Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 211

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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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211. Then I’ll have to impose on you once more.

“Did you refer to them as upstarts standing on a cliff’s edge?”

George Hamilton, feeling the weight of the gaze upon him, smiled with a thin, knowing expression as he spoke.

“Or perhaps the metaphor of sheep with thick, matted wool might suit them better.”
“….”

George Hamilton rose from the sofa, leaving Rodney—whose eyes gleamed with understanding—and made his way toward the home bar situated in one corner of the Study Room.
He uncorked a bottle of whisky, filled an on-the-rocks glass halfway with ice, and turned back to Rodney with a question.

“Will you have a drink as well?”
“Yes.”

George Hamilton prepared another on-the-rocks, holding both glasses in his hands as he returned.
He handed the glass in his left hand to Rodney, then settled into the opposite sofa, crossing one leg over the other.
With the soft clink of ice, George Hamilton took a sip of the cold whisky and resumed the conversation that had been briefly interrupted.

“I came across some fascinating statistics from the World Bank not long ago.”
“What was that?”
“According to their findings, investment flowing into developing nations in just the first half of this year increased by 20% compared to last year.”
“Isn’t that simply because investment capital has been concentrating in developing nations like China and others, given their steep economic growth over the past few years?”

George Hamilton, leaning back against the plush sofa, gave a small nod.

“That’s not incorrect. Money naturally gravitates toward places where growth and profit exist.”
“….”
“Out of curiosity, I examined the relevant data more closely and found that among developing nations, nearly half of all investment capital—some 26 billion dollars—flowed into just four Asian countries: China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.”
“You mean that much was invested in just the first half of the year?”
“Precisely.”
“…That’s quite a substantial sum.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Rodney’s face upon hearing the figure.

“What’s even more intriguing is that a considerable portion of the capital flowing into Asian nations comes not from public funds, but from private investment.”

Rodney shrugged lightly as he spoke.

“Capital flowing into Latin American countries like Mexico often consists of bailout funds borrowed from the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, but money invested in Asian nations is genuinely capital seeking to harvest the fruits of economic growth. The underlying motivations are fundamentally different.”
“True. But what do you think enabled Asian nations to achieve such rapid economic growth and prosperity over the past decade?”

Rodney answered immediately, finding the question straightforward enough.

“Following the Plaza Accord, as the yen strengthened, Japanese products became expensive, which caused exports from other Asian nations to surge dramatically. Combined with the benefits of low oil prices and interest rates, that’s what drove it.”

Korea was among the nations that reaped the most substantial rewards from what was known as the “three lows boom”—low dollar, low interest rates, and low oil prices.
Young graduates from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, dubbed the “386 Generation,” experienced such economic prosperity that the very concept of unemployment seemed nonexistent; they could simply choose whichever job they preferred.

“When I checked the World Bank statistics and found Korea missing from the list of Asian developing nations, I discovered it had already graduated from developing status and been reclassified as a middle-income country. That alone demonstrates how steep Asia’s economic growth trajectory has been.”

George Hamilton’s expression grew meaningful as he spoke.

“But every party has a beginning, and every beginning must eventually reach an end, wouldn’t you say?”

He continued while observing Rodney, who sat upright and listened intently.

“This morning I checked, and the dollar-yen exchange rate was hovering around 103.10 yen.”

Rodney, focused on George Hamilton’s words, immediately grasped the implication and let out a low exclamation.

“With the yen weakening and the Federal Reserve shifting toward a strong dollar policy, the three lows phenomenon that had been driving Asian nations’ economic growth has collapsed.”

George Hamilton, holding his glass of whiskey, smiled faintly as if confirming the correct answer.

“A falling yen means, conversely, that Asian nations’ export competitiveness—which had benefited from favorable exchange rates—is now weakening.”
“If exports are clearly contracting yet they continue expanding facilities without reducing investment, then inevitably problems will emerge before long.”

George Hamilton wore a satisfied expression, impressed by how quickly his directly recruited talent recognized what time bomb Asian nations were carrying.
He then took a sip of whiskey and spoke.

“If conditions in Asian nations deteriorate sharply, the fact that much of the invested capital is private rather than public will become a critical Achilles heel.”
“Unlike public funds, the moment signs of instability appear, investors will rush to withdraw their money.”
“Exactly.”

George Hamilton curled one corner of his mouth upward.

“Unlike Latin America, even if Asian nations have accumulated substantial foreign reserves, what do you think will happen if tens or hundreds of billions of dollars continue to hemorrhage out all at once?”
“It would be difficult to manage.”
“Exactly. If that continues, couldn’t the foreign exchange crisis that Mexico experienced not long ago resurface across various Asian nations?”

Rodney’s expression grew serious as he carefully mulled over George Hamilton’s words, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, George Hamilton leisurely sipped his whiskey on the rocks, waiting patiently.
After a moment, Rodney lifted his head and turned to face George Hamilton across from him.

“Just as you said initially, given that Asian nations have grown considerably fat from economic growth, if circumstances unfold as expected, we’re looking at a game on a scale incomparably larger than what Britain or Mexico experienced.”
“Are you getting nervous?”
“Hardly.”

Rodney flashed a bright smile at the teasing question.

“The larger the game, the greater the returns when we win. I’m already feeling that thrilling rush of excitement.”

George Hamilton noticed the anticipation gleaming in Rodney’s eyes and burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha ha ha! I feel the same way.”

Rodney leaned forward, his voice tinged with excitement.

“If we succeed, we’ll be able to write history on Wall Street once again.”
“We will. This time, we won’t be gambling against just one nation, but multiple countries.”
“Does Hong Kong fall within our targets?”
“Of course. If Asian nations falter, Hong Kong, which serves as the region’s financial hub, cannot escape the impact.”
“Absolutely. And with the handover to China looming, the atmosphere is already turbulent, making it even more vulnerable to crisis.”

After Britain’s victory in the Opium War, it received Hong Kong Island as spoils of war and subsequently leased the surrounding territories, including the Kowloon Peninsula, for ninety-nine years, bringing them under the influence of the British Empire.
Later, through negotiations between the two nations, they agreed to permanently return all of Hong Kong to China in 1997, when the ninety-nine-year lease period expired.

“If we bring the Bank of England, Japan, and Hong Kong to their knees in succession, you’ll achieve the Triple Crown in finance and truly become a legend of Wall Street.”
“Ha ha. Triple Crown, you say. I hadn’t thought that far, but hearing you mention it makes me even more ambitious.”

George Hamilton, who had been smiling leisurely, suddenly sharpened his gaze.

“For now, they’ve only shown the slightest opening. Keep preparations in place to move at any moment beneath the surface, and monitor the situation across Asian nations carefully.”
“Understood.”

My heart pounded fiercely at the thought that this might be the largest investment opportunity I had ever undertaken.
Such an exhilarating sensation could not be found anywhere else.
George Hamilton set down his on-the-rocks glass, now containing only ice, onto the table and spoke.

“When you observe Asia’s developing nations experiencing a sharp decline in exports and consecutive increases in trade deficits, that will be the signal that it’s time to go hunting.”

* * *

December 21, 1995. Oahu Island, Hawaii.
After the attending physician’s words to prepare for the end, Amar Cuff’s mother’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and she passed away in the hospital’s VIP room without surviving more than two days.
A modest memorial service was held in the garden behind the Hawaii University East-West Cultural Technology Exchange Center where she had studied and spent much of her life, with family, relatives, and close acquaintances gathered.
Then, near Coco Point on the southern end of the island, her cremated remains were scattered into the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Once all the funeral procedures were completed, Cuff, who had grown noticeably gaunt over the past few days, spoke briefly with the Priest before approaching Seok-won, who stood in a black suit.

“Thank you for being with me until the very end.”

Seok-won grasped Cuff’s hand and offered his condolences.

“She surely went to a better place, so please don’t grieve too much.”
“She must have. I always felt sorry for not being by her side despite knowing she was suffering, and if it weren’t for you, I would have missed seeing her final moments and had to send her off without that. I’m truly grateful.”

Cuff’s expression was filled with sincerity.

“I will never forget this kindness.”

Cuff spoke with determination, squeezing the clasped hand firmly.
The redness beneath his eyes remained, making it clear how deeply he had mourned his mother’s death.
His mother had lost consciousness and fallen into a coma not long after Cuff arrived in Hawaii aboard the private jet Seok-won had sent.
And she passed away in mere hours, so without Seok-won, Cuff would have had to bid his mother farewell without a final goodbye.
Although she wore an oxygen mask and lacked the strength to have a proper conversation, being together in her final living moments was enough.
Therefore, his gratitude toward Seok-won could only be immense.

“I heard from my younger sister that you not only sent the private jet but also paid the hospital bills without my knowledge and even arranged for a caregiver.”
“Jillian shouldn’t have mentioned that.”

Jillian was Cuff’s younger half-sister, born when his mother remarried after divorcing his biological father.

“Without you, Jillian would have struggled greatly caring for her alone.”

Amar Cuff regarded him with gentle eyes.

“I’m ashamed that I couldn’t take proper care of things myself. I’m truly grateful you’ve done this for me.”
“Isn’t that what friends are for—helping each other through difficult and trying times? So please, let’s not speak of it again.”

At that, Amar Cuff offered a slight smile.

“You’re right. Though I’ve lost my mother, I’m glad to have found a true friend I can walk alongside for the rest of my life.”

In Amar Cuff’s eyes, I could sense profound trust and faith.
It was certain that this ordeal had brought him to accept me as family—someone as close as blood.
Seok-won considered it a significant achievement and naturally steered the conversation in a new direction.

“I hear you’re heading straight back to Chicago?”

Amar Cuff’s lips curved into a bitter smile as he answered.

“As you know, I’m in the middle of a campaign. I’d like nothing more than to stay beside my grandmother and Jillian in their grief, but once you’ve started something, you must see it through.”

Seok-won, who had been worried that this incident might derail his future, felt a wave of relief wash over him.

“Your mother was so pleased about your candidacy for state senator. I’m sure she would want you to continue.”
“I believe so too.”

Amar Cuff exhaled a sigh laden with conflicting emotions.
Having just held a funeral, the thought of returning to Chicago to stand before crowds, deliver speeches, and shake hands with a smile weighed heavily on his heart.

“Your private jet is waiting at the airport. Why don’t you use it?”
“That feels like I’m imposing too much on you.”
“Either way, if you don’t take it, the plane just flies back empty. It’s better than burning fuel for nothing.”

At the renewed insistence, Amar Cuff finally nodded.

“Then I’ll accept your kindness once more.”
“A wise decision.”

Amar Cuff exchanged a light handshake and then departed to greet other acquaintances and relatives.
Watching him in silence, I glanced up at the cloudless sky before retrieving my sunglasses and putting them on.
Then, alongside Bockus who stood behind me, I turned and made my way toward the black Cadillac Escalade parked to one side.

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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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