Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Bad Things (2)
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"There's another important thing. Alpha Fund has to take center stage, not Ha Young-il. It's better for the fund to hold the title than for one person to hog all the fame."
The fund I planned to absorb later—if Ha Young-il ended up with all the glory, there could be friction down the line.
Ha Joo-seong would handle things properly on his own, but you never know with people. I had to make sure Ha Young-il never got any funny ideas.
Locking your doors at home isn't really about keeping thieves out—it's about stopping your kind neighbors from turning into thieves. Giving Ha Young-il the top spot on Wall Street and hoping he wouldn't betray me? That was a bit much to ask.
"Besides, I trust Ha Young-il, but who knows about his skills?"
"Ahem, you're right. I was worried he'd mess up and cause trouble, so this puts my mind at ease."
Ha Joo-seong, seasoned by age and attuned to reality, nodded. To him, those words were probably even more reassuring.
After all, it meant I wouldn't ditch him even if his skills turned out to be lacking.
"Oh, and how's the investment banking side coming along?"
"Time was tight, so I didn't put much into it. But I've got the basics in place... Here, take a look."
With that, Ha Joo-seong handed over a few documents. I skimmed them, checking the plan.
'Not bad.'
For a beginner's work, it was solid. Especially smart was how he'd focused on key areas, given Daeha Securities' weak talent pipeline.
"Looks good. We can build the front office like this."
"Whew, the problem is people. Same as always."
True enough. This wasn't post-IMF Korea—talent was scarce. College grads could land jobs anywhere decent, and top university students had companies begging them.
Later on, talent would be everywhere, but Daeha Securities would need it right before the IMF hit.
"Right, one change. Still set up the M&A department. I have a feeling it'll be big down the line."
Investment banks have departments that lead mergers and acquisitions.
They work with legal teams to dodge tricky laws and 'prepare' target companies so clients can swallow them whole.
It'd be a sharp blade for Daeha Group's future takeovers. No way rookies could handle it—not with the group's size.
"Got it."
Ha Joo-seong nodded without a second thought, unaware of the full plan in my head.
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Before leaving Daeha Securities for home, Ha Joo-seong saw me off and brought it up.
"By the way, is that thing from last time still on?"
"What thing?"
"Gathering friends from school and getting them jobs at the company... that. Made any friends?"
Oh yeah, I'd mentioned that.
"..."
Friends, huh...
I let out a sigh and shook my head.
"I'm too exceptional. Kids can't keep up."
"Yeah, figures."
...What was that look?
"I-I have friends! Si-hyeon's one, and that Kim Hae-ik guy could count as a friend, right? No conflicting interests. Friends don't care about age gaps."
"Even counting your lady secretary as a friend, that's two."
"Quiet. I'll make friends in middle school. By then, kids on my mental level should start showing up."
"We'll see..."
This was serious.
The century's genius who goes to the US, builds a Big Tech empire without any past-life perks—he was my age now. Bullied in middle school, from what I recalled, so I'd have to befriend him and reel him in.
Perfect—he loved games, so we'd click. Personality was rough, but I'd smooth it out with care.
Might look desperate, but no choice. Guy was worth it.
World's richest without cheats? Yeah.
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A while back—up to 1986—famed American political scientist Robert Dahl, ex-president of the American Political Science Association, defined power like this:
The powerful make the powerless do things they wouldn't otherwise. Power is what makes it possible...
I'd etched it into my bones already, but this life really drove it home.
"One Americano, iced with plenty of ice. Make it cold."
"...This is an insult to coffee, miss."
The chef I'd hired for the mansion trembled with rage. Family watched closely, so the place was modest-staffed...
Our home chef had to be a jack-of-all-trades. Pricey talent. Especially since my tastes meant foreign cuisine—hence the Italian chef.
"Hehe, trust me, it's delicious this way."
The Italian handling my meals and desserts faced his ultimate trial today.
Now in upper elementary, Nanny had okayed coffee. I jumped for joy and demanded an iced Americano from him pronto.
"...Even in America, no one drinks Americano iced. And it's not summer—it's dead of winter!"
Fair. Starbucks brings iced Americanos to Korea post-1999. Right now, it's just a US trend.
"Hm, then it'll catch on starting now. Go on, make it quick."
The chef tore at his hair and stormed to the kitchen. Soon, coffee aroma mixed with Italian curses.
"Damn those Starbucks bastards ruining coffee! Watering it down!"
Angriest I'd seen him since pineapple pizza.
-Thud.
"...Cold watered-down coffee bean drink, as ordered."
Face twisted like torture, the Italian served the iced Americano with shaking hands.
"Hehehe, makes me feel like the bad guy. No biggie—chill out. Chef-made hits different. Great flavor."
I beamed, savoring the aroma. He glared like I was vile.
"No, this is probably your worst deed this year. Please... don't call that swill 'flavorful' or 'aromatic'."
My year's biggest sin wasn't plotting family betrayal or hiring Si-hyeon's pals as killers—it was iced Americanos for an Italian.
Chef's got jokes.
"Mmm, good stuff. Gotta add this if I start a cafe chain. 'Creator of Iced Americano'—killer ad."
"Miss, my dad's in Sicily—he might send hitmen. Please stop..."
I sipped my ah-ah, humming happily.
'First in almost ten years. Missed it.'
Hot's great, but cold hits sometimes.
Master chef? Extra tasty. Taste of power?
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Minor commotion aside...
Now that I was eleven, my dream morning routine was complete.
Coffee with the newspaper.
'Hot coffee's still best.'
Teased the chef too hard—he might quit. Settled for warm latte.
[Alpha Fund, AUM Surpasses $500 Million...]
Wall Street Journal featured my soaring fund. Felt good, but no direct praise for me—bummer since I stayed behind the scenes.
[President Chun Doo-hwan Steps Down... End of the Fifth Republic]
[McDonald's First Korea Store Opens...]
'Ooh, just opened. Drag Si-hyeon there later.'
Censorship eased, so papers were fun reads.
Then Lee Si-hyeon hauled in a stack of docs, grunting.
"Ah, Si-hyeon. Got everything I asked for?"
-Thud.
"Ugh, yeah. What the heck is all this for...? My back's killing me."
Her pile listed names, faces, personal details.
Seoul university freshman rosters, Daeha Group employee lists, etc. Privacy laws were lax—easy to snag.
Uni just handed over student lists?
"Harder to get later. Gotta memorize now."
"...You memorize all that by skimming?"
"Works for me."
I pored over the sheets like treasure, etching thousands of profiles into my mind. In relationship-driven Korea—school ties, blood ties, regional ties—nothing beat personal dirt.
Perfect memory? Game-changer.