The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 6

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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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Episode 6

‘Should I have given a more childlike answer?’

It seems like he was trying to teach a young child something, but I feel like I hit the nail on the head right away.

“Huh… a bank inside a computer. I couldn’t find a more fitting expression than that.”

This concept would still be too early for this era.

Even internet banking was still in its infancy, with only basic home banking services like account balance inquiries being realized.

The old man continued muttering.

“You understood it perfectly. Really.”

His admiring gaze fixed on me intently.

Then he shifted his gaze to the child beside him.

“At the international financial forum that grandfather participated in, there was a presentation saying that an era will come when everything from transfers to investments and foreign exchange can be done through the internet. It would achieve both enhanced customer accessibility and cost reduction.”

Soon the old man let go of the child’s hand and spoke quietly.

“As this child said, how we implement a bank inside a computer will be our decisive factor. Do you understand?”

“Yes, grandfather.”

A clear voice flowed from between the lips of the boy who had been looking at me with an unreadable expression.

So they’re grandfather and grandson.

But this kid too… who does he resemble?

Soon the old man looked at me again with a somewhat confused expression.

And he asked Junho.

“Does the child’s father work in the financial sector?”

“Oh, no. I just work at a factory…”

“Then this is truly a remarkable child. To make such an intuitive expression without knowing anything. You, what’s your name?”

The old man’s quite intimidating presence seemed to fluster even Junho, who was a doting father.

But well, I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I confidently stated my name.

“Gu Chaea!”

At my voice shouting my name with imperfect pronunciation, small laughter bloomed among the employees who had been tense, perhaps due to the old man’s appearance.

“Yes, Gu Chaea.”

The old man took out his wallet from his back pocket and held out an old ten thousand won bill.

“Here, this is pocket money for a smart child.”

With several people watching, I politely extended both hands to receive the money.

Sigh, it’s a bit disappointing that this is an era without fifty thousand won bills, isn’t it?

“Thank you!”

People’s laughter followed my hearty expression of gratitude.

After putting the money in my pocket so I wouldn’t lose it, I turned my gaze to the boy who was still staring intently at me.

“…”

‘He does give off the vibe of a very handsome young master from a wealthy family…’

He looks cold, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking either.

It would be difficult for a four or five-year-old to give off such an impression.

Does he have some kind of story?

* * *

‘That grandfather was the chairman of Tomorrow Finance, how amazing.’

The current Noah could only search and utilize information accessible through the internet of this era, so it wasn’t very useful yet,

but still, the face and name of a big shot like the chairman of Tomorrow Finance came up immediately.

‘Kang Un-san, age 62…’

The reason I, who had worked at Tomorrow Securities, a subsidiary of Tomorrow Finance, didn’t recognize his face was because he was the previous chairman.

‘Then the grandson who was with him, is that Kang Hee-jae?’

I thought he looked familiar somehow.

When I joined the company, the chairman of Tomorrow Finance was Kang Hee-jae, the grandson of founder Kang Un-san.

Young and handsome with celebrity-level appeal, and exceptional ability to elevate Tomorrow Finance to a global financial company by combining it with IT technology.

However, he was also criticized for being too performance-oriented. There were employees who quit after exposing him as inhumane.

Of course, as a mere entry-level employee at a subsidiary, I had only seen him from very far away and never actually met him face to face.

‘But come to think of it…’

I think there was a reason why Kang Hee-jae had to inherit the company at such a young age…

What was it? Did his parents pass away early?

I requested my AI assistant system Noah to search for this information.

[This doesn’t seem to be something I can find.]

[Would you like to try a different search term? ૮ ˶ ˆ ᴥ ˆ ˶ ა]

‘The articles haven’t been digitized yet, so it’s hard to find information.’

“Is this all you can do? Noah.”

[…]

“I’m telling you to level up quickly so you can help your master!”

The white puppy that had been purely cheerful drooped its ears.

‘By the way, that kid… I saw something like an indescribable shadow.’

When I finally gave up searching and lay down, I heard Junho’s voice holding the phone.

“You want me to lend you money? But… stocks?”

Ah.

I pressed my forehead.

Then I concentrated and tensed my stomach muscles.

At times like this, I need to use my full voice!

“Daddy! Wahhhhh!!! Chaea’s tummy hurts!!!”

My crying voice, using both head and chest voice, spread out forcefully.

I may look like this, but I have quite good vocal projection for a four-year-old!

Soon I heard Junho’s flustered voice.

“Ah, wait a moment. Chaea is crying. Sorry, but I have to hang up.”

“Daddy!! It hurts!!! Chaea is dying!!!”

I absolutely cannot give them any opening!

Those wicked people trying to squeeze blood from a stone!

Besides the friend who had asked him to co-sign a loan last time, there were acquaintances who made various proposals to Junho, calling them ‘opportunities.’

Each time, I would viciously and persistently fake illness to cut off Junho’s communication opportunities.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot…?”

Junho, who had hurriedly come over from the kitchen where the phone was, was breathing heavily.

“Our Chaea, are you okay?”

He asked me with wide eyes full of worry.

My heart ached seeing Junho like that too.

“No, it’s not really deadly… but it hurts…”

I spread my arms and snuggled into Junho’s embrace.

“Daddy, make it better!”

Junho was tender-hearted and compassionate. And the people around Junho seemed to know this personality of his well.

So for me, this method was the only choice I had.

“Our Chaea, should we go to the hospital?”

“It’s not that bad. I’m okay.”

“Chaea…”

Junho stroked my head with a worried voice.

“Daddy, I’m sleepy. Put me to sleep.”

I lay down on the floor and grabbed Junho’s wrist with my small hand as I spoke.

“Daddy’s hand is a healing hand…”

At my words, Junho nodded and began stroking my stomach.

“Daddy’s hand is a healing hand. Our Chaea, don’t be sick. Daddy’s hand is a healing hand…”

On the shoulders of Junho, who was looking at me tenderly while giving me healing touches, pain relief patches were stuck all over as usual today.

Even though I wasn’t his real daughter, I felt sorry for Junho who worked hard every day to feed me.

Even though he could rightfully scold me for pretending to be sick so many times at important moments, the way he looked after me with eyes that saw something truly precious made my heart… *sniff*.

“Thank you… Father…”

I placed my hand on Junho’s firm hand that was stroking my belly.

Then a faint smile seemed to frost at the corners of Junho’s mouth before his lips began to move.

“Father is grateful too. Father can find strength because Chaea is here. I always feel like I’m being cheered on.”

Then, as if something came to mind, he continued speaking.

“But speaking of cheering, it suddenly reminds me of baseball. Ah, it’s not that Father likes it that much, but there were many people excited recently because Haitai won the championship. I went to cheer with friends last time and it was quite fun. When Chaea gets a little bigger and goes to the baseball stadium with Father, you’ll understand, but the baseball stadium is…”

Junho was handsome, had a good personality, and a warm heart, but he had one slight flaw: he would ramble on with stories no one asked for whenever he got the chance.

‘…Though of course, from a possessor’s standpoint, he is a good caregiver.’

He even had the personality to explain this and that while guessing my intentions by himself, even in front of me who couldn’t possibly understand words, so I would be able to grasp outside affairs through him.

My eyes gradually closed to Junho’s gentle and quiet voice.

He had now started explaining baseball rules. And even Haitai’s player lineup and their strengths and weaknesses.

Junho was saying he hoped Haitai would win the championship next year too, but…

‘Father… for that to happen, you’d have to wait… 12 years…’

Unable to resist the overwhelming sleepiness, my eyes slowly closed.

And so our first autumn was passing by.

Around the time when cold winds began to blow strongly.

And when the dark circles under Junho’s eyes had become as dark as the grim reaper’s…

News of major conglomerates going bankrupt began filling the news.

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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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