The Shop Owner Who Smiled the Smile of Capitalism at Me

The owner of Doremi Computer slid the bundle of cash I handed him a little closer to himself and asked again, “Huh? Where should I send the graphics cards and computer?”

Zero, where should I have him send them? I can’t exactly keep dozens of graphics cards in my room.

「Correct. I am currently searching for an appropriate location. I have reviewed 1,425 suitable sites and am selecting the optimal one. Tell the shop owner that you will text him the address today or tomorrow, and for now, have him deliver just one computer to Master’s home.」

Okay.

I repeated what Zero had told me.

“For now, please send one to my house. The address is... in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.”

“Sure. Then what about the other computer and the graphics cards?”

“I’ll text you the rest of the address separately. Is that all right? Actually, come to think of it, I’ll probably need more than one computer. I’ll need several motherboards and a few power supplies too. Can I send that by text as well?”

Only a handful of graphics cards could be connected to a single computer.

So I was planning to build what people called a mining rig, even if it looked a little crude.

I’d lay several motherboards across a shelf and hang the graphics cards from them like fruit.

It didn’t have to look pretty, as long as it did the job.

“Ah, that’s fine. Take your time and let me know later. To be honest, if you ordered the graphics cards right now, they’d take several days to arrive. But motherboards, power supplies, and that sort of thing? As long as you give me the address, I can have them delivered whenever.”

“Yes. Then please send them as they come in. First, could you give me a mobile number I can text?”

At that, the shop owner reached into his pocket and handed me a slightly crumpled business card.

“Here. Text that number. If you need anything, just say the word. I’ll give you a good price, comrade.”

...Comrade.

The word made me hesitate again.

Still, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to know someone like the owner of Doremi Computer.

A person who took pride in his work and was honest about it was rare in any trade.

“Yes, I’ll contact you again if I need anything.”

The name on the card was Han Jeongsu.

I took the card and left the shop.

After a satisfying deal at Yongsan Electronics Market, I stepped out of the shopping complex and waited for the light at the crosswalk. I was heading toward the station.

A few other people who had finished shopping at Yongsan Electronics Market were around me. They all looked excited, carrying new computers, laptops, cameras, and the like.

Then the light changed.

As I started walking, Zero said, 「Master. I have found a suitable location for Master’s 'coin mining site.'」

Already? Where?

「A small factory in Seoul’s industrial district. There, excessive electricity use will not draw suspicion, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the sound of graphics cards running will not seem unusual.」

That made sense. The two biggest problems with mining coins using graphics cards were electricity and noise, but in a factory where both power consumption and noise were already high, neither would stand out.

Then should I buy a factory? But aren’t factories expensive? The money I made in stocks is still in my stock account. I don’t exactly have a mountain of cash on hand.

「You have enough to purchase one outright. It is not a large factory, only a space suitable for a computer and graphics cards, so you should think of it as an office rather than a factory. At that size, your remaining funds are more than enough to secure a short-term lease.」

So I’ll take a short-term lease first, then extend it later.

「Once you have cash later, I recommend purchasing the building itself rather than extending the lease. Real estate in Seoul will remain unbeatable for the next decade or more.」

...

「Real estate is an investment you cannot give up.」

True enough.

Seoul real estate was unbeatable.

Then which building in Seoul’s industrial district am I supposed to buy? Is there some area in the factories where the land value goes up a lot later?

As someone who had always been lower middle class, I had never paid much attention to real estate investment.

I’d often seen news stories about some celebrity selling a building for tens of billions of won, or apartment prices jumping by tens of billions, but I never knew which place you were supposed to buy to make that kind of money.

The best I could think of was Myeongdong or somewhere like that, but that wasn’t an industrial district.

While I was thinking it over, Zero said, 「I recommend Seongsu-dong. It is currently an industrial district, and in a few years the land value there will skyrocket.」

...Ah, right. There was that place.

「Before you go, I recommend stopping by a bank to pick up some checks and cash.」

Right. I should.

First, I stopped at a bank. There was a Nonghyup nearby, so I went there.

On the taxi ride to Seongsu-dong, the cab sped along Gangbyeonbuk-ro. The Han River glittered outside the window.

Watching it, I remembered what had happened at the bank.

I’m glad I kept that Nonghyup branch manager Park Seonghun’s business card.

I had gone to Nonghyup Bank. Not on purpose, just because it was close.

But when I tried to withdraw checks and cash with my account book and ID, the teller kept asking questions and didn’t want to hand over the money.

Apparently I was too young to be pulling out such a large sum.

It was a bit of a headache, but then I remembered I had taken Branch Manager Park Seonghun’s card and called him.

After I explained the situation, not long afterward the teller’s phone rang.

And then the teller’s face went white, and they apologized to me over and over before handing over the checks and cash immediately.

I hadn’t intended to make things difficult for anyone.

Was that employee in serious trouble now?

While I was thinking that to myself, Zero replied, 「It will not become a major issue. Since they suspected a VIP like Master, it may affect their personnel evaluation later and make promotion a bit difficult, but that is all.」

...That’s still a pretty big problem for that employee.

「They were not fired, were they? And the employee probably will not even know why they failed to get promoted.」

That somehow sounded even worse.

As Zero and I were talking, the taxi driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror and asked, “Why are you going to Seongsu-dong, kid? Does your father or your uncle work there?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I’m just going to look around.”

“Look around? There’s nothing there but factories. What is there to look at? If you were going to Konkuk University area next door, that’d make sense.”

“Haha... I’m just going for a bit of a tour.”

“Ambitious young man, huh? Touring factories and all.”

When I trailed off, the driver didn’t press the matter further.

Was it about thirty minutes later? The taxi stopped in front of Seongsu Station on Line 2.

“Thanks.”

After a quick farewell, I got out and looked around.

Rattle-rattle.

I could hear the clattering noise of Line 2 trains passing aboveground. All around me were rough factory buildings made of red brick, and in the air there was the faint scent of leather and machine oil.

It had all the unmistakable feel of an industrial district. The sour tang of exhaust brushed my nose now and then, too.

Even if Seongsu-dong someday became a hot place, packed with stylish young people and tourists, this version of Seongsu-dong was a worksite stained by the struggle to make a living.

The only things visible on the street were men in work clothes pulling handcarts and small cargo trucks loaded down with freight.

“Hey, Mr. Kim! Bring that leather over here faster! We’re backed up!”

“Ah, let me smoke first!”

“Dammit... smoke after you deliver it!”

There were men like that.

“Anyway, I heard a rumor. I heard the city government’s planning to develop Seongsu-dong!”

“Develop it? So that means land prices go up, right?”

“Exactly! My friend’s daughter works at City Hall and told me! So if we pool our money and buy a small villa, or even just a warehouse, then later...”

“Hey, Mr. Yang! Cut the nonsense and get back to work!”

“...Yes, yes! I’m going!”

There were men like that too.

Come to think of it, that real estate-talking guy had some foresight.

The look of Seongsu-dong now and in the future is strangely similar, isn’t it?

「Yes. This roughness is part of the charm Seongsu-dong will have when it becomes a 'hot place' later.」

I stood still for a while and kept looking around.

To think these old, dreary brick buildings would someday be worth over one hundred million won per pyeong.

「That does not mean you can buy everything. I recommend purchasing only the most valuable buildings and land.」

Of course. Then I need to sign a lease for the office first... where do I go?

「I will guide you. I will also explain what to say when you meet the broker.」

Much appreciated.

I headed toward the nearby real estate office Zero had pointed out. It was called King Jackpot Real Estate, a wonderfully straightforward name.

When I opened the door to King Jackpot Real Estate and went inside, the bell attached to the door rang.

Ding-a-ling.

“Hello.”

“Welcome~ ...Hm?”

The middle-aged broker, who had been reading a newspaper, adjusted his glasses when he saw me.

He must have thought a student in uniform had come in to ask for directions.

“Kid, you lost?”

“No. I came to look at office spaces.”

“Office spaces? You?” He blinked at me. “...Seriously?”

“Yes.”

At my firm answer, the broker’s expression changed a little. Half skeptical, he asked, “Young people do a lot of business these days. All right, then. What kind of place are you looking for?”

“About 10 to 15 pyeong of usable floor space. I don’t mind if it’s a bit shabby. But it needs decent electricity.”

When I recited the conditions Zero had given me, the broker tilted his head.

“A 10-pyeong place with good electricity... That’s the sort of thing that’s plentiful and relatively cheap, but even so, the deposit and monthly rent probably aren’t something a student can handle. Can I call your parents once?”

“I’ll be paying with my own money, so no call is necessary.”

“Your own money?”

The broker still didn’t seem to believe me. Fair enough. Who would believe a kid in a school uniform walking in and saying he wanted to rent a factory with his own money?

Without bothering with more words, I showed him the cash and checks in my wallet.

Swish.

“...?”

The broker’s eyes went wide the instant he saw the thick bundles of cash and the checks.

“This should be enough for the deposit and monthly rent, right?”

“O-of course! More than enough! But where in the world did a student get that kind of money... ? No, that’s not the important part. ...Ah, so you’re a young boss! Hahaha! I’ve misjudged you.”

The broker’s attitude flipped one hundred and eighty degrees.

He sprang to his feet and called out to the young woman in the back, who had been listlessly watching TV.

“What are you doing? Go make some coffee!”

“Oh, yes!”

Money really was everything.

The employee hurriedly brought out coffee.

Instant coffee, the usual mix. The smell of the factory district in Seongsu-dong mixed with the coffee, and it stirred up old memories of when I used to do labor jobs.

Adjusting his glasses, the broker said, “You said you needed a place that uses a lot of electricity and can be a bit shabby, right? There happens to be a perfect one. It’s the basement of the building in front of Exit 4. It used to be a printing shop, so the building has electricity coming out of its ears.”

“Hmm.”

“The printing shop closed not long after, so the building’s almost empty now... though maybe that’s bad luck for starting a business? Should I show you another building, maybe one above ground?”

Electricity coming out of the basement.

There could hardly be a more perfect condition for a Bitcoin mining site. Since it was underground, the cooling efficiency would probably be good, too.

Zero, what do you think?

「It is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one of the places I had in mind. And in the future, the largest fashion company in Korea, Musinsa, will move in there. That is still far off, but if you secure the office now and then purchase that building, along with others, after the proceeds from the stock sale come in, you will gain a substantial profit.」

Okay.

Zero’s approval came through.

“Let’s go with that one. Can I see it right now?”

“Of course! It’s right in front of here, so we’ll be there in no time.”

The broker hurriedly swapped his slippers for dress shoes and rushed out in front of me. Watching his back, I couldn’t help but smile.

This was the taste of capitalism.

I signed the lease for the basement office on the spot.

It had been left alone for a while, so it was a bit dusty, but I decided to leave the cleaning to the real estate office.

That meant I had to pay extra, though.

“Haha, I like how decisively you do things, young boss. Then, boss, please take good care of us from here on out... and if you need anything else, just let me know!”

“Yes. Oh, when will the cleaning inside be finished?”

“I’ll personally make sure it’s done by the day after tomorrow.”

“All right, I’d appreciate that.”

“Yes! Take care on your way out!”

“Please come again!”

After receiving the broker’s and the young employee’s farewells, I left the office.

By the time I got outside, the sun had already begun to set. I had been running around so much that I hadn’t even noticed the time passing.

I sent a text to the owner of Doremi Computer on my phone.

I’ve already given him my home address, so now I just need to send him the coin factory address... okay, should I head home now?

「Yes, Master. You worked very hard today.」

So the mining setup is basically finished now?

「Yes. Once the computer and graphics cards arrive, all Master has to do is connect them.」

Everything was going smoothly.

This was the life.

That was when it happened.

Buzz.

My phone vibrated.

Had the computer already arrived at my house?

I came back home from Seongsu-dong.

Seohui was probably at school, and my father and mother apparently hadn’t gotten off work yet, because nobody was home.

I keep telling Mom to quit that restaurant job... If I showed her my account with hundreds of billions of won in it, would she stop? Or would she still keep going?

While I was thinking that, I brought the computer box into my room and assembled it.

In truth, all the complicated assembly had already been done, so the only thing left for me was plugging in the power.

Whirrr...

When I turned it on, the computer gave off a soft hum. It was definitely faster to boot and quieter than the old one.

Well... it was still noisy and slow to me, but that was another matter.

I connected the internet cable and opened the web browser.

Zero, so now I’m going to send the coin paper to the Cryptography Mailing List... using the Tor browser would be better, right?

「Yes, Master. For Master’s security and safety, I recommend using the Tor browser.」

The Tor browser was an internet browser that, unlike a normal browser, protected a person’s anonymity and security with considerable thoroughness.

The problem was that it routed information through multiple layers, so the internet speed was quite slow, and because it was used by people who wanted anonymity, there could be security issues.

In the worst case, you could end up downloading a virus or a hacking program.

Well... that doesn’t matter to me.

It wasn’t something to brag about, but right now I was probably the person in the world who knew computers best and could use them best.

If someone tried to attack me through a computer...

That would be kind of fun, too.

「Master. Will Master personally write the Bitcoin paper to send to the Cryptography Mailing List, or shall I draft it and have you review it?」

You write it and I’ll review it. That’ll be faster.

「Understood.」

The moment Zero answered, Notepad opened on the computer screen.

It was the most basic writing program, but also the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most stable one.

And before long, there it was.

...

「It is complete, Master.」

The paper was finished.

I read through it once from top to bottom and nodded with satisfaction.

This should be good enough to send.

The next morning.

“Ah, Mommmmm! The hot water still isn’t working!”

I woke up to Seohui’s shout. It was like a morning alarm.

Some people might frown at that high-pitched noise first thing in the morning, but for me it was pleasant.

I stretched and got out of bed.

“Huu...!”

I really need to move soon. To a nice place with strong heating and a solid boiler.

While I was thinking that, Zero’s voice came to me.

「Good morning, Master.」

Oh, good morning.

I answered without thinking much of it, but Zero added one more line.

「Master. There are several reactions to the Bitcoin improvement paper submitted under Master’s name to the Cryptography Mailing List.」

What kind of reactions?

「Rather than tell Master, I think it would be better if Master checked the computer directly.」

That did sound better.

I shuffled over to the computer and opened my mail.

Then... there were a lot of messages.

...

Just from the subject lines alone, I could tell.

The Cryptography Mailing List had been turned upside down by my paper, by Zero’s paper.

...Zero, are all of these replies to my paper?

「That is correct. The leading figures in cryptography are currently in fierce debate over Master’s paper.」

Leading figures?

「Yes. The email at the top, from Hal Finney, is from Bitcoin’s first transaction partner and a legendary developer. I recommend you take a look.」

I clicked the topmost mail.

You could tell from the writing.

He was genuinely moved.

「Geniuses, especially in cryptography, get excited when a cryptographic concept comes along that really impresses them.」

Seems that way.

It was a strange feeling. Seeing the world’s geniuses getting worked up over my paper.

That was when it happened.

A notification chimed.

Wondering who it was, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked at the sender line of the topmost email, and held my breath.

The kind of figure anyone would have heard of at least once, even if they had never touched a coin.

It was an email from Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin.