Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Major Shareholder
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Dad...? I had no idea why Dad was coming out from there.
Clearly, I'd only come here because I couldn't resist the earnest pleas from the company I'd invested in.
No way... Did Dad end up acquiring the company?
When the guards were tussling with me, the person who finally came out because he couldn't stand the commotion any longer had a strangely familiar face.
I'd heard he'd turned the failing company around and was starting to expand its affiliates one by one now that he had some breathing room, but I'd never dreamed I'd run into him like this.
"Ji-hoon. What brings you here? How did you even know about this place?"
Dad wasn't even considering for a second that I might be the major shareholder.
He just saw it as his beloved son coming to visit his beloved dad.
So he was clearly shocked to see me show up here—a place I hadn't even told him about.
"Actually, that's what I want to ask you right now...?"
But that wasn't the important part at the moment.
I pulled out my smartphone first and showed him the emails I'd received.
They were all from the company side.
I slowly scrolled through the most recent one—the 'Please let me in' I'd just sent—along with what seemed to be other messages from them, even if I didn't know who exactly.
As the familiar exchanges started coming into view, Dad's eyes went wide as saucers.
On top of that, there was the single image file they'd sent, just in case I needed to prove my identity at the upcoming extraordinary shareholders' meeting, since I hadn't provided an address or phone number.
Even after showing all this evidence, the guards still wouldn't let me inside.
Not that I blamed them, really—a bunch of security grunts wouldn't have any clue about the back-and-forth conversations with the company.
And the image? They'd probably just chalk it up to coincidence, no matter how I'd gotten hold of it.
They simply never considered the possibility that a kid could be the major shareholder. There wasn't even a reason for them to.
"Th-this is...!"
As the clear evidence piled up one by one, he was left completely speechless.
Even with proof like this, it was hard to believe.
"For now... come on in."
He led me inside.
"......"
"......"
[P"]>.<"
The interior was filled with nothing but silence.
In the midst of it, the man who looked like Dad's secretary—or more precisely, his old friend—was wearing a bizarre expression.
"Ouch... it's been ages, Ji-hoon."
The silence was broken by the uncle.
"Do you remember Uncle Myeong-hoon? Uncle Myeong-hoon."
"Yes, Uncle."
"Man... Uncle completely forgot what you looked like."
Just as he said, his familiar face had thrown me for a loop at first, but I trusted he'd help break through this situation.
But instead, he started trying to sweet-talk me and send me on my way, like he didn't remember me well enough.
"Sorry about this, so here's some pocket money... Ah... You're the major shareholder, right?"
He pulled out his wallet, then let out a wry chuckle and tucked it away again.
I'd been planning to take it. What a shame.
"Ji-hoon..."
"Yes."
"What... how did this even happen? Dad's still wrapping his head around it—I'm totally confused."
"Well... it's exactly what it looks like."
"......"
Dad fell silent once more.
"He bragged about you nonstop, and now I get why."
Whether he couldn't read the mood or was doing it on purpose, the uncle let out a hearty laugh and patted my back.
"Ji-hoon."
"Yes, Uncle."
"How much you got, anyway?"
"Money?"
"Yeah. Money. I'm curious. How much?"
How much did I have again? I pondered it carefully.
About 30 billion won in domestic stocks, 20 billion in my FX account, and Bitcoin sitting at around 10 billion now—so roughly 60 billion in total.
Someone might ask if that was all I'd managed to scrape together.
But what can you do?
The bigger your seed capital gets, the slower the growth rate—it was just the natural order of things.
"That's it."
"30 billion?"
"How'd you know?"
I was shocked.
He hadn't just guessed—he'd nailed the exact amount in my domestic stock account with total confidence.
"It's not just us—everyone knows."
The uncle, looking at me fondly like I was adorable, ruffled my hair roughly.
"Day traders pull out profits at regular intervals, but you? You dump the principal and gains right back in. So even if we didn't want to, we end up knowing exactly how much you made... and lost."
Aha. Got it.
"Still, 30 billion... 30 billion. More than Uncle or your dad even."
"Haha..."
"Is that really all?"
"Yes...?"
"Nah, nothing."
His sharp instincts caught me off guard for a second.
"30 billion... Wasn't that from the 100,000 won Mom gave you?"
"Yes."
"Turning 100,000 won into 30 billion in a year... No clue how to process this. Haha."
Even Warren Buffett couldn't pull off returns like that.
"How... how'd you do it?"
"It just worked when I tried."
I wasn't lying.
With the future smartphone as my cheat key, it actually worked. Nothing more to it.
"Of course it did... Happy about this or not? Sigh."
Dad sank into a sense of emptiness.
Perfectly natural—he'd run himself ragged for the family without rest, only for his son to lap him in the span of a single year.
That was exactly why I'd tried to keep it hidden.
Eh, he'll figure it out.
"Dad, do I have to go to this extraordinary shareholders' meeting? What about the regular one coming up soon?"
A kid like me showing up—someone who barely knew what shares were—would just derail any proper meeting.
Not just me; all the other shareholders fixated on me wouldn't be able to focus either.
Might as well not go.
But skipping out with a 25% stake? That'd just make the shareholders anxious.
"Hmm..."
Dad was deep in thought.
"I already told them you'd be there, so it's awkward not to go... but going's a bit awkward too."
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"What about a stand-in?"
"Might fool them now, but it'll come out eventually. Better not."
"Then let's just not go."
"Ji-hoon."
"Yes."
"You know over half the shareholders bought in because of you, right?"
What...? What did that mean, right now?
Did he mean, like before, that people had seen my FX profit rates and live positions get leaked online and jumped in to follow suit—only this time with me too?
"Most of them are well-off folks, so they bought figuring they might take a hit anyway, but still..."
At least it was a relief that they weren't betting their life savings—people with spare cash had followed along.
Though it was daunting to think such people had shown up at this piddly affiliate's extraordinary meeting because of me.
You never know.
They might've shelled out big bucks on my account, and if I no-show today, dump it all and bail.
"What do we do?"
"Dad has no idea."
This felt totally fucked.
"Just say I had a sudden emergency and couldn't make it."
"That's the problem..."
"We just need to make sure there are no complaints, right?"
"How?"
Dad's eyes lit up as he leaned in to listen.
"Any issues with the company first?"
"Company? Give me time, and I can make it blast off soon enough."
"Perfect."
I'd been worried, but good to know.
This meeting was probably them begging me not to sell, since it was primed to soar any day now.
"Simple."
How to squash shareholder discontent without me showing my face.
The method was dead simple.
Hand them some money.
But handing it out directly? Way too many problems.
So.
"I'll leak some info."
"Info?"
"Stock info. The kind where it skyrockets if you wait just a bit."
"Oh ho."
They weren't a big corp—just a company trying something new. Shareholders bought in to make a profit, obviously.
Let them profit, and out of faith in me—my abilities—they'd plant their flags and hold tight.
"Personal reasons kept me away, but I couldn't let shareholders bail on a company I invested in and watch it shake, so I tossed out some info to help retain them. That scenario work?"
"Got their shortcomings, but if they make money, they'll be happy... Yeah, not bad at all."
Dad gave a positive nod.
"Raked in another 20 billion in that short time—must have a ton of info, huh? Stock Emperor lives up to the name."
The uncle said it while gazing at me—not like he was looking at a kid.
"Stock Emperor...? What?"
"Nickname I came up with for you. Pretty good, right?"
"Uh..."
I'd been going by that without even knowing! Felt good, but kinda cringy too.
"That info solid, though?"
"Absolutely. I'd stake everything on it."
"What is it?"
"Hm..."
A few things came to mind right away.
Short-term play? Mid-to-long?
Needed quick results, though.
"Overseas stock."
I laid out the details—what product was driving it, the sudden surge reason, etc.—stuff I'd memorized from the future smartphone.
"Alright. I'll trust it and pass it on to the shareholders."
Dad accepted without a hint of doubt.
One way or another, things would smooth out. A relief.
"Maybe I'll go all-in too...?"
Uncle was entertaining dangerous thoughts, but even with butterfly effects, it was guaranteed to pop—no big issue.
The real kicker? Dad looked ready to dump his whole fortune in too.
Worst case... if something went wrong, I'd support the family.
"Can I head out now?"
"Head out?"
"Yeah. Na-young's waiting."
"Hm... We gotta prep soon anyway. Yeah, got it."
Dad stood, straightened his clothes.
"Want me to call a car?"
"Nah, I can go alone."
"Alright. Be careful. Tell Mom I probably won't make it home tonight."
"Yes."
"Take care, Ji-hoon~!"
"You too."
Their figures receding into the distance.
"Whew... time to go home."
The tension and needless worry washed away like water, leaving me refreshed.
Today of all days, I was dying to see Na-young.