The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 17

Became a Villain of a Conglomerate Family – Episode 17 – Facing the Immense Wave 04 –

***

Zero Space 2! Grand Release on August 2nd!

Looking at the phrase on the downtown billboard, Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head.

“August 2nd, huh.”

The release timing of Zero Space 2 wasn’t as favorable as that of Zero Space.

Zero Space was released during the Christmas season, one of the best shopping seasons for games, while August 2nd was during the back-to-school season, the off-season for the gaming industry.

‘I should prepare for a decrease in sales.’

If there’s a time to laugh, there’s a time to cry.

If there are sunny days, there will be rainy days.

The law of mean reversion [the tendency for extreme values to return to the average over time].

‘Tsk, plus or minus zero.’

If there hadn’t been a two-month delay, they could have aimed for the summer vacation season.

But that seemed to be water under the bridge [something that cannot be undone].

‘Maybe Activision is trying to use Zero Space 2 as a substitute during the off-season.’

Releasing a killer software during the off-season could avoid a sharp drop in sales.

Of course, not many companies used this strategy. Releasing killer titles during peak seasons, rather than off-seasons, could lead to explosive profits.

Choi Kyung-min turned the car’s steering wheel and said,

“We’ll be arriving soon, young master.”

The reason he and Choi Kyung-min were in the downtown area today was for his high school reinstatement.

When Jung Hyun-woo didn’t respond, Choi Kyung-min asked,

“Are you alright, young master?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“I’m fine.”

Choi Kyung-min thought Jung Hyun-woo didn’t seem to be in a very good mood.

‘He’s been out of school for almost two years, so it’s understandable.’

However, Jung Hyun-woo’s mood wasn’t good because he didn’t like the release schedule for Zero Space 2.

“Bangazi School is a private school with high tuition, so there won’t be any bad kids.”

This was a common misconception among adults.

Upper-class children are polite and don’t bully others.

Absolutely not.

People are the same everywhere. Of course, there might be some differences in intensity.

But hoping for a school without bullying or violence was like hoping for an ideal workplace without superiors’ verbal abuse or playing favorites.

‘I should just quietly get my diploma.’

He had no intention of causing trouble in high school. If he caused trouble at school, his standing in the Daewoon Group would fall even further.

At the same time.

Serah received an unexpected call.

“Serah, is that strange rumor true?”

The caller was her father.

“What strange rumor are you talking about?”

“I heard you met Peter.”

A meeting with Peter Lynch, a star investor on Wall Street.

“I did.”

Serah didn’t think it was necessary to deny the meeting.

‘I did borrow the family name a bit, but it’s not that wrong.’

Her father said with a short sigh.

“Peter is not a good person.”

She tilted her head at her father’s words.

“What do you mean? You entrusted a significant portion of your assets to Peter, didn’t you?”

Her father let out a long sigh after a short one.

“Hah… He’s an excellent trader. But I mean he’s not a good man.”

Serah couldn’t help but laugh. Her father thought she had met Peter to date him.

“Dad, it’s not like that. Peter is much older than me.”

Her father paused at her words.

“Are you saying I misunderstood?”

“It’s not just a misunderstanding. I wasn’t the only one who met Peter.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

Her father quickly apologized.

Serah said in a clear voice.

“I don’t know where you heard the story, but I was just asking about the basics of investing.”

“The basics of investing?”

“I’m making some money too, you know.”

Her father’s voice hardened at her words that she was making money.

“If you had gone to Cornell, I would have given you plenty of living expenses and allowance.”

The Hilton family and Cornell University were quite close. Cornell University had the best hotel management school in the United States, and the Hilton Hotel Group spared no support for students and the university.

Therefore, if she applied to Cornell University, she could benefit in many ways.

But she chose Boston University, contrary to her parents’ wishes.

This meant that she would become independent without the help of the Hilton family.

“Dad, we’re done talking about that, aren’t we?”

“It’s not over.”

There’s always the possibility of transferring.

Her father was saying this.

In fact, many American college students transferred.

According to one study, only 60% of American college students graduated from the university they entered. This meant that the remaining 40% of students transferred to other universities and graduated.

“I don’t like Cornell.”

“Then there’s Yale or Harvard.”

To transfer to Yale and Harvard University, you needed outstanding research achievements or high grades.

But she didn’t have either of those. Especially her grades were average.

Of course, it should be taken into account that she was working with Jung Hyun-woo’s tutor and managing the Victoria Fund. Without those two things, she could have received slightly higher grades.

“Dad.”

“You’re everything to this father.”

Serah couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

‘If I’m everything to you, give me freedom.’

Her father asked her.

“Why didn’t you come home this summer vacation?”

“I was busy with part-time jobs.”

It wasn’t a lie. She spent the entire summer vacation opening an account for the Victoria Fund and shorting the Warner Group.

“In the end, was it because of money?”

“Ordinary college students in America do part-time jobs like me.”

In the case of men, they sometimes chose to serve in the U.S. military to earn scholarships and living expenses.

“You’ll definitely come this Thanksgiving, right?”

Her father decided to take a step back in front of his daughter.

“Okay. I’ll go this time.”

Thanksgiving was America’s biggest holiday.

“That’s a promise.”

Just as she was about to hang up, Serah asked.

“Can I bring a friend?”

Her father paused and asked back.

“Is it a boyfriend?”

“Of course not.”

“Then you’re welcome to bring anyone.”

The daughter-obsessed father didn’t seem ready to accept his daughter’s boyfriend yet.

***

“Are you really going to do it?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“We have to proceed with the investment as planned.”

Serah and he were about to make their second short sale. Currently, Warner Group’s stock price was recording $68. Compared to the beginning of the year, it had already risen significantly.

“Let’s take a deep breath.”

“You lack faith.”

“Short selling is like skydiving.”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders.

“This isn’t a securities company office.”

“As soon as we leave here, I’m going straight to the securities company.”

“$2 million, right?”

In the Victoria Fund’s account, Jung Hyun-woo’s investment money was steadily accumulating, leaving $5.6 million, excluding the $2 million invested in the previous short sale.

“According to the plan, it’s $2 million… You’re not going to invest more, are you?”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t answer immediately. This meant he could invest more.

“Charlie, let’s not go too fast. This is quite a stretch too.”

The original plan the two had discussed was to invest $2 million a year.

However, as Zero Space became a huge success and Activision’s IPO [Initial Public Offering] was delayed, the timing of the short sale was moved up.

Jung Hyun-woo stroked his chin and said.

“Delaying Activision’s IPO keeps giving me other ideas.”

“But we have to stick to the principles.”

“Isn’t it a revised principle?”

“I won’t stop you if Charlie wants to put in more, but I still think it’s good to stick to the principles.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded.

“Okay. Then please do $2 million.”

“Charlie, let’s go all-in on Warner this time.”

“Why Warner?”

Serah replied.

“I looked around a few game shops last weekend.”

“And?”

“I noticed that the Atari 2600 inventory had noticeably increased.”

The wave of recession didn’t arise suddenly. Before a recession came, noticeable changes such as increased inventory and sluggish demand occurred first.

“Game sales are doing well, but game consoles aren’t selling well?”

“Games aren’t necessarily selling well either.”

“Really?”

Jung Hyun-woo thought that there was no change in game cartridge sales because Zero Space’s sales were maintained. But in actual stores, unsold game cartridges were piling up.

Game companies, including Activision, blamed it on the back-to-school season, but Serah’s thoughts were different.

‘That’s a harbinger of recession.’

She put her hands together and said.

“I don’t know exactly when the bubble you mentioned will burst, but it’s clear that the game industry’s bubble is growing.”

“If you’ve confirmed that much, should we go all-in?”

“Charlie.”

“I’m just kidding. Let’s go according to plan.”

That afternoon.

Serah visited the securities company.

“I’m going to short the Warner Group again.”

The 담당 [in charge] employee covered his forehead with his hand.

“Miss Hilton, I know you’re the heiress of the Hilton family… But this is unbelievable. The company you’re trying to short is Warner Group.”

Serah was firm this time too.

“Even if it goes bankrupt, I’m the one doing it.”

The 담당 [in charge] employee accepted the documents she submitted as if he were issuing a ticket for an express train to hell.

“I won’t stop you anymore.”

“Please process it as is.”

On this day, the Victoria Fund’s short selling amount increased to $4 million.

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