Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 345

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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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345. Don’t waste time. Send me the contract right away.

The next day.
The Japan Securities Association Conference Room in Tokyo was packed with journalists.
A press conference regarding the massive options contract losses that had recently become a major issue was scheduled for today.
As Yamakawa Hiroshi led the presidents of Nikko Securities, Daiwa Securities, and Yamaichi Securities through a side entrance with guidance from association staff, camera flashes erupted without pause.
Yamakawa Hiroshi, displaying a hint of discomfort, continued walking alongside the other securities company presidents and ascended the podium.
Once they took their seats at the long table where name placards were arranged for each person, the bustling crowd of journalists came into view.
The number of journalists seemed to exceed forty, and broadcasting station cameras mounted on tripods were scattered throughout the room, catching the eye.
Yamakawa Hiroshi suppressed the urge to leap down from the podium at that very moment.
It was utterly humiliating to stand before so many journalists to make a public apology.
Yet with stock prices plummeting and accusations pouring in that losses had been intentionally concealed, causing harm to shareholders, there was no choice.
The other securities company presidents standing alongside him for similar reasons all bore equally grim expressions.
Soon, an association staff member standing at the moderator’s podium on the left side of the stage gave a light cough and brought the microphone before them closer to their mouth.

“We will now begin the press conference regarding options losses. Yamakawa Hiroshi, President of Nomura Securities, representing Japan’s Big Four Securities Firms, will address you.”

Reluctant though he was, Yamakawa Hiroshi rose from his seat, accepted the microphone handed to him by the association staff member, and faced forward.
The journalists’ gazes converged upon him, and the murmuring hall fell silent in an instant.
Standing rigidly in place, Yamakawa Hiroshi stared directly at the broadcasting station camera with its red light illuminated directly before him and delivered his prepared statement.

“First, I sincerely apologize for causing great concern to the people and shareholders over these past several days due to these unfortunate circumstances.”

As journalists bustled about, holding voice recorders forward or frantically scribbling notes in their notepads, Yamakawa Hiroshi continued speaking.

“It is true that we at Nomura, along with the other three securities firms, each suffered options contract losses reaching two billion dollars.”
!

As Yamakawa Hiroshi acknowledged the massive options losses, the journalists stirred greatly and camera flashes erupted once more.

“As part of normal business operations, we entered into CDS options contracts, but the unexpected Southeast Asian financial crisis resulted in substantial losses. However, all four companies remain financially sound, and delays in reflecting these losses on the books were merely accounting matters. I must clearly state here that there was no fraudulent accounting as some have alleged. Regardless of the circumstances, we offer our deepest apologies to investors and shareholders, and we pledge to resolve this matter promptly.”

Having finished his prepared remarks, Yamakawa Hiroshi rose along with the other securities company presidents and bowed ninety degrees toward the assembled press.
Thereupon, the loud sound of camera shutters and brilliant flashes erupted from all directions.
The photographs taken at this moment would soon be printed prominently in newspapers, filling newsstands across the nation.
In this utterly humiliating moment, Yamakawa Hiroshi bit his lower lip firmly while maintaining his bow.

***

At that same moment.
Manager Choi Ho-geun and his team were watching the live broadcast of the press conference held by the presidents of Japan’s Big Four Securities Firms on NHK satellite television through a television installed on one wall of the Office.
As the presidents of the securities firms bowed in apology, Jung Hwan-yeop let out a smug chuckle.

“Those arrogant Japanese Big Four Securities presidents all came out to apologize. Isn’t our president truly remarkable?”
“He’s certainly no ordinary man.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun, who had been watching the television with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement.
Then he turned his gaze toward Yu Seok-hyun and asked.

“Yu. How is the market reacting?”

Yu Seok-hyun checked the stock prices of Japan’s Big Four Securities Firms on his monitor and answered immediately.

“As expected, the decline hasn’t stopped—it’s actually deepening.”

At that moment, Hong Jae-hee, who knew a little Japanese, noticed the caption displayed below the television screen and raised her voice.

“Look at that! Breaking news—the Japanese Prosecutors are conducting raids on the headquarters of Nomura Securities and the other three securities firms on suspicion of accounting fraud!”

Manager Choi Ho-geun showed no particular surprise, his expression suggesting he had expected as much.

“Two billion dollars is no small sum. If four securities firms all made the exact same accounting mistake, who would believe that?”
“Exactly. It’s obviously a setup anyone can see through.”

Jung Hwan-yeop, standing nearby, chimed in agreement.
Manager Choi Ho-geun turned his head to look at the large market ticker board across from him.

[Nomura Securities: 781.3 (▼11.7)]
[Daiwa Securities: 320.9 (▼9.8)]
[Nikko Securities: 372.1 (▼7.9)]
[Yamaichi Securities: 298.9 (▼9.4)]

“Hmm.”

As he raised one hand to stroke his cleanly shaven chin, his expression growing contemplative, Jung Hwan-yeop ventured to speak.

“Looking at how the stock price hasn’t fallen much despite the executives’ apologies and the breaking news of the prosecution’s search and seizure, it seems we’ve nearly hit bottom.”
“Seems that way.”
“For the stock price not to surge dramatically while we’re accumulating the shares we sold off, it’s actually beneficial to have negative news still circulating in the market. Let’s start wrapping this up soon.”

Though he usually spouted nonsense, Jung Hwan-yeop demonstrated the instincts of a trading master—someone whose stock expertise even Manager Choi acknowledged—and he knew precisely when to strike and exit.
Manager Choi flashed an approving smile, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

“You bastard. For someone who usually talks complete garbage, you’ve got an uncanny eye for this sort of thing.”

At words that could be either praise or insult, Jung Hwan-yeop’s brow furrowed.

“Is that a compliment?”
“Yeah. It is.”

Manager Choi replied perfunctorily and picked up the receiver on his desk, dialing Seok-won’s direct line.
The line rang, and within moments, the call connected.

“It’s Manager Choi, sir.”
[What is it?]

Manager Choi spoke while double-checking the stock prices of Japan’s Big Four Securities Firms displayed on the large market board.

“I’m planning to start closing out our short positions now.”

Seok-won answered immediately without the slightest hesitation.

[I’ve entrusted the trading decisions to you, so if that’s your judgment, proceed as you see fit.]

Despite the substantial sum—over 54.5 billion yen with leverage included—Seok-won’s unwavering trust and delegation filled Manager Choi with gratitude and profound emotion.

“Understood. I’ll begin the operation immediately.”
[Go ahead.]

After hanging up, Manager Choi turned quietly to his team members, who waited for his instructions.

“We’ve got approval, so we’re starting the short covering now. Jung, you take Nikko Securities. Yu and Hong, split Daiwa and Yamaichi between you.”
“Will you be handling Nomura Securities directly, sir?”

As Jung Hwan-yeop asked, Manager Choi broke into a grin.

“That’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my muscles.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun infused his voice with steel and addressed his team.

“As you all know, we need to quietly accumulate shares so that other investors discover our short covering as late as possible.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood, Manager.”
“We’re not doing one-day trading, so don’t worry.”

The cheeky, sarcastic remark at the end naturally came from Jung Hwan-yeop.
Manager Choi Ho-geun clapped his hands once sharply and shouted.

“Alright then, everyone start right away!”

The team members returned to their desks and began repurchasing the stocks they had previously shorted, each handling their assigned portion.
The office, which had been languidly relaxed, now crackled with palpable tension and energy.
Manager Choi Ho-geun rolled up his shirt sleeves, settled into his chair, and moved his mouse to open the trading window.
As he prepared to trade directly for the first time in ages, the dormant trader’s instinct within him awakened, and adrenaline surged through his entire body.

‘Let me start with a light purchase order of two thousand shares.’

As Manager Choi Ho-geun’s fingers moved rapidly, the order executed immediately—the market was flooded with sell orders due to the relentless bad news.
The electric thrill of a completed trade crackled through him.

“This is it.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun’s lips curved upward unconsciously as he continued placing buy orders, modulating his rhythm like riding a wave.
Just then, Noh Hee-won set down a cup of coffee—darkly brewed with two shots of mix—on the corner of his desk.

“Thank you, Miss Noh.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun continued moving his hands while glancing sideways briefly.

“Please let me know if you need anything.”
“Got it.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun offered a brief smile to the diligent new employee before returning his focus to trading.
After distributing coffee to the other team members, Noh Hee-won returned to her desk and glanced around the office.
These people who normally spoke to her warmly were now displaying such intense concentration that it was difficult to approach them closely once work had begun.

‘What would it feel like to move such enormous sums of money?’

Noh Hee-won felt a twinge of envy.

‘I need to push harder too. Tim is working so diligently—I can’t become a burden to him.’

With her fists clenched with determination, Noh Hee-won began monitoring the Nikkei and Malaysian futures markets while her team members executed their trades, finding tasks to handle on her own initiative.

***

“It could fall further, but the downside doesn’t look that severe, and once the bad news is fully priced in and we start buying, the stock price will rebound quickly. This is decent timing.”

As Seok-won nodded slightly while monitoring the stock price on his screen, his phone on the desk began to ring.
He pressed the call button and answered—Park Tae-hong’s deep voice came through.

[It’s me. Are you busy?]
“No, sir.”
[You’re not just sitting around at the office playing president, are you?]
“Of course not.”

Seok-won chuckled as he replied.

[By the way, when are you going to pick up those securities?]
“You’re really going to give them to me?”
[Playing dumb when you know I’ve set aside your share.]

Park Tae-hong clicked his tongue at his youngest son, who seemed to be becoming more cunning by the day.

[I want to hand over the company to you all and retire to live a leisurely life, so take them already.]

Park Tae-hong grumbled in his gruff manner.

“You’re still in your prime. It’s too early to retire. There’s a saying that life truly begins at eighty.”
[I’m only sixty-seven and you’re already talking about eighty!]
“That’s exactly my point. And judging by how you’re scolding me, you’ve got at least another twenty years in you.”
[Twenty years? Are you telling me to work until I die?]

Despite his words, he didn’t sound particularly displeased.

[Anyway, it’s not something different—it’s what we discussed yesterday.]
“Yes, sir.”
[I’ll transfer the investment funds tomorrow, so keep that in mind.]
“You’ve already made a decision?”
[Didn’t you ask me to give you an answer quickly?]
“That’s true, but I didn’t expect you to decide this fast.”

I had thought it would take at least another day or two, but surprisingly, the decision came quickly.
Park Tae-hong let out a scoff and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

[The sooner I send it, the more profits I can generate, don’t you think?]
“Haha. I’ll make sure to grow it substantially, so don’t worry.”

It seemed the returns I’d shown him last time had been far too sweet.

[But isn’t taking 30% as a management fee too expensive?]
“In exchange, I deliver substantial profits. I normally don’t accept other funds, but since it’s you, Father, I’m making a special exception to manage it for you.”
[How very kind of you.]

At the sound of his voice grinding through clenched teeth, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“In that case, I’ll specially lower it to 20% this time.”
[What! Really?]

Park Tae-hong quickly seized upon my words and drove the point home.

[You said it yourself, so there’s no backing out. Send me the contract right away.]
“I will.”

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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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