Chapter 69: Gold God
Chapter 69: Gold God
< Gold God >
Money, fame, influence.
The rewards of success were always thrilling.
"Hmm..."
- Fed supplies $2.3 trillion in liquidity
- US Fed's bold stimulus package sends stock market soaring
- Dow Jones up 12.67% from last week
- New York stock market breaks through the roof
When stock prices rose, my wealth grew significantly.
It felt like the Fed and the US government were personally helping me with my investments.
While the US GDP was projected to shrink by 11% compared to last year, they were pouring in a nearly unlimited amount of money to prevent an economic crisis.
A money game was unfolding on a global scale.
- New York stock market closes with a sharp rise
- Return to work, confidence in overcoming the COVID crisis
- Growing expectations for economic normalization
The Dow and Nasdaq were climbing by 2 or 3 percent.
Tesla, in particular, was going wild.
- Electric car maker Tesla skyrockets 60% in one week
- Retail investors who swept up 23 trillion won, putting their faith solely in Kim Shin.
- The Kim Shin Index is born. Over the past two weeks, Kim Shin's estimated investment return exceeds 30%.
- Tesla surges 13%, rising alone even in a falling market
- Opportunity for bargain hunting, Kim Shin leads the US stock craze
Whenever I opened my stock app, my principal of 12 billion dollars had grown by several hundred million dollars each day.
'It's the same feeling I had with crypto. And with the put options.'
I'd regretted investing 200 million dollars in put options so much.
Having invested 12 billion dollars in the US stock market alone, the upward trend was astonishing.
Thanks to that, my reputation in Korea grew even greater.
- Nasdaq went up again today. Praise be to Kim Shin!
- I went all-in with my entire fortune and hit the jackpot thanks to Mr. Kim Shin.
- Goosebumps. I woke up and my assets had just exploded.
- I think I finally understand how the crypto veterans felt. The ones who were so happy saying money was just printing itself. This must be exactly what they meant.
- Economic experts? Tell them to shut up. We just need to trust and follow Kim Shin.
- Been trading stocks for 20 years. I've realized that missing the chance for huge profits is the stupidest thing. The IMF crisis, the credit card crisis, the financial crisis. You have to invest aggressively when you're in the abyss.
- Follow the prophet, Kim Shin!
The idol of the retail investors.
A prophet.
An investor who leads other investors.
As stock prices soared, I gained several nicknames; some even started calling me Gold God.
- The Gold God has spoken. The bottom has already passed!
- Gold God! Gold God! Gold God!
- Trust in the God and follow.
'This is crazy. Seriously.'
The internet was in an uproar.
Looking at the age demographic on the stock forums, there must have been people in their mid-thirties, forties, and fifties.
- I repent. I once criticized Kim Shin, calling him an attention seeker who got lucky with investments and started a YouTube channel.
- I did too.
- Let us all repent.
- Buy your electronics from the Source Shopping Mall.
- Source Coin is the future!
At this point, wasn't my influence in Korea absolute?
Of course, there were plenty of opinions on stock forums and YouTube that contradicted mine.
- American economic experts are predicting the stock market will be cut in half this year.
- Did you see the economic debate on CNBC? Even Citigroup's chief global equity strategist is predicting an additional 30 to 40% drop.
- Bank of America also announced it. Historically, when the US stock market has fallen more than 30%, it has taken at least a year for prices to recover.
- They say hoping for stocks to rise in this market is like wishing for a miracle lol
- The IMF said the worst recession since the Great Depression is coming.
- They say the US unemployment rate will hit 10%. And you believe Kim Shin when he says stocks will go up?
The various economic indicators and the words of economic experts.
Nevertheless, there was a reason I didn't pay much heed to their judgment.
'People who have accumulated a lot of knowledge, who are rational, they don't get it.'
Just how immense the greed for money can be.
Even someone like Ellie, who works at JPMorgan, thinks from a rational and logical perspective.
Isn't that also why economic experts can't understand crypto investors?
When the price of a coin rises, people flock to it like moths to a flame, even at the risk of getting burned.
No warning could stop them.
'They even pushed back against the politicians who tried to regulate it.'
It wasn't just crypto.
Stocks, real estate.
In the end, aren't all investment assets the same?
The fame that came with the sharp rise in stock prices wasn't all good.
- FlameBoy: Are you Kim Shin?
- Pete: I think that's him?
- IkkuyoIt: Saw you on YouTube. I'm a fan!
When I played games, people started recognizing my nickname.
On a YouTube broadcast, I'd mentioned I enjoyed playing League of Legends as a hobby, and my monitor was shown for two or three seconds. A surprising number of people remembered it.
Getting solo-killed by chance was incredibly nerve-wracking.
- FlameBoy: It's okay! It's my fault for not ganking enough.
Then, if I died again.
- FlameBoy: Haa. You had your spells up just now, and you still died?
And if I died yet again.
- FlameBoy: You have no talent for this game. Don't even try to do anything.
* * *
Lee Jong-yeop had come to the US prepared to do all sorts of menial tasks.
If he couldn't be of great help to Kim Shin's business, he thought he should at least take care of the small things.
'From breakfast to unpacking, washing underwear, and cleaning the toilet—it's all my job.'
If there was mold in the bathroom, he was ready to scrub that off too.
But after they moved into a mansion worthy of an Instagram post...
"Mr. Secretary, what should be on the menu for tomorrow?"
"Hmm. Korean food would be nice."
They had hired two chefs with experience working in hotels.
With twenty bodyguards also living in the attached quarters of the mansion, the chefs did the cooking.
Cleaning and laundry were no longer his responsibilities either.
Housekeepers were hired, so he didn't have to worry about household chores.
'So this is the life of the rich.'
He had come prepared to die trying to adapt to life in America, but this place was a paradise.
In the meantime, he had gotten quite close with the employees at Earth Resource.
The female employees who had just graduated from prestigious universities.
The female employees who had transferred from other companies.
"Selina, you're very pretty."
"Thank you!"
While he enjoyed this paradise, getting friendly with the female staff, he never neglected his work.
He familiarized himself with Earth Resource's business structure and kept track of everything happening around Kim Shin.
- Team Leader An Myeong-guk: How's the US? Is it livable?
- Lee Jong-yeop: It's heaven.
- Team Leader An Myeong-guk: How so?
- Lee Jong-yeop: In every way. If I told you the details, I'm afraid you'd run away from home, so I can't.
Whenever Team Leader An Myeong-guk contacted him, he would tease him just enough to make him jealous.
By the time Kim Shin returned from New York, he had taken on many duties as his secretary.
"The California Governor's office?"
"Yes. This Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom will be in San Francisco and would like to visit Earth Resource."
As his executive secretary, most external contacts looking for Kim Shin went through Lee Jong-yeop.
California's population was 40 million.
Its economy was larger than South Korea's.
"I will check his schedule and get back to you."
* * *
"The Governor of California is coming to the company on Wednesday."
"Who?"
"The governor."
When Lee Jong-yeop told me, I was briefly surprised, but there was no reason to refuse if the governor wanted to visit.
To think the day would come when I'd meet a governor, all because I'd succeeded in business and made a lot of money.
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Gavin Newsom."
"The honor is all mine, Governor."
The Democratic Governor of California.
A former mayor of San Francisco with handsome looks, he arrived with dozens of secretaries, aides, and bodyguards.
"So this is the development lab."
"Yes. This is where we created Source Coin and our cloud system."
After giving him and his aides a tour of the company building and introducing them to the staff, we had coffee, just the two of us.
I guessed that the real discussion was about to begin.
"Congratulations on your business success. I was surprised to hear you achieved so much in such a short time. You seem to have amassed considerable wealth and fame in Silicon Valley."
"San Francisco is an excellent city for business, so I've received a lot of help."
"That's truly wonderful. As governor, I also want to thank you for importing masks from Korea and China. It was a great help to have a company step up in such a difficult time. However, many people are struggling because of COVID. There are many hungry children in San Francisco as well."
"I see."
I had a feeling he'd come knowing quite a bit about me, which was unexpected.
Meeting with a politician wasn't something that would directly help my business.
I didn't know much about American politics and had no desire to get involved, but.
If it was a matter of helping children in need, I was more than willing to step up.
"I will donate to a charity fund for children."
"Really?"
"Yes. I went hungry many times as a child, so it doesn't feel like someone else's problem."
"You went hungry?"
At the governor's question, I briefly recounted my past.
A father addicted to gambling. Me, alone at home.
The story of going to school hungry because there was nothing to eat.
"I thought South Korea was a developed country now, but to think you went through a childhood like that."
"Ah."
Did I unintentionally disparage Korea?
I hoped he wouldn't generalize based on my specific experience.
In any case, after hearing my story, the governor, who seemed more moved than necessary, said.
"I would like you, Mr. Kim, to give the commencement speech at Stanford University next year."
"Pardon?"
"You are living proof that one can succeed by working hard, even if they start from poverty."
"..."
I really did live diligently.
Saving every penny, studying, working.
I lived a desperate life in my teens and twenties, but my current success came from hitting it big with Bitcoin, and then again with Ripple.
After that, I made a fortune with put options and am now on the path to success with Source Coin...
'Aren't I the very embodiment of the idea that life is more about one big score than hard work?'
Of course, if I hadn't worked hard, my current success might not have been possible.
I might not have been able to lend my father that 10 million won.
'No need to overthink it. Politicians are good at making empty promises.'
As the governor was leaving, he said again.
"I'll be sure to invite you."
"Yes. Thank you."
* * *
After meeting with the governor, I decided to donate 30 million dollars to a children's charity fund in California.
"Is that a bit much?"
"It does seem like a lot."
As I talked with Oh Myeong-woo, countless things I could do with 30 million dollars came to mind.
Acquire a small company, buy a magnificent mansion, or build a supercar collection.
It was an enormous amount when you considered it was enough to buy 100 top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz S-Class models.
"Hmm. Still, it's for a good cause, so let's do it."
"I'll follow your decision."
As part of my corporate activities, I wanted to contribute to society to some extent.
It was also necessary to cultivate a positive public image for the sake of Biolife's vaccine.
'Well, it's money going toward feeding kids.'
It was a large sum, which gave me pause, but I wouldn't say I regretted it.
I donated the 30 million dollars, splitting it among various local charities.
"Aren't you doing anything for Korea?"
It was Oh Myeong-woo's question.
In truth, the successful launch of Earth Resource's business, which started in the US, was thanks to Korea.
"To be fair, I'll donate to charities for children and single mothers in Korea too."
"Hmm. That's a given, but what about hosting a gaming tournament as well? You and our company have a lot of fans."
"I suppose that could work."
A service for the people enthusiastic about Source Coin wouldn't be a bad idea.
A gaming tournament would be great entertainment, especially for the younger demographic.
"Can I use the company budget?"
"Of course. We should spend where it counts."
I left all the arrangements for the gaming tournament, with its 3 billion won prize pool, to Oh Myeong-woo.
StarCraft, League of Legends, Battlegrounds.
He was to organize tournaments for the three popular games.