Chapter 24
Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Devilish Squeeze
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'As expected of the Devil Chancellor. Beyond my expectations.'
Do-hyun was better at painting the big picture than Cecil.
Cecil possessed tremendous skill in turning that vision into reality, crafting the minute strategies.
'I handle the grand plans, dealing with the details on the fly as they come.'
Of course, Cecil's approach wasn't flawless.
-Is this really possible, sir?
-You were the one who brought it up?
-I didn't actually think it was feasible when I suggested it! What if even a single thing goes off-script...?!
-It's fine. I'll handle it.
There was no such thing as a perfect plan in this world. Especially with Cecil's meticulous scheming, things were bound to veer off course during execution.
But Do-hyun had the ability to seize every unforeseen variable, twist it to his advantage, and maintain total control.
He'd found a partner who meshed perfectly with him.
"What's Babel Farms' stock price?"
"It dropped 12% after yesterday's talk show. It's down 27% from its peak now."
"Babel Farms short-selling status?"
"It surged 50% after your statement yesterday, Master."
Yesterday, after consoling the NHD victims, Do-hyun had dropped a few more bombshells.
📰 Breaking News
Genocider declares he'll crush Babel Farms in 2 weeks!
-Haha, you think that's doable? I'd bet my entire fortune that Genocider can pull it off. Not on some holy market, mind you—I'll short Babel Farms on the actual stock exchange.
He'd publicly declared a $1 billion short bet!
Where everyone could see it, no less.
"Directly shorting $1 billion ourselves wasn't feasible, so we got brokers on board. We're also running parallel plays with interest from IBS and OTC methods, plus buying up CDS..."
"Handle the tedious stuff yourself."
"Your wisdom, Master!! I shall obey!!"
Hmm.
Maybe a side effect of cramming Korean and culture in three days—she kept slipping in weird words here and there.
'Or does she just like that kind of thing...?'
Even when told not to, she'd slyly call him "Master." Suspicious taste.
Whatever. Having Cecil handle it all was convenient.
Doing this stuff personally would have been a nightmare.
"Next step is inducing a squeeze?"
"Yes. We need to pump Babel Farms' stock as high as possible."
Incomprehensible to the uninitiated.
If you bet short, you profited when the price tanked.
Conversely, if it rose? Massive losses.
'Not like we're just scraping a few bucks here.'
Crashing Babel Farms as-is would net a fortune, sure.
But it'd only be a few trillion more. Pocket change.
'The endgame is acquiring Babel Farms. Even at fire-sale prices, a few trillion won't cut it.'
Babel Farms' market cap hovered near $5 trillion.
$5 trillion. Not billion—trillion.
It dwarfed the pre-Cataclysm S&P 500 leader.
Not just Babel Farms; every AS100 company boasted absurd caps like that.
The economy had ballooned post-Cataclysm, and these trailblazers of the new era commanded such valuations.
'Even bankrupt, it'd take tens of trillions to acquire. And for rapid Hyper-NHD mass production, we'd need even more.'
That was the rationale for the squeeze.
"Once the squeeze hits, Wall Street sharks will swarm to devour you, Master. When the stock peaks and the longs are fully loaded..."
"We drop massive additional shorts and crush Babel Farms, stripping Wall Street bare too?"
The current shorts were mere bait to hook Wall Street's demons.
The real play came at the peak.
Several times the current volume in shorts, then topple Babel Farms.
"A scheme to make even devils weep! Truly magnificent, Master!"
"...You came up with it."
"I only planned the execution—the idea came from you! I could never conceive something so diabolical!"
"Who was it that got 500 years for financial fraud again?"
"Ah, uh."
'We've pulled this plenty in past rounds anyway. America's the best, though. Same hustle, bigger payouts.'
Money mattered.
Even after the apocalypse dawned.
The dollar might turn to confetti if America fell—but he had no intention of letting that happen this time.
"Anything else I need to focus on?"
"For the final bet, we'll need leverage. I should scout some moneybags. Mind if I line up candidates?"
Do-hyun nodded.
"Find them yourself."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days passed.
For America's retail stock traders, it felt like a rollercoaster ride.
💬 Comments
— Worshipper123
Worship Genocider!
— GOATFanatic
Genocider is the greatest GOAT!!
— RebelTrader
Don't short AS100? Genocider's greater than AS100!
Countless retail investors jumped on Do-hyun's short bandwagon, cheering wildly.
But days later, Babel Farms' stock began rebounding.
📰 Breaking News
Babel Farms recruiting major new S-Rank talent!
📰 Breaking News
Bolivia's worst S-Rank villain joins Babel Farms! Controversy erupts over villain hire.
📰 Breaking News
Colombia's S-Rank hunter joins Babel Farms! Past civilian killings spark outrage.
They'd scouted S-Ranks from other nations with their vast war chest!
Villains or near-villains, drawing fire—but they ignored the backlash.
— OfficialStatement
These are assets to America's interests. Past actions don't matter.
— AntiNHD
↳ Reply
Fuck!! Not America's interests—NHD cartel's profits!
— CarefulBuddy
↳ Reply
Hey, buddy. Watch your mouth unless you want a Babel Farms lawsuit.
— GenoFan
Bet my whole paycheck on shorting Babel Farms to support Genocider today.
-But isn't this risky? Two more hires makes five S-Ranks. Even Genocider might struggle.
📰 Breaking News
Hong Kong hero scouted by Babel Farms!
Black Sword Ethan Lau.
British-Hong Kong mixed heritage, hailed as Hong Kong's strongest hero. AAA-rated Lv. 7 S-Rank, but rumored to rival Lv. 8 Novas.
— Skeptic
This might be too much even for Genocider.
— NukeTheory
Word is Genocider blew a nuke in North Korea. Nuke could do it?
⤷ Surprisingly, Babel Farms has missile defenses.
Debates raged.
⭐ Top Comment
— AnalystPro
Why Genocider can't crush Babel Farms:
1. He's Lv. 7. Impressive feats, but no Soul Power. No upper Lv. 7 soloes that many S-Ranks without it.
2. HQ on Palos Island near LA for security. Fortress on an island, plus military-grade missile defenses. Rules out his terror MO.
⤷ Looks impossible to me.
⤷ Even vigilantes can't touch AS100.
⤷ Shorted following Genocider—am I ruined?
⤷ Don't lose faith!!
Soon, the [Genocider vs. Babel Farms] betting odds on the site tilted.
From even 50:50 to 30:70 favoring Babel Farms.
And that wasn't the end.
A decisive event sealed Babel Farms' apparent victory.
Whooosh! KABOOOM──!!!
A terrorist attack hit Do-hyun's West Hollywood home!
Right in front of him, as he returned from the talk show.
Do-hyun stood firm, watching his house blaze.
A middle-aged man approached.
"Mr. Kim? Pleasure. I'm Eric, CEO of Babel Farms."
The attack's mastermind approached brazenly!
Mocking him, almost.
"No long talk. I'll show mercy—join Babel Farms. Refuse, and next time it's not your house. It's your life."
Babel Farms' CEO smirked.
"Terms... sparing your life should suffice. Base pay $10 a day, zero incentives, staff position. Choose: pay for your crimes or accept. Oh, and you'll compensate separately for slandering our reputation."
The CEO contemptuously tossed contract papers in Do-hyun's face and vanished.
Click! Click!
Reporters and paparazzi swarmed Do-hyun.
The scene broadcast live nationwide.
📰 Breaking News
Genocider's humiliation!
📰 Breaking News
Genocider: Great hero or just a coward?
Headlines flooded media, and Babel Farms' battered stock skyrocketed.
📰 Breaking News
Babel Farms stock recovers all-time high!!
📰 Breaking News
Wall Street hedge funds go long on Babel Farms!!
And watching it all, cackling and clapping, was one figure.
"Honey, you're truly insane, aren't you?"
LA's Demon Queen Sara.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Everything unfolding was per Do-hyun and Cecil's plan.
Now, at the stock's inflated peak, time for massive additional shorts—then crush Babel Farms.
One prerequisite: a moneybags to lend the cash.
'My bait money's spent. Time for leverage.'
Lenders existed.
But their fees were exorbitant.
Obviously—if Do-hyun failed against Babel Farms, their money vanished.
Investors gambling on high-risk, assuming near-suicidal terms.
'Compared to the haul post-op, fees are trivial.'
Do-hyun shrugged it off, but Cecil objected.
She'd find the lowest fees.
Enter LA's Demon Queen Sara.
"Kekeke. Knew you were charming from the start, but this level of crazy? How about it? Sleep with me once, no fees. Not joining my crew—just bed. On the house."
Do-hyun smirked.
"Can't do that."
"Loyal to your girlfriend? I'm game for a threesome."
"Cecil's not my girlfriend. Like I said, not my type—physiologically impossible."
"Hmm?"
Sara looked baffled; Do-hyun clicked his tongue.
America's openness couldn't fathom Do-hyun's chastity(?).
"Fine, proper vetting then. Paying top dollar for a stud like you is wasteful, but business loans are different."
Sara's aura shifted.
Shrrrr...
They stood atop an LA downtown skyscraper.
A chilling, icy killing intent swept the rooftop.
"One minute. Survive without falling off. I'll deem you loan-worthy. Fail, and you spend a day with me."
Do-hyun chuckled.
"Deal."
"For real? You'll really sleep with me?"
"Counter: If you fall first in one minute, loan plus you become my dog?"
Sara's face iced over.
```