Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: 10 Billion Won (1)
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💰 New York Cut 💰 23rd, noon 12:00 USD/JPY: 216.0 +2.4 billion won
💰 London Cut 💰 23rd, midnight 00:00 USD/JPY: 215.2 +5.8 billion won
Slight rebound midway, but barrier breached long ago.
💰 Final Update 💰 24th, 10:00 AM USD/JPY: 214.1 +1.8 billion won
Contact during school break—skipping more than a day was too risky.
In that way...
I earned 10 billion won overnight.
Even riding Grandfather's halo, it was pure investment—not inheritance.
A grade-schooler bringing home 10 billion won? The family uproar was only natural.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cash 10 billion won is different from assets worth 10 billion won.
In a capitalist society—especially organizations like companies—this distinction is crucial.
For instance, there's "black ink bankruptcy." A perfectly healthy company with solid sales and net profits collapses because it can't repay debt on time.
All due to cash shortage. Money tomorrow? Useless if you must pay today.
That's why companies sometimes erode assets just to generate cash flow.
Ever seen them sell 10,000-won coupons for 9,500 won? Seems insane, but it's often a desperate scramble for liquidity.
The customer's 9,500 won hits immediately; the 10,000 owed to the agency can wait.
And time is always the most precious resource.
Especially heading into the Three Lows Boom—12% growth over the next three years.
"Ten billion... ten billion..."
Chairman Yoo Seong-pil seated me in his office for the first time in ages and opened with that.
"Can you pull off something like that again?"
Naked greed in his tone, so I gave a slight smile.
"Doubt it. Hmm... probably not for the next ten years at least. I'm no fortune teller.... This was aggressive based on my conviction. You pulled similar stunts in your youth, right Grandpa?"
He smacked his lips in mild regret and nodded.
"Hmm. Fair enough."
In this era, 10 billion won holds unimaginable value.
An ordinary salaryman would need 10,000 years to save it—enough for 1,000 Seoul apartments. (For reference: in 2024 terms, at 1 billion per apartment, that's 1 trillion won.)
But... insanely huge for Chairman Yoo Seong-pil and Daeha Group? Not quite. He's the emperor among emperors.
Daeha Group's annual sales already top 8 trillion won; semiconductors will push it past 10 trillion soon.
His personal assets alone? Hundreds of billions, from what I've heard. Factor in political and social clout, and it's a wall neither of us can scale yet.
So only he stayed relatively calm amid the frenzy.
"Where next for investments?"
"Hmm... not sure, hehe. Too thrilled right now—no headspace for that."
Partly true.
I felt insanely good.
Ten billion! Overnight!
Massive even by past-life standards—how could I not rejoice?
Pocket money or not, the thrill was real.
"Yeah, yeah. Set aside the heavy stuff—enjoy for now."
His gentle smile shed the gravitas.
Once businessman Yoo Seong-pil departed, only Ha-yeon's grandfather remained.
Grandpa's face split in a massive grin as he scooped up his granddaughter.
"Hahaha! What a lucky charm my girl is! Earning big at your age wasn't enough—you brought a fortune to Daeha Securities too. Oh, my filial granddaughter."
Legs dangling off the ground, I feigned panic with frantic kicks, but he just rubbed his cheek against mine and patted my back.
'Ugh. What's with this grandpa.'
Truth be told, at sixty, he's entering risky territory by 1980s life expectancy standards. All that youthful toil and passion took its toll.
With his ailments, thoughts of twilight years—and beyond—were inevitable. That explained his softening demeanor.
So he doted on his granddaughter.
"Knew you'd go far, Ha-yeon. Been saying it. Right, Secretary General?"
Lee Hak-cheol, standing sentinel beside him, nodded with reluctance.
Normally loquacious, even he reined it in amid this unprecedented saga: the chairman's granddaughter netting 10 billion won.
One slip could spell trouble.
"...Yes. Heard from the young secretary we assigned her. Said Miss Ha-yeon is a true... genius."
Everyone knew I was a genius—empty words, really.
His high-society savvy: verbose yet saying nothing substantial.
But flattery all the same, so the chairman nodded past it. Empty praise still delights.
"Ahahaha! Right, a genius... Who knew our Ha-yeon was this brilliant."
His eyes swirled with emotions: regret, sorrow, pride, guilt.
I read them and sighed inwardly.
'So it comes to this.'
I liked Yoo Seong-pil too. Why resent a one-sided benefactor—especially not a future rival, but a past titan?
Resentment over Dad lingered, but this second chance? Incalculable debt.
Only issue: he'd obstruct the path ahead.
"Ha-yeon, I've a favor to ask."
"...Yes?"
His bitter smile widened my eyes. What could he possibly lack?
"Please... love your family. This old man's plea."
A chill prickled my skin. Had he noticed?
"..."
I stayed silent. Any word now would betray me.
"I know you're a genius. And that my little fence feels stifling."
Only then could I shake my head.
"No. I'm always grateful to you, Grandpa."
"Yeah... good."
He fiddled with a cigarette in his pocket, glanced my way, then stowed it.
"Watching the Mirae Group next door taught me something. Before money, even parent and child mean nothing."
The infamous Princes' Rebellion at industry #2 Mirae Group. Daeha's chairman still vigorous; Mirae's was elderly.
The eldest son, who stabbed his father toward the Blue House, got exiled. Second son ascended. Legendary tale.
Shook even iron-willed Yoo Seong-pil.
I hehed casually.
"Well... I've no parents left. No plans for kids either—no need to worry."
Thankfully—no, miraculously—he didn't press for marriage or heirs.
Probably remembered Dad's marriage-fueled downfall all too well.
"Yeah... makes sense for you, Ha-yeon. You watched it all with Jin-cheol..."
'Sigh.'
Those words hit deepest.
Good. No marrying some guy.
"Still... in the end, Ha-yeon, only family endures. Sixty years taught me that."
-Tap tap.
He patted my shoulder lightly and fell quiet.
Succession woes, no doubt.
After that long, brief silence, a faint smile creased his wrinkled lips.
"Daeha Securities—still young. Fancy growing it? Not now... but when you hit high school, it's yours."
"...!"
Prime opportunity. Financial arms are core subsidiaries.
Weighing his intent carefully, I parsed the offer.
Not as 'granddaughter,' but 'daughter.' A direct heir to a branch of the empire.
"You want me under the Daeha Group banner, Grandpa."
In other words: stay family-tied, not fully independent.
A member—not the head—and content with it.
With a core like Daeha Securities, I'd be inextricably bound, regardless of will.
Hard to defy the next chairman legitimately.
"Yes. I'll do it, Grandpa."
Meaningless to me.
My plans dwarfed Daeha Group anyway.
"Good... thanks. Hmm... never mind. Off you go, Ha-yeon."
Heading to my room, I watched his receding figure.
For some reason, he looked a touch forlorn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in my room, I let out a deep sigh and slapped my cheeks.
"Alright, time to shake it off."
Melancholy over.
With 10 billion won earned, playtime beckoned.