Chapter 102

Translation: Godtl

The British pharmaceutical industry was currently facing the challenge of generational transition.

Of course, the pharmaceutical industry still maintained a strong industrial foundation in each country.

However, with the impending patent expirations of so-called "blockbuster drugs," generic versions were starting to be produced everywhere.

"Still, GSK and AstraZeneca are large enough to compete for the top two spots among British pharmaceutical companies, pouring enormous funds into this generational transition. No matter how hard the smaller pharmaceutical companies below them try to rise up, they're overwhelmed by sheer size."

GSK, the largest pharmaceutical company in the UK, and AstraZeneca.

Both were merged corporations formed by combining multiple companies.

As a result, these two companies maintained such comprehensive influence that they consistently ranked within Europe's top four.

In other words, they had grown so enormous that collapsing was virtually impossible.

"But AstraZeneca did take a significant hit this time."

While our Kangsung Group had a completed governance structure centered around Chairman Kangsung-ho, AstraZeneca was a publicly traded company with dispersed ownership.

Simply put, unlike Chairman Kangsung-ho who held sole control, AstraZeneca's shares were distributed among numerous global investors, with professional managers running operations.

Particularly, its largest shareholder held only about 8%, and even that was Whiterock—the world's largest asset management firm.

"When the UK economy plummeted, funds and institutions were the first to dump their shares, followed by individual investors who belatedly grasped the situation, didn't they?"

This led to an unprecedented crisis where the UK stock market repeatedly triggered circuit breakers before ultimately shutting down entirely.

"That's why AstraZeneca's stock price fell along with it."

"But even with the stock price drop, it must still be a difficult company to acquire, right?"

"Yes. AstraZeneca is one of the UK's flagship pharmaceutical companies. Even when the shocking financial crisis hit the UK, AstraZeneca managed relatively well. Since it's a thriving business not just in the UK but across Europe, most assumed it would be fine."

I carefully reviewed the report on AstraZeneca.

While examining notable sectors in the UK, my intuition strangely activated regarding this pharmaceutical field.

Among them, AstraZeneca shone the brightest.

Out of curiosity, I reached out and touched the company name that had been glowing since I opened the report.

"!?"

Then, a sudden, intense image seared into my mind.

A horrifying vision—a red virus spreading across the entire planet.

"..."

I quickly pulled my hand away.

It was a terrifying hallucination I never wanted to see again, one that made my breath catch in my throat.

'What... was that just?'

It wasn't some zombie virus from a movie.

An entire planet gradually dyed red—what kind of vision was that?

"Chairman, are you alright?"

"Ah, yes. I'm fine."

I took a short, deep breath.

What could it mean that my intuition showed me such a hallucination?

It meant an enormous event was about to unfold on this planet.

"So the conclusion is that acquiring AstraZeneca would be difficult, right?"

"Yes. Its market capitalization is huge, and since no specific entity holds a dominant stake, it would be challenging. However, there is exactly one way AstraZeneca could take a major hit."

I thought I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew what it was.

"A no-deal Brexit?"

"Yes. After the prime minister stepped down recently, the position is currently vacant. Although an interim prime minister has stepped in, it'll take months until a new one is elected."

And the EU, seeing the British economy collapsing, was pushing for a no-deal Brexit.

"The interim prime minister has declared that no matter what happens, they will block a no-deal Brexit. They're also flexing their muscles toward the EU nations."

It was almost comical—the British had a fire at their feet, yet they were the ones threatening European nations with it.

"So a no-deal Brexit is off the table, then?"

"At the very least, the worst-case scenario might be avoided. Especially companies like AstraZeneca, which rely heavily on European markets, will be even more desperate to prevent a no-deal Brexit. There are rumors that such corporations are lobbying across Europe, throwing money around."

So there won't be a no-deal Brexit?

But in the vision I saw earlier, Britain ultimately pushed through with Brexit.

Does that mean they'll reach an amicable agreement?

I lightly touched my finger to the British flag drawn on the report.

"······!"

Then another vision seized my sight.

This time, it wasn't the Earth dyed red and groaning like before.

'This is······.'

It was the British people cheering, welcoming a no-deal Brexit with open arms.

＊＊＊

"These damn lunatics actually went through with it······."

A world-shaking event had occurred in the financial markets.

The EU had officially passed a no-deal Brexit.

"Isn't this declaration essentially the EU announcing they're severing all ties with Britain?"

Should this be seen as an emotional decision?

Or was it a calculated move—knowing that staying connected to Britain would drag all of Europe into the financial crisis with them?

Whatever the reason, the conclusion was clear.

"Britain is completely fucked now."

"Yes. The interim prime minister had hammered in that there would absolutely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be no no-deal Brexit to stabilize the markets, but now······."

The consequences were already rippling through the financial markets.

The British market was experiencing another massive crash, and the shockwaves were spreading to other nations.

There were even extreme rumors circulating that Britain and Europe might go to war.

Of course, war was absolutely out of the question, but the fear was real—and it was directly reflected in the financial markets.

"Gwangun's single investment move really set off a snowball effect."

Gwangun had exploited the financial system's vulnerabilities, executed massive short-selling, and brought it all crashing down.

Normally, those who pull off such a massive heist would lie low, staying quiet until things settled down.

Didn't even George Soros, after triggering Black Wednesday, disappear without a trace to avoid getting caught and killed?

But Gwangun didn't do that.

Instead, they blatantly exposed themselves.

"Why did Gwangun acquire those companies? Did you find any commonality?"

"Yes. There's exactly one similarity."

Gwangun had made billions of euros in a single stroke.

After achieving such a legendary feat, instead of withdrawing from the British market, they aggressively began acquiring companies.

"Most of them were companies on the verge of collapse. It was probably difficult for them to grow with GSK and AstraZeneca dominating the market."

"Is that the common thread?"

"No. The real commonality is that they specialize in vaccines."

"Vaccines?"

"Yes. Specifically, something called the mRNA platform—one of the next-generation vaccine development technologies being researched in biotechnology. Our genetic information is stored in DNA, and during the process of protein synthesis based on this DNA, mRNA acts as an intermediary bridge······."

"Enough. I don't need TMI. So Gwangun has been acquiring companies specializing in this technology?"

"Yes. All five companies they've acquired at bargain prices were intensively researching this technology."

When an entity reaches Gwangun's scale, it's impossible to hide which companies they're acquiring.

Had they operated through shell companies to conceal their identity, that would be one thing.

But they're openly buying up businesses while establishing a new corporate group within the UK. Given this, anyone could see what Gwangun is doing without needing to dig deeper.

"After reducing the British economy to this state, all they're doing is acquiring pharmaceutical companies?"

Reynolds didn't believe Gwangun was merely exploiting systemic loopholes.

Judging by their actions so far, they clearly had a grander objective.

Though their ultimate goal remained unknown, he instinctively sensed their assault on the UK market was driven by a specific purpose.

What a terrifying corporation.

To topple an entire nation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like Britain just for their own ends.

And yet, was their true aim simply to acquire these small pharmaceutical firms?

"It's not just small companies they're targeting. There's one firm that was leading the mRNA technology research I mentioned earlier."

"Which one?"

"AstraZeneca."

"Wait. Don't tell me—"

"Gwangun has already reached out to us. They proposed a deal to acquire the 3.5% stake in AstraZeneca held by our Gold Reagan."

This confirmed it beyond mere suspicion.

Gwangun was consolidating British pharmaceutical companies to create a massive conglomerate.

"But... isn't AstraZeneca the biggest victim of this no-deal Brexit?"

"Yes. The European Medicines Agency's relocation from London to France already triggered new patent regulations, compounded by generational transition issues and newly emerging side effects from their drugs. Given their heavy reliance on Europe, they'd be hit hardest by a no-deal Brexit."

This made Gwangun's intentions utterly incomprehensible.

AstraZeneca was indeed a major British company.

But between the UK financial crisis, drug side effects, patent expirations, and the no-deal Brexit finally materializing, AstraZeneca was now facing its worst crisis in history.

"Even if they acquire it, the structure isn't profitable anymore, is it?"

"No. It would be pure self-destruction. Had the no-deal Brexit been avoided, the company might have had a fighting chance to recover, but like this..."

So there was no hope left.

Who would have thought the UK's second-largest pharmaceutical company could collapse like this?

And the irony—it was Gwangun itself that had pushed AstraZeneca to this brink.

Had Gwangun not made those reckless investments, AstraZeneca wouldn't have plummeted like this.

"So this entire crisis was orchestrated by Gwangun solely to acquire AstraZeneca, a major pharmaceutical giant? Does that conclusion even make sense?"

Destroying Britain just to swallow one pharmaceutical company?

"You mentioned that technology earlier. If it were maximally developed, who would benefit?"

"The focus ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is on genetic disorders and cancer treatments, but it's reportedly most applicable to vaccine development."

"Vaccines? Has some virus broken out? Like MERS back then?"

"From what we've gathered, no outbreaks of that scale have been reported yet."

Then was Gwangun aiming to develop cancer treatments rather than vaccines for a specific virus? Admittedly, a breakthrough in that field could be a game-changer.

"Doesn't that usually take at least ten years?"

"Yes. Developing a new drug requires a minimum of 5 to 10 years."

To make such a long-term investment...

Gwangun?

No matter how I thought about it, it was strange.

"What about the price? Is it reasonable at that level?"

"Yes. Even if Gwangun acquires the company, we assess there's virtually no chance of recovery in the foreseeable future."

"..."

Meaning it would become worthless scrap paper if held onto.

From a financier's perspective, the right move would be to sell immediately—but.

"Don't sell. Hold onto it."

"Excuse me? Th-this might be the peak price right now."

"It's Gwangun acquiring that company, not some random entity. I'm willing to bet on them. No—actually, see if we can purchase some shares ourselves if possible."

3.5%.

Not a significant stake.

And with the stock price continuously falling, it might truly turn into worthless scrap.

But if it's Gwangun—

If it's Gwangun, willing to reduce Britain to such a state just to acquire this company—

A strange conviction took hold of me that these shares would later become gold ingots I'd regret not securing.

＊＊＊

AstraZenon, a pharmaceutical giant with a market cap of $70 billion.

Once hailed as one of Britain's largest pharmaceutical companies, its value was now plummeting to $30 billion.

"This is the fatal flaw of decentralized corporations. Once they take a hit, everyone starts dumping their shares."

Had someone firmly controlled this company, they wouldn't have sold off their entire stake and relinquished management rights just because the stock price dropped.

But this company lacked a dominant stakeholder, so once the sell-off began, the tower collapsed in an instant.

"If we wait longer, the stock price will likely drop further. Buying at that point would be..."

I had the same thought.

Yet my instincts kept signaling.

That we needed to take control of this company as soon as possible.

"Secure a controlling stake as quickly as you can."

"Price isn't a concern?"

"No. Speed is the priority. That way, we can involve ourselves in the company's management, right?"

My team wore expressions of bewilderment, unable to fathom why I was suddenly fixated on a pharmaceutical company.

Especially since I had no expertise in that field.

But I had a vague understanding.

Why my instincts were relentlessly urging me to secure a controlling stake and intervene in management.

It must be related to that vision I was shown, right?

That horrifying sight of a red virus spreading across the entire globe.

Was this a sign that we needed to start researching it as soon as possible?

"We'll expedite securing the stake as per your instructions."

"Yes. Please bear with the hassle."

"Understood. Ah, there's also an amendment regarding our securities firm's operations in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong.

A country I envy.

Because Hong Kong is Asia's premier global financial hub.

Asia's premier global financial hub.

Every securities professional dreams of their own country taking that position instead of Hong Kong.

"An amendment?"

"Yes. The Hong Kong government is revising several laws this time. Some involve finance. This seems important enough that the Vice Chairman sent the documents separately for your review."

I checked the documents the Vice Chairman had sent.

'Extradition Bill?'

Hong Kong was introducing a new regulation called the Extradition Bill, which also affected securities-related matters.

The problem was the heavy influence of the Chinese government behind this.

'But why suddenly target finance...'

Just as I muttered this and was about to turn the page—

"!?"

A vivid hallucination unfolded before my eyes—countless people bleeding in Hong Kong's city center, trampled under military boots.