Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 250

The Black Society’s hostile M&A [Mergers and Acquisitions] attempt on Rainbow Group garnered attention from economists worldwide. It became an opportunity for three mega-financial institutions to send a warning message to the powerful vested interest group, the Black Society, inevitably drawing attention. Thanks to this, LKS Broadcasting gained significant fame. As LKS Broadcasting was the only entity with detailed broadcast materials and information on this incident, major broadcasting companies and economists couldn’t help but focus on them.

Shortly after, the Rainbow Group’s merger proceeded. During the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, small and medium-sized securities firms in regions with little Black Society influence shrewdly sided with the three major banks, allowing the Ilsimhoe faction to win. Consequently, a mid-sized real estate company with a total capital of 100.3 billion Krang [imaginary currency], annual sales of 32 billion Krang, and net income of 4.12 billion Krang was established, and naturally, Gloria became the chairman. Although there was strong support from securities firms that sensed the changing tides, the biggest reason was that Ilsimhoe held 53.5% of the shares.

Here, a new wind swept through the financial world. Starting with LHN, Wilkins, and Unique Bank, a minor wave of personnel reductions began. This involved dismissing employees who sympathized with the Black Society, based on the list provided by Beomseok. Other financial companies also joined in, breaking away from the Black Society’s influence. They had no desire to keep employees who represented the interests of other organizations within their companies. However, the Black Society couldn’t express any opposition. They had no choice but to lie low, as they could potentially face the entire financial world.

One disappointing aspect was the lack of further escalation between the financial world and the Black Society. The Black Society was backing down, so there was no fight to be had, and the financial world felt no need to push their valued clients further, as they had achieved their goals.

As expected, Beomseok couldn’t help but feel uneasy. If these two forces had become emotionally charged and fiercely clashed, the Black Society would have been finished. No matter who they were, they couldn’t avoid collapse if they faced the financial world while also battling an economic organization. Still, he was satisfied with having uprooted one of the major roots the Black Society had in the financial world. This also eliminated Unique Bank’s pressure on Rainbow Group.

“Wow. How much is all this?”

Beomseok’s eyes were filled with joy as he looked at the stock account in the chairman’s office. His Rainbow Group shares were approximately 10%, a hefty sum of over 5 billion Krang.

During the Black Society’s attack, Beomseok transferred 1.1 billion of the team’s funds to LHN Fund to buy Rainbow Group shares. A significant portion of the 20% of shares Aula sold to the Black Society could be said to be his money.

Additionally, he used the money earned from LKS Broadcasting’s listing to personally purchase Rainbow Group shares. And when Lexter pretended to betray, he also joined in, selling and making a significant profit. In fact, half of the 3% of shares Lexter sold belonged to Beomseok. This was the same for Gloria. When Natalie handed over her stake to the Black Society, she also handed over 1.5%, leaving a large profit.

“But I can’t sell these shares. Sigh~”

He had many enemies. Not only the Black Society, led by Lucas, but also Julian was a major cause for concern. He hadn’t been seen lately, which made him even more anxious. He was sharpening his knife, ready to attack again at any moment. That’s why he was still worried about Rainbow Group, which had been attacked twice by external forces.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I have no other income.”

The God Knights sold a total of 36,000 season tickets during the past period, generating approximately 151 million Krang in revenue. This was due to the lesson learned from last year when fans in the Lima City area couldn’t purchase season tickets due to Amelie’s matches, as well as the team’s rising reputation. In addition, the sale of team emblem products also generated a decent income, earning an additional 23 million Krang. Other sponsors were included, adding another 9.8 million Krang.

However, with income comes expenses. The salary budget was set at 19 million Krang, gladiator dignity maintenance and miscellaneous expenses at 7 million Krang, staff salaries and welfare expenses at 21.9 million Krang, event expenses at 15 million Krang, and stadium rental and miscellaneous expenses were allocated 26.5 million Krang. So, Beomseok’s available cash was only 98 million Krang, and after subtracting the 100 million Krang debt, it was -1.9 million Krang. Anyway, this life of being strapped for cash hasn’t changed from the past to the present.

Still, one hope remains: the GA Cup and the League Cup. Currently, the God Knights were leading the league with 9 wins and 2 draws in 11 matches. Beomseok had been somewhat neglecting the matches due to his focus on the Rainbow Group matter, but the gladiators performed so well that they were able to achieve today’s results. Thanks to this, he was able to focus on the GA Cup and the League Cup, and they had advanced to the 9th match in the GA Cup and the 2nd match in the League Cup. Therefore, the God Knights had reserved 28 million Krang in prize money from the tournaments.

“Okay. Shall we go out now?”

Beomseok got up from his seat and left the chairman’s office. Lunchtime was ending, so he had to go to the training ground. Now that the Rainbow Group matter was resolved, it was time to focus on the league matches. Although the quality of the Deloy Wide League had declined due to the Chaplin Whisper Team and Sea Mobidicks moving up to the upper league, strong teams still existed. In particular, the Orion Pets and Black Cats teams were closely following with a one-point difference, so no one knew when the rankings would change. He had to earn as many points as possible to maintain the current standings.

“Sigh~ How am I going to face those guys! Damn it.”

The hotel district of Senosaid. Julian was walking aimlessly. He was attending a meeting of the Young Entrepreneurs Association held at the Neverland Hotel. In the past, he would have straightened his back and happily attended, but today was different. He had been deprived of all the money and cards he had from his father, as well as the luxury flying car he used to drive. It was all thanks to the speculative game that took place at the Chaplin mansion last winter.

At the time, he borrowed a large number of gladiators from the Abraham faction under the pretext of LHN Financial Group joining the economic organization, but it was all in vain due to an absurd situation.

‘Aula, that bitch! I shouldn’t have trusted you. Ugh, you stupid idiot! Every time, I get used by that bitch and get backstabbed! You idiot!’

Aula’s betrayal was like a bolt from the blue for him. After winning the game, she declared defeat, citing his cheating as an excuse. Of course, he had definitely cheated. He had mobilized ultra-small satellites, which are considered advanced equipment, and even bribed the referees. But Aula should never have criticized him. She was deeply involved in what he had done.

‘Ah. But where did she get that data? I’m going crazy.’

Betrayed by Aula, Julian was furious and went to confront her severely. He even had the intention of dragging her down with him, since he was going to die anyway. However, all that came back with a threat was the secret ledger of the Hyena Group. If that information was passed on to the Black Society’s prosecutors, not only his father but also most of the Hyena Group’s executives, including himself, would be behind bars. But if she kept nagging, she would take the ledger to the prosecution and mention his name as the source. In other words, the moment he stabbed Aula in the side, he would die. Even if the prosecutors didn’t kill him, his father would beat him to death.

In the end, he surrendered and had no choice but to take all the blame. He was not even treated like a human being by his father due to the failure of LHN’s economic organization membership, and if the Hyena Group’s secret ledger case broke out, he would never have a chance to recover.

“Mr. Julian. Welcome.”

A male bellboy standing at the hotel’s main entrance hurriedly ran over and greeted him. He remembered Julian’s face because he often came. Moreover, if he just catered to his whims, he would throw him a decent tip, so Julian was known as a pushover in the bellboy world.

“Ah. Yeah.”

“But where is the flying car you came in?”

Julian’s face turned red. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he came by bus.

“Um. It’s in the parking lot next to that building. I didn’t want to take it out, so I walked.”

“Ah. Is that so? Then please follow me. I will escort you to the banquet hall where the meeting is being held.”

“Th, thank you.”

Julian, who arrived at the grand banquet hall on the 7th floor with the bellboy’s guidance, clearly showed that he didn’t want to go inside. He was terrified at the thought of seeing his friends. Recently, he had been treated like a fool among the members of the Young Entrepreneurs Association. How pathetic must he be to get beaten up by a guy named Beomseok, who wasn’t even worth mentioning.

But he plucked up his courage and entered the banquet hall. He didn’t like it, but it was better than staying in this position. The bellboy who had guided him was still lingering by his side, wanting a tip. If he gave him a generous tip as he had in the past, his living expenses for a month would be gone.

‘Damn it! How did I, Julian, end up like this!’

But even though he entered the banquet hall, the bellboy continued to follow him. He tried to ignore him, but he couldn’t help but notice that he was guiding him to the best seat with the best view and showering him with flattery. It was driving him crazy, so he boldly took out a 5,000 Krang check from his pocket. It was close to half a month’s living expenses, but he couldn’t tarnish the name of Julian over a tip issue.

“Um. I forgot. Here, take it.”

The bellboy’s expression stiffened as he received the check. It was only half of the tip he used to receive. Of course, it was a lot for a tip, but he couldn’t help but be disappointed because it didn’t meet his expectations.

Still, he had to express his gratitude for the next time since he had already received it.

“Thank you. Have a good time.”

“Yeah. Good work.”

Julian stared blankly at the bellboy leaving. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the sight of half a month’s living expenses leaving. But he was Julian. He should never show weakness.

At that time, a red-haired man approached him from behind.

“Oh. Who is this? Isn’t it our Julian? But what brings you here?”

It was a voice full of mockery. Julian glared sharply at the red-haired man. His name was Piler. He was the successor of Vermilion, a famous chemical product processing company, and the one who had recently ousted Julian and became the chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Association.

“What? Piler! Are you picking a fight!”

“What fight? I just came to say hello. How have you been? I haven’t seen your face for a while.”

Julian looked embarrassed. He was currently working as a server at his father’s friend’s restaurant. Of course, he didn’t want to reveal it to Piler. He was his competitor in the Young Entrepreneurs Association.

“I was staying at home. Why?”

“Oh? Really. I thought you were serving in a restaurant in some rural town. Sorry.”

Then some of the members who followed him were chuckling. They must have been digging into his background and knew about it. Julian glared at the blonde man with particularly white teeth. His name was Yancheko, and he used to follow him around and flatter him until recently. Before he knew it, he had become Piler’s lackey. But there was nothing he could do. He was now abandoned by his father and had fallen to the lowest of the low.

Julian clenched his teeth and sat down. He was going to eat quickly and get out of here. It didn’t seem like a place for him to stay.

“I’m not in a good mood today, so just go.”

“Hehehe. When have you ever been in a good mood? You just got beaten up by a guy named Beomseok and just got angry.”

Julian, who was holding the table tightly with both hands, confidently glared at Piler. The reason he was able to come to this place today was because of Beomseok. He was a guy he didn’t even want to see, but he had saved his face by smashing the Black Society a while ago. Because he was a guy that even the great Black Society couldn’t handle, he could make the excuse that he could be defeated.

“So? Have you guys fought with a guy named Beomseok? If you haven’t fought, shut up and keep your mouth shut. I was the one who fought him to that extent. If you guys had stepped in, you would have been chewed like gum.”

Piler, with a grateful expression, replied slyly.

“Yeah. Beomseok was great this time. The Black Society just stuck out its front paws and had all its nose hairs pulled out. But in reality, the more amazing thing is Julian, you.”

Julian raised his nose high and replied.

“Of course. I at least pushed him to the edge of the cliff.”

“Hehe. That’s not it. I’ve also done some research, and it turns out that you were the one who raised that seemingly ignorant guy. At first, you connected him with the Black Society to grow the team. Later, through the Chaplin villa incident, you even connected him with Chairman Balbar of LHN Financial Group and Vice Chairman Louis of the Federal Professional Gladiator Association. I can’t understand how to increase the power of the enemy. Please teach me how.”

Julian, whose face was flushed red, closed his mouth without saying anything. It was because he could interpret it that way. A black-haired beautiful woman approached him. It was Teresa, the secretary-general of the Young Entrepreneurs Association.

“Everyone, stop it. What are you doing now?”

“Ah. It’s just that Julian came after a long time, so we’re having a conversation.”

“Is this having a conversation?”

Julian looked at her with a bright expression. He really didn’t know that Teresa would help him. In the past, she had proposed to him to combine their genes and have a test-tube baby together. But Teresa was so nasty and cunning that she was considered almost on par with Aula, so he refused. She threatened that there would be a day when he would regret embarrassing her at the time, so he was constantly worried, but unexpectedly, she was now extending a helping hand. Julian was naturally grateful.

“Teresa, I’m okay, so it’s okay.”

“It’s okay, but I’m not okay. We should definitely ask for what we need to ask for.”

Teresa held out her palm towards Julian.

“Why the palm? Do you want me to hold your hand?”

Teresa smiled bitterly and said.

“What else? We’re asking for what we need to ask for. Pay your dues quickly. Julian, you’re already six months behind. I’ve cut it in half, considering your circumstances, so just pay 300,000 Krang. Surely the haughty Julian won’t say that he doesn’t even have that money, right?”

Julian trembled. He thought, what’s wrong with this woman, but it wasn’t. Teresa was just pretending to care in order to deliver a fatal blow. Julian, who was furious, took out all the money in his wallet and threw it in Teresa’s face.

“I knew you were going to do this! Damn it, live well!”

Julian hurriedly left the banquet hall after saying that. Behind him, Teresa was shouting that about 290,000 Krang was missing. He wanted to give it all and come out, but that was all the money Julian had.