Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The End of the 80s (2)
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September 17, 1988.
The long-awaited '88 Olympics opened with its ceremony.
Yoo Jin-seok, who had scooped up a ton of construction contracts before and after the Olympics, rode that momentum into aggressive business expansion—and it paid off handsomely, earning him praise from Chairman Yoo Seong-pil by year's end.
Yoo Jin-ha's face twisted in a subtle grimace that day. That was reason enough for him to sit out the massive opportunity the Olympics presented, doing nothing at home.
Anyway..., the Olympics turned out more exciting and fun than I'd expected. My social skills weren't exactly stellar, so I'd slacked on networking until then, but the Olympic season made chatting with people a breeze.
The topics were half-decided for you, after all. I felt the impact of soft power anew as I steadily prepared to venture overseas.
'Things are moving faster than I thought. Convenient.'
[Securities Trading Law Greatly Relaxed.... Finance Ministry Declares Foreign Investor Attraction Before and After Olympics]
I sipped my coffee while reading the morning paper. The article had come out a few months back, and the bill passed just the other day.
With no smart people dying in that bombing, things were running smoothly and efficiently.
They called it a "major relaxation," but the actual deregulation was minimal.... Still, it laid the groundwork, so that was a relief.
This area had loosened up faster than I'd anticipated. My guess? The finance folks lacked the drive from the start. Even if you eased investment bank regs, they wouldn't bite—so why change the laws?
Or maybe the economy was just more solid than in the original timeline, letting them shoulder more risk.
Either way, I'd pushed Daeha Securities to lobby the Finance Ministry aggressively..., and the government, not feeling the heat during Olympic season, approved investment bank setup to boost Korea's global image.
It was almost absurd.
'Is this really okay?'
I knew opposition promises sailed through once the government greenlit them in this minority-government mess, but I couldn't help marveling as obstacles vanished before my eyes.
No family meddling, just Grandfather's backing and the halo of Daeha Group's might.... So this was the power of a chaebol.
I crumpled the paper roughly and handed it to my secretary, who had just arrived. Lee Si-hyeon took it smoothly, tossed it in the trash, and delivered her update.
"Miss, a message from President Ha. Everything's ready."
'Finally...'
I smiled and patted her shoulder.
"Hey, Si-hyeon. Good work."
Ha Joo-seong had finally built the investment bank's foundation and staffed the front office. The laws weren't fully open yet, so they needed a separate entity—which took time.
Korea's credit rating had soared thanks to the Olympics, and Ha Young-il's Wall Street success paved the way.
"By the way, Si-hyeon, have you picked a vacation spot? It's your sister's wedding—you should take a break too."
Lee Si-hyeon smiled awkwardly and shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. Daeha Securities is hiring new grads soon. I need to stick with you, Miss."
"They won't hire your sister just because you're here."
I'd been shocked seeing "Lee Si-woo" on a new grad application. Was Si-hyeon still plotting behind my back?
"Haha, noted."
...She's persistent.
I turned serious and touched her cheek. Warm, soft, undeniably attractive... but if you asked if I couldn't live without it, no.
The most precious thing in the world is always myself.
"Si-hyeon, know the dialectic of master and slave? Even if you don't know Hegel..., this story's famous."
"...Pardon?"
If the master always depends on the slave, the truly free one isn't the master—it's the slave. No slave, no nothing.
"Lee Si-hyeon, I don't need you."
My eyes curved softly. Smiling, I patted her head..., stroked her ponytail, and gave it a light tug.
Nice handle.
"Eek!"
Lee Si-hyeon looked up at me with trembling eyes for a moment. I whispered in her ear.
"So no funny business. Go on vacation nicely. While I'm asking sweet."
Daring to shove her sister into my company.
No way in hell.
Not unless she changes her name and family register first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Okay, truth be told, there were several reasons for sending Lee Si-hyeon on leave so forcefully.
I glanced at Seo Joo-eun, another secretary from Daeha Securities. Unlike Si-hyeon, I'd picked her myself—clean background.
Yeah, the one I said was a step below Si-hyeon back then. But beggars can't be choosers.
"Joo-eun, handle Si-hyeon's 'siblings'... String 'em along for now. Got it?"
"Yes."
One task while Si-hyeon was away: her so-called siblings.
A cold sneer curled my lips.
'Acting like blood siblings doesn't make them blood.'
A background check via Si-hyeon's old classmates turned up plenty.
Her actual blood sister, thankfully, had grown up straight enough to apply to Daeha Group. But the 'siblings' she bossed around? Mediocre at best.
They'd play meek in front of Si-hyeon, sure....
Some had devolved into street thugs, true to their gutter roots. Hearing their 'big sis' made it big, they came crawling for cash.
Losers like that? I'd 'handle' them. Or launder their identities under me for dirty work.
If I liked noir, maybe I'd hand Si-hyeon a knife and tell her to clean house.
But that's not my style. For my poor subordinate, oblivious to being used, this much effort was worth it.
Bonus: It wouldn't erode Si-hyeon's loyalty.
Yep.
"Seo Joo-eun, round up the kids and prep some staged accidents. Keep Si-hyeon in the dark. And make sure your crew stays anonymous."
"...Understood."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Clap clap.
After a few more warnings, I smiled and clapped.
"Alright, that's it for now. Why the stiff face? We're not doing anything bad."
Si-hyeon would be so touched by my hard work she'd cry—if she knew.
"...."
Tch, weak reaction.
This is why I like Si-hyeon.
A bit sulky, I quick-stepped to the mirror to fix my stray hairs. ...Staring like this, I kinda feel like Snow White.
I hummed a familiar tune.
Of course, no one asked who was fairest. Obviously, me.
"Mirror, mirror, got no special powers? Making me work this hard. Sheesh."
If I'd spent reincarnation points on a magic mirror like Allardus, life would've been easier.
...Muttered 'witch' from nearby? Must be hearing things.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Daeha Securities staff have this slang.
'Four Witches' Day.'
From 'Three Witches' Day'—when stock index futures, index options, and single-stock options expire together—plus Yoo Ha-yeon's 'that day.'
This term, 14 years early, was open joked among staff. Her day brought market volatility wild swings.
...Yoo Ha-yeon felt a bit wronged but didn't deny it.
Thanks to that, few blinked at her words in Daeha Investment Bank's historic first meeting.
"I've developed a new financial product. Get ready for extra work soon."
Silence. Worried murmurs..., then cheers.
"...Oh."
"As expected! Lady Ha-yeon!"
"What product?"
Ah, yes.
This reaction. Perfect.
Just swapped nameplates—same Daeha Securities vets. No one dismissed me as a kid.
As the mood heated nicely, I smiled and began explaining.
"Everyone following the news? Last March, the Brezhnev Doctrine was scrapped..., and Eastern Europe shows signs of opening up."
Soviet Secretary-General Mikhail Gorbachev pushed reform and glasnost to save the sinking USSR.
It started with the New Belgrade Declaration. The Soviet Union wouldn't interfere if communist states turned capitalist.
"Hmm, so... we buy bonds?"
A tall director stroked his chin and asked. I nodded slightly, lips curving higher.
"Right. Time to test the new front office. Short Eastern European bonds at the right moment..., then buy back after they crash."
A nation's ideology shift is huge. Credit ratings tank, bond prices plummet.
Knowing they'll cheapen, short first for profit, then long for seconds.
"...Pretty optimistic on Eastern Europe. What if it all collapses?"
A bespectacled director voiced concern. He'd questioned me often but never opposed—kept him in a key spot.
Contrarians like him make me shine brighter.
"Won't collapse. Ah, but Albania and Yugoslavia feel iffy—short those only. Solid-economy spots will rebound fast."
Of course, one issue.
"But... can our investment bank do this? Not enough capital for proprietary trades."
Our operable capital was small.
"No choice. Few deals to close now, and we're Korea's only investment bank—clients don't know us yet. We have money; this is just for show."
Having tons of cash but little tradable capital seems contradictory, but regs forced it.
"True.... Alpha Fund is raking it in anyway. For us, experience matters more than money."
He adjusted his glasses, nodding as if convinced by my logic again.
And so...
I kicked off the meeting with Eastern Europe revolution news, then handled minutiae as time passed.
Legal hurdles for the bank, new building site, bribe sizes for officials, lunch spots....
Directors hotly debated these into shape, then one realized.
"Come to think... Miss, what's this new product?"
Choi Director broke the lull in the meeting room.
"Ahaha, not a full portfolio yet, but... I'll tell you the name."
Beaming, I introduced a futuristic financial gem. Pinnacle of financial engineering.
"Called 'Credit Default Swap.' CDS in English."
"...Didn't you say Eastern Europe won't crash? The name sounds ominous."
I smiled brightly and clapped softly.
"Exactly. Eastern Europe survives. But my prediction..."
Paused three seconds, then prophesied before the directors.
"The Soviet Union falls. Within two years."
"...."
After the 80s end, the 90s dawn with the USSR's collapse.