Chapter 11

 

Episode 11. Recruiting Talent (Part 1)

The year 1992 had arrived.

I had been focusing on my studies while living in the United States, and the operation of SAVE Investment Company was entrusted to Vice President Jeffrey and Team Leader Hwang.

The company had established itself in a stable position. With just a few hints from me, it had grown into an investment firm that could achieve profitability rates recognized by Wall Street. The $4 billion Jeffrey had invested on his own had seen a return of over 20%, yielding more than $4.8 billion in just ten months.

Of course, it couldn't compare to the profitability rates of the investments I led, which reached at least 1,000%. But such substantial gains didn't come easily, and I was satisfied with the steady growth of the company.

Now that the company was firmly rooted, I had some time to return to Korea.

"Young Master, you've arrived! The Chairman is waiting at the mansion."

"Why are you here personally? You could have asked the employees to handle this kind of task."

"Young Master, you've returned to Korea after a year and a half. It's only right for me to come in person."

Has it been that long already? From the Gulf War investments to recruiting talents including Jeffrey, and now the pound short-selling.

Several significant events had been addressed, and in no time, it was 1992.

"Dirrctor, you haven't changed a bit. You even look younger."

"Young Master has grown into an adult. You've gotten taller, and your features have become more pronounced."

"Technically, I'm still a minor. Let's discuss the rest in the car."

"I'll drive you to the mansion."

I rode in the car, personally driven by the Head of the Secretariat, to the mansion. Though only a year and a half had passed, the view of Korea from outside the window had changed considerably. It wasn't on par with how Seoul looked in my previous life, but now, Seoul could compete with any city in the world. 

While I was immersed in sightseeing, we had already arrived at the mansion. I gathered the presents for my grandfather from the trunk of the car and entered the mansion, where my grandfather was waiting for me.

"Looks like our puppy has arrived! Isn't American food agreeing with you? Your face seems to have slimmed down."

"It agreed with me a bit too well. I gained about 8 kilograms."

"You don't have an ounce of belly fat; what do you mean by 'gained'? Come on in. I've made a huge batch of your favorite beef short ribs."

Grandfather eagerly took my hand and led me to the dining table. He was clearly waiting for me to start eating, but instead of picking up a spoon, I took out a piece of paper from my pocket.

"What's that? Why don't you start with the meal?"

"It's something important. I want you to see it first. That way, I can eat my meal more comfortably."

Grandfather cautiously unfolded the piece of paper. It was filled with English text, but in his typical enthusiastic manner, he quickly grasped the content written on the paper.

"You got accepted! Into Harvard University, no less!"

"I actually wanted to get in last year. But there was more preparation involved than I anticipated, so it took a bit longer. I'm sorry for the delay."

"Delay? What do you mean by 'delay'? Your peers are heading to high school, but you're going to university already! 

"It's thank you that I got in."

"What did I do? It's all your efforts, Minjae."

Grandfather had managed to secure seven recommendation letters for me. He used every connection he had to collect recommendation letters from individuals who could help with my admission to Harvard.

In reality, the recommendations I could have obtained based on my abilities were more than enough, but I was truly grateful for my grandfather's heartfelt support.

"Thank you for waiting."

"Wait? You got accepted into Harvard's Economics Department, and I'm supposed to wait for a few years!"

Grandfather's voice was firm. Although he was approaching 80 years of age, he didn't look like a typical senior, thanks to his strict health management.

"I'm going to start eating now."

"Sure, take your time and eat a lot. Here! Let me heat the soup for you. Our grandson, who's attending Harvard, shouldn't be eating cold soup."

"Oh, if your grandson is coming, it's only natural to heat it. I haven't seen you smile like this in a long time, Chairman."

Grandfather couldn't contain his smiles. He even carefully removed fish bones and placed the morsel on my spoon, then handed me a glass of water.

It was this delicious meal that had kept me focused on my studies. I did study diligently to enter society as quickly as possible, but in some ways, it was also to make my grandfather happy.

After enjoying the delicious meal, just when I was about to engage in a heartfelt conversation with my grandfather, someone came to visit the mansion.

"Chairman, some guests have arrived. They're from the New People's Party."

"Oh, I told them not to come to the house. Well, let's bring them inside for now."

Politicians didn't want to advertise personal meetings with businessmen. It could lead to unnecessary gossip or not benefit them in any way.

Despite this, they came without even making an appointment? I was curious about what was happening, so I stood by my grandfather's side, waiting to welcome the guests.

"Chairman Kim, nice to meet you. It's been so difficult to meet you that I had to make an impolite visit."

"Why do you all come looking for me like this?"

"Is this young man next to you the famous chairman's grandson? I've heard stories that he inherited the chairman's talents."

"Well, he just got accepted into Harvard University."

"Oh my, this is indeed an auspicious occasion."

The visitor was Jun-gi Kang, a three-term member of parliament from the New People's Party. He was one of the prominent figures within the party, well-known for being straightforward and not someone to be trifled with.

Such a person was approaching my grandfather with such politeness? I pondered the reason carefully, and my past memories resurfaced. There was an event where the New People's Party wanted to nominate my grandfather as their presidential candidate. The 14th presidential election was now only ten months away.

I quietly entered my room as my grandfather entertained the guests. Then, I lay down on my bed, quickly running various scenarios in my head. However, no matter how many simulations I went through, there was not a single favorable outcome for my grandfather's political involvement.

As my head spun with too many thoughts, there was a knock on my door, and my grandfather entered my room.

"Have the guests already left?"

"They didn't have much to talk about. They're rather inconvenient people."

"Are they trying to nominate you for the upcoming election?"

"How did you find out about that?"

"Even in the United States, I kept up with news from Korea. Since there's no prominent candidate for the New People's Party, they must be considering you."

My grandfather's expression changed. The loving grandfather who looked at me had transformed into Kim Tae-jung, the chairman of Taewoo Group. (Tl note: Taejoon changed to Tae-jung.)

"Coming from a military regime, do you understand how difficult it was for Taewoo Group? Those people were a constant nuisance, even when I breathed. Do you think it'll be any different with the change of regime?"

"So, are you trying to become the president?"

"I haven't thought that far."

People's hearts are truly fickle. Objectively, my grandfather knows that he has a low chance of becoming president. However, the hard efforts of the New People's Party members and supporters can make one wonder.

"I'm still not in a position to inherit Taewoo Group."

"What do you mean?"

"If you become the president, you'll have to pass the company down to me, right? And if I inherit it, how will you handle the enormous inheritance tax? And if you become a presidential candidate, the media will scrutinize you thoroughly. How will you run a company without a speck of dust showing?"

I worked diligently to extinguish the sparks New People's Party ignited by questioning my grandfather's suitability for the presidency. My grandfather seemed to agree with my words as he nodded.

"Do you think I'm not cut out for the presidency, Minjae?"

"Of course not. If you, who have raised Taewoo Group to third place in the corporate hierarchy, were to become our country's president, you could certainly make it a better place. However, the presidency lasts only five years."

"You're right. It's only five years. I can't abandon Taewoo Group for such a short term."

"Think about the colossal taxes and inheritance taxes. Even investing half of that money into the next presidential candidate could bring you greater benefits."

My grandfather was a savvy businessman. For a businessperson, the most crucial thing is to maximize profits with minimal investment. When I delved into this, my grandfather's gaze changed once again.

He was no longer the person torn by his residual desires about becoming president, but the pragmatist who considered the cost-benefit ratio.

"Becoming president is nothing but an invitation for criticism. Supporting a presidential candidate, as you've suggested, could be several times more profitable. So, who do you think will be the next president?"

"Maybe YS or DJ?"

"The current chairman of Yeongro Group has already announced his candidacy and has a significant level of support. Why leave him out?"

"Because voters aren't foolish."

My grandfather gestured as if telling me to continue with my explanation.

"Running in the third-largest constituency in our country is considered difficult to win. With the support rate of the third-largest candidates, it will only reach the point of forming a ruling coalition in the legislature, and ultimately, the election winners will come from the two major parties."

"Minjae has a pretty sharp perspective on the world. So, who do you think has a higher chance of winning, YS or DJ?"

"I believe YS has a higher chance. However, we should also invest steadily in DJ. The presidential election will come around again in five years."

Knowing the historical fact, I confidently said that the person to succeed YS as president would be DJ.

"So, you're saying we should support both YS and DJ?"

"Or we shouldn't support either of them."

"Minjae seems to have had too much American water. A presidential word can make even the largest conglomerate in Korea stumble."

Supporting YS might lead to the fall of Taewoo Group when the foreign exchange crisis hits. I couldn't bring myself to say this to my grandfather, so I remained silent.

"... "

"Minjae, you'll understand what I mean when you run a company yourself. There are things that are unreasonable and unjust, but you can't help them."

"I'll grow Taewoo Group in a way that it won't collapse under any circumstances."

"Okay, I'll handle all the unpleasant things, so you can do that after you take over Taewoo Group."

"Grandfather, that's why I wanted to talk. I want to start laying the foundation from now on."

The reason I came to Korea was to bring up this subject. Boasting a Harvard acceptance certificate was a minor reason.

"A foundation, you say... What do you want to do?"

"I want to recruit and support Taewoo Group scholarship students."

"The group already supports many scholarship students."

"I know that very well. However, I believe that to ensure Taewoo Group doesn't crumble in the face of storms, we need more scholarship students and support than we currently have."

"I understand the meaning, but the cost of raising one scholarship student is higher than you think."

In the end, it came down to money.

My grandfather, who didn't want to spend a large sum on scholarship students who couldn't be immediately useful, said:

"Please just create the Taewoo Group Scholarship Foundation. I'll handle fundraising and operations. Running a scholarship foundation might also be a valuable experience for managing the company, don't you think?"

"Haha, you've grown old enough to understand the value of money. Experience how challenging it is to run an organization."

Chapter 10

 

Episode 10: Stellar Investment (Part 1)

If the foreign exchange crisis had been prevented, would Taewoo Group have survived? My answer is 'no.' While the foreign exchange crisis played a role as a trigger, Taewoo Group's mismanagement and excessive borrowing were like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Even if there had been no foreign exchange crisis, Taewoo Group would have faced its downfall. That's why I could approach the meeting with Stellar Investment with a somewhat relaxed mind.

"Hello. I'm Daniel, Director at Stellar Investment. It's an honor to have a meeting with SAVE, which is currently making waves on Wall Street."

"The honor is mine. Thank you for the excellent proposal from Stellar Investment. I'm Kim Minjae, overseeing investments at SAVE. Please feel free to call me Kim."

Daniel, the director from Stellar Investment, was well-connected in Wall Street and played a significant role at Stellar Investment. It was an opportunity to gauge how genuine Stellar Investment was in this meeting.

But I was somewhat disappointed. I had hoped to meet George or Jim, the core of Stellar Investment.

"Shall we start discussing business right away? Time is money for traders on Wall Street, isn't it?"

"Do you think so? I heard about Stellar Investment shorting the British pound a while ago. When I heard that an individual was fighting against a nation, I found myself inadvertently cheering."

"Be an ally fighting alongside, not just a cheerleader from the sidelines. This is an investment with no room for failure."

"When I reviewed the scenario, it does seem like a fight that the UK is destined to lose. But the key is how quickly you can raise the white flag. Considering the substantial amount of funds that need to be tied up, the opportunity cost doesn't disappear, does it?"

I engaged in a little tug-of-war. It was to show that we also knew enough and wanted to demonstrate that we were knowledgeable.

"The UK has already raised interest rates six times. At the latest, they'll be raising the white flag and leaving ERM within a year."

"By ERM, you mean the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, right? It's indeed a flawed system. Excessive government intervention has created those flaws."

"You're absolutely right. With that level of information, I guess there's no need to say that the success rate for shorting the British pound is 100%, is there?"

That's as far as the pretending goes.

We made it clear that we open our wallets based on the value of the investment, not just the name of Stellar Investment.

"So, shall we change the topic to how much we'll invest? Let's start with a modest 1 billion dollars."

"A billion dollars is hardly modest. It's quite a significant amount. But, I must say, I'm slightly disappointed. I heard about the profits of more than 10 billion dollars during the Gulf War."

10 billion dollars amounts to over 7.1 trillion won at today's exchange rate. While it's not a small sum by any means, from the perspective of hedge funds handling tens of trillions of dollars on Wall Street, it may not seem significant.

"Think of it as an earnest deposit. I'm thinking of investing up to 5 billion dollars."

"So, you mean there's a condition for the remaining 4 billion dollars."

"It's not a substantial condition. Just a 10-minute meeting with George. That's the entire condition."

"In that case, it's not a problem. Actually, George has been expecting it. If today's negotiations go well, Kim had a plan to secretly appear. I guess you beat him to the proposal."

I couldn't quite grasp how things were working, but suddenly, at the meeting venue, George, the head of Stellar Investment, appeared. He smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake.

"I'm George, operating Stellar Investment. Thank you for joining as an ally in the fight against the UK."

"I'm Kim from SAVE Investment. It's a war with a 100% chance of victory and generous spoils to claim. So, of course, we should join."

"There are still idiots who don't know this obvious fact, and they continue to fill Wall Street."

George, often referred to as the devil or a sinister puppeteer, didn't live up to his nicknames and came across as a friendly neighbor.

"I'm glad I'm not one of those idiots."

"But you wanted to see me first. May I know why?"

"I'd like to request not only to be an ally in this upcoming war but also the authority to form alliances in any future war. If it can be done, I promise to pour over 5 billion dollars into shorting the British pound."

In Wall Street, it's clear that survival isn't possible alone. You need to build alliances with various hedge funds, investment firms, and other allies to prevent attacks from the US government or other hedge funds.

"5 billion dollars is a very tempting offer. But when you say 'any future war,' where do you think the next one might be?"

"I expect that if the British pound plummets, there might be concerns about Italy's lira as well."

George's question prompted me to respond immediately.

Having researched his actions for nearly 20 years, my response was possible, and George was naturally very satisfied with my answer.

"It seems we share the same thoughts."

"Pound, lira, and not just them, but all of the currency markets in the UK are full of vulnerabilities."

"That's the same thought I have. Excellent. I promise to stand with SAVE Investment Company in all future wars."

Promises made in words alone hold no value. However, since such promises could not be documented, for now, forming an alliance with a verbal agreement was all there was.

Of course, there was a way to make it a true alliance, but it was a method that couldn't be used at the moment.

"Then if you send us the investment proposal, SAVE Investment Company will invest $5 billion accordingly."

"Unlike the old wolves of Wall Street who are cautious of getting hurt, you're quite fiery. They should step aside now."

George was not young, but he still had sharp teeth, and I would use those teeth.

"In that case, we'll send the proposal tomorrow. We'll also send some of our staff to assist."

"Prepare a fork and knife. I'll prepare a delicious dish called 'The UK' for you. You just need to devour it."

"Oh, and one more thing, can I make a personal request?"

"Whatever it is, just tell me. I'll do anything for an ally."

"Could you provide me with a letter of recommendation? It's a very personal request."

"Do you need it for a university by any chance?"

"Yes, I'll be applying for university this time."

"Well, in that case, I have to do it. I will write a recommendation letter both in my name and Jim's name. Jim used to be a university professor, so he should have quite a bit of influence."

"Thank you. Oh, and as for the investment amount, let's raise it from $5 billion to $6 billion."

"1 billion dollars for a few recommendation letters. Quite expensive recommendation letters, hahaha."

* * *

After the meeting, I headed to SAVE Investment Company. Jeffrey, the Vice President, and four securities experts were already waiting for me. Before I could even take a seat, Team Leader Hwang began discussing the main points.

"Have you decided to accept Stellar Investments' proposal?"

"I've decided to invest $6 billion in the pound short-selling."

"I understand there are flaws in the ERM system and short-selling the pound, but $6 billion seems excessive. It's an investment that will only yield profits if we fight against the UK and win, not to mention it's not a developing country."

Team Leader Hwang expressed his concerns, but he didn't strongly oppose. It was more like a word of caution out of concern for the company. He had great trust in me, given my previous successful investments.

"It will be settled by next year at the latest, even if it takes a long time. I've made this judgment with the remaining $4 billion. Jeffrey, the Vice President, what do you think?"

"$4 billion is still a bit excessive. We're currently focusing on IT company acquisitions and investments, and the planned capital injection until the second half of next year is less than $3 billion."

"Furthermore, this investment doesn't require much manpower. Stellar Investments has already prepared all the plans, so we just need to use their proposals as drafts and proceed with the investment."

As we continued the serious conversation, a staff member entered with documents.

"Here are the materials sent by Stellar Investments."

"They've already arrived? I thought it would take until tomorrow."

I handed the documents to Team Leader Hwang, who, along with Jeffrey, began going through the materials.

About 30 minutes later, Team Leader Hwang's lips began to curl upward.

"It seems there isn't much time left until the UK surrenders. Stellar Investments and Wall Street hedge funds have already pushed the British pound to the brink."

"We just need to make the final move in the last round. Now, do you understand why I invested $6 billion?"

"Is it really the final move? It's true that the pound is risky, but will the UK surrender? Even if they do, won't it take quite some time?"

Jeffrey voiced his concerns, but Team Leader Hwang had a confident expression. Team Leader Hwang possessed an S-tier analytical ability, and while Jeffrey had three types of S-tier job skills, in terms of analytical ability, Team Leader Hwang was a step ahead of him.

"The funds mobilized by Stellar Investments and hedge funds amount to over $110 billion. Adding our capital of $6 billion and using leverage, the UK will have no choice but to surrender. If they surrender late, it's certain that all British citizens will rise up."

"It's only natural that the British citizens will rise up if the pound is under attack, as they are the ones who will suffer the most."

I agreed with Team Leader Hwang and proceeded. Team Leader Hwang continued to explain point by point, highlighting sections in the documents with a fluorescent pen.

"They've been continuously raising interest rates. There might be several more rate hikes until early next year. However, such tactics are no different from peeing in one's pants. Ultimately, they will have to leave the ERM, and the pound will collapse."

"I'll follow the opinions of the Chairman and Team Leader Hwang for this investment. I will focus on other investments."

Jeffrey took a step back. He was more confident in the IT sector than in the troublesome pound.

"Then, Team Leader Hwang, organize a task force to carry out the pound short-selling. Establish a channel for communication with Stellar Investments."

"I'll work on establishing a dialogue channel with Stellar Investments as soon as possible and proceed with the plan."

By next year, I will be starting college. To graduate early, I needed to focus on my studies, and SAVE Investment Company had to operate efficiently with only Jeffrey as Vice President and Team Leader Hwang, who could take care of things on their own. Of course, significant investments and talent acquisition would require my involvement.

Chapter 9

 Episode 9: Jeffrey (Part 2)

"I have an internet business idea I've been conceiving. Would you like to take a look?"

"It's not difficult to take a look."

"I've only conceptualized it in my mind, so I don't have any organized materials. I'll write it down for you."

I retrieved a napkin from the desk and jotted down the words "Customers, Sellers, Products, Low Cost" in a circular shape.

"So, you mean attracting more sellers with good customer experiences and selling a wider variety of products at lower prices?"

"That's right! I knew Jeffrey would grasp it right away."

Of course, he had to.

A napkin with a circular diagram.

The idea was not mine but Jeffrey's – the driving force behind creating a company worth 200 trillion won.

The beginning of the giant corporation known as "Horizon."

An idea scribbled on a single napkin, and Jeffrey was the visionary founder behind this idea.

"It's a fantastic idea! It's not only essential for the upcoming internet era but also a creative idea."

"If you join our company, you can bring this innovative idea to life. If you wish, you can even start your own company, and we'll fully support your entrepreneurial efforts."

"For now, I want to focus on the project I'm currently working on. I can't decide to switch right away."

"I'll give you the napkin as a gift. Take it home, think it over thoroughly, and make a decision. Oh, and by the way, Meg joined our company too."

"...I'll think it over today and get back to you tomorrow."

His expression changed upon hearing the name Meg.

Meg, with that nickname, would later become Jeffrey's partner in the future.

That was one of the reasons I didn't just bring Jeffrey but also my employees with me.

Although the company created by Jeffrey's idea was "Horizon," the effort of Meg, who stood by his side, could never be underestimated.

It's still uncertain whether Jeffrey and Meg evolved into a romantic relationship, but it was likely that he recognized Meg's importance in his heart.

However, I felt a twinge of conscience.

After all, Mac and Jeffrey would eventually divorce amid a massive alimony dispute.

But that's an event 25 years in the future, so there's no need to worry about it now.

Jeffrey left the office holding the napkin.

He had said he would think it over for a day, but his decision came rather quickly. He returned to the company and announced his decision to switch careers before the end of the workday.

I had anticipated his return to the office and spent my time waiting, solving SAT practice questions.

"I don't know if it's the right thing for me, but I'll put my future on the line with SAVE."

"I'll make sure you won't regret it."

We shook hands firmly.

His hand exuded tremendous determination and fiery resolve.

"I need to submit my resignation at my current job and complete the handover process. I'll do it as quickly as possible and join your company."

"Take your time."

With his decision solidified, Jeffrey finally found some peace of mind. He sipped the coffee brought by Team Leader Hwang and observed the company's atmosphere. Then, he noticed the book on my desk.

"Why are you solving SAT questions? I've heard of people solving math problems as a hobby, but it's my first time seeing someone tackle SAT questions."

"Of course, I'm trying to get into college."

"Are you serious, sir?"

"Given my age, I think it's about time."

For a while, Jeffrey stared at my face intently. Then, he seemed to realize that I was indeed quite young.

"Haha, I see. Haha."

Jeffrey laughed awkwardly, his face stiff.

It seemed like he wanted to reconsider joining the company. But it was too late; the contract had already been signed.

* * *

A month had passed since Jeffrey joined the company. I not only gave him the title of Vice President at SAVE Investment Company but also delegated full authority within the company. It was a measure I took because I believed in him, and Jeffrey fully lived up to his potential.

I monitored how the company was changing daily, relying on reports from the four stockbrokers.

"Minjae-nim, Jeffrey is not a human being."

"He's not a human; he's a devil."

"A devil? No, we should call him a demon king."

"I'm starting to feel like working at Taewoo Securities was comfortable. He treats people like machine parts."

The four stockbrokers were exasperated, even though they were accustomed to South Korea's demanding work environment.

"So, you don't like Jeffrey's approach? Isn't the company running properly?"

"...That's not it. In fact, our profits have increased by at least 30% if we only look at investments Minjae-nim hasn't taken the lead on."

Team Leader Hwang sighed and explained.

While Jeffrey's approach was tough, the increased profits for the company made it hard to reject his methods.

Jeffrey possessed three types of S-level job skills. One of them was productivity. He had a remarkable ability to maximize productivity by managing employees effectively.

During his time leading Horizon, there were stories like these:

- "Why bother installing air conditioning in the factory when hospital bills are cheaper? If you need to urinate, you can do it in a bottle."

Working under someone like that, how challenging it must have been for the four stockbrokers and other employees.

Those with weaker hearts would quickly resign.

Even during Jeffrey's tenure at Horizon, it had the shortest average employee tenure among IT companies. If you could endure for one year, you received praise, and if you endured for ten years, you became a legend at Horizon.

Jeffrey was the person who wielded the whip better than anyone. However, relentless whipping alone would eventually lead to people leaving.

I didn't want to lose employees with A-level job skills that were difficult to find, so I decided to use a carrot approach.

"I will give a performance bonus of 20-30% for investments other than the ones I lead."

"Isn't that too much?"

"Well, other traders on Wall Street receive similar bonuses, so it's only fair to give them accordingly."

The average annual salary on Wall Street was roughly around 200 million won. However, bankers and traders received bonuses that could range from 50% to several times their annual salary.

The whip was in Jeffrey's hand, and the carrot was in mine. This was the way to retain talented individuals to the fullest.

"So, for the projects you lead, are you still going to provide a 1% bonus?"

"Of course. They are my ideas, after all. I'll also allocate a portion as an end-of-year bonus for Jeffrey, but I'll discuss the details of his performance bonus separately."

"If discussions about performance bonuses continue, it seems like more employees will be leaving their resignation letters."

"I hope no team leader has written one, right?"

"Oh, no, not at all."

No matter how many resignation letters were written, they would never be accepted. While other employees might not know this, a team leader with A-level job skills, especially, would never be allowed to leave.

* * *

On the last day of March, five private tutors, including the consultant, gathered in the living room to discuss my SAT performance.

"Your SAT scores in March were excellent, ranking in the top 2 percent."

"Thanks to the excellent teachers, it was possible."

In Korea, the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is taken only once a year. However, in the United States, the SAT exam can be taken up to seven times a year. But taking the SAT repeatedly without a plan doesn't necessarily help with college admissions. Some colleges accepted all SAT scores a student had taken, while others only considered the best ones.

"In terms of your test scores, you should be able to apply to top schools like Harvard and Stanford. But admission is not guaranteed."

"What's missing?"

"The most important thing for college admissions is SAT scores, but other factors such as extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations are also important."

This was what the most famous consultant in the United States had to say. Unlike Korea, the U.S. admissions process had separate criteria for each university.

"I'll handle extracurricular activities and essays on my own."

"If you receive assistance from the Taewoo Group, that part will be resolved."

The consultant seemed to be under a misunderstanding. While it was true that assistance from the Taewoo Group would be effective, the Taewoo Group was ultimately my grandfather's company, not mine.

Did I really need to seek help from an outside party?

I owned SAVE Investment Company, after all. Of course, I couldn't openly say that I was the head of SAVE, but using SAVE's systems, I could easily fulfill the requirements for extracurricular activities and essays.

"We just need to take care of the recommendation letter."

"Can we get help from the Taewoo Group for that as well? A recommendation letter from a well-connected person in the corporate world would be a big advantage."

"I'll look into it."

"I've handled many student clients so far, but this is the first time it's been so easy. You're achieving excellent test scores on your own, and I don't have to worry about the rest...and, well..."

The consultant seemed to hold back the rest of his words. Perhaps he was going to mention something about the generous compensation.

Days went by, and I continued to focus on my SAT studies while trying to find a suitable person to provide a recommendation letter. However, it was during this period that Jeffrey brought me some exciting news.

"Boss, Stellar Investments contacted us. They have a promising investment opportunity and proposed that we work together."

"Stellar Investments? Is it the hedge fund with George and Jim?"

"Yes, that's the one. A highly reputable hedge fund on Wall Street."

I'm familiar with Stellar Investment, of course. In my past life, I spent over ten years studying at Stellar Investment. It was one of the places that played a part in causing the collapse of the Taewoo Group during the Asian financial crisis.

Can an individual really win against a nation? The answer to that question was provided by Stellar Investment, which battled against nations and made money. Stellar Investment pushed Thailand, the starting point of the Asian financial crisis, to the brink, causing even South Korea to stumble and the Taewoo Group to crumble.

"Is the proposal you've made this time related to shorting the British pound?"

"Yes, that's correct. Stellar Investment has been attacking the British pound since last year, and many Wall Street hedge funds are supporting them."

The time to determine the direction of Stellar Investment had come. Until now, Stellar Investment had made profits through shorting defense industries or overvalued companies. However, starting with the shorting of the British pound, they must have realized that fighting against a nation could yield enormous profits.

"It seems that our SAVE Investment Company has made quite a name for itself if Stellar Investment is offering proposals to us."

"Stories about the substantial profits we made from the Gulf War are gradually spreading. And it's known that most of Wall Street's companies have received proposals from Stellar Investment."

"We have to fight against the UK, and it's disappointing to part with a single penny."

What should I do? Stellar Investment was the starting point for toppling the Taewoo Group. While part of me wished to stand on the opposite side, my desire for revenge was currently outweighed by the importance of money.

"Please arrange a meeting. If we express our intention to invest at least $5 billion, they should agree to meet with us, right?"

"I'll try to schedule a meeting within this week."

I can do whatever it takes to protect my group and family. Even if it means joining forces with the mastermind behind the financial crisis, I am prepared to shake hands and smile.