1988 - Q1 (3)
1988 - Q1 (3)
What the hell is this?
'The Status Window itself is unrealistic...'
Still, something like the Memory Palace was at least somewhat believable.
Because it was something I already knew about.
But I never even imagined I'd be able to see someone else's Status Window.
There's a limit to how unrealistic this can get.
Isn't this straight-up fantasy territory?
It's like that fear from my first regression—oh fuck, this is a dream—is creeping back up.
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[Ara Berry]
Compatibility: 99
Affection: 86
Loyalty: 90
Obedience: 95
Dissatisfaction: 7
Hostility: 0
Betrayal: 0
Total: +90
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For now, the Status Window—or analysis window—is way off from what I expected.
I figured it'd show ability stats or something.
And as expected from a Status Window, it's fucking unfriendly.
'Gotta assume 100 is full marks, right?'
If the max was 1,000 or 10,000, it'd feel kinda off.
Let's go with 100 for now.
'...This is embarrassing.'
Looking at it that way, it kinda tickles.
Turns out I'm surprisingly well-loved.
Even though deep down I figured she'd hate me since I bought her with money.
"Is something wrong?"
Maybe because I've been spacing out staring at her.
Ara looked at me with concern.
I can somehow read the emotions behind that blank expression.
Placebo effect, maybe.
"If you have any dissatisfaction, spit it out right away."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Anyway."
Where the hell did that Dissatisfaction 7 come from?
The number itself is low.
If I fix that right now, will it drop in real time?
"I'll hear you out on whatever I can, so don't bottle it up—just say it. Got it?"
"Y-Yes..."
"So, what's the dissatisfaction?"
"Uh—nothing really."
"Doesn't matter what it is, just say it."
At my words, Ara clamped her mouth shut.
There is something.
"Please give me a little time to visit Lily."
She hemmed and hawed, avoiding my eyes as she said it.
Come to think of it, I haven't let her see Lily since turning her on.
It's been almost two weeks.
We work together during the day, and at night we do even more important stuff, so no time.
"Go today."
"..."
"Why?"
"No. Thank you."
Ara said that and reached out her arm.
I responded by kneeling and sticking out my tongue.
"Chueup-."
She started sucking on it deliciously.
Like savoring a treasured candy, little by little.
"Huh?"
But I pulled my mouth away soon after.
"Sorry, but I've got urgent business. Gotta head to EXE."
Analysis time left: 55 minutes.
Gotta check out the EXE traders within that.
You never know.
There might be someone full of dissatisfaction or likely to betray.
"Got it."
Ara nodded in agreement.
Why did the dissatisfaction go up by 1?
This is bullshit.
So the numbers adjust in real time.
Didn't wanna learn it like this.
"Instead..."
Dii-. Jijik-. Jijik-.
Just as I was about to say something, the telex interrupted with noise.
Ara quickly walked over there.
Feels like I lost for some reason.
"Here."
Jiik-.
She tore off the printed paper hanging there and brought it over.
Whatever my mood, business first.
'Already? That's fast.'
It was a report on the grain buy results from the Bahamas.
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November Soybean Call Options: 5,786 contracts
July Soybean Futures: 6,184 contracts
November Corn Call Options: 7,412 contracts
July Corn Futures: 7,986 contracts
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Total used: $7.39M in option premiums, $30M in futures margins.
Still about $26.2M in cash left.
"Hmm-."
But there was also a message saying going further would shock the market.
Matthias sent the telex asking what to do.
'Sending word from the boutique without taking commissions...'
Even with ABCD dumping supply, looks like the market's limits are unavoidable.
"Ara. Send a telex: Positions secured. Use remaining cash for margin call defense."
"Understood."
Ara started typing on the telex with practiced hands.
'This is right. Trying to squeeze every last drop could backfire.'
Sucks, but unavoidable.
I already knew it was a thin market.
Still, if we liquidate well, we'll make at least hundreds of millions in profit.
Don't get too greedy.
Or...?
Aiming for hundreds of millions is greedy?
But after regressing, they owe me at least that much.
"How many contracts?"
"28,000 contracts."
"And all that came through tax haven omnibus accounts?"
"Yes."
CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) conference room.
The Business Conduct Committee was deep in thought during the emergency report.
Because over the past month, orders from tax havens had exploded exponentially out of nowhere.
"Could someone be cornering the market to disrupt it?"
"No way to know. As you know, those places..."
"Goddamn Switzerland! Goddamn Caymans!"
Tax havens never cough up account info.
Omnibus accounts let them ID the company inside, but not if it's a shell or real firms.
No way to tell.
"Soybeans and corn, right?"
"Yes. Calls laddered up to 45% out-of-the-money for November, half in July futures."
"They vacuumed it all up. Where'd the volume come from to absorb that? No unusual price reports."
"ABCD took massive short positions, so it all filled."
The committee members all scratched their heads in unison.
Of all opponents, the grain majors.
"Why the hell are they buying puts or whatever?!"
"Mini-max contracts are trending lately."
"Damn it!"
In recent years, grain majors had ramped up mini-max deals with farmers.
Used to be plain forward contracts fixing prices ahead.
Now shifting to guaranteeing floors and sharing upside.
Options market boom made it possible.
They buy calls and puts matching farmer contract volumes, sell the other side too.
"Especially with this year's bumper crop forecast, they piled into call sells and put buys."
"Headache."
The Business Conduct Committee wields near-absolute power.
Can freeze suspicious accounts, force liquidate positions.
But need solid evidence to wield it.
Especially against grain majors.
"Can't force liquidate just 'cause omnibus accounts..."
"But soybeans and corn. Government might step in if we screw up."
"What if not? If real companies? Can we handle the backlash from forced liqs?"
"Plus, if we mess up prices, who knows what the grain majors'll do."
"Ugh. They might move physicals to fix busted positions."
"If it spreads to cash market, definitely beyond us."
They debated fiercely, spitting opinions, but no consensus.
"This ain't resolving. Better vote."
"Agreed."
"Let's do it."
Majority rules it was.
"Abstain 12, Intervene 8. Intervention on soybean and corn rejected."
"Haa-."
"Hope it's the right call."
Result out, but even abstainers sighed uneasily.
Just pray no government meddling.
"Why do you ask?"
I was one step behind David.
"Wish it'd drop just a bit more."
"Huh?"
"Stop."
"???"
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[David Sanson]
Compatibility: 100
Affection: 0
Loyalty: 50
Obedience: 87
Dissatisfaction: 30
Hostility: 0
Betrayal: 30
Total: +39
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The rest I can shrug off.
Compatibility 100?
I thought Ara's 99 was sky-high, but 100?!
Maybe better if it was out of 1,000.
Problem is, checking other staff, 100 seems legit max.
"Jeez."
David scratched his head.
"For now, don't get any closer."
What the hell is compatibility?
Assuming it means 'fits well' per definition, David's perfect sync with me.
Not anal, right?
Gotta believe it's not soulmate crap.
I'm not gay!
Plus betrayal at 30.
Double other staff.
Straight math: 30% betrayal chance.
"Hey."
"Yes."
Maybe 'cause I can't see him straight.
Words came out rough.
"What's with all the dissatisfaction?"
"Nothing really? Did I do something wrong?"
"No. You just look dissatisfied."
"...Hmm. If I had to pick, incentives maybe."
"Incen-?"
"We're the Execution Office."
I tilted my head.
Just follow orders, take salary and commissions.
What's the issue?
"Less dissatisfaction, more like... performance isn't fixed, y'know? No IB-style credits."
"Hmm-."
Kinda makes sense.
Normal hedge funds do 2-and-20.
2% management fee to firm, 20% performance to bonus pool.
Wall Street rule.
IBs award credits for revenue brought in, divvy bonuses by credits.
But Execution Office can't trade freely, so no 20% to split.
"I can tweak year-end incentives however. That's the gripe, huh."
"Not just that."
"But money, right? Or not?"
"Yeah. We took Keller-Roth mandate, but it's not spelled out clear."
Can't put in contract.
Then we'd be asset managers.
"Fine. How much you want?"
"..."
"Say it."
"50—no, honestly around a million bucks."
David smiled bitterly.
"Done."
"Of course, vs the work... What?"
"Can do that much."
Planned more anyway.
Just dipped toes in T-bond short now, but workload ramps up.
Plus NDA bonus, obviously that much.
"Huh? For real?"
"Yeah. No contract though."
Moment I said it, David's status shifted hard.
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[David Sanson]
Compatibility: 100
Affection: 100(▲100)
Loyalty: 90(▲50)
Obedience: 99(▲12)
Dissatisfaction: 0(▼30)
Hostility: 0
Betrayal: 0(▼30)
Total: +97
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No way, this bastard.
All 'cause of money?!
One incentive and he outranks Ara? Makes no sense.
Loyalty shooting up like oil in a war!
And no affection!
Don't need love from a company dude!
"Boss."
"What."
"I'll pledge undying loyalty—!"
"...Do it."
I sighed.
Money-grubbers are easiest to handle.
My favorite type too.
'No wonder the compatibility?!'
Makes sense now.
Money whores mesh perfect with me.
Pay well, no betrayal risk?!
Might've snagged a subordinate as useful as Ara.