Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 200

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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200. Since we’ve been working in tandem all this time, I’m happy to go together.

Yeouido Daeheung Securities Headquarters.
Autumn rain fell softly throughout the morning, and Seok-won stood by the window, gazing out at the city while speaking with Landon Shore in New York.

“You said liquidation requests came in from multiple places simultaneously?”
[Yes. Five companies including Nissan Motor. It seems that once the dollar-yen exchange rate surpassed 104 yen, they couldn’t hold on any longer and rushed into contract liquidation.]
“With the yen continuing to fall contrary to expectations and showing no signs of rising, I can understand why they’re panicking.”

Seok-won held the phone to his ear and clicked his tongue slightly.

“I wish they’d held on longer. It’s a bit disappointing.”
[Ha, indeed.]

The deeper the yen depreciation, the greater the profits would have been, but Japanese companies weren’t all fools, so I had to settle for this level of returns.

‘Still, this is quite a substantial profit.’

Not just substantial—LTCM, the hottest topic on Wall Street recently, had projected net earnings of around 1.6 billion dollars for the year.
Though not yet finalized, the amount the Eldorado Fund had earned through knock-in knock-out options was far greater, so I could well imagine what a massive jackpot we’d hit.
For Japanese export companies, it meant they’d have to spit out a significant portion of their hard-earned profits through exchange losses—a catastrophe.

“From now on, options liquidations will happen in waves.”
[Probably. Porter, who’s managing the Japan branch, estimates everything will be liquidated by year-end at the latest.]

I shared the same assessment and nodded slightly.

“Until now, it’s been hidden beneath the surface and hasn’t become a major issue, but once the options are liquidated and the losses of the Japanese companies with contracts are confirmed, it will inevitably become noisy.”
[Even a rough calculation shows losses exceeding 2 billion dollars, so the probability is high.]
“You have contingency plans ready, don’t you?”
[Of course. If necessary, Commerce Secretary Vincent has agreed to step in personally.]

The United States Department of Commerce was a central administrative agency overseeing international trade, patents, tariffs, and all commercial affairs.
It wielded tremendous power, imposing import-export regulations not only within the United States but against other nations as well, controlling the global economy.

“Commerce Secretary Vincent—that’s quite a heavyweight.”

Landon responded with a self-satisfied tone.

[That’s the minimum required to prevent the Japanese Government from carelessly interfering with us, isn’t it?]
“Exactly. Especially since the United States Department of Commerce was heavily burdened by the recent US-Japan automobile negotiations, it will make it even more difficult for the Japanese Government to intervene.”
[Precisely. If they overstepped and the situation escalated into a trade dispute, it would be Japan who would suffer the headache.]

As Landon said, if the Japanese Government rashly sanctioned or investigated the Eldorado Fund, which had reaped enormous profits from the options contracts, and clashed with the United States Department of Commerce, it would be Japan who faced the consequences.

‘They barely patched things up by purchasing vast quantities of US Treasury bonds and agricultural products. Japan’s government won’t want to reignite conflict over this.’

In every respect, there was nothing to gain for the Japanese Government by involving themselves in this matter.
Seok-won smiled faintly as he adjusted his grip on the mobile phone in his hand.

“Even if I were the Japanese Prime Minister, I’d have no choice but to bury the options contract issue and move on. We’ve played our cards well.”
[Ha ha. That’s precisely why we employ lobbyists every year and distribute millions of dollars in political funding to Washington.]
“That’s right.”

Seok-won agreed with a laugh.

“Ideally, we’d prefer this to pass quietly, but let’s monitor the situation on Japan’s side and consult with Porter about using the Vincent card at an appropriate moment.”
[Understood.]

After discussing a bit more, Seok-won ended the call and slipped his mobile phone into his trouser pocket.
Standing by the window, he stroked his chin with one hand, contemplating how best to bring this investment to a successful conclusion.
Just then, there came a knock, and Na Seong-mi, dressed in a neat formal one-piece dress, entered and spoke.

“Director. Choi Ho-geun, the Team 4 leader, has arrived.”
“Tell him to come in.”
“Yes.”

Na Seong-mi stepped back out, and shortly after, Choi Ho-geun, the team leader wearing a crimson necktie, walked in and bowed respectfully.

“You called for me?”
“Good to see you. Let’s sit and talk.”

Seok-won gestured toward the sofa with one hand.

“Yes, thank you.”

As Team Leader Choi Ho-geun settled onto the sofa to his right, Seok-won naturally claimed the center seat of honor.

“What would you like to drink?”

At Na Seong-mi’s question, Seok-won crossed one leg and answered.

“Coffee for me. And you, Team Leader Choi?”
“Then I’ll have coffee as well.”

Na Seong-mi said she’d bring it right away and left the office.
Seok-won, leaning back comfortably in his seat, spoke first while observing Team Leader Choi Ho-geun, who sat with his spine rigidly upright.

“If we count next year, we’ll have known each other for three years.”

Team Leader Choi Ho-geun responded with a faint smile.

“It feels like just yesterday when I first met you, Director. Time really does fly.”
“It certainly does. How are Team 4’s results these days?”

At the casual question, Team Leader Choi Ho-geun smacked his lips slightly before responding.

“As you know, the stock market has been so poor lately that our performance hasn’t been impressive. However, thanks to your advance preparations, we’re managing to avoid losses.”
“The market is drowning in bad news, so it’ll be difficult to generate profits in the remaining time. Just losing less than the index is fortunate enough, so tell everyone not to overextend themselves and to trade defensively.”
“I’ll do that.”

Na Seong-mi returned and set a cup of coffee before each of them on a tray, then left.
As the rich aroma of coffee filled the room, Seok-won interlaced his fingers and rested his hands on his lap, speaking in a serious tone.

“I remember what you said last time—that you wanted to become my man.”
“Yes.”

Team Leader Choi Ho-geun instinctively sensed something unusual and straightened his posture.
Seok-won looked directly at Team Leader Choi Ho-geun and asked again.

“Do you still feel the same way?”
“Of course.”

At the answer that came without the slightest hesitation, Seok-won’s lips curved upward slightly.

“Actually, I’m scheduled to be promoted to executive director at the year-end personnel reshuffle.”

Choi Ho-geun was startled by this unexpected news, but soon smiled and offered his congratulations.

“Is that truly the case? Congratulations!”

It was an extraordinarily rapid promotion that an ordinary employee could never dream of, but given that Seok-won was a direct descendant of the owner and there were even rumors he would inherit Daehung Securities, Choi Ho-geun accepted it as natural.

“I’ll maintain my position on the company roster as an executive director, but unlike now, I won’t be directly involved in the company’s operations or managing investments.”

Seok-won took a leisurely sip of his coffee while observing the bewildered expression on Choi Ho-geun’s face.

“Of course, I won’t completely withdraw from company affairs, but I’m planning to focus primarily on external operations. Naturally, that means I’ll be absent from the office more often than present.”

Choi Ho-geun, now even more flustered than before, cautiously opened his mouth.

“What exactly do you mean by external operations?”

Seok-won answered with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“Actually, I have a Family Office that I manage personally, and I’m planning to devote more effort to it for the time being.”
“A Family Office, you say?”

Though momentarily taken aback by this unexpected mention, Choi Ho-geun recalled that Seok-won was a member of a chaebol family and found it plausible enough.

‘Perhaps it’s a company established by the chairman or the owner’s family to manage assets discreetly and separately.’

Choi Ho-geun, having jumped to conclusions in an entirely different direction, nodded inwardly.
Despite his youth, Seok-won’s demonstrated abilities and foresight thus far were more than sufficient to manage and operate a Family Office.
While accepting this explanation, a subtle sense of disappointment simultaneously washed over him.
The thought that if Seok-won would merely keep his name on the Daehung Securities roster and rarely appear, then he himself might become a forgotten relic, tangled confusingly in his mind.
As if reading these hidden thoughts, Seok-won set down his teacup and met Choi Ho-geun’s gaze.

“So, would you consider leaving the company and following me?”

Choi Ho-geun’s eyes widened at this sudden proposal, and he asked in return.

“Are you saying you’d take me with you?”
“Yes. Of course, if you’re willing.”

As Choi Ho-geun listened to the proposal, his heart raced and he found himself swallowing hard.
Leaving a stable job was regrettable, but becoming the trusted aide to a third-generation chaebol heir—someone destined to inherit Daeheung Group’s financial subsidiaries—was an extraordinary opportunity, a golden lifeline.
More than anything, I had witnessed firsthand that Seok-won possessed not only the advantage of being a direct heir but also exceptional capability, which made me even more eager to work alongside him.

‘Yet…’

What weighed on my heart was Team 4—particularly Jung Deputy Manager and the other team members.
Choi Ho-geun glanced cautiously at Seok-won before carefully speaking.

“Will I be the only one following you, sir?”
“Why? Is there someone else you’d like to bring along?”

Seok-won asked, folding his arms as he sat on the sofa.

“This may be presumptuous, but would it be possible to bring the entire Team 4 with us?”
“You mean not just Jung Deputy Manager, but all the other team members as well?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Jung Deputy Manager is a skilled swing trader, so I understand, but the rest of the team wouldn’t be that much help. You still want them?”

Choi Ho-geun leaned forward and responded.

“Seok-hyun and Miss Hong have only recently shed their rookie status and still have much to learn, but they’re sharp and have good instincts. If we bring them along, they’ll more than pull their weight.”

Seok-won, having listened to this, stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment.
Having directly managed a team before, I knew both of them well—and while their abilities weren’t exceptional, they certainly did their part.
Moreover, I wasn’t completely withdrawing from domestic operations; there would be mountains of work ahead.
Most importantly, with the IMF crisis looming, I needed a team I could trust implicitly—one that moved like an extension of myself.

‘Team 4 has solid capabilities, and they get along well with each other. Their teamwork is seamless.’

Rather than recruiting new people elsewhere, bringing Team 4—whom I knew well—would be far more advantageous in every way.
Seok-won, seeing no downside, smiled warmly at Choi Ho-geun, who waited anxiously for his answer.

“Alright. Quietly ask the team members about their intentions without letting word spread.”
“Thank you, sir!”

Choi Ho-geun beamed with delight and bowed deeply.

“We’ve worked in sync all this time, so it’s good for me too if we go together.”

Seok-won uncrossed his arms and continued speaking.

“Since there isn’t much time to brief the chairman and complete the handover, I need your answer within a week about how many team members will be coming with you.”
“Yes, understood.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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