Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 72

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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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72. So stay sharp and follow along carefully.

A week later, at Daeheung Securities Headquarters in Yeouido.
The 5th Floor Trading Center hummed with its usual energy—numbers streaming endlessly across computer monitors perched on desks, telephones ringing incessantly, traders’ voices overlapping in a symphony of controlled chaos.
The yen’s strength had sent export stocks soaring, and the atmosphere crackled with intensity as prices climbed higher by the minute.

“How much are we up right now?”

Choi Ho-geun, who had taken over managing the team in Seok-won’s absence, approached from behind and asked. Jung Hwan-yeop, sitting before a bulky CRT monitor, turned his head and answered.

“O-Gwang Industries and Hyunwoo Automobiles are up 36% and 41% respectively, and Misung Electronics is climbing 25%.”

Choi Ho-geun glanced at the profit margins displayed on the CRT monitor over Jung Hwan-yeop’s shoulder and nodded slightly.

“Okay. That’s enough. Sell everything now, including Shimai.”
“Pardon?”

Taken aback by the unexpected order, Jung Hwan-yeop spun his chair around fully to look up at Choi Ho-geun.

“But the momentum is still climbing. You want us to exit now?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone’s saying they’ll go higher. Selling now feels too early.”

It was understandable—every position had gained over 5% today alone, riding the wave beautifully, making a sale feel almost wasteful.

“It’s the team leader’s orders.”

At Choi Ho-geun’s words, Jung Hwan-yeop’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Really?”
“I’m telling you, we’ve been fooled enough. He called last night and told me to liquidate all positions.”

Though Seok-won was in the United States, he remained in constant contact with Choi Ho-geun, issuing investment directives regularly.
To ensure easy communication whenever necessary, Seok-won had given Choi Ho-geun a mobile phone.
The phone Choi Ho-geun now carried in a case at his waist was that very device.
Mobile phones were still rare enough that few people used them, so Choi Ho-geun deliberately wore his this way, subtly showing it off wherever he went.
Though Jung Hwan-yeop had been reluctant about selling moments before, the mention of Seok-won’s orders caused him to reverse his stance immediately.

“Should we sell everything at once?”
“No, the stock price will drop. Divide it into three or four sales over two days.”
“Understood.”

When Jung Hwan-yeop nodded obediently, Choi Ho-geun’s expression shifted to one of mild exasperation.

“When I told you to sell earlier, you didn’t react like this. Isn’t the difference in attitude a bit too stark?”

But Jung Hwan-yeop remained unfazed.

“You said it was the team leader’s instruction. So far, I haven’t lost money following your guidance.”

Watching that shameless face, Choi Ho-geun felt a dull ache at the back of his head and let out an exasperated breath.

“That guy… honestly. He’s not wrong, so what can I even say?”
“Come on. Why are you getting so irritable?”

Jung Hwan-yeop sidled up and pretended to massage his shoulders while clinging to him.

“That’s enough. Seriously.”

Choi Ho-geun brushed Jung Hwan-yeop’s arm away with a sullen expression.
Yu Seok-hyun, watching from nearby, laughed and intervened between the two.

“Manager, please be patient. It’s not like this is the first time Jung has acted this way.”

At the subtle implication that he was a troublemaker, Jung Hwan-yeop glared with narrowed eyes.

“Oh my. Here I thought senior colleagues were having a conversation, and you just butt in. Has the junior really grown that much?”

In the past, Yu Seok-hyun would have backed down, but lately he held his own.

“I’m over two years in now. Isn’t that too long to be called a junior?”

At his casual, unbothered response with a shrug, Jung Hwan-yeop’s face fell. Choi Ho-geun, seeing this, smirked with satisfaction.
Upon seeing that, Choi Ho-geun smirked with a satisfied expression, pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“That’s right. It’s time for Seok-hyun to shed that rookie label too.”

I tapped Jung Hwan-yeop on the shoulder with a mischievous grin, watching his dumbfounded expression.

“It’s not so bad watching a chick grow into a rooster and climb the ranks, is it?”
“Ugh.”

Jung Hwan-yeop let out a groan with a pained expression, but no one paid him any mind.
Investment Team 4 had such excellent morale not just because we got along well, but because our investment returns far outpaced those of the other teams.
That’s when Hong Jae-hee, the only woman on our team, suddenly asked as if she’d just remembered something.

“By the way, when do you think the team leader will be back?”

Jung Hwan-yeop chimed in, saying he’d been thinking the same thing.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been over two weeks since he went to the United States. Isn’t he staying a bit too long?”
“I already asked him, and he said he needs to stay a bit longer.”
“Don’t tell me he’s going to plant himself in America and never come back?”
“You idiot. Of course not.”

Choi Ho-geun, his expression serious, pressed down on Jung Hwan-yeop’s head to silence his rambling.

“It seems there’s still work to be done, so everyone just wait patiently without making a fuss.”
“Still, I hope he comes back soon.”

Jung Hwan-yeop teased Hong Jae-hee at her words.

“What? Are you waiting for a homecoming gift?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then you won’t need a gift.”

Hong Jae-hee narrowed her eyes and hesitated slightly before speaking.

“Well… if you’re bringing something back, I should accept it graciously.”
“Aha! You are waiting for a gift! You’re hoping you’ll get one again this time, aren’t you?”
“Ugh, seriously! You’re so annoying, sir!”

Hong Jae-hee finally exploded with a shriek, but Jung Hwan-yeop seemed to find her reaction even more amusing.
Watching my teammates display such elementary-school-level childishness, I let out a quiet chuckle and clapped my hands lightly to refocus everyone’s attention.

“Alright, enough chitchat. Everyone back to work. You know salaries don’t grow on trees, right?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”

Jung Hwan-yeop, who had been teasing Hong Jae-hee relentlessly, settled back into his seat with a satisfied expression.
Choi Ho-geun pulled his chair closer and checked the stock prices of the long-term investment positions he held under Seok-won’s direction, separate from the trades they’d just executed.
Upon seeing the numbers displayed on the monitor, Choi Ho-geun couldn’t help but let out a short exclamation of surprise.

O-Gwang Industries ▲ 3,900 379,600
Cheonho Steel ▲ 2,400 98,500

Both stocks that Seok-won had specifically invested in had tripled in value, so his reaction was inevitable.

“There’s no denying it at this point.”

Initially, I had viewed him through the lens of nepotism, but that prejudice had completely vanished.
Rather, having predicted the yen’s strength this time as well and made substantial profits by purchasing export stocks in bulk, I could only marvel repeatedly at Seok-won’s exceptional insight and investment acumen.

“When someone spoon-feeds you everything, you’d better not mess it up.”

Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I carefully examined the documents before me to ensure I executed my assigned tasks flawlessly.

* * *

Manhattan, New York.
In the Executive Office overlooking the brilliant blue East River where passenger ships came and went beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, Landon Shore and Andrew sat facing each other with Seok-won between them.
While Seok-won reclined leisurely against the plush leather sofa, Landon kept nervously checking his wristwatch.
Andrew, too, made no attempt to hide his tension.
With his mouth dry, Landon picked up the teacup before him, took a sip of coffee, set it down, and looked at Seok-won with a question.

“The Consumer Price Index will be released soon. Aren’t you nervous about it?”

Depending on how the Consumer Price Index came out, bond prices would surge and plummet dramatically.
Because of this, not only the Eldorado Fund but the entire market held its breath, anxiously awaiting the announcement.
Yet the one who should have been most nervous, Seok-won, sat there with remarkable composure, which was puzzling.

“Fretting here won’t change the CPI results that are already determined.”
“That’s true, but the results could still come out differently than expected, couldn’t they?”

Confidence gleamed in Seok-won’s eyes as he maintained his composed expression throughout.

“The probability of that is quite low.”

Seok-won spoke while meeting the puzzled gazes of Landon Shore and Andrew.

“You’re aware that the Federal Reserve significantly lowered interest rates to overcome the recession triggered by the savings and loan crisis, and also substantially loosened liquidity in the market.”

The financial market boom of the past several years had been precisely due to low interest rates and abundant liquidity.

“When money floods the market like that, it naturally stimulates inflation.”
“…!”
“With the midterm elections approaching, the Federal Reserve wouldn’t go to such lengths to raise rates—even introducing the unfamiliar term of ‘preemptive rate hikes’—without good reason.”

Andrew narrowed his eyes as he asked.

“Are you saying the Federal Reserve has seen data suggesting inflation concerns?”

Seok-won answered with a faint smile.

“Otherwise, there’d be no reason to move so urgently.”

Given how abrupt the Federal Reserve’s rate hike truly was, both men nodded in agreement.

“Then this CPI report won’t look good.”
“The probability of that is very high.”

Just as Landon Shore’s expression filled with anticipation, Mason knocked and hurried in, holding printouts in one hand.

“Has the CPI index been released?”

Landon Shore pressed urgently, and Mason immediately nodded.

“Yes.”

As he answered, Mason handed the printouts to Seok-won, who sat at the head of the table.
After reviewing the newly released CPI data from the printouts, Seok-won looked up with a smile playing at his lips.
Landon Shore leaned forward, his voice tense as he asked.

“How did it come out?”

Seok-won handed the document in his hand to Landon Shore as if telling him to see for himself.

“We got 140.3, up 0.3% from the previous month.”

Andrew, who had been staring while swallowing dryly, brightened and spoke up.

“That’s the highest figure since December last year.”

Landon Shore also confirmed the detailed CPI items written on the document, clenched his fist tightly, and spoke with excitement in his voice.

“Energy prices jumped 5.3% from the previous month, and food and medical services also rose significantly. We can safely say that a rate freeze is now off the table.”
“That’s right. Regardless of further increases, the Federal Reserve officials will have no choice but to pour out hawkish remarks due to inflation concerns for the time being.”

Then Andrew’s eyes sparkled.

“If this happens, the bond market, having lost even its last glimmer of hope, will experience an absolute massacre.”

Seok-won interlaced his fingers with both hands and sat with a deep smile on his lips.

“Once they all collapse and the blood runs, we’ll clean up and collect the spoils.”
“I’ll wrap this up cleanly, so don’t worry.”

Andrew stood up with his shoulders squared and left the Executive Office with Mason, who had been standing behind him.
From now on, it was Andrew’s turn to be busy, so he was checking market reactions and preparing to make his moves.
Landon Shore looked at him with admiring eyes.

“You’ve pulled off another hole-in-one beautifully.”
“It’s not all over yet.”

Landon Shore, who had regained his composure somewhere along the way, responded.

“With the CPI coming out like this, isn’t the game essentially over?”

Seok-won simply smiled without answering.
Watching him, Landon Shore couldn’t help but think that this man must have been born grasping gold in his hands.

“Every investment you make turns to gold—I’d say calling you the Midas touch wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
“The real game hasn’t even started yet, so don’t jinx me like that.”
“Is there something even more surprising waiting?”
“Of course. Now that I’ve set foot on Wall Street, I won’t just shine briefly and fade away—I’ll become the master of this place.”

Seok-won let slip the ambition he’d been harboring all along.
Landon Shore knew he was no ordinary man, but the sheer magnitude of his aspirations far exceeded his expectations, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Anyone else would laugh at such grandiose talk as delusion, but Landon Shore, having witnessed every success unfold beside him, couldn’t dismiss Seok-won’s words as mere fantasy.

“…Are you serious?”
“Boys, be ambitious. Even that famous scholar William Clark said it—the bigger the goal, the better, isn’t it?”
“Boys is a bit much, though….”

Landon Shore looked at him with an expression that said even he thought calling himself a boy was pushing it.
Had Andrew been present, he would have worn a similarly wry expression.
Whether it was a joke to lighten the mood, a faint smile played at the corners of Seok-won’s lips.

“I’m actually frightened you might really pull it off.”
“So stay sharp and keep up with me.”

Becoming the master of Wall Street sounded absurd, yet watching Seok-won sit there with such unwavering confidence, Landon Shore’s heart raced with the conviction that he would somehow turn those words into reality.
In that moment, he praised himself once more for having made the wisest decision of his life by choosing to walk this path alongside Seok-won.

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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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