Chapter 97: The Beginning of Cryptocurrency Season 2
Chapter 97: The Beginning of Cryptocurrency Season 2
Nikola's stock price fell.
The next day, and the day after that.
- What's going on?
- Was Nikola really a scam?
- I don't know if it's a scam or not, but the Hindenburg Report's exposé seems to be real.
The communities of retail investors were buzzing with talk of Nikola.
- They said they were building a hydrogen ecosystem, but they haven't done anything. No technology, no factory.
- So, did Kim Shin... see through all of this?
- Of course. He's not called the God of Investing for nothing.
- You can get lucky once. But to hit the jackpot consecutively like that, you need incredible insight.
- Just trust him and invest. If we want to make money, we need to empty our minds.
And ten days later, Chairman Trevor Milton announced his resignation.
[ Nikola Board of Directors Announces CEO Trevor Milton's Resignation ]
[ Trevor Milton: "Nikola will remain in my blood." ]
- Even the CEO bailed.
- Kim Shin-god...
- Let's go all-in on Tesla too.
- Isn't it too late?
- If Kim Shin is holding Tesla, it's not too late. The moment he sells, we have to get out without looking back.
* * *
With the rapid launch of the K-Vaccine, the media projected it would prevent one million deaths.
In the United States alone, more than 300,000 people were able to continue their lives.
Moreover, with Nikola's downfall, the fervor of those who worshiped me in the retail investor communities grew even stronger.
"Sir. A delivery has arrived."
"Again today?"
"Yes. This time, three trucks came."
The mansion had been revealed to the media.
While many in the US sent letters of gratitude, Koreans went all out, sending packages via international express delivery.
- Thanks to you, I went all-in with my life savings, made a fortune, and bought a house. Please enjoy this!
Starting with a variety of Korean snacks.
- This is kimchi my mother made. It's the most delicious kimchi I've ever had. I was going to eat it myself, but I'm sending it to you, Kim Shin.
There were also many people who sent kimchi or soybean paste.
I was even receiving more than ten boxes of the canned coffee I had bought on sale every day.
They sent air purifiers, pots, blankets, and even cat treats.
"The packaging for these snacks must have cost more than the snacks themselves."
"That's how you're supposed to enjoy Korean snacks."
At this rate, couldn't I open three or four convenience stores?
Sending letters to the children, watching the New York Stock Exchange.
Checking the production and delivery status of the COVID vaccine.
Even without going to an office, I had a lot to do, and when I wasn't filming, Jin Yoo-kyung would stick to me.
"Wow. I saw that Nikola chairman's interview, and he was so obnoxious. But then he just gets blown away in one shot."
"..."
I had to admit, it was satisfying.
"Earth Resource. I'd heard about it in Korea, but I didn't realize it was such a successful company here in Silicon Valley."
Earth Resource was indeed doing well.
It had become a unicorn company faster than any other in history, and its profitability was unparalleled.
Source Coin continued to spread, leading the coin ecosystem.
"The vaccine. You prepared it early on, just in case something like this happened, right? In the Joseon Dynasty, wasn't that like the 'Proposal to Raise 100,000 Troops'? If you had been born back then, the Imjin War might not have even happened, right?"
"..."
If I'd been born into poverty in the Joseon Dynasty like I was in this life, wouldn't I have lived my whole life as a slave?
"You saved hundreds of thousands of lives in America. Shouldn't they give you some kind of award? Like an honorary medal?"
"..."
In fact, the US Secretary of State had announced plans for an award ceremony at the White House.
It wasn't urgent, so the plan was to wait until the vaccine's effects were widespread and then present various awards, starting with one from the Secretary of Health.
Since I wasn't an American citizen, they mentioned honorary citizenship. And if I wanted, they could issue a citizenship certificate immediately.
'I'd forgotten.'
I hadn't met Jin Yoo-kyung that often.
We had mostly talked through text messages, and I'd sometimes started conversations with her when I missed Korea.
But now that she was staying at the mansion, she clung to me and chattered away whenever she got the chance.
"When are you going back to Korea?"
"Me? I don't have to go back."
"What?"
"My parents... well, you might have seen my father in the news. He's actually more open-minded than you'd think. He'd say it's fine for me to live in the US forever, as long as I'm happy."
"..."
"Are you already worried we won't be able to live together in America?"
That wasn't what I meant when I asked.
Jin Yoo-kyung was pretty, capable, and from a wealthy family, so her positive and cheerful side was a bit excessive.
"I want to have two sons and two daughters."
"..."
I don't think she was this intense before.
I could now fully understand why her secretary, Yang Hye-rin, was always sighing as she followed her around.
* * *
[ K-Vaccine Seizes Control of the Global Vaccine Market ]
[ EU Decides to Purchase an Additional 200 Million Doses of K-Vaccine: "Safe and Effective." ]
[ K-Vaccine: Second Dose Administered to British Grandmother ]
I felt pleased watching the vaccine news.
The K-Vaccine was saving people all over the world.
Even when I was secretly playing games in the mansion, worried about what others might think.
- President Yoo Seok-tae: Leons is going to start producing the K-Vaccine next year, right?
- Kim Shin: Does Leons have the production facilities?
- President Yoo Seok-tae: Of course. It's a cell culture method, so we have them. We did have to hurry to set up the large-scale facilities, though.
- President Yoo Seok-tae: Isung also agreed to help with production.
- Kim Shin: Isung?
It was a bit strange that a rival company would help produce the vaccine.
- President Yoo Seok-tae: From Isung's perspective, their own production capacity is limited anyway. Considering their relationship with you, it's better for Leons to produce it than for their rival, DK.
- Kim Shin: It's a kind of gift, then.
- President Yoo Seok-tae: They're in a position where they need to show you goodwill.
- President Yoo Seok-tae: Isung Biologics' revenue this year will probably be double last year's. And it's all thanks to you.
Leons decided to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine in the first half of next year.
Even if it didn't sell as well next year with other companies launching their own vaccines, it wouldn't be a problem because the production cost was low.
'We'll break even after selling just 10 million doses.'
A huge amount of cash was accumulating at Biolife.
This year's vaccine sales had already concluded, and they were now taking orders for next year's supply.
- Seon Jae-yong: Do you have any plans for Biolife to make a full-scale entry into the pharmaceutical production sector?
- Seon Jae-yong: If so, Isung would like to form a technical partnership. We have the world's largest biopharmaceutical production plant, and we pride ourselves on our outstanding manufacturing process technology.
The proposal came from the Isung Group level, but I had no desire to handle production myself.
- Kim Shin: Leons is a company I invested in due to a past connection. I've left its management entirely to President Yoo Seok-tae.
- Kim Shin: Rather than producing pharmaceuticals directly, I want Biolife to focus on research and development.
I decided that the vast amount of cash piling up at Biolife would be used generously not for expanding production plants, but for developing COVID treatments and new drugs.
* * *
- Na Sang-guk: Team Leader. I hope you're doing well in this sweltering heat. I miss you. ㅠㅠ
- Na Sang-guk: You're doing well, right?
An Myeong-guk looked at his phone and saw the accumulated text messages from Na Sang-guk.
"I have the notifications turned off so I don't even see them, but this guy sends one every single day."
His resignation from Arcor had happened quickly thanks to the COVID situation.
Negotiations with the Isung Group about the vaccine were necessary from the start, so it wasn't as if Arcor could hold him back.
The Isung Group's influence in Korea was...
Every time he went to the Isung Biologics headquarters, his heart pounded at the sight of the magnificent buildings and factories.
"Hello."
"Senior Managing Director An! You're here!"
The meeting room was filled with everyone from Isung Biologics' vice president to the department heads.
An Myeong-guk had come alone, but he confidently sat across from the executives.
"We need to discuss next year's vaccine production."
"Yes, Senior Managing Director."
"An implicit agreement has been reached between CEO Kim Shin and Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong for the purchase of 300 million doses in the first half of next year. It seems we'll have to negotiate the price and detailed conditions here today."
The agreement between the heads was made, but they still had to negotiate the minor details, including drafting the contract.
An Myeong-guk said with a smile.
"Let's keep it casual. Relax."
"Ah. Yes."
Kim Hee-jung, the Managing Director of the Global Sales Center, smiled, her dimples showing.
She had gotten quite friendly with Senior Managing Director An over coffee. She didn't think he was a difficult opponent, so her goal was to reach an agreement on terms similar to this year's.
An Myeong-guk said with a smile.
"Relax. Just relax."
* * *
- Senior Managing Director An: I've set the price for next year's vaccine supply from Isung at $2.50.
- Kim Shin: $2.50? You lowered the unit price by about 17%?
- Senior Managing Director An: Even at $2.00, Isung would make a sufficient profit. With their manufacturing technology and facility capacity, it's more than possible.
- Senior Managing Director An: However, there can't be any disruptions in vaccine production, and since a broad agreement was already in place, I chose to settle the contract amicably.
- Senior Managing Director An: I did include strict penalties for defects or delivery delays. Your credibility with other countries is on the line, after all.
They say the one who gets hit may forget, but the one who does the hitting never does.
I could get a rough idea of the kind of negotiations An Myeong-guk, who had lived his whole life in a subordinate position dealing with doctors, must have conducted.
'Well... I guess we can't be too generous.'
Isung Biologics' revenue and operating profit would be enormous.
Compared to how large corporations squeeze their subcontractors, isn't this rather mild?
- Kim Shin: From now on, you can use the research and development funds without separate reporting.
- Lee Ho-yeon: Yes. Thank you.
- Kim Shin: Use as much money as you need. And bring in plenty of talented researchers.
Until the beginning of this year, I had been running Biolife by putting in my own money.
But now that it was earning money on its own, I decided to invest those funds into various research and development projects.
Dr. Lee Ho-yeon went all-in on developing a treatment, saying that a vaccine might not be enough for COVID, while also improving the AI.
'Even if we blow through two billion dollars on R&D... I can easily afford it.'
My magnanimity had grown in many ways.
Personally, I had high hopes for Surin-i, the AI that had helped develop the COVID vaccine.
And it was around the time that vigilance against COVID had begun to decrease slightly as K-Vaccine inoculations were underway.
[ The Stirring Cryptocurrency Industry, Bitcoin Surpasses $13,000 ]
[ Bitcoin's Month, a 30% Rise in One Month ]
[ Bitcoin Hits Highest Price Since January 2018 ]
[ Financial Markets Stir Due to the Fed's Ultra-Low Interest Rate Policy ]
The cryptocurrency market, which had crashed spectacularly after January 2018.
This year, the Fed and the US government had been aggressively printing money.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were soaring due to concerns about the depreciation of currency value.
In truth, you could attach any reason to a coin's price increase.
The market was flooded with money, causing stocks and real estate to surge, and now that capital was flocking to the cryptocurrency market.