Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 203

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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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203. I need to put up a proper front.

[It appears that all travel bans on Porter and the other Japan branch staff have been lifted as of today.]

Seok-won stood by the window in his white shirt, wearing a fresh tie that Jacob Thompson, Gucci’s chief designer, had sent him recently. He held his phone to his ear, a faint smile playing at his lips.

“The pressure worked perfectly.”
[According to Vincent, he mentioned the Omnibus Trade Act to the Japanese and suggested the possibility of retaliatory trade measures against them.]
“The Omnibus Trade Act—that’s the legislation that includes Super 301, isn’t it?”
[Exactly. The previous administration created it as a temporary law for two years before it was repealed, but the Davidson administration revived it again last year.]

Super 301 was the provision that granted the president discretionary authority to impose discriminatory and forceful retaliatory measures against any nation engaging in unfair trade practices.
Resurrecting a bill that had already expired and been abolished was clearly a move aimed squarely at Japan, with whom trade friction was escalating.

‘Until then, the Japanese government had been confrontational, but the moment the United States pulled out Super 301, they panicked and immediately backed down.’

Once Super 301 was invoked, not only would exports to the United States—the world’s largest consumer market—become impossible, but it would also have profound effects on other allied nations.
It possessed the terrifying destructive power of a nuclear bomb, capable of bringing an entire nation’s economy to ruin in a single stroke.

‘Considering that its mere existence inflicts enormous threat and pressure on the opposing side, calling it the nuclear bomb of international trade wouldn’t be an exaggeration.’

Hearing Landon Shore’s voice through the phone, Seok-won cleared his mind.

[With such a terrifying Super 301 being invoked, I’m sure their hearts sank.]

Seok-won nodded slightly.

“They must be. They never imagined this situation would escalate this far.”
[Ha. Exactly. They were playing with fire while picking quarrels, only to realize they were standing next to a powder magazine. They must have panicked and flipped out.]
“And considering they’ve recently faced threats of Super 301 being applied due to U.S.-Japan trade friction, it wouldn’t have sounded like mere intimidation.”
[Automobiles, which were the biggest point of contention, were spared once negotiations concluded, but paper and timber products are now listed as priority negotiation items, so the pressure must be even greater.]

Since automobiles and electronics were Japan’s primary export commodities, even if paper and timber exports faced restrictions, it wouldn’t have been a major blow.
However, simply being listed as priority negotiation items created significant burden for the Japanese government.

[As notified next week, a summons investigation regarding Porter will be conducted. However, the Ministry of Finance has reportedly requested understanding in advance that it will be merely a formal inquiry into the reasons for creating the option products.]
“If that’s the case, we won’t need to worry about Japanese matters anymore.”
[Yes. You can rest assured.]

Landon Shore, who had been responding, suddenly remembered something and continued.

[Ah. And as I mentioned before, once the Ministry of Finance investigation began, Japan Steel and other companies suddenly postponed their option liquidations.]

Seok-won recalled the memory and tilted his head slightly.

“And then?”
[Shrewdly sensing the shift in atmosphere, they’ve now requested option liquidation again.]
“They were hoping the Ministry of Finance would conclude there were problems with the contracts to minimize losses, but when it became clear that wouldn’t happen, they switched tactics immediately.”

Seok-won let out a light scoff in response.
Landon Shore’s lips curved into a sardonic smile as well.

[In the meantime, the yen fell even further, so their scheming only increased their exchange losses beyond the original amount. Quite poetic justice.]
“Indeed it is.”
[The exact amount isn’t confirmed yet, but once all the option contracts are liquidated, the profit after expenses should come to approximately 3.1 billion dollars.]
“That’s a respectable profit.”

Seok-won’s expression showed satisfaction.

[If Wall Street knew, everyone would be in an uproar over that sum, yet you accept it so calmly. You’re truly the boss.]

No matter how I thought about it, I could never match such composure.
Seok-won spoke with a smile playing at his lips.

“If we’re going to continue doing business in Japan, there’s no benefit to having a strained relationship with the Ministry of Finance. Once things settle, make sure to smooth things over appropriately so no ill will remains.”
[Understood.]

This wasn’t a one-time score and exit—there was still much more to extract from Japan, so it was necessary to cultivate amicable relationships with high-ranking government officials.

‘It would be a shame to be satisfied with this and stop. I need to keep the straw in their back and suck them dry to the marrow.’

As always, I felt no pangs of conscience about taking advantage of Japan.
There was no need to wait long—soon enough, there would be another substantial opportunity to profit.
After exchanging a few more words, I ended the call and slipped my phone into my trouser pocket.
As if perfectly timed, Na Seong-mi knocked and entered.

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

Shortly after, Team Leader Choi Ho-geun entered in a navy suit and bowed respectfully.

“Have a seat over there.”
“Yes, sir.”

I took the upper seat on the sofa first, and Team Leader Choi Ho-geun settled into the empty sofa to my right.
Crossing one leg and leaning back, I studied the slightly tense expression on Team Leader Choi Ho-geun’s face and asked.

“What’s this about?”

Team Leader Choi Ho-geun then withdrew several thin envelopes from his jacket’s inner pocket and placed them on the table.
I glanced down at the envelopes before me, then lifted my gaze to Team Leader Choi Ho-geun.

“What are these?”
“Resignation letters.”

Team Leader Choi Ho-geun met my eyes and continued in a grave tone.

“All of us in Team 4, including myself, have decided to follow you.”

I interlaced my fingers and rested my hands on my knees as I asked.

“Everyone is going together without exception?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Everyone made this decision of their own volition?”

Team Leader Choi Ho-geun answered with a serious expression, as if confirming my question.

“Of course.”

I nodded slightly and pushed the envelopes back toward Team Leader Choi Ho-geun.

“Take these back.”
“Pardon?”

Choi Ho-geun’s expression immediately clouded with confusion.
After mustering the courage to convince all team members to resign and even writing out their resignation letters, having them returned was nothing short of bewildering.

“We’ll continue working normally through the end of the year, and then transition to new positions next year. There’s no need to submit your resignations now.”
“Ah. Yes.”

Choi Ho-geun realized belatedly how hasty he’d been, his expression turning sheepish.
He’d intended to demonstrate his resolve to follow through to the end with solemn determination, but now the situation left him feeling embarrassed.
Noticing his slightly deflated demeanor, Seok-won offered a faint smile and continued.

“This decision has only been made at the upper levels so far.”
“…?”
“Our fourth quarter returns dipped slightly, but we’ve still outperformed the indices and exceeded this year’s targets, so the year-end bonuses are shaping up to be quite substantial.”

Though our performance wasn’t poor compared to other securities firms, the overall market sentiment had been grim, so expectations for year-end bonuses were muted throughout the company.
Hearing such welcome news from Seok-won’s lips, Choi Ho-geun’s eyes brightened with interest.

“Is that so?”
“Since we’re on the subject, I’ll be frank—our PI department’s performance is undeniably far superior to other securities firms’.”
“Y-yes, absolutely.”

Watching Choi Ho-geun nod eagerly, Seok-won continued in a measured tone.

“Beyond the performance bonuses, special bonuses will be distributed as well.”
“Special bonuses too!”

The dejection from moments before vanished entirely as Choi Ho-geun’s eyes gleamed with delight.
Indeed, the best medicine is financial medicine, as they say.
Year-end bonuses were a beacon of light for office workers—proof of compensation for a year’s hardship and a gift all rolled into one.
Such a reaction was only natural.

“However….”

Seok-won trailed off, glancing sideways at Choi Ho-geun, whose face was now brimming with anticipation.

“If you submit your resignation now, you won’t receive your year-end performance bonus or annual bonus. Wouldn’t that be a shame?”
“Ugh!”

Choi Ho-geun, who hadn’t considered that far ahead, swallowed hard.

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

Watching him flustered and flustered, my playful streak kicked in.

“Hmm. But thinking about it again, things will get quite busy ahead. Taking some time to rest and recharge before moving to my new position wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

At that, disappointment flickered across Choi Ho-geun’s face.
I knew it, yet I deliberately played dumb, acting as though I lacked consideration.

“Day after day in such a fierce market, keeping your nerves on edge while buying and selling stocks—it’s no ordinary source of stress. You’re right, I probably do need a break.”

Then, as I reached to take back the resignation envelope, Choi Ho-geun moved faster than ever before, quickly snatching up the envelopes.
He hastily stuffed the resignation envelope into his jacket pocket and looked at me with an awkward expression, laughing nervously.

“I’ve worked here for so long that leaving without a proper closure would feel unsatisfying. Besides, you said you’d be here through the end of the year, so shouldn’t we support you to the very end?”

Choi Ho-geun’s eyes wavered aimlessly as he grasped at any excuse.

“There’s a saying that a person who leaves their place clean is a beautiful person. Ha ha!”
“Isn’t that one of those sayings you see stuck on bathroom walls?”
“….”

Choi Ho-geun lost for words and quickly averted his gaze.

“Ahem. Well. Okay.”

I suppressed the laughter threatening to burst out and spoke as if nothing was amiss.

“If you and the Team 4 members suddenly quit, the remaining staff will struggle to fill the gap. So for now, let’s continue working as we are and gradually hand things over.”
“Yes, understood!”

Choi Ho-geun answered quickly, worried I might change my mind.

“The market’s still open, so you must be busy. You should get going.”
“Yes.”

Choi Ho-geun immediately sprang to his feet and quickly slipped out of the office.
Watching his departure from behind, Seok-won chuckled softly to himself.

“If Manager Choi and all the Team 4 members come along with me, I won’t need to worry about staffing issues for a while.”

When someone who moved hundreds of billions of dollars entered the cramped domestic market, it was like releasing a great white shark into a small pond.

“Even if I only deploy a fraction of my available capital into the domestic stock market, it won’t be individual stocks that dance up and down—it’ll be the entire KOSPI index. I’m essentially an invasive species in this ecosystem.”

For that reason, until the IMF crisis, the plan was for the Eldorado Fund headquarters itself to remain inactive in domestic investments, with operations centered around Manager Choi and the Team 4 members.

“Still, if I’m going to operate properly, I need a respectable front to work under.”

To smoothly carry out the plans I had in mind, I needed to establish a new foundation domestically.
Stroking my cleanly shaved chin thoughtfully for a long moment, I finally reached a decision.

“Yes, that’s the best approach.”

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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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