The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 13

13. Became a Villain of a Conglomerate Family – This is Wall Street 04 –

***

December 28th.

The last trading day of 1981.

Jung Hyun-woo toured the famous New York Stock Exchange. Though he didn’t realize it, figures who would become legends in the 21st century were present.

“Amazing.”

“It’s the best stock exchange in the world, after all.”

This was also Sarah’s first visit to the New York Stock Exchange.

‘It’s completely different from quiet Boston.’

She didn’t mind the noise.

“The corporate documents will be ready in a few days.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”

“Pardon?”

Sarah said, looking at the electronic ticker displaying stock prices.

“The short selling, I mean.”

“We haven’t even started yet.”

“Once you make up your mind, that’s when it begins.”

Jung Hyun-woo felt that Sarah was more reliable than a mid-sized investor.

‘It’s not just her background. She has a knack for this.’

The moment he looked away from the ticker, someone caught his eye.

“Sarah.”

Sarah turned to him and asked,

“What is it?”

“Isn’t that Robert over there?”

“Activision’s Robert?”

“Yes.”

Sarah’s gaze followed where Jung Hyun-woo was pointing. There stood Robert, one of the key executives at Activision.

“It really is Robert!”

Since they weren’t far apart, Robert recognized them as well.

“Sarah!”

Robert approached them with a bright smile, flaunting his friendliness. This was his way of treating a top developer.

Jung Hyun-woo frowned at Robert’s sweaty smell.

‘The guy who tried to lowball me is being so friendly. Anyway, what’s Robert doing at the stock exchange?’

As he wondered, Robert asked them first.

“Sarah, Charlie, what brings you here?”

Sarah replied in a cheerful voice,

“We’re just touring.”

Robert nodded as if he expected it.

“A tour, I see.”

“Charlie is at an age where he’s learning a lot.”

“Hahaha, he hasn’t even entered university yet, has he?”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged.

“University is a long way off.”

Robert stopped laughing and said,

“With his skills, he could easily skip grades or get special admission.”

Sarah tilted her head at the mention of special admission.

“Pardon? Special admission?”

“American universities don’t miss out on talented students. Charlie is more than qualified.”

Jung Hyun-woo was a high school student taking a year off, but from the perspective of American engineering universities, he was a professional developer with outstanding technical skills.

In fact, in 1981, there were few professors with better development skills than him.

Robert continued,

“I’d be happy to write a letter of recommendation if you need one.”

A letter of recommendation from Activision, a leading American development company.

Jung Hyun-woo’s eyes widened.

‘I’m going to get into university with a recommendation from Activision?’

At first, he rejoiced.

But soon, he realized he shouldn’t.

‘Skipping grades is one thing, but if I get into university with a recommendation, the Jung family will think it’s strange.’

He had yet to meet the Jung family members.

‘Besides, all of this is a secret from Secretary Choi.’

Choi Kyung-min still didn’t know about Zero Space, Activision, or Victoria.

“That would be great.”

Sarah didn’t think Jung Hyun-woo needed to waste time in high school.

However, Jung Hyun-woo shook his head.

“I took a year off because I was sick. I want to spend a little more time in high school.”

Robert made a surprised gesture at the mention of taking a year off due to illness.

“Oh! I didn’t know that.”

Sarah also nodded when Jung Hyun-woo said he wanted to spend more time in school.

“Of course, it’s good to enjoy high school life.”

After saying this, she asked Robert,

“What brings you here, Robert?”

Robert scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.

“Hahaha, well, Activision is going through the listing process [becoming a publicly traded company].”

Activision’s listing.

Jung Hyun-woo grabbed Sarah’s sleeve.

‘This is a good opportunity we can’t miss.’

Regardless of the Atari shock [a major video game industry crash], Activision would succeed in its IPO [Initial Public Offering – the first time a company offers shares to the public].

If Activision had failed to go public in the past, the Call of Duty he knew would not have been born.

“Really?”

As Jung Hyun-woo stepped forward, Robert raised both hands to his shoulders.

“Really.”

Sarah’s investment senses were also tingling.

“I’m disappointed. Why didn’t you tell us about such an important matter?”

Robert scratched his head again.

“I was planning to recruit investors after all the procedures were completed.”

Sarah grabbed his hands with both of hers.

“We want to invest too.”

“Sarah…”

Jung Hyun-woo was all for it.

“Let’s just write up the documents here.”

Robert was sweating at their aggressive words and actions.

“Not yet, not yet. It will take at least two months for all the basic procedures to be completed.”

Sarah still hadn’t let go of his hands.

“That’s perfect. Two months from now, the royalties from Zero Space will have come in.”

“Are you thinking of investing the royalties in Activision?”

“Of course.”

“Hahaha, I see.”

Robert now looked troubled.

“You’ll send us an invitation, right?”

“You mean to the investor briefing?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, I’ll send it to you. I’ll also contact you by phone.”

Only after receiving his confirmation did Sarah let go of his hands.

“We’ll be waiting for Robert’s call.”

Robert wiped the sweat from his forehead and said goodbye.

“I have a meeting now.”

“See you later, Robert.”

Sarah looked regretful, as if she were sending off a lover. After he left, Jung Hyun-woo asked,

“You’re going to invest, right?”

“Of course.”

“Do you trust Activision?”

“Regardless of whether Activision is good or bad, the game industry is overheated.”

After hearing Jung Hyun-woo’s words, Sarah did her own research on the game industry bubble. And she came to the conclusion that it was definitely overheated.

‘If they go public in such an overheated situation, it’s bound to be a hit.’

At least double, maybe even triple, was her calculation.

“How much are you going to put in?”

Sarah replied,

“All in.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s eyes widened at her words.

“All in?”

“You have to shoot when it’s time to shoot.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought. This level of all-in was not a gun, but a cannon or a nuclear missile.

‘Sarah is surprisingly bold.’

She was the woman who took a game made by a high school student and stormed Silicon Valley.

This level of boldness was nothing compared to that.

“Short selling is out of the question then.”

Sarah twirled her right index finger and said,

“Royalties don’t come in just once. We can short sell with the royalties that come in next month.”

She had no intention of giving up either Activision or short selling.

Jung Hyun-woo thought.

Wasn’t she a very greedy person?

***

December 31, 1981, 11:55 PM.

Jung Hyun-woo was standing in Times Square with Sarah.

“It’s almost time!”

Shouting Happy New Year in front of New York’s Times Square. Something he couldn’t even imagine in his past life.

‘I was too busy just trying to survive each day.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t earn money for 10 years after graduating from university, but there were too many places to spend it.

He had to pay off student loans and cover his mother’s hospital bills.

‘I couldn’t even move out of my one-room apartment until the end.’

Exciting performances by famous singers.

And congratulatory speeches by celebrities.

The United States was struggling to escape the recession caused by the oil shock [a period of economic hardship caused by a sudden increase in oil prices].

“Sarah, there are too many people!”

As Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice, Sarah retorted even louder.

“It’s Times Square!”

She seemed quite excited.

Jung Hyun-woo watched her with what is commonly called a fatherly smile.

‘Sarah is still young.’

Although he hadn’t reached forty, his soul had already lived thirty-six years.

‘It’s more exciting than a university festival.’

The host on the stage raised his voice.

“Everyone, the new year is approaching!”

Those gathered in Times Square hoped that inflation and recession would end with 1981.

Jung Hyun-woo also thought that 1981 had been a long year.

‘I spent half of it in solitary confinement.’

He didn’t want to go back to the solitary confinement at the Boston drug rehabilitation center.

‘It was really the worst.’

The next moment, Sarah grabbed Jung Hyun-woo’s hand and raised her voice.

“Charlie! It’s starting!”

The countdown to the new year.

People became one and raised their voices.

“10, 9, 8, 7…”

The final moment.

The voices of the people grew even louder.

“3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!”

With cheers, fireworks soared into the sky.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Colorful fireworks decorated the sky, signaling the start of 1982.

“Everyone! Happy New Year!”

January 1, 1982.

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t know exactly what would happen this year. But somewhere in his mind, he was being told that 1982 wouldn’t just pass by.

‘Could the Atari shock be happening this year?’

His mind was filled with thoughts of the Atari shock and 1982.

A soft sensation.

‘Huh?’

The source of the sensation was Sarah.

“Sarah?”

Sarah was hugging him with all her might.

“Charlie! Happy New Year!”

Jung Hyun-woo mechanically repeated after her.

“Happy New Year!”

This is how 1982 began.

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