The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 46

#046

When I opened my eyes, I felt a refreshing sensation I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

It had been a while since I’d woken up feeling so revitalized.

Cheon Jin-hyuk had a feeling that today would bring good fortune.

The weather was hot but sunny, and the commute to work faced hardly any traffic.

The employees’ expressions also seemed brighter than usual.

Above all, his father’s encouragement fortified him.

A profit five times greater than the previous 100 billion won.

Today, as fiery and scorching as the sun, was the perfect day to rake in a cool 500 billion won.

It was a morning where everything aligned perfectly.

Then, Cheon Jin-hyuk couldn’t believe what was unfolding before his eyes.

“What’s going on?”

“I, I don’t know.”

There was no time for anger. He had to stop it, and fast.

He focused intently on the screen, doing his utmost to halt the program trading.

“What’s the current loss?”

“One hundred billion won.”

It had happened in just five minutes.

Until now, he had invested heavily in security to safeguard against hacking.

Moreover, this operation was being overseen by a hacker of legendary repute.

However, he couldn’t detect any trace of the intrusion.

He couldn’t fathom why the program was executing in a manner divergent from the intended plan.

He couldn’t comprehend why the sell orders, which should have originated from BHC Securities, were instead emanating from Heaven Securities.

“Where are these attacks coming from? Track them down immediately!”

Cheon Jin-hyuk’s sharp voice reverberated through the room.

“Yes, sir!”

Only the frantic tapping of keyboards filled the air. No one could pinpoint the attack’s origin.

“Not yet?”

“It’s almost done!”

“You stupid bastards, is it that difficult to find?”

“Young Master, the thing is… the attack’s location is Heaven Securities.”

“What? Are you saying it’s an inside job?”

“Does that even make sense?”

The man scrutinized the monitor again and spoke urgently.

“That’s, it’s being executed from a computer within this very room.”

“Damn it, are you kidding me? Which computer is it?”

Cheon Jin-hyuk bellowed.

He noticed the hesitant gazes directed his way.

“It’s… Young Master’s computer.”

Cheon Jin-hyuk, paralyzed, stared at the screen with urgency.

He frantically typed on the keyboard to examine the files.

And he discovered malicious code actively running on his computer.

‘How could this happen? Who on earth? There were no traces. Harley Quinn?’

No.

Her victory last time was merely a fluke.

Harley Quinn, who had consistently been defeated by him, couldn’t have achieved such a flawless victory.

Cheon Jin-hyuk couldn’t conceive of who else it could be.

His fist, clenched with power, trembled.

He slammed the keyboard and yelled.

“Damn it, cut the server power immediately!”

“Ah, no! Then the securities program will freeze.”

“Never mind, turn it off!”

“That’s…”

“What? Are my words not clear enough?”

Cheon Ji-hyuk kicked his computer tower and shouted maniacally.

“It’s connected to an emergency power source, so it won’t shut down!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

Cheon Jin-hyuk screamed and grabbed his computer monitor, smashing it violently against the floor.

***

A spacious office situated in Jongno’s [a district in Seoul] forest of buildings lacked even a decent sofa.

The place, resembling a temporary office, contained only a few desks and monitors.

However, the faces of those guarding the place were etched with tension.

Legend Company’s two employees, Lee Byeong-seok and Cha Young-i, were intently focused on the monitor, despite the minimal setup.

“What’s the profit at the moment?”

President Yoon Jeong-hoon inquired casually from behind them.

“It’s 350 billion won.”

“You’re not going to stop there, are you? You have to aim for at least 1 trillion won, my esteemed president.”

Cha Young-mi asked with sparkling eyes.

“I’d like to do that too. I have to pay back at least 10 times… But that could jeopardize everything. Let’s eat moderately full. Nine times, call it.”

“Pfft, call.”

Cha Young-mi echoed with a cheerful laugh, but she smacked her lips as if disappointed.

Meanwhile, abnormal futures options contracts continued to be executed.

This place was receiving 95% of the orders pouring out of Heaven Securities.

Other companies were salivating, attempting to snatch up the scraps, but they couldn’t match this place’s speed, which was equipped with optical cables close to the exchange.

The first to see it is the first to profit.

A faster quote than others provided by the speed of the optical cable.

Automatic buying according to the computer program.

Legend Company was intercepting the flood of orders.

There were people called scalpers in the stock market.

People who set up in officetels [a building with residential and commercial units] near the Yeouido Stock Exchange [the main stock exchange in South Korea] and armed themselves with optical cables.

Those who placed orders and sold them before others, reaping substantial returns.

According to legend, there was even a person who made 70 million won a month with 300,000 won and 1.2 billion won six months later.

Jeong-hoon was employing the method he had encountered in the economic newspaper in his past life, replicating it precisely.

“520 billion won contracted.”

“Okay. I’m eager to see the faces of the Heaven Securities guys today when the futures options expire.”

“Me too. I’m curious. I wonder what the psycho hacker bastard’s expression will be like. President, I’m sorry, but can I tamper with the server a little bit?”

Cha Young-mi’s eyes gleamed.

Jeong-hoon had already discerned her intentions in her eyes.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Why? … President, please, I’ll do it gently.”

“Absolutely not.”

It was a moment demanding restraint.

“Tsk, I could completely wreck the server room if you just gave me the word.”

“Ahem, why are you trying to ruin what’s ours? We’re going to cherish it and pick it up.”

Cha Young-mi’s eyes widened at his words.

“You’re not just getting money from Heaven Securities?”

“Of course not. I already have a lot of money, what am I going to do with more money? I have to take over the company. I like money, but I also like companies. Hehehe.”

Jeong-hoon’s lips stretched into a wide grin.

“No, we have money to pay back. 100 billion.”

“Heaven Securities is behind that. They’re disguised as a hedge fund, but it’s obvious. We should just settle it. Then it’s 800 billion. I think we can buy Heaven Securities with 800 billion.”

“Was that your goal, President?”

“Of course. More than money, it’s the company. The human and material resources attached to the company, hehehe.”

Jeong-hoon, having repaid what he had suffered nine times over, surveyed the scene with a refreshed feeling.

Lee Byeong-seok, who was solely focused on the monitor with a tense expression, caught his eye.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“No. I was just wondering if we’re winning too easily.”

“It’s good to win and get revenge easily, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

Lee Byeong-seok stared at Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon recognized the anxiety in his eyes.

“Don’t worry. We’re going down the right path.”

“The right path? Is this the right thing to do?”

“Well? Right or wrong… I don’t know who sets the standard. What’s clear is that this is beneficial to everyone. You know about the stock price manipulations that Heaven Securities has been doing, right?”

“Yes, Young-mi and I have confirmed more than five of them.”

“There must be a reason why those guys aren’t even being investigated by the Financial Supervisory Service [South Korea’s financial regulator], right?”

“…Are you saying they have someone backing them up?”

“…”

Jeong-hoon didn’t respond to Lee Byeong-seok and simply offered a wry smile.

“President, this could cause problems later.”

“As I always say, I’ll take responsibility. That’s my role.”

Lee Byeong-seok was relieved by Yoon Jeong-hoon’s assurance that he would bear all responsibility, and Cha Young-mi also displayed a trusting expression.

“Okay, shall we wrap things up?”

Cha Young-mi and Lee Byeong-seok’s fingers began to move busily at Jeong-hoon’s command.

It was time to erase the traces.

You must always finish cleanly to avoid any future complications.

Cha Young-mi, after pressing the final enter key, exclaimed.

“Done.”

“Oh my.”

Eun-soo, who was lying face down on an empty desk in one corner of the office, woke up from Cha Young-mi’s loud voice.

Eun-soo, raising his disheveled face, gave her a habitual smile.

Jeong-hoon’s fist clenched tightly at the sight of Jeong Eun-soo’s natural charm.

‘Ugh, that guy just followed me for no reason.’

“Hey, you surprised me. Sis!”

Cha Young-mi’s face lit up at Eun-soo’s words.

She barely managed to restrain herself from shaking her shoulders at the sound of the word ‘sis,’ which she hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Hey, President, who is that friend? Is he a celebrity? How can he look like that?”

In contrast to her excited voice, Lee Byeong-seok, displaying an uncomfortable expression, frowned and glanced at Eun-soo.

“No. He’s an idiot. An idiot. A bum who follows me around without doing anything.”

“Huh? He doesn’t do anything? Then he can work here.”

“What work? He just comes here to sleep… Hey, stop sleeping. What do you do at night that you don’t sleep?”

“I’m so tired. I keep sparring with Uncle Hyun-soo. He keeps teaching me strange techniques too. I’m so tired I’m going to die.”

“Why is Uncle Hyun-soo doing that?”

“I don’t know, he says I have talent.”

“What talent?”

“I don’t know, he says I have the qualities of a secret agent, but I don’t know if I can do it looking this good.”

“Pfft, secret agent my ass.”

Jeong-hoon scoffed at Eun-soo’s words, but the term ‘secret agent’ bothered him.

And he was somewhat curious about the life of his personal secretary, Kwak Hyun-soo.

Eun-soo touched his hollow stomach and approached Jeong-hoon.

“Hey, I’m hungry, let’s go eat some cup ramen [instant noodles in a cup].”

“Hey, do you think this is a school?”

“Then order me some jajangmyeon [black bean noodles].”

“I’ll order it right away.”

Cha Young-mi, hearing Eun-soo’s words, picked up the phone and ordered Chinese food.

Jeong-hoon shook his head at her, and Lee Byeong-seok merely glared at her with a displeased expression.

***

The Heaven Group’s board of directors meeting commenced.

Cheon Sang-soo, with a rigid expression, was silently smoking a cigarette.

The sparkling crystal ashtray before him was already overflowing with cigarette butts.

“What’s the plan?”

“The options that Legend Company bought were executed through BHC Securities accounts. How about requesting BHC Securities to arrange a meeting with the person who bought these options?”

“If we meet, then what?”

“We need to seek their understanding and request a cancellation. It’s nine hundred billion won, Chairman.”

“What? Are you kidding me? I made a grand pronouncement in front of the reporters about fulfilling the contract, and now I’m going to go and beg them to withdraw because it’s a bad contract? Are you making a fool of me, you bastard!”

The sparkling ashtray hurtled towards his face. He hastily dodged it and simply bowed his head, offering no further comment.

“Jin-hyuk.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Is the loss nine hundred billion won?”

Cheon Jin-hyuk couldn’t bring himself to answer.

He merely tensed his entire body, bracing for the impending situation.

“You have to answer when your father asks.”

“Yes, Chairman. It’s nine hundred billion won.”

“That’s money that you can’t repay even if you sell the organs in your body.”

“…I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Hoo.”

Cheon Sang-soo emitted a long sigh.

“How much cash can we extract from the group right now?”

“About 700 billion won.”

“Then leave only 100 billion won and transfer all 600 billion won to Heaven Securities.”

“Chairman. Then the entire group may face a liquidity crisis. And there’s breach of trust…”

“You son of a bitch!”

Cheon Sang-soo’s thunderous voice shook the conference room with a resounding crash.

“Do you want your head cracked or do you want to be charged with breach of trust? Choose.”

“I’m sorry.”

Cheon Sang-soo, taking a deep breath and regaining control of his anger, slowly opened his eyes.

“Hoo, handle it that way. Now everyone get out.”

As everyone rose and departed the conference room, Cheon Sang-soo instructed Cheon Jin-hyuk to remain seated.

“You stay.”

“Yes.”

Cheon Jin-hyuk, answering curtly and sitting beside Cheon Sang-soo, was filled with dread.

“Nine hundred billion won is not the primary concern, Jin-hyuk. There are many things you’re unaware of. If we lose Heaven Securities, we lose everything. Our lives are at stake. We must protect it. If we fail, your father and you will perish. We’ll vanish without a trace, unnoticed by anyone. You have to succeed, son.”

Cheon Jin-hyuk was flustered.

“Father, what… what are you talking about?”

“You don’t need to know the specifics. If you want to save your father, and if you want to live, you have to restore Heaven Securities to its former state.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“And Yoon Jeong-hoon must be behind this. I felt truly uneasy that day… That bastard.”

Cheon Jin-hyuk couldn’t comprehend the reason for the fear etched on his father’s face.

Who on earth had instilled such fear in his father?

While he was lost in a question without an answer, Cheon Sang-soo, with a vacant expression, stood up.

He exited the conference room with faltering steps. Cheon Jin-hyuk, witnessing his father in such a state, bit his lip.

‘Yoon Jeong-hoon, you bastard.’

Hate, thicker than blood, flowed from his mouth.

***

“Jeong-hoon, how did you conceive of that idea?”

Im Cheol-soo’s expression, whom he had met after a long time, was brimming with curiosity.

“I still can’t believe it. How did our Legend manage to sign all those options contracts?”

“I simply repaid them in kind. How’s Heaven Securities faring?”

“There’s a widespread rumor that they’re teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.”

“Then they’ll soon be available on the market at a bargain price. We’ll acquire them cheaply.”

Im Cheol-soo wore a disappointed expression.

“Ahem, it appears that that plan has gone awry. Heaven Group has already bolstered them with 600 billion won. The stock price, which was plummeting, has rebounded.”

“Really? Hmm… Uncle, I think I’m exceptionally fortunate.”

“What do you mean?”

Im Cheol-soo asked in bewilderment at Jeong-hoon’s inscrutable reaction.

“No, why are you so elated when you can’t seize it?”

“Uncle, the opponent has amassed more funds. Then what do you do?”

“What? You’re implying they’ve secured the funds? You don’t mean…”

Im Cheol-soo’s pupils dilated.

“Hehehe… I have to fleece them again.”

Im Cheol-soo wore a skeptical expression after hearing Jeong-hoon’s words.

“The same tactic won’t be effective.”

“The same tactic is employed by amateurs. And aren’t Heaven Securities and BHC Securities both victims? Victims of unfair contracts resulting from hacking. Consequently, neither of them possesses ample funds at the moment.”

“That’s accurate. There’s a widespread rumor that BHC Securities is also in dire financial straits currently.”

“So I’m going to execute an unreasonable maneuver.”

“An unreasonable maneuver? What are you planning to do?”

Jeong-hoon stood up and gazed outside.

It’s September, following August.

It’s the end of summer, yet the heat wave persists.

However, Jeong-hoon knew that a cool breeze was intermingling with the heat.

It’s September.

“Uncle, purchase 5 billion won of Heaven Securities, 3 billion won of Dongseo Securities, and 2 billion won of Ilsong Securities, stock index put options [an option contract where the holder has the right to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a predetermined price before the option’s expiration date]. Expiring on Thursday, September 13th.”

Im Cheol-soo asked in surprise after hearing Jeong-hoon’s words.

“What? Suddenly that?”

Jeong-hoon nodded indifferently.

“Aren’t you going to lose 10 billion won?”

“Well, if I lose it, I lose it. I’m the grandson of the Cash King, so that’s merely pocket change.”