Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Yangtze View or Yangtze Water (1)
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“Uwaaaah! I can’t take this anymore! Suicide!”
“Life is either a Yangtze River view or the Yangtze River itself! And what am I? Hey, you bastard, obviously the latter!”
“This life is done for! All that’s left now is to become the protagonist of ‘I Was Reborn in Another World and My Stocks Skyrocketed Chaoticly!’”
Splash. With the sound of water spraying, countless investors—no, former investors—leaped into the Yangtze River.
Even as Chinese public security officers tried desperately to stop them, they didn’t hesitate to take their steps toward that other world brimming with dreams, hopes, and profits.
“Oh man, just stop it already! Look, any real man goes through a bad stock trade now and then…”
“You with your loose lips…! Try going bankrupt once yourself before you talk! You prick!”
The financial crisis that began with Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy was more than enough to transform the Shanghai financial district.
Like the flowing river. No, like flowing tears—accounts dyed a ghastly blue. And people sending their own bodies plummeting alongside the endless ten-day drop.
This wasn’t limited to just the small fry investors. Even the capitalist predators perched in Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers were suffering losses too massive to endure while staying sane.
“Utterly horrific. We won’t be able to make a move for a while.”
A report scrawled with red lines signifying losses.
He seemed a bit on edge. James Wang, director of Shanghai Capital, scowled deeply at the unbearable damage.
“The aftershocks of the financial crisis have far exceeded what I imagined. And then… there’s been noise from across the Yellow Sea to the east.”
James Wang sank deep into his chair. Resting his head on the headrest and gazing upward, his eyes fell on a wooden carving of the Northeast Asian map.
His arm rose limply. As he clenched his fist with what little strength remained, the map—carved across the entire ceiling—crumbled into his hand, only to slip through his fingers in an instant.
Like fine grains of sand on a white beach.
“Of course, what started as mere noise has now become untouchable. Isn’t that right, Yan Long?”
“…I apologize. It’s all my failing.”
Yan Long bowed at nearly a right angle, holding the posture. Tasting bitter blood between his gritted teeth, he spoke in a trembling voice.
“I offer my deepest apologies. I’ll take full responsibility for everything.”
“That’s overdoing it. In Korean won, it’s about 1.3 trillion. How do you plan to cover that with your salary?”
“That is…”
The derivatives that Ammunition Securities had sold to Cocoa for funding the Iraq seawater desalination plant.
A small snowball worth just 105 billion won, one that seemed utterly incapable of incurring losses.
But with the financial crisis, it had ballooned into a 1.3 trillion won avalanche, presenting its bill to Shanghai Capital—now the largest shareholder in Ammunition Securities.
“Isn’t it just like a pufferfish? We painstakingly removed the spines, only to find the belly stuffed with poison we can’t eat.”
Advanced defense technology and overseas resource development rights. The pufferfish had bared its plump flesh, yet it was now impossible to swallow.
He could tell from the acrid poison stinging the tip of his tongue. Force it down, and he’d fall into a coma from which he’d never recover.
“We can’t tolerate any more losses. Yan Long, pull out of Ammunition Group.”
“…I thought Ammunition Group was necessary for the goal our lord desires.”
The power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party over the next leadership. And Ammunition Group, fated to be a pawn in that grand singular purpose.
Knowing his master’s intentions well, Yan Long couldn’t easily accept this fate.
In that moment, James Wang’s hand landed on Yan Long’s shoulder. Though his face smiled, the grip was tense, as if silently screaming something.
“The winds from New York have made everything in Shanghai uncertain. From the economy to politics, all of it.”
“My lord…”
“For now, we must sheath our claws. Regrettably, we have to withdraw from Ammunition Group.”
Yan Long bowed his head again at his master’s words. Unable to stop his clenched fist from trembling, he vowed to himself.
Han Seo-jun. Someday, he would eliminate that thunderbolt from the small eastern nation that had ruined all their plans—with his own hands.
“I’ll minimize the losses. We may not achieve the ultimate goal, but at least… we won’t suffer investment losses.”
Yan Long, determined to do everything he could at the end.
As his face cooled to ice and he turned for the door, James Wang’s voice suddenly called from behind.
“Ah, Yan Long. Wait a moment.”
“What… is it?”
The master of Shanghai Capital, lost in deep thought.
Had he forgotten his subordinate was standing right there?
James Wang pondered silently for quite some time.
When he finally spoke, a smile tinged with amusement—and a strange cruelty—curved his lips.
“I’ll make the call myself.”
“Something like lowly staff can be handled on my end…”
“Ah, not that underling Kim Won-cheol. Connect me directly to Chairman Han Seo-jun. Since it’s come to this, I should at least offer congratulations.”
Yan Long, who prided himself as a confidant, couldn’t gauge his intentions this time. A massive question mark floated above his head.
Seeing this, James Wang continued, his long, scarred eye corner drooping as he spoke in a chilling tone.
“We’ll be crossing paths with that young friend Han Seo-jun in various ways from now on, after all.”
* * * *
Hotel Florence, where I’d always been nagged by the clan elders. It wasn’t a place with great memories, but I hadn’t realized it could be this lively.
The ceiling, raised across three full floors, featured a chandelier shaped like flower petals—fitting for ‘Florence’—greeting me.
Light reflected off a sculpture pieced together from thin ruby, sapphire, gold, and emerald fragments shone toward the VIP lounge.
A space cleared entirely today for the founding members of Cocoa.
“Seo-jun… no, Chairman, you’re here?”
With so many eyes around, Seo-hee noona kept up formalities with me. Once the crowd drifted away, she whispered in a small voice.
“It really happened just like you said, Seo-jun. I still can’t believe it. It feels like a dream.”
Her face flushed red. Her excitement was plain to see.
And rightly so. Her dream of becoming the next leader of a company run on advanced Anglo-American financial systems had come true.
Even if the gossipers said she’d devoured her father and two brothers to climb up.
“From now on, you can take charge of Cocoa’s financial operations. It’ll officially be integrated into Ammunition Group soon.”
“Including Ammunition Securities—all the financial affiliates, we’re wiping the slate clean?”
“We’ll inherit the staff employment-wise and boot the rest of the executives. Except for President Gu Seok-su—they all sided with Uncle.”
Seo-hee noona nodded.
She looked satisfied, as the aftermath matched what she’d expected.
Her face bloomed into a bright smile. But soon, like a sunflower wilting under dark clouds, her head drooped.
She opened her mouth cautiously.
“Then… what about Father? And Big Brother?”
“They have to take responsibility. For what they’ve done. You know it’s something they can’t avoid, right?”
Was it because I’d confirmed her blood kin would go to prison?
Surprised by my firmer-than-expected stance, Seo-hee noona lowered her head. Accompanied by the mournful strains of some unnamed string quartet.
I understood her feelings. But… once you draw a sword and swing it, it’s hard to sheath it again.
Having steeled myself, I took a step toward her and spoke.
“At least I won’t dig up their entire past and request targeted investigations from the authorities.”
“……”
“But I won’t cover up what’s already out in the open either. They’ll bear the responsibility for the results.”
“…That’s enough. Better a mechanical judgment than one mixed with messy emotions.”
As the music ended, I turned without looking back.
In the distance, the performers tuned their strings. The loose and overly taut ones quickly found their proper tension again, as if nothing had happened.
“We go by the rules. No personal feelings toward Uncle involved. Whether revenge or pity, none of it.”
A murmur to myself, as I downed a glass of champagne.
With clear eyes restored, I headed back to the center of the hall when someone with a shiny forehead caught my eye from afar.
It was Uncle Kim Won-cheol.
“Oh! There you are! Took me forever to find you. Heh heh heh… got some important business.”
“If it’s about hitting up that Yangpyeong fishing spot again, hold off for a bit. You’ve got a ton on your plate.”
“Hey now. Anyone overhearing might think I’m some deadbeat who does nothing but play all day.”
Uncle Kim Won-cheol, hands on hips, putting on a sulky kid act for no reason.
A deadbeat who just plays… nah, not quite. If anything, he’s been the busiest of us all.
“…Come to think of it, you do a ton of work. Image management really is key, huh.”
“Good you’re finally seeing it. Anyway, spare me a moment. A big shot wants to talk.”
“A big shot…? Who exactly?”
There weren’t many Uncle Kim Won-cheol would call a big shot.
Defense or Industry Ministry directors or vice-ministers got lumped as ‘that guy’ at best.
So the real big shots were few. I’d already spoken with the Prime Minister recently, and I’d see the President at the Blue House breakfast soon.
As if reading my mind, Uncle Kim Won-cheol grinned. The name from his lips was utterly unexpected—far from the category I’d imagined.
“The big boss of Shanghai Capital. James Wang, director. He’s dying to hear our chairman’s sweet voice.”