Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 5

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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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5. Only a fool would reject such a proposal.

I was sipping my coffee and finishing an article in the Wall Street Journal when Landen, dressed in a gray suit, entered the Lounge Cafe and approached my table.

“You arrived early.”
“I was getting restless staying in my room, so I came down ahead of time.”

After a light handshake, Landen took the empty seat across from me.

“Will you be ordering?”

A Female Server in a neat uniform approached and placed a menu on the table.
Without even glancing at it, Landen handed the menu back and raised his index finger.

“One cappuccino.”
“Right away.”

As the Female Server left with a professional smile, Landen retrieved a folder from the leather briefcase beside him and placed it on the table.

“These are the documents regarding the paper company you mentioned. You just need to sign where I’ve marked with a pencil.”

Landen pulled out a Montblanc fountain pen from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to me.

“You use a nice pen.”
“My father gave it to me when I graduated from law school and passed the bar exam. Since it’s such a meaningful item, I always use it whenever I have something important to do.”

Landen puffed out his chest with pride.
I gave him a small nod and then, my expression turning serious, carefully reviewed the prepared documents before signing with the fountain pen where marked.
There were many documents requiring multiple signatures, but I couldn’t afford to be careless about it.
In the meantime, Landen quietly waited, sipping the cappuccino the Female Server had brought.

“It takes quite a while just to sign everything.”

After finishing all the signatures, I closed the fountain pen and handed it back to Landen.

“Thank you for your patience.”

Landen accepted the pen with a smile, carefully reviewed the documents to ensure all signatures were properly completed, and then placed them back in his briefcase as he spoke.

“The paper company establishment should be completed in about four days.”
“I thought it would take longer. You’re fast.”

Landon’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he made a gesture of rubbing his fingers together like counting money.

“You wanted it finished quickly, so I paid the expedited fee.”
“I see.”

I was pleased with Landon’s flexible approach to handling matters, my expression reflecting my satisfaction.

“Have you given any thought to what name you’d like for the paper company in the Bahamas?”

I had already decided on a name beforehand, so I answered immediately.

“Eldorado, please.”
“Eldorado? You’re referring to the legendary golden city that Spanish conquistadors once believed existed in South America.”
“That’s right.”

Landon smiled broadly and spoke.

“A legendary city overflowing with gold. It seems perfectly suited as the name for a paper company holding vast assets.”

It would be more than just a name—it would become the foundation upon which I would build a colossal golden empire, drawing in tremendous wealth.

“Then let’s proceed with Eldorado as the corporate name.”

I gave a small nod and picked up the coffee cup placed before me.

“And the Lottery Commission contacted me saying the winnings, after taxes, will be deposited into the account by today.”
“Excellent.”

I set down the coffee cup and clasped my hands together leisurely.

“Then I should pay the agreed-upon commission now.”

When I first entrusted him with the task, we had made a contract to settle the commission fee once the winnings arrived.

“There’s still work remaining on the Bahamas side, so you can pay me after everything is completed.”

I wanted to maintain a long-term relationship with Seokwon if at all possible.
Though I hadn’t known him for very long.
Despite receiving such a massive lottery prize, he hadn’t squandered it recklessly—instead, he gave off the impression of someone preparing for something grand.

“Take this.”

Seokwon withdrew something from his inner jacket pocket and placed it on the table.

“Isn’t this a Powerball ticket?”

I examined the lottery slip with a puzzled expression.
As I tilted my head, wondering why he’d pulled it out, Seokwon opened his mouth with a meaningful look.

“It’s not just any lottery ticket.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a winning ticket for first prize in this week’s Powerball drawing.”
“…?”

For a moment, I blinked rapidly, unable to comprehend what he’d said.

“Wait… what did you just say?”

As I swallowed hard, thinking surely not, Seokwon pointed his finger at the Wall Street Journal lying on the corner of the table.

“The first-prize winning numbers are listed in an article there. Check it yourself.”
“No, that can’t be… Are you serious?”

I immediately grabbed the newspaper and found the page with this week’s Powerball winning numbers.
Then I laid the lottery slip he’d given me beside it and compared the printed digits.

“1. 2. 8…!”

Seeing that the ticket in my hand had actually won first prize, I gasped.
My head snapped up as I stared at him with an expression of utter shock.

“How on earth did you…?”

Since I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I’d known what this week’s winning numbers were—I brushed off the question with a casual smile.

“I just bought a lottery ticket for fun, and it turned out to be a winner again.”
“That can’t be right!”
“But what can I do when it actually won?”

Landon found himself utterly dumbfounded by the casual demeanor of someone who had hit the jackpot—something most people might experience once in a lifetime, if ever—not just once but twice in succession.

“Sigh…”

Landon dragged his palm across his face, trying to calm his racing heart.

“Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it. To think such fortune would strike twice in a row like this. It’s as if you’ve truly received the blessing of Midas himself.”

Landon gazed at him with genuine envy in his eyes.
In Greek mythology, King Midas had been blessed by the god Dionysus with the power to turn everything he touched into gold.

“Since there are two winners, after taxes you’ll receive approximately 190,000 dollars as a lump sum.”

The prize had shrunk considerably because Seokwon had claimed the entire accumulated jackpot from multiple draws where no first-place winner had emerged until just before this moment.

“Still, 190,000 dollars is nothing to scoff at. People will be absolutely shocked when word of this win gets out.”

It was obvious as day that this would become a major issue—one person winning the Powerball jackpot, and consecutively at that, was far from ordinary.
It was the kind of story television networks would definitely cover as a headline.

“So here’s what I’m thinking—instead of a consultation fee, I’ll give you this, and we’ll say you’re the one who won the jackpot.”
“I’m sorry?”

Landon stammered in confusion at this completely unexpected proposal.

“As you mentioned earlier, if it becomes known that I’ve won the jackpot again, it will create all sorts of complications.”
“That’s true. The newspapers and broadcasters would never pass up such an interesting story, so it would get quite noisy.”
“And I’d rather not have that situation unfold.”

Landon recalled the time he had visited the Lottery Commission with Seokwon before.
Even then, Seokwon had been reluctant to have his face and identity exposed.

‘He’s the type who values his privacy.’

As Landon came to this understanding on his own, Seokwon continued with what he had been saying.

“That’s why I’d like you to have this, Landon.”

Seokwon gestured with his chin toward the first-prize lottery ticket lying on the table.

“That would certainly help us avoid media attention.”
“The commission fee we agreed on, plus the Bahamas property, comes to 130,000 dollars, so it should be more than enough.”
“Even after deducting the commission, there’s still 60,000 dollars left from the winnings.”
“Think of that as a bonus.”

Landon smiled, thinking this was someone he liked more and more with each passing moment.

“That’s quite a generous bonus.”
“So, will you go along with the plan?”

Without hesitation, Landon reached for the lottery ticket in front of him and slipped it into his inner jacket pocket.

“Of course. Only a fool would turn down an offer like this.”

Seokwon chuckled as if he’d expected nothing less, then lifted his coffee cup.
Landon, delighted at securing both the commission and a handsome bonus, spoke in an upbeat tone.

“It’ll be lunchtime soon. Do you have any other plans?”
“No.”

When he shrugged, Landon clapped his hands together in satisfaction.

“Then let me treat you to lunch at a nice restaurant.”
“Sounds good.”

There was no reason to decline when someone was offering to treat him out of goodwill.

“I actually asked the Hotel concierge earlier and found a decent place. Shall we head there?”
“Oh, really? I’m curious to see how good it is.”

Seokwon rose from his seat alongside Landon, who was beaming with satisfaction.

* * *

Shortly after, the two of them departed the Hotel in a sleek black Cadillac Escalade and arrived at Koreatown, located at the intersection of West 6th Street and Lamar.
True to its reputation as the third-largest Korean residential area in the United States after California and New York, roughly a hundred Korean shops and restaurants clustered together in this vibrant district.
Landon, who had imagined a refined restaurant in the heart of the city, felt a slight moment of hesitation upon seeing the Bone Soup Restaurant with its large yellow and red signage prominently displayed.

“Is this the place you wanted to visit?”
“Yes, I’ve been craving Korean food, so I asked the concierge on a whim, and he mentioned there was a Koreatown here.”

He turned to face Landon at the restaurant entrance.

“If Korean cuisine is uncomfortable for you, we can go somewhere else. Shall we find another place?”
“Not at all! While Korean food is new to me, I’m willing to give it a try.”

At the sight of Landon’s spirited determination, Seokwon’s eyes curved with laughter.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

As they pushed open the door and stepped inside, the distinctive spicy aroma struck their nostrils with full force.
Recalling that most Korean dishes were renowned for their fiery heat, Landon found himself hesitating involuntarily as he surveyed the interior.
Fortunately, contrary to Landon’s concerns, while not quite as refined as a high-end restaurant, the establishment was immaculately clean and well-organized, leaving a favorable first impression.
It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was quite crowded, with most patrons being Korean.
As the two settled at an empty table, a Male Server in a black t-shirt quickly approached and asked.

“What would you like to order?”

Landon looked toward Seokwon, uncertain of what to order.
Without even providing a menu, the server had jumped straight to taking their order, leaving Landon’s eyes wavering with confusion.

“We do have other meal options, but this place specializes in Bone Soup Restaurant.”
“Then let’s have that.”

Landon nodded readily.

“Got it. Two servings of Bone Soup Restaurant then.”
“Yes. Would you like to add extra noodles?”
“Just the basic version for now.”
“Understood. Two Bone Soups for table five!”

Not long after placing the order, the Male Server set the table with various side dishes and placed two steaming bowls of Bone Soup Restaurant in earthenware pots before them.
Upon seeing two massive bones laden with meat filling the earthenware pot to the brim, Landon’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Is this… actually food?”

No matter how I looked at it, it resembled a demon’s stew risen from the depths of hell.
The visual was nothing short of shocking—massive bones and some sort of gelatinous vegetables bubbling vigorously in a crimson broth.
Seokwon, on the other hand, felt his mouth water at the prospect of enjoying Korean cuisine after so long.

‘This is driving me crazy, seriously.’

And when the aroma of perfectly aged radish kimchi wafted up, I could no longer restrain myself.
Seokwon momentarily forgot that Landen was even sitting across from me, using chopsticks to deftly strip the tender meat clinging to the bone, dip it generously into mustard soy sauce, and pop a large mouthful into my mouth.

“Mmm! This is the taste, this is it!”

This was the pungent, soul-awakening flavor that stirred the Korean spirit.
Landen attempted to do the same, transferring a bone to his plate and trying to scrape the meat clean, but his chopstick technique was so clumsy that the bone kept slipping away.

“Having trouble?”
“Yes. I think I should just ask for a fork.”
“No way. Who eats Bone Soup Restaurant with a fork?”

Seokwon waved his hand dismissively, as if the very suggestion were absurd.

“Watch carefully. You have to pick up the bone with your hands and suck out every bit of meat hidden between the crevices.”

Landen looked horrified and eventually gave up trying to strip the meat from the bone, deciding instead to simply taste the broth with a spoon.
Though the crimson broth inspired a hint of apprehension, Seokwon sitting directly across from me had already mixed rice into the broth and was scraping the bowl clean.

‘It must actually taste good, right?’

Landen hesitated slightly before lifting a spoonful of broth to his lips and slurping it down.

“Gasp!”

In an instant, the intense spiciness made Landen’s mouth tingle, and before he could stop himself, tears welled up in his eyes as he cried out indignantly.

“What on earth is this dish? It’s incredibly spicy!”
“What are you talking about? In Korea, even children come here with their parents and eat this.”
“Really? That can’t be right!”

How on earth can a child eat something so salty, spicy, and scorching hot!
Seokwon paid no attention to whether Landen was shocked or not, focusing entirely on his meal.
Particularly with the kimchi—he devoured it as though years of longing had accumulated—and Landen’s expression grew half-weary watching him.
When discussing business, he was such a cool and sharp young man, so why did his eating habits resemble a middle-aged expatriate savoring his homeland’s cuisine for the first time in ages?

‘He’s truly an enigma.’

Landen shook his head subtly without letting it show, then carefully set down his spoon.

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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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