddening. To think Ju Myeong-heo would do such a thing.”
“After NextMove, now the India branch is in this state. This is really dangerous.”
“That’s not the problem right now. At this rate, India might suspend our operations.”
The Indian market ranks in the top 5 globally.
Moreover, its scale was growing at a tremendous pace every year.
China, being the world’s most populous country, knew better than anyone the power that came with population.
Because they had used the power of being number one in population to rapidly grow their economy.
Being expelled from such an Indian market would be the worst case scenario.
“We’ll lobby the higher-ups in India. The problem is that raising those funds is tight for us right now.”
“Let’s dispose of all assets we can dispose of for now. Contact headquarters and all branches to process all disposable assets that are lower priority.”
The headquarters’ policy was decided.
* * *
“Yes… I understand.”
Li Chunseong, who hung up the phone, frowned.
‘Dispose of all disposable assets?’
The directive from headquarters was simple.
Sell everything that can be turned into money immediately.
The problem was that the Korean branch hardly did any direct trading.
From the beginning, they had a strategy to maximize profits through real estate purchases.
So most of the assets they held were related to real estate.
‘The only thing we can dispose of right now are stocks?’
34 percent of KH Construction’s stock.
Disposing of this wasn’t a problem.
What bothered him was that the timing was too perfect.
‘To think such a directive would come not long after discussing with that guy…’
That guy was none other than Kang Hyeon.
Since this happened after discussing with him, he naturally had to suspect him.
“Sigh… I guess I have to do as instructed for now.”
Since it wasn’t a simple recommendation but an absolute directive to follow, Li Chunseong had no choice but to move.
He contacted and met with Kang Hyeon that evening.
Kang Hyeon’s expression when they met at the hotel lounge where they had met separately was the epitome of composure.
Though he didn’t like it, his side was more urgent right now.
“Let’s get straight to the point.”
“Good.”
“The 34 percent stake in KH Construction I proposed last time, I’ll transfer it for 200 billion won.”
A whopping 10 percent discount.
He decided to cut 22.1 billion on the spot.
“I’m sorry, but that price is difficult.”
Kang Hyeon refused.
And up to this point, it was calculated.
‘I need to start at this price to get the value I want.’
Bargaining, by its very nature, required slowly matching prices.
That was the art of negotiation.
“30 billion, that’s the absolute maximum.”
The problem was that the other party had no intention of doing so.
* * *
Naturally, the negotiations fell through.
“I’ve done countless deals, but this is the first time I’ve encountered such a transaction! This is truly unpleasant!”
The other party stormed out of their seat.
But Kang Hyeon remained unshaken.
‘They don’t have time. They’ll eventually give in and come back.’
The major shareholder of KH Construction was KH Recovery.
Since they already held more than half the shares, even if another company acquired those shares, there was nothing they could do.
In other words, it meant the value would drop.
‘Of course, after winning the theme park project contract, the value might rise and buyers might appear…’
But that was still a distant story.
It didn’t seem like Dongbang Partners Korea Branch could hold out until then.
‘Time is on my side.’
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
* * *
Strange rumors began circulating in the market.
“I heard Dongbang Partners is selling their KH Construction shares?”
“How much are we talking about?”
“34 percent.”
“That would make them the second-largest shareholder, right?”
“Right. KH Recovery holds the rest.”
“Not very attractive, is it? The major shareholder holds too much.”
“Still, if KH Construction wins the Yeongjong Island theme park project in the future, the price should go up somewhat.”
“Come on, how can we wait that long? What’s the asking price?”
“150 billion.”
“They’re crazy.”
Dongbang Partners was trying to sell their stake in KH Construction.
Though this news spread, everyone who heard about it shook their heads.
Because they were asking too high a price.
As Kang Hyeon had predicted, Li Chunseong was under time pressure.
“Yes… Yes. I understand. But there are no buyers in the current situation…”
-Do I have to worry about that too? Wrap it up as soon as possible!
“…Understood.”
The headquarters’ situation was getting worse by the day.
Because problems with the India branch were being revealed daily.
[SEBI today froze withdrawals of $170 million in managed funds held by Dongbang Partners India Branch, considering it illegal profits.]
SEBI had blocked the India branch’s withdrawals.
It was essentially viewing them as having committed illegal acts.
Li Chunseong frowned upon receiving the news.
‘Damn bastards! If they want to die, they should die among themselves, why splash their shit on us!’
It was maddening.
If not for those guys, it could have been a deal worth at least 10 billion won in profit.
But now they had to settle at a loss instead.
However, that was a grave miscalculation.
Ring ring-!
“What’s going on?!”
-Sir… someone from the Financial Supervisory Service is here.
“What? The Financial Supervisory Service?”
-Yes… Team Leader Kim Su-kyeong from Investigation Team 1 of the Capital Markets Investigation Bureau.
His head became complicated.
Capital Markets Investigation Bureau?
Why would they come out?
But his contemplation didn’t last long.
“You can’t do this…!”
Bang!
Noisy sounds came from outside, then the door opened forcefully as a group of people entered.
“Capital Markets Investigation Bureau Investigation Team 1, Team Leader Kim Su-kyeong. You’re under arrest for concealment of criminal proceeds and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.”
“What… what are you talking about! What did I do?!”
“Here’s the warrant.”
Li Chunseong’s expression hardened as he received the warrant Kim Su-kyeong handed him.
It contained evidence of his exchanges with Oh Jeong-seok.
“…I’ll contact the embassy.”
He had no choice but to play the last card a foreigner could pull out.
* * *
The Financial Supervisory Service had hit a foreign investment company.
This fact soon spread throughout Yeouido.
“It was Dongbang, I heard.”
“Didn’t they get hit in India too?”
“Must have structural problems.”
“India disrupted the market. This time it’s involvement in jeonse fraud, they say?”
“Huh… Jeonse fraud? Why would an investment company need that?”
“Real estate is what makes money in our country. I guess they diverted land that was supposed to be developed into a theme park for jeonse fraud.”
“They’re stupid too. Did they think they wouldn’t get caught?”
“According to someone I know at the Financial Supervisory Service, it’s that place in Incheon.”
“The place that got hit by KH Capital?”
“Yeah, information was passed along because of that incident, and when the Financial Supervisory Service reviewed it, Dongbang got caught up in it too.”
“Huh… This is truly a butterfly effect.”
The branch manager of Dongbang Partners Korea Branch had been arrested.
It meant there were substantial charges against him.
Naturally, a different person appeared at the negotiation table with Kang Hyeon.
“I’m Lim Myeong-guk, who will be conducting negotiations from now on.”
The man who identified himself as Lim Myeong-guk had a sense of helplessness in his expression.
More precisely, it was a face worn down by fatigue.
This was because work had suddenly concentrated on him after Li Chunseong was arrested.
‘These aren’t matters that would benefit me anyway…’
Li Chunseong’s arrest was causing much concern within the company.
More precisely, talk was circulating both inside and outside that the branch might disappear.
That was understandable since the branch manager had been arrested on criminal charges, making it highly likely they’d lose their investment company qualification.
Having suddenly lost their jobs, they had no motivation.
Moreover, with pressure from headquarters intensifying daily, they wanted to quickly settle related issues.
“The 34 percent stake in KH Construction you mentioned last time. We’ll transfer it for the 30 billion you proposed.”
Headquarters had said to quickly secure even this amount.
But Kang Hyeon’s thinking was a bit different.
“The situation now is different from then. A price readjustment is necessary.”
“What do you mean…! Even 30 billion is a big concession on our part!”
“The fact that Li Chunseong, the branch manager of Dongbang’s Korea branch, is connected to the Yeongjong Island jeonse fraud means that part of the jeonse fraud damage amount was paid to Dongbang, doesn’t it?”
“No! The current jeonse fraud charges will soon be cleared with no charges…!”
“That’s a story for then. Above all, from our position, we can just wait for time to pass.”
Waiting for time to pass.
This meant only one thing.
It meant that once Dongbang Partners’ charges were proven and they lost their business license, he would take it at a bargain price then.
For a company that had to fold its domestic business, there would be no choice but to quickly transfer their holdings.
“…If it gets cleared with no charges…!”
“Do you really think that will happen?”
At Kang Hyeon’s firm words, Lim Myeong-guk couldn’t say anything.
But he couldn’t make a decision on the spot either.
“…I’ll discuss it with my superiors.”
A week passed after postponing the answer.
[We’ll transfer all shares for 10 billion won.]
At the contact from Dongbang Partners with their tail between their legs, Kang Hyeon’s lips curved up.
* * *
“The contract is finalized.”
KH Construction’s shares had completely come into Kang Hyeon’s hands.
‘This settles everything.’
What remained was for the theme park contract to be decided and construction to begin.
The India matter had also been wrapped up well, so now he could breathe easy.
“Now I should look for new investment opportunities.”
Just as he was about to open the charts, he received a phone call.
[Richard Blake]
Confirming the number, Kang Hyeon immediately answered the phone.
“Hello.”
-How have you been?
“I’ve been doing well, thanks to you. Isn’t it evening time in the United States right now?”
-Haha! That’s right. I contacted you at this time because I wanted to speak directly with Mr. Choi.
Calling with consideration for the time difference.
It was quite thoughtful.
-The thing is, JP Morgan is holding a private investor roadshow for VIP clients. If you have time, I’ll send a private jet for you.
Investor roadshow.
It was a kind of investment briefing held by global prime brokers like JP Morgan.
Originally an event that only a qualified few could attend, but seeing that it was even labeled “private,” he could tell it was quite a secretive event.
‘Even regular investor roadshows are important events that only company executives attend. But private? I can’t miss this.’
His deliberation wasn’t long.
“I’ll attend.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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