Chapter 48
Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Bubble Collapse (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern European companies began full-scale privatization in the early to mid-1990s.
But... to stably swallow those companies whole, I needed to pull out money in advance and move it to Europe. It had to look like solid local companies were merging with them, not U.S. speculative capital.
Unlike the past, with Alpha Fund now in place, I could launder money relatively easily through Swiss banks. Still, that meant the funds would be tied up for years.
In other words... I'd be short on cash.
'That's why I'm working nonstop even at year-end.'
On Christmas Day, December 25, 1989, when Romania in Eastern Europe finally won its freedom, I returned from Grandfather's house and pressed my tired eyes to soothe my weary mind.
"...Please take it easy, Miss. The nanny's worried about you."
Ugh.
A quick glance in the mirror showed a haggard beauty staring back. I had trips to Eastern Europe, makeup classes for the ones I'd missed, and a mountain of other tasks, so I hadn't been sleeping much lately.
"...Maybe I will."
Letting out a soft sigh, I shuffled to the bed and flopped down.
"Si-hyeon... tell Ha Joo-seong at Daeha Securities I can't make it tomorrow. He'll handle the 26th and 27th, so let's meet on the 28th..."
-Thud.
I lay on the bed like a corpse, and Lee Si-hyeon changed my clothes for me.
"I told you not to sleep in your clothes... Come on, arms out... Heave-ho. There, all done."
"Eek... static electricity."
Women with long hair have it rough... But I couldn't bring myself to cut it short when long hair looked so much prettier.
"That's what you get for overworking yourself."
Si-hyeon stroked my messy hair into place as she said that.
"No choice... Japan's bubble is about to burst. Once the Ministry of Finance announces their policy at the start of the year, the Nikkei will tank hard."
I wasn't ready to mess with Japan directly yet, but if the index was crashing anyway, only an idiot wouldn't short it. Nothing beat short-selling for generating cash.
Short-selling... Japan's bubble... the Lost Decade...
I lay there on the bed, lost in thoughts of Japan's bubble collapse.
'Did the Nikkei drop 15% in January? It'll be less since I popped it early, but I can still rake in about 100 million dollars...'
100 million dollars.
100 billion won.
How many Eastern European companies could I buy with that? Invest in Russia, and I could monopolize the gas industry...
Ah.
Couldn't hold back anymore.
-Springing up.
Adrenaline surged suddenly. My pupils dilated, heart pounding like mad.
Damn it, this wasn't the time to be tired. Sure, my mood was the most important thing in the world... but right now, this wildly beating heart was calling me!
"Miss...? Weren't you going to sleep?"
"Ha, I can't take it anymore. Why was I even tired? I'll sleep when I'm dead!"
And I wasn't dying anytime soon.
-Whoosh.
I stripped off the pajamas Si-hyeon had put on me and threw on a white shirt and black suit again. Si-hyeon stared blankly at me as she took the pajamas.
"...Hold on. You're not going out now, are you? It's 11 p.m."
I yanked open the fridge, grabbed Si-hyeon's half-eaten sandwich, stuffed it in my pocket, and quickly straightened my clothes.
"What are you waiting for? Get dressed and let's go! Actually, never mind—just grab your clothes and run!"
I glanced back, yelled at Si-hyeon, and slipped on my shoes. She chased after me in her underwear, clutching an armful of clothes, grumbling all the way.
"Why... huff... didn't you... at least... tell me... huff."
"Si-hyeon, let's roll!"
Yen notes danced before my eyes. Time to pick up Japan's lost money!
"...Haa, I swear my lifespan's shortening because of you, Miss. Got it... coming."
Vroom.
The black sedan blinked its lights and tore down the road.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Munch munch.
I chewed on the sandwich while rolling around at Daeha Securities headquarters.
"...That's mine."
Slurp. "Ah, still tastes bad."
I'd only eaten it to fill my stomach, and it wasn't my taste anyway. I had more refined preferences.
"Then give it back... it was my breakfast..."
"Huh? Why are you still like that?"
I widened my eyes at Si-hyeon. She pouted at me, looking wronged, and grumbled.
"It's your fault, Miss! Who dragged me out driving in the middle of the night? I'm grabbing a late-night snack too. Hot seolleongtang..."
"What? No, you'll gain weight. Late-night eating makes you fat. Doesn't my Si-hyeon know that?"
"..."
Lee Si-hyeon stared fixedly at the sandwich wrapper in my hand. Veins popped on her toned forearms.
...I'd only complained because the sandwich sucked, but better quit while I'm ahead.
I patted her shoulder in praise and said sympathetically,
"There, now you can rest, Si-hyeon. Good job. Get some real sleep—you've got work tomorrow too."
She sighed deeply and flopped onto the sofa.
"Yeees..."
"Not there—sleep in my bed. It's fine now, but at thirty your back will give out."
She hesitated by the bed, changed into pajamas, glanced awkwardly around at being in sleepwear at the office, then quietly slipped under the covers.
"Yeah, that's right. I'll pull an all-nighter, so don't worry."
"...What are you even doing in the middle of the night like this."
"It's night here, but not in New York, right? Securities never sleep—you forgot?"
Domestic-only desks could clock out when the market closed, but once overseas entered the picture, night shifts were mandatory.
This time's target was the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but most of my money was with Alpha Fund anyway, so I needed to coordinate with New York.
.
.
.
About an hour later,
as Si-hyeon snored away peacefully, one of the Daeha Securities staff handling overseas ops spotted me and greeted me with surprise.
"Whoa, Miss? What brings you here, and on Christmas night of all times."
"Had a fun idea, so I came to work."
"..."
The employee's face stiffened for a split second, then relaxed.
"Haha, got it. Should I call the president for you?"
"Nah, no need. Holiday—he should rest. Speaking of... aren't you off too? Christmas, so overseas ops should be quiet."
"Ah, I'm on duty. Lost at rock-paper-scissors..."
Poor guy.
"Hmm... hold on. Yap."
I rummaged through the sleeping Si-hyeon's arms and fished out my wallet.
"Here, a gift. Three million won gold bar."
Not too much, or it'd be awkward.
"Ooh! Th-thank you, Miss."
The employee bowed deeply, grinning ear to ear—no trace of fatigue left.
"Haha, I was wondering why my luck's been bad lately. Turns out pulling duty today was my lucky break."
"Yup, I've got good luck. Everyone around me does too. Hehe, right?"
I flashed a bright smile, stood on tiptoes, and patted his shoulder.
"Of course! The company's grown this big thanks to you, Miss. Getting hired at Daeha Securities is the pride of my life, truly."
He bowed repeatedly in genuine gratitude, fetched my favorite candy pack and a drink, then headed back to the duty room.
-Rustle.
I licked the Chupa Chups and slurped away.
The candy was plenty sweet... but the employee's joyful face upon getting the gold bar stuck with me even more.
'Feels good.'
This was why you spent money.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Click clack.
I stood at the computer, staring at screens all night. I'd gotten about six hours the night before last... but with this lust-like excitement coursing through me, fatigue was secondary.
"This one's up less too... semis are brutal."
I muttered and scribbled furiously in my notebook. It listed rough price differences from my memories versus now, with ideas sprouting like question marks everywhere.
Beside me were printouts of Japanese companies' financials—just in case—but they weren't much help.
Overvaluation and undervaluation meant nothing. The massive bubble had crushed all metrics, driving prices insane.
And its collapse marked the start of the '90s.
"Futures? Options might be better... Leave plain short positions to Young-il and go aggressive? Hoo..."
"Urgh... Miss, enough already..."
Si-hyeon mumbled in her sleep, swatting her arm at my soliloquy.
"..."
I finally checked the clock—the hour hand pointed to 4 a.m. Ha Young-il hadn't replied to my message yet, so planning was all I could do.
A considerate staffer had brought a heater, but it paled against my room's warmth.
...Kinda cold.
The mirror showed a girl who'd tossed her coat in the heat, left in a thin oversized white shirt. Bloodshot eyes from screen-staring were the cherry on top.
'Pretty... but looks chilly.'
Oh right—it was winter.
The heat vanished in a flash.
"Ah... ah... achoo!"
Ack. C-cold...
I wriggled into my custom bed, hugged my secretary tight, and thawed my shivering body.
'Just... five minutes like this...'
For a moment, consciousness faded.
'Huh...?'
This... won't do...
.
.
.
"..."
Chirp chirp.
A sparrow cheekily pecked at the window.
Chirp chirp chirp.
Morning sunlight shattered through the dusty pane, gently caressing my cheek.
"Morning already."
Tch.
Kid bodies sucked like this.
I puffed my cheeks, shook my head vigorously, and sprang up energetically.
"Early bird rise!"
The early bird catches the worm, after all.
Gotta hustle quick and busy.
Yup yup.