New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 30. Ghost Story (5)

Harvard graduate.

This alone was enough that no one doubted the Branch Manager’s English skills.

Moreover, he had over 15 years of experience working in the United States financial industry.

At any language institute in Korea, he would have secured a position as a star instructor.

To receive tutoring from such a person, how much would one have to pay per month?

It would probably cost at least several million won, but I couldn’t feel comfortable receiving such lessons for free.

“How’s your understanding? Since it’s the first day today, I started with very basic parts.”

“I apologize for the difficulty in proceeding with the class due to my lack of vocabulary.”

“Everyone starts that way. But at this level, there’s plenty of potential. If you work hard for just one year, basic conversation shouldn’t be a problem. And Nexfin is gradually changing into an environment where English becomes unavoidable, so frequent exposure will help your skills improve quickly.”

The mountain of accumulated request documents were all in English.

And the frequency of employees making phone calls in English had increased much more than before.

I wasn’t completely ignorant of English either.

Most technical materials and C language books were in English.

However, technical vocabulary and English conversation were completely different domains, so it wasn’t easy.

“But will you really personally conduct English tutoring every day? I’m grateful, but I feel too sorry.”

“If possible, I’ll conduct all the classes myself, but when time really doesn’t permit, a Private Equity Staff member will substitute. That person also graduated from a famous university in the United States. But you don’t need to feel too burdened.”

Honestly, the burden wasn’t that great.

I was just concerned about efficiency and optimization.

The relationship with the Branch Manager might reduce the efficiency of English education.

But after taking the class, it was quite good.

He accurately identified which parts I was lacking, and the quality of instruction was high.

And most importantly, it was an opportunity to turn the variable called Branch Manager into a constant.

To control Nexfin, I needed the Branch Manager’s cooperation.

Through occasions like this, I could coordinate with the Branch Manager.

“Thank you so much for making time.”

“Looking at your expression, you still seem burdened. Then, would it be less burdensome if we exchanged what each other wants? I’ll teach English, and Employee Lee can tell me about recent research trends or areas of interest. And just answering my questions – doesn’t that seem like a fair exchange?”

How did my expression look burdened?

But I didn’t argue. I could guess what the Branch Manager was thinking by saying this.

Patents and stocks.

Since I had led the creation of patents and invested in Saera Technology and Dream Rain for huge profits, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to be interested.

“If it’s the Branch Manager’s question, I’ll do my best to answer.”

“Then, let me ask just one thing I’m most curious about first. When are you planning to sell Saera Technology? It’s risen over 20 times, so isn’t it about time to liquidate?”

“May I first ask what the fund’s position is?”

I wanted to know the Private Equity Fund’s thoughts first.

That way I could organize my thoughts better and give a proper answer.

“Objectively speaking, the current price increase is at an abnormal level. It wouldn’t be strange if it declined at any time. However, from the United States to Korea, all IT Companies’ stock prices are surging, and both media and the public are enthusiastic, so we believe this trend may continue for a while longer.”

“I also think the upward trend will continue for now. But I don’t think that period will be long. I think it will be difficult to exceed 3-4 months.”

“You mean you see it declining after the first quarter of next year. May I hear your reasoning? Of course, I also know that just looking at PER, this is a bubble that could burst at any time.”

I didn’t know all the technical terms.

But just looking at the structure of IT Companies, the answer was visible.

“The revenue models themselves are too weak. Having directly created and operated Rollbook, I came to realize how important that is. At least Rollbook has a minimal revenue structure, but among other IT Companies, many have no revenue structure at all.”

“You’re saying they only consume money without generating any.”

“I don’t think the public will wait for such structures indefinitely. And I think the limit of that patience will come around March next year.”

That was the state of Saera Technology’s gears.

Right now, the rotation was continuously accelerating, but the condition of the central axles was a mess.

“Then are you planning to liquidate at the peak?”

“Although I lack financial knowledge, I do know the saying about trying to sell at the head and getting caught. I’m planning to settle around January or February, before the peak comes.”

“If prices rise at the current trend, by January it would be up 40 times. Then the total amount Nexfin employees invested would be 80 billion won. Employee Lee’s share would be about 40 billion won.”

40 billion won.

It was an enormous amount, but I felt no excitement.

The amount was too large to even make plans, and the profit hadn’t been realized yet.

“Since it’s money that hasn’t come into my hands yet, it doesn’t feel real.”

“Originally, once you exceed a certain amount, it just looks like numbers. But selling 80 billion won worth of stocks isn’t easy. It’s a scale that could shock the market.”

“I don’t know much about such matters.”

Investment and stocks were both new to me.

I could predict that Saera Technology’s stock price would rise significantly and fall sharply soon, but I hadn’t planned how to sell it.

It wasn’t my job.

Stock trading was Tiger Fund’s job, which was why the investment was made through the Private Equity Fund’s account.

“Fortunately, since the stocks are in the fund, large-scale selling is possible through various methods. There are methods like block deals too.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard the term block deal.”

“Simply put, it’s a method where institutional investors negotiate in advance to buy and sell large quantities of stocks. Individuals can participate too, but it’s complicated and difficult.”

As expected, Tiger Fund had the answer.

This was why I didn’t waste time worrying unnecessarily.

“If we use block deals, won’t the price fall?”

“It might fall. But if processed as after-hours large-volume trading, the shock to the market can be much reduced. Of course, disclosure is required before and after trading, but it’s more stable than regular trading.”

“In the end, we just need to find good buyers for the block deal.”

“By January or February, there will be a line of people wanting to buy Saera Technology. If we slowly cast bait from now, we could attract even more fish.”

At that moment, the Branch Manager’s smile changed.

His usual gentle smile disappeared.

In an instant, it had changed to the smile of a predator eyeing its prey.

“What kind of bait are you referring to?”

“We could spread word that the fund is short on capital, or start rumors that we’re interested in other assets. Do you have any companies you’d like to buy? With 80 billion, we could acquire a pretty decent company.”

“I’ve never thought about corporate acquisitions.”

The Branch Manager nodded as if he expected me to answer that way.

“Corporate acquisitions are quite troublesome. Then, do you have any other investment targets in mind right now?”

“Not only Saera Technology, but other IT companies that have recently surged are also expected to decline soon. There may be slight differences in timing, but the overall trend will likely flow similarly.”

“When one bubble starts to burst, the others tend to follow in a chain reaction. You understand that aspect well despite not majoring in Finance.”

What could be so amusing?

The Branch Manager kept smiling as he looked at me.

Actually, I was quite enjoying this too.

Just having this conversation felt like designing a game board.

“I felt it after visiting COMDEX. I could see that most IT companies in the United States also have weak profit structures. So I thought that IT technology stocks worldwide, including the United States and Korea, might decline together.”

“That’s exactly the beginning of a bubble collapse. And after that, quite a serious economic recession will follow.”

“I don’t know if I should say this, but it seems like the timing was just a bit early.”

At those words, the Branch Manager leaned forward a little more.

He showed interest in the expression ‘the timing was early.’

“The timing was early? Does that mean you think there are companies that will revive after the bubble bursts?”

“If technology and timing mesh like gears, that company will actually experience tremendous growth.”

“Where do you think companies with such technology are right now?”

“It’s still difficult to say for certain. It will definitely become clear after the bubble bursts.”

Actually, a few places did come to mind even now.

Representatively, MS and Apple.

They were large corporations already collaborating with us.

Their internal structures were solid, and I could glimpse infinite expansion possibilities.

But I held back my words.

Now wasn’t the time to speak carelessly.

“Very good. This is why I wanted to have a conversation with Employee Lee. Wall Street is thinking completely differently from us.”

“Different thinking – does Wall Street believe IT company stock prices will rise for a long time?”

“That’s right. Not only our fund, but all of Wall Street is crazy about technology stocks right now. They’re pouring in most of their operating capital and even employing leverage on top of that.”

Wall Street doesn’t know what I know?

Of course, I can intuitively know information since I can see the gears.

But even so, I couldn’t believe that Wall Street, called the center of world finance, didn’t know about this situation.

“Couldn’t we be wrong and Wall Street be right?”

“That’s possible. But I trust my judgment. And I also trust Employee Lee’s eye.”

“What makes you trust me so much?”

“I met someone called the Sage of Omaha by pure chance. Strangely, whenever I look at Employee Lee, that person comes to mind.”

Hyeon-in and I are similar?

I didn’t know who this sage referred to, but I just gave an awkward smile out of embarrassment.

“I don’t really know who that is, but thank you for saying I resemble such a person.”

“That person also avoids investing in technology stocks. Wall Street sometimes mocks him. So he left these words: ‘Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.’ Do you know what that means?”

“I’m not sure, but it sounds like when a crisis comes, you can tell who was prepared.”

“Similar. It means that only after the bubble bursts do you discover who were the companies and people with real ability. It’s also in line with what Employee Lee just said.”

Why was he telling me this?

I wasn’t even part of the Private Equity Fund, just a new employee at Nexfin.

“Is there a reason you’re telling me this?”

“Because I have expectations. How about learning not only English Lessons but also Finance together from now on? You never know what life holds.”

I wasn’t very interested in Financial Management.

But I became intrigued by the idea of controlling a massive market with numbers, so I accepted the Branch Manager’s proposal.

“If you’re willing to teach me, I’ll gratefully learn. But I’m not particularly smart.”

“In finance, intuition is more important than brains. Well then, let’s end today’s class here.”

The scheduled class time was one hour.

But the class that had easily exceeded two hours ended quickly.

It actually felt even shorter.

The Branch Manager was about to get up from his seat.

But I still had something to say, so I urgently spoke up.

“There’s something I need to report regarding Rollbook. We need to resolve music copyright issues.”

“There seems to be a copyright problem. Just write up a simple report and give it to me. I’ll resolve it quickly.”

Is this the power of a Private Equity Fund?

It was a problem I couldn’t solve no matter how much I thought about it.

But the Branch Manager accepted it calmly as if it were a trivial matter.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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