The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 227

227. Leap (1)

Summer of 1986.

The air conditioners at Victoria Corporation were running at full capacity.

Despite this, Sarah fanned herself with her hand and said,

“No department is taking a proper vacation this year.”

Europe and the United States had similar ways of enjoying leisure, but there were differences in their perspectives.

Work and leisure.

If one had to come first, in Europe, it was naturally leisure. Of course, the United States didn’t prioritize work unconditionally like Japan. However, America was a place where work could be chosen over leisure when necessary.

Many Victoria Corporation employees were postponing their vacations to the fall this summer as well.

Ann was sitting next to Sarah.

“A department taking a proper vacation… would that be the AS division or the game division?”

Sarah took the documents she handed over.

“So, when are you going on vacation, Ann?”

When Ann went on vacation, Sarah, her predecessor, took over her work.

“In the fall.”

“Fall?”

“It’s busy this summer.”

Sarah shrugged.

“Hmm, it would be troublesome if both of you took vacations in the fall.”

“Are you taking a vacation in the fall too, Sarah?”

“I was planning to take a vacation during Thanksgiving week.”

Thanksgiving was a week off without having to use vacation days.

In other words, Sarah was practically saying she wouldn’t take a vacation.

“Sarah…”

“Once a few more projects are finished, I’ll have some free time.”

Free time after the projects are finished.

Ann had heard this many times.

‘When we were developing JP Services, they said we’d have free time once JP Services opened. But then American Services was waiting, and after that, City Services appeared.’

Victoria Corporation’s projects were endless. She knew that Jung Hyun-woo was behind many of these projects.

‘Are Charlie and Sarah both workaholics?’

If she had to pick one, Jung Hyun-woo was more of a workaholic.

‘Maybe Sarah is just trying to keep pace with Charlie.’

As long as Jung Hyun-woo didn’t stop working, Sarah wouldn’t stop either.

Ann thought for a moment and then said,

“I’ll take a vacation in mid-October.”

Taking a vacation in mid-October meant taking a long break until Thanksgiving.

“Taking a long vacation? Are you going to Europe or something?”

Ann shrugged.

“No.”

“Then?”

“I won’t be able to take a vacation in September.”

Sarah paused at her answer.

“Hmm, what’s happening in September?”

“Didn’t you know? Charlie is taking a vacation in September.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s September vacation.

This wasn’t really a proper vacation either.

It was just a visit to Korea because the Asian Games were being held in September.

“In short, the October vacation is a consideration for me.”

Ann smiled brightly and responded to Sarah.

“The CFO has to consider the COO [Chief Operating Officer].”

If she went on vacation during Jung Hyun-woo’s visit to Korea, Sarah’s workload would more than double, even triple. So she postponed her vacation to October instead of September.

“When is Robert going?”

Robert was a key member of Victoria Corporation along with Ann, Sarah, and Jung Hyun-woo.

Sarah shrugged and replied,

“Early September.”

“Ah! Robert is going before Charlie leaves.”

“I think so.”

Even vacations at Victoria Corporation revolved around Jung Hyun-woo.

Knock. Knock.

When someone knocked on the door, Sarah raised her voice.

“Come in.”

Click.

It was Jung Hyun-woo who opened the door and came inside.

“Ann’s here too?”

Ann raised her right hand slightly in greeting.

“I was reviewing last month’s data.”

Jung Hyun-woo asked her,

“How were the results last month?”

Sarah’s voice was slightly higher than Ann’s.

“Not bad. The Victoria Fund side is very good.”

“So, Charlie, what’s up?”

“I think I’ll be working late tonight.”

“Again?”

Jung Hyun-woo scratched his head and replied,

“Well… there have been complaints that the City Service update is late.”

City Service was often late with updates compared to JP Service or American Service.

Some suspected that JP Morgan or Bank of America were putting pressure on Victoria Corporation to keep City Bank, the third participant, in check.

However, the reason for the late updates to City Service wasn’t complicated; it was simply because it was third in line.

Of course, there was also the option of simultaneous progress. However, due to a shortage of development personnel, JP Service and American Service were always updated first.

“Charlie, I won’t allow you to sleep at the company without going home.”

Sarah was convinced that eating and sleeping at the company would ruin his health.

Jung Hyun-woo knew that there was some truth to her claim.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go home.”

He wanted to tell Sarah not to wait for him to leave work.

But Sarah had no intention of leaving work first.

“Charlie, finish by 10 o’clock and let’s go home together. Got it?”

When she said firmly, Jung Hyun-woo nodded with an awkward expression.

“Okay.”

“I’ll tell the security team too.”

Now, he couldn’t even leave or go to work comfortably.

Jung Hyun-woo sighed deeply inside.

‘Hoo… the security team, that’s troublesome.’

He thought that being rich or famous wasn’t all good.

‘It feels like I’ve lost my freedom.’

The freedom not to be noticed by anyone.

The freedom to move anywhere alone.

He had lost that freedom.

“Oh, right, Charlie.”

It was Ann who called out to Jung Hyun-woo.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Michael from Dell asked me to let you know that they are planning an IPO [Initial Public Offering].”

Dell Computer’s IPO.

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at her words.

“They’ve been saying they would do it for a while, so it looks like they really are.”

Sarah asked Ann,

“Is Dell going public this year?”

“I don’t know. He just said it was planned.”

Jung Hyun-woo answered Sarah’s question instead of Ann.

“Sarah, it won’t be this year.”

Sarah turned her gaze to him.

“Hmm, did you talk to Michael?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know?”

“I talked to him before going to Japan, and he said that he was focusing on expanding into Europe rather than going public this year.”

Dell Computer wanted to target the European market instead of settling in the United States.

‘Dell Computer’s IPO is after the European market expansion. It will start as early as 1988, or around 1990 at the latest.’

If Dell Computer went public on NASDAQ [National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations] and caused a sensation, the stock price of Victoria Corporation, Dell’s major shareholder, would also be affected.

‘Could Victoria Corporation’s stock price break through $50 thanks to Dell Computer?’

Since John Peer mentioned the $50 mark, Jung Hyun-woo had been thinking about $50 often in his head. He thought this was a bad habit.

But he couldn’t control his own mind.

‘Let’s not think about it. I shouldn’t think about it.’

He shook his head vigorously as he left Sarah’s office.

* * *

$42.4.

Victoria Corporation’s stock price was passing a historic point.

John Peer cheered, and Wall Street investors warned of a bubble, calling it an abnormal high.

“Victoria Corporation’s stock price is as hot as the summer weather.”

“It’s an unbelievable stock price.”

“You can say that again. A company that doesn’t make proper products has a market capitalization of $80 billion.”

The 1980s symbolized manufacturing more than IT [Information Technology]. Investors with classical values ​​could not accept Victoria Corporation’s high-altitude flight.

“What is Morgan Stanley’s reaction?”

“Not good. They lowered their target stock price to $31.”

“Hmm, does that mean it has to fall 30% from here?”

“Actually, I think that’s an exaggeration.”

“I agree. It’s not like IBM, which produces computers, but that price for just one program used on computers is ridiculous.”

Just as the two middle-aged traders were shaking their heads.

Damon Fuhrmann, who had been kicked out of the hedge fund Terra, visited Kyle Montana, the big head of Morgan Stanley.

“Oh! Damon, what brings you here?”

The two were acquaintances.

Damon Fuhrmann extended his hand in an unusually polite manner.

“I should have visited you sooner, but I’ve been too busy.”

Kyle Montana felt some sympathy for Damon Fuhrmann.

Was that why?

He shook Damon Fuhrmann’s hand with a bright face.

“Welcome.”

He shook his hand and thought.

‘Damon’s investment wasn’t wrong. If anything was wrong, it was that strange company.’

Like Damon Fuhrmann, he had shorted Victoria Corporation’s stock.

“Are you looking for a job?”

Chairman Kyle Montana was willing to accept Damon Fuhrmann if he bowed his head.

‘He’s a decent guy to have in the company as long as I don’t give him too much authority.’

It was when he was smiling inwardly.

“Mr. Montana, I’m not here for a job, but to propose a collaboration.”

Collaboration.

If he was going to discuss collaboration with Morgan Stanley, a giant on Wall Street, he must have had a background behind him.

“Damon, it looks like you’ve found a job.”

“It would be more accurate to say that I’ve found an alliance rather than a job.”

Chairman Kyle Montana narrowed his brows and asked.

“Your alliance?”

Damon Fuhrmann spread out his hands.

“Yes. Is that strange?”

“No. But I want to know who your alliance is.”

“Before that, aren’t you curious about what kind of collaboration I’m proposing?”

Chairman Kyle Montana stroked his chin and replied.

“I’m curious. But I can’t help but be more curious about your alliance.”

Damon Fuhrmann lowered his hands and said.

“The place that joined hands with me is Baring Brothers.”

Baring Brothers Bank.

It was a historic British bank with a history of over 200 years. In its heyday, it was on par with the Rothschild family, lending money to countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom and receiving interest on it.

However, the history of Baring Brothers Bank did not continue into the 21st century and ended in the 20th century. Along with the famous Nick Leeson incident.

“Baring Brothers joined hands with you?”

Damon Fuhrmann shrugged.

“Experts have the same eyes.”

Chairman Kyle Montana smiled and said.

“Same eyes. I want to hear your thoughts.”

Damon Fuhrmann nodded and talked about his business with Baring Brothers Bank.

Chairman Kyle Montana listened to his story and sighed briefly.

“The conclusion is that you’re going to attack Victoria Corporation once again.”

Damon Fuhrmann lightly gathered his hands and accepted his words.

“It’s a little different from an attack.”

He wasn’t going to short Victoria Corporation. However, if his business succeeded, Victoria Corporation would inevitably suffer a major blow.

“Different from an attack? If you succeed, Charlie Jung will go bankrupt.”

“Do you have any personal connections with Charlie Jung?”

Chairman Kyle Montana shook his head at Damon Fuhrmann’s question.

“How could I? I have no personal connections with that brat. But I’m worried about you.”

Damon Fuhrmann was already upset that Chairman Kyle Montana had not readily accepted his proposal. When he even said that he was worried, he narrowed his brows deeply.

“You’re worried about me? I’d like to hear the reason.”

Chairman Kyle Montana realized that Damon Fuhrmann’s words were barbed.

“Fuhrmann, don’t mistake the enemy for an ally.”

“I have never thought of Mr. Montana as an enemy. But it seems that you and I have different ideas.”

Chairman Kyle Montana took out a cigar from the box and said.

“What you’re trying to do is an act against the US government.”

Damon Fuhrmann’s plan was to short the yen and the mark [German currency before the Euro].

Shorting currencies, not stocks.

To do it properly, astronomical funds were needed. And in case of failure, astronomical losses could be incurred.

“Mr. Montana, how long will Germany and Japan listen to the United States? 1 year? 2 years? I don’t think it’s possible any longer.”

Soon, it would be the first anniversary of the Plaza Accord [agreement to depreciate the U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen and German mark].

“Hmm, you think Japan and Germany will break the agreement with the United States and take back the purse strings.”

“They’re not breaking the agreement. It’s just getting looser. Isn’t that the case with any agreement?”

Chairman Kyle Montana didn’t think Damon Fuhrmann’s argument was unfounded.

‘Japan and Germany are wearing the yoke of defeated nations, but they are not colonies of the United States.’

The two countries could change their policy stance at any time for their own benefit.

Of course, considerable determination was required to act against the interests of the United States.

“You’re saying that the exchange rate could flow in reverse in the second year.”

Damon Fuhrmann said with force in his voice.

“I think now is the peak.”

He thought it was impossible for the yen to rise any further.

‘It’s already exceeded 35% compared to last year.’

If it were to rise to 50%, Japanese products would be 50% more expensive than last year.

‘Who would buy a product that costs 1.5 times more?’

Of course, this was a purely arithmetic calculation. Distribution companies could reduce margins, or retailers and manufacturing companies could reduce their respective profits to minimize price increases.

“You’re saying that now is the peak, so let’s short it together…”

Chairman Kyle Montana had suffered considerable losses from shorting Victoria Corporation.

If he suffered losses again this time, the board of directors would not stand idly by.

“Mr. Montana, it’s time to make a decision.”

Damon Fuhrmann thought he had to bring in Chairman Kyle Montana at all costs.

‘The key to winning or losing the currency war is ultimately cash.’

Chairman Kyle Montana, who had been thinking deeply, opened his mouth.

“I’ll refuse.”

A shadow fell over Damon Fuhrmann’s face.

“Mr. Montana!”

Chairman Kyle Montana broke the end of the cigar and said.

“It’s not that your argument is wrong. The board of directors won’t accept it.”

It was a confession that his control had weakened.

“C, can that be possible?”

Chairman Kyle Montana smiled bitterly.

“Huhu, like you, I shorted that damn company.”

It was the story of suffering huge losses from shorting Victoria Corporation.

Damon Fuhrmann clenched both fists tightly.

“I understand. I’ll look into other options.”

Chairman Kyle Montana said to him as he stepped back.

“Go to Goldman Sachs. They might respond to your intentions.”

Goldman Sachs was still neutral.

Damon Fuhrmann bowed slightly at his advice.

“Thank you for the advice.”

Chairman Kyle Montana said to him as he stepped back.

“I wish you luck.”

Damon Fuhrmann stopped walking and accepted his words.

“Luck dwells on those who move themselves.”

“Is that so?”

“Please watch my future carefully.”

As soon as Damon Fuhrmann left Morgan Stanley, he went to Goldman Sachs.

However, Goldman Sachs did not meet him, and even an acquaintance he barely found there shook his head.

“Damon, Goldman Sachs won’t agree with your opinion.”

“Is it because of Charlie Jung?”

“What are you talking about? Goldman Sachs has nothing to do with Charlie Jung.”

“Then…”

The acquaintance narrowed his brows and said.

“You’re too focused on Charlie Jung. What you’re trying to do is wage war against the Reagan administration.”

He said that Germany or Japan would not dare to take a risk against the United States.

Damon Fuhrmann clenched his fist tightly and left Goldman Sachs.

“Cowards!”

Even though an opportunity that comes once in a hundred years had come, they were playing it safe.

‘That’s why they’ll be under someone else for the rest of their lives.’

He had no intention of earning pennies under someone else. If he was a man, he should open his own bank and shake the world.

“I won’t fall like this.”

A group of people came into his eyes as he frowned in front of Goldman Sachs.

“That’s…”

An Asian youth and a blonde beauty, and bodyguards following the two as if they were serving them.

“Charlie Jung!”

How could he forget that face?

His gaze was fixed on Jung Hyun-woo and Sarah.

“How dare you pollute Wall Street!”

Wall Street was a sanctuary for elites like him. He could never accept an Asian like Jung Hyun-woo.