Neo Gate Under Siege
"Good morning, everyone."
In the center of the conference room, David, our quant expert, picked up his laser pointer and greeted us while displaying Neo Gate's ownership structure on the massive screen.
"This is the current share structure. CEO Kim Chi-gon holds 30%, China's Longhua Capital has 25%, related parties 5.9%, treasury stock 3.8%, and the remaining 35.3% is floating in the market."
Athena hadn't provided any help at first—just to test their skills.
Honestly, using her here would throw off the balance anyway.
"Chairman Kim Chi-gon's stake is exactly 30%. Combined with the related parties' 5.9%, that's 35.9% to defend control. Looks solid on the surface. Longhua Capital, the Chinese capital, provides friendly backing with 25%."
David paused, taking a sip of water.
"Continuing. It looks sturdy, but there's a bomb hidden inside. Turns out Longhua Capital is cash-strapped due to China's remittance restrictions. They've already sunk money into the stock and want to recoup some and bail."
As David's words ended, Arthur looked at me and spoke.
"If the boss approves the plan, we'll contact China immediately."
"Anyway, these Chinese guys are desperate. If we offer a premium, they'll sell their own parents."
If things went according to plan, we'd snag 25% in a flash.
"Mark, how are you handling the market float?"
25% wouldn't be enough for control.
"Jennifer and I will take care of it. User complaints are already at a boiling point. Jennifer shakes up public opinion to spread fear, and I scoop up all the dumping from below. Simple plan."
Mark was fidgeting, buzzing with excitement.
"David's algorithm will help collapse the order book. I'll buy everything from the bottom and pile it up. By Friday, we'll stamp Black Ridge's name on 51% of the shares."
As Mark finished, Sarah, who oversaw the legal team, spoke in a flat tone.
"I'll go after the 3.8% treasury stock. They'll scramble with related parties and treasury shares to defend, so I'll file an injunction in court to freeze treasury sales and buy time."
"Media contacts are all prepped. Just give the go-ahead, and we start."
I could see Jennifer's face, beaming brightly as she said something chilling.
Her expression gave me chills, but the plan was perfect. Chinese betrayal, retail panic, legal shackles.
"Textbook hostile M&A. Approved."
As I spoke, Athena notified me it was 8:50.
"Ten minutes to open. Shall we start the morning fresh with some screams?"
Neo Gate's headquarters sat in the heart of Pangyo Techno Valley. Not their own building, but successful enough to rent four floors.
On the top floor, 15th level, in Kim Chi-gon's office, he lounged back in his chair, sipping the coffee his secretary brought.
"Sir, the probabilistic item announcement for 9 AM is up. Communities are already buzzing."
"Good, let 'em bark. They'll end up playing our game anyway. How's the stock?"
Kim Chi-gon had few worries in life, but the plummeting shares had stressed him lately.
"Market opens soon. Probably flat."
He sank fully into the backrest.
"Thanks. Coffee's perfect."
Savoring the aroma and gazing out the window, his desk phone rang ominously.
Ring—!
The urgent bell blared as his secretary burst in, pale-faced.
"Chairman! Check the main portal now!"
He glared at her for shattering his peace, then turned on the screen and opened the news portal.
"Wha... what the hell? Did Longhua Capital lose their minds? Selling without even consulting me?!"
Before he finished, a massive red candle greeted him on the stock chart.
-3%, -7%, breaching -15% in seconds.
"Ch-Chairman! Downside VI (volatility halt) triggered! Sell orders piled over a million shares! Someone's deliberately tanking it!"
The secretary's voice drilled into Kim Chi-gon's ears.
He dropped his coffee cup in panic, hands trembling as he stared at the monitor.
A industry veteran, but this attack was a first for him.
"Stop it! Buy back treasury shares to defend the price. And what the hell is PR doing for their paycheck? Contact the media now!"
"They... they're not picking up. We can't stop it."
Kim Chi-gon's jaw quivered with rage and fear. The empire he'd built was crumbling in just 10 minutes.
After watching the chaos unfold post-attack, I returned to my upstairs office.
"How's it going?"
…Neo Gate's done for. China accepted the offer.
"Yeah? Even worms squirm when stepped on, but these guys can't even twitch."
It ended too easily.
"Taking control is one thing... but normalizing this mess? That's gonna take forever."
Seizing the company would be quick, but fixing it? Time sink.
I'll have to step in somewhat. Saw the source code—nearly barfed, it was so gross.
I remembered her going silent after peeking at the code while I played the game last time.
Confirmed. Proceed immediately.
"Arthur's slower than you."
Of course.
"Anyway, how bad are retail investors hit? Feels a bit guilty if we wrecked them."
Not much. Lots were bagholders to the bitter end. Current dump is from institutions tied to Kim and day traders. Real shareholders are just staring blankly.
"Good. They've suffered long enough—time to free 'em."
No time to lounge. I bolted downstairs to Jennifer, hard at work.
"Jennifer, tweak it. Don't stop at slamming Kim Chi-gon. Push that we're here to normalize Neo Gate. Make it look like we're not asset-stripping for a quick exit, but fixing it into a proper game."
"Oh... white knight framing? Savior to users, profit guarantee to shareholders?"
Jennifer's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Exactly. And Arthur, Mark—set tender offer above market."
Mark's eyes widened.
"Boss, that'll cost more than planned."
"Doesn't matter. Money's overflowing. Image-building on a small fry like this pays long-term. Plus, help out some fellow sufferers like me."
The Wall Street team's eyes shifted. Not just a money-chaser—something more.
"Got it. Poach the ants our way. On it."
"Perfect. Send Kim to hell, win over users and retail. Might as well play the hero—looks better."
I chugged my cola.
'This cola's insanely sweet.'
Told you zero sugar if you're drinking cola.
'Forgive me once. It's not gonna kill me.'
Bearing Athena's nagging, things looked set to wrap soon.
Jennifer made calls nonstop. An hour later, headlines shifted.
Terrified long-term holders dumping, casual gamblers, day traders—all screaming in desire and despair.
The chart hushed, then exploded in a massive green candle, triggering upside VI.
Staring at Athena's stock feed—what a shitshow.
'Graph's jumping like a penny stock.'
Wait, it is a penny stock right now.
Flashy debut. But the goodwill we built helps with future issues. Not a bad call.
'Right? Bit impulsive from anger, but everyone's happy except one—good enough.'
Pangyo, Neo Gate office. Kim Chi-gon screamed into the phone like a madman.
"Longhua Capital, you traitorous bastards! Connect me now! Where's Executive Director Jang?!"
Slamming the desk, dozens of redials yielded only the same message.
Finally, an international line connected—with despairing words.
"Chairman Kim, business is business. We gotta survive too. Already signed the transfer with Black Ridge. Can't back out with the penalty. Sorry."
"You... you fuckers!"
Click. Kim Chi-gon's hand shook holding the dead phone. The 25% from No.2 shareholder China turned enemy blades overnight.
But his tragedy didn't end there.
"Chairman! Disaster! Legal got word..."
Secretary kicked the door open, clutching fresh court papers.
"Seoul Central District Court just granted the injunction freezing treasury stock sales!"
"What...? Who filed?!"
"Sarah Sinclair from Black Ridge Capital... Famous Wall Street lawyer, known for being flawless."
Kim Chi-gon's head throbbed.
Betrayed by trusted China, now company treasury locked.
Jennifer Kang's 15,000 KRW tender was the kill shot.
At 9,300 KRW despair, 15,000 was salvation. Retail queued to tender or proxy to Black Ridge.
"Chairman... Stake fight's over. Rumors Black Ridge hit 51%."
The exec following her spoke meekly.
Kim Chi-gon collapsed on the sofa, lips trembling, rage spent.
"Why... why me..."
His long-built castle shattered so futilely.