Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Wolf of Wall Street (4)
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In fact, Japanese semiconductor companies hadn't exactly been looking promising from the start.
The delicate balance in the semiconductor market between the US and Japan had crumbled starting in 1985, dealing a massive blow to the American semiconductor industry.
When the board was on the verge of collapse, the US government, which had been watching warily, finally drew its sword. In the end, the US-Japan Semiconductor Agreement was signed in 1986, stripping Japanese semiconductor firms of their competitiveness in the American market.
"The US, sensing the crisis, cracked down hard with regulations—totally expected. Thanks to that, Daeha Electronics got a nice chunk of the pie. And this latest announcement? That's the knockout punch."
I'd rushed through school on Friday and headed straight to Daeha Securities, where I began explaining the details to my growing band of followers.
By now, Daeha Electronics was a hot topic across the entire Daeha Group, so they probably had the basics down.
"...So that's why you told us to prepare for short-selling. Hmm, but why not do it yourself...?"
One of Daeha Securities' employees asked. She was the female secretary who occasionally helped me out when Si-hyeon wasn't around.
There were a few others around me too—all Daeha Securities staff, handpicked as a sort of team for being smart and reliable.
They knew the minor details of what I'd been up to, but their limited exposure meant they didn't grasp the full picture of my plans.
Maybe only someone like Executive Director Ha Joo-seong truly understood my goals.
"Oh, you mean why not do the short-selling under Daeha Securities' name? For starters, it's illegal."
"...Since when have you cared about that, miss?"
I caught a flicker of cheeky mischief in her eyes for a second.
Hmph, it's true, so I'll let it slide.
"There are a few reasons. Complicated tax issues, for one... and it's too easy to get caught with people watching. Everything we've done so far? We've kept it hidden from the family."
That's why I'd entrusted it only to people I could trust. If I weren't a chaebol third-generation heir, it would've been impossible.
This is why power matters. You can buy loyalty with money, but it takes time and effort.
I cleared my throat with a cough and tapped the world map with my pointer. The spot I indicated had "New York" written clearly on it.
"And most importantly, the main battlefield isn't here. I don't waste opportunities on side gigs. The real stage is New York’s Wall Street—never forget that."
Deals happen in the blink of an eye, countless at once. Shorting in Japan first, then shuttling the money back to the US? Way too messy.
So, get someone else to do it.
"...So you borrowed Executive Director Ha's connections for that reason too. Wow, impressive. You said you'd pay him back, but you're using him again?"
One sharp-minded employee gaped in admiration. He was the one handling contacts with Tokyo exchange fund managers.
I'd instructed him to pass a message under Ha Joo-seong's name.
—'I owe you from the Plaza Accord days, so here's some good info in return. A massive bombshell's about to hit the Japanese semiconductor market soon.'
That was the gist.
In other words, I'd tricked the Japanese financial world into shorting their own semiconductor market.
Considering foreign players face even stricter scrutiny on short-selling... there was no better way to shake up the Japanese stock market.
And since it was their money, not mine, no restrictions whatsoever.
'Can't have the Nikkei tanking dozens of percent because of my short-selling.'
I flashed a grin and shrugged.
"Why not? It's a win for them too."
"...True enough. Even if their domestic market crashes, they'd naturally want to profit off the short if they can."
In the cutthroat world of finance, where trust is scarce, credibility is everything. Especially without formal contracts—the weight of your word matters more.
Simple truth.
To maintain connections, you give to receive.
"That's how relationships work. Good ones aren't one-sided—they're win-win."
Through Ha Joo-seong, I'd tapped his network plenty, passing along choice info as payback.
Well, the tip this time would end up helping me the most.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A little while later, real-time data from the Tokyo Stock Exchange started popping up on the monitors.
Live stock charts.
Not many firms had systems like Daeha Securities did back then.
"Japanese semiconductor stocks are already looking shaky. Man, even Daeha Electronics hasn't fluctuated that wildly."
Daeha Securities staff smacked their lips watching the graphs fill with red and blue lines. As finance pros, they knew what it meant.
Japanese semiconductor stocks were steadily dropping.
NEC: -4.7%
Toshiba: -5.2%
"How much has Daeha Electronics gone up?"
"About 2%...? Probably climb more by close."
Hmm, Daeha Electronics was up a bit. But since it'd already surged, the gains were modest.
Something about it being priced in ahead of time... probably Uncle buying shares early after getting wind of it.
The charts wobbled up and down before stabilizing around -5%. A staffer familiar with Tokyo markets glanced at the clock.
"Lunch break. Market's halted."
Perfect timing for the pause.
Chaos would be brewing at the Tokyo exchange now. An hour of pandemonium, securities firms too busy in meetings to eat properly.
Classic panic scene.
"Uh, should we watch the market in the meantime...?"
I shook my head.
"Ignore that for now. Let the other family members fuss over it—we're playing in bigger waters. I'm grabbing lunch; you all do the same."
If I, with my regression knowledge, squabbled over this tiny pond, how pathetic would that be? While the rest of Daeha Group fixated on this small fry, I'd paint the bigger picture.
"Got it, miss."
The staff bowed at my wave. One volunteered to attend me without me asking.
Seeing them obey so readily brought a natural smile to my lips.
Nothing beat the thrill of being on top...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Si-hyeon arrived right on time for lunch, so we ate together.
Served by Lee Si-hyeon, I treated myself to tonkatsu at a Japanese place for the first time in ages. Hey, when in Rome...
"...Doesn't your conscience bother you, eating this together?"
Si-hyeon grumbled but diligently cut the pork cutlet and fed it to me.
What a cheeky secretary.
"You eat faster anyway with those quick hands. And too much of this stuff makes you gain weight."
"...No clue where to even start picking that apart. Why're you worried about me getting fat? You sure scarf it down."
Reincarnator perks make it fine for me.
"Hmph. Anyway, you wrapped up the cleanup in Japan?"
Si-hyeon had gone to Japan in my stead to 'handle' a few things. Mostly real estate disposals tangled with yakuza, so she went as bodyguard.
"Ah, yeah... managed okay."
Her face twisted briefly. A furrow in her smooth brow, a flicker of hesitation on Lee Si-hyeon's features—gone in a flash.
"You bury anyone this time too?"
"...Sigh, don't talk so grim. Didn't I say ignore and don't look at bad stuff? Especially since you're still young."
I smirked at that.
"I've been through worse than most 'bad stuff' as a kid, so I'm good. So, did you?"
Lee Si-hyeon nodded, rubbing her arm where the muscles bulged.
"Well, I've got experience helping the Secretary General before. But real action's different."
"Good work."
I knew she was skilled in combat, but I'd been a bit worried. She's a woman, after all—could get rough.
"...Yeah. Nightmares have been rough lately. Sorry about last time; I was off-balance... crossed a line."
"Just don't do it again. But I allowed it, so... no hard feelings."
If a subordinate oversteps and climbs, punish them by rights... but reneging on your word? Not leader material.
So, no punishment for Si-hyeon.
...Though that lullaby racket was pretty annoying.
"I'll give you vacation after this wraps. Or anywhere you wanna go?"
I grinned and patted my secretary's shoulder. Can't overwork them—time to loosen the reins.
Like now.
"...Vacation?"
Lee Si-hyeon stared at me, eyes wide like the thought never crossed her mind.