Chapter 138
Chapter 138
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Immortal Demon (2)
What does it mean to "see" something?
To start with, light needed to exist. Visible light rays hit the surface of an object, bounce off, enter our eyes, form visual information, and the brain creates an image—that's the basic principle of "seeing."
Most objects in the world could be observed that intuitively.
But as the target of observation shrinks to the level of cells, molecules, and particles, the meaning of "seeing" changes a bit.
The fundamental particles of the micro world are so small that the moment you shine light or electromagnetic waves on them to observe, they're knocked away by that energy.
The act of observation itself changes the observed target.
Therefore, we can never measure the precise position and velocity of micro-world particles at the same time.
Because the very fact of having seen it alters the result.
This was part of the observer effect, something everyone knew well.
'So, why am I suddenly bringing up quantum mechanics?'
It was because seeing the future might involve a similar process.
The events I foresaw weren't unchangeable fate.
Ronan, who should have died long ago, was still alive and well, constantly bugging me with messages every day—that was clear proof.
And his survival would undoubtedly trigger butterfly effects that warped the story ahead.
Thus, the future was a result that changed the moment it was observed.
From the instant I foresaw it, fate had already shifted.
The same would hold true going forward.
The very act of learning the future and investing in it would inevitably shape a new future.
So my foresight wasn't just handing over the answer key.
Now we had to calculate how the subsequent questions would twist and turn to match that answer.
'Which means I can't invest recklessly just because I know the future.'
I needed to target events that were absolutely certain to happen, with minimal variables.
One prime example was natural disasters.
The awe-inspiring force of nature that humans couldn't stop or alter, no matter their influence.
It was the event I felt most confident about right now.
"In three weeks, a hurricane will hit."
Celestina's expression hardened as she asked back.
"...A hurricane?"
"Yes. An enormous typhoon is coming."
The backdrop of Neofront Cybercity was late 21st-century Earth.
A world wracked by severe climate change and environmental pollution.
Naturally, the planet's average temperatures had risen to dire levels, but paradoxically, the frequency of tropical cyclones like hurricanes had decreased. Higher temperatures stabilized the upper atmosphere, creating unfavorable conditions for typhoon formation.
But fewer typhoons also meant massive unvented energy was building up at the surface.
Imagine all that accumulated energy exploding at once—what catastrophe would unfold?
One could guess the scale and damage of typhoons in this era.
That was why governments and corporations had established an agency to prepare for such weather disasters.
"...As far as I know, the WCA didn't issue any disaster alerts this month."
That was the World Climate Analytics, or WCA, that Celestina had just mentioned. I nodded.
"You're right. The WCA issued no warnings. But it's definitely coming."
The WCA was a research institute predicting global climate.
Using countless satellites and quantum computers, they observed and warned of natural disasters with 99.8% accuracy—the observers of the weather.
But in the future I saw, they failed to predict this massive hurricane.
Perhaps because it formed too rapidly and abruptly.
Whether it was a computational error or some chaotic complexity acting as an unpredictable variable beyond data...
"Anyway, they didn't predict it."
And that single failure unleashed a catastrophic aftermath.
The super-hurricane born of climate change swept through unprepared cities on the New Continent.
'Fortunately, Omega Detroit was outside the impact zone...'
But the massive coastal cities in the east took the full brunt. Several key port cities were utterly devastated, their docked cargoes swept into the sea or scattered, paralyzing continental logistics temporarily.
In such a scenario, who suffers the biggest losses?
Logistics firms losing goods? Manufacturers missing raw material deliveries on time?
Celestina gave the right answer.
"Damage insurance companies."
Right. This world had various insurance firms, including the medical ones we'd clashed with, and also policies covering property damage from accidents.
Most of the corporate goods in those ports at the time were insured under such loss policies.
And those weren't easy marks like personal belongings—they were corporate assets about to be blasted away by the hurricane. Naturally, most post-disaster losses would fall squarely on the insurers, per contract...
Celestina concluded in a gravely serious tone.
"If it's the eastern port cities... that's under Reliance Group's jurisdiction, right? Given their capital reserves, bankruptcy is certain."
Ranked 93rd in market cap among the top 100 corporations: Reliance Maritime Fire Insurance Group.
Most logistics through the New Continent's eastern ports, including the facilities themselves, were insured under Reliance's cargo policies.
Contracts where the insurer compensated for lost cargo value.
Moreover, Reliance monopolized the eastern port insurance market. If disaster struck, they'd have to cover the cities' damages too. Monopolizing the market meant shouldering all the responsibility alone.
The unprepared super-typhoon's damages would likely be enough to bankrupt them.
"......"
The investment market was a zero-sum game.
Someone's loss meant someone else's gain by that amount.
Knowing Reliance Group would go bankrupt was surely a huge profit opportunity.
'So why does my gut feel uneasy?'
Probably because I knew the typhoon's impact wouldn't stop at infrastructure or logistics losses.
The people living there would suffer too, of course.
But... a natural disaster thousands of kilometers away was beyond our help.
The Church had no influence in that city.
Even if we warned them in advance, no one would act on mere prophecy.
Evacuating that immense cargo and populace would cost a fortune.
'Above all, leaking the prophecy publicly is dangerous.'
If it exposed the secret of miracles.
The Church might face war again.
I couldn't sacrifice those who trusted and followed me for strangers I'd never met.
I wasn't a true saintess to begin with.
Just a small-minded everyman scrambling to survive. One person who wanted nothing more than to return home ASAP.
It was natural I lacked the power or resolve to save the world's suffering.
"......."
Still, a bitter aftertaste lingered.
I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts.
'Focus on the main goal for now.'
How to profit from future info.
That was the only way to avoid war and protect everyone in the Church.
Other matters... could wait until we had the strength to protect ourselves. So I sank back into thought.
'Reliance Group's bankruptcy is a sure thing.'
But I had no feel for how much profit we could squeeze from it, or how.
With my limited financial knowledge, short-selling was the best I could come up with.
'But...'
Honestly... it felt a bit lacking.
Because mathematically, short-selling had clear profit limits.
Stock values could theoretically rise infinitely but not fall below zero.
In other words, maximum short-selling returns couldn't exceed 100% of principal.
Leverage could amplify the stake, but it equally amplified position instability.
If shares rose temporarily, you could lose everything and face forced liquidation.
Above all, available shares for shorting were finite. Overdo it and exceed circulating volume, and you couldn't buy back even if you wanted—scarce shares would skyrocket if others cornered the market. You'd pay through the nose to cover, and a short squeeze could bankrupt you amid exploding prices.
'If that happened, we'd go bust before the typhoon even hit.'
Factoring in such risks and complex covering strategies for safe shorting...
Our expected haul would be around 30% of Reliance's current market cap—decent, but underwhelming.
'Sure, as a top 100 corp, that's still huge...'
But our goal was top-10 megacorp weight class. This fell woefully short.
And such surefire chances wouldn't come often anymore.
The more we invested, the further the future would diverge from my observed foresight due to butterfly effects. I wanted higher returns before that kicked in.
So I asked Celestina again.
"Isn't there a way? At least... 70% return on investment, no, double would be ideal..."
Her red eyes stared straight at me.
"......."
"........"
'Too greedy?'
I thought inwardly.
Tessellation's fund size was massive—even a few percent was astronomical.
Double-digit surges overnight... might be naive outsider hopes.
As I fretted, a sigh escaped her lips.
Celestina spoke.
"Eve... you undervalue your own ability."
She continued explaining.
Seeing the future was practically invincible in financial markets.
"Handing me that weapon and expecting just 70%? Isn't that insulting?"
Then she held up two fingers before my eyes.
I reflexively asked.
"Double?"
She shook her head.
"No. Wrong."
And declared firmly.
"20 times."
"...Huh?"
"At least twentyfold on this investment. I'll show you myself."