Proof of Value. Part 2
For days, we ran ourselves ragged, gathering intel and rumors from Hong Kong and London, and now it was time to start the meeting.
“Deutsche Bank holds stocks and other securities totaling 2.3 trillion won.”
Given the current bullish market, this isn’t an unusually large amount. There are other institutions with similar holdings, though Deutsche Bank’s is slightly higher.
“The Hong Kong branch is suspicious of Deutsche Bank. They’re definitely planning something, but we don’t have any more details.”
So far, nothing out of the ordinary.
A foreign investment bank holding 2.3 trillion won in Korean stocks. That alone didn’t reveal what kind of gamble they were planning.
“Let’s think about this. If we were Deutsche Bank, how could we make a big profit with what we have now?”
Everyone just exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. I couldn’t blame them. If you’ve bought a lot of stocks, the easiest way to profit is for the stock prices to rise. Beyond that, no other ideas came to mind.
“Even if it’s a wild idea, let’s hear it. Considering the aggressive investment style of Westerners, it might be something completely unexpected. These are the people who turn weather forecasts into securities for gambling, after all.”
I tried to encourage free thinking, but these were Sunyang men. They excel at extracting maximum profit with minimal risk, but high-risk, high-return strategies were not their forte.
High-risk, high-return is for the owner, not the employees.
“If they’re willing to take on risk for high returns, futures or derivatives would be ideal, wouldn’t they? But that’s not the case here.”
Stocks are speculation disguised as investment. While they have a gambling aspect, they don’t yield the massive returns of derivatives or futures.
I wondered if we were missing something entirely unexpected.
Deutsche Bank was definitely planning a big move in our stock market. We needed to focus on that, but I suddenly realized we might be groping in the dark with their stock holdings.
“Exactly.”
“What?”
The executive who had spoken looked puzzled, not understanding my point.
“To make a big hit, it’s futures or derivatives. The stock market isn’t just about stocks.”
A few people seemed to catch on, letting out short exclamations.
“But sir, our market doesn’t have products worth such a gamble. Deutsche Bank would be aiming for at least hundreds of billions in profit. It would take something like the IMF crisis, 9/11, or the U.S. financial collapse to shake the market.”
The executive tilted his head, speaking the truth.
“Wouldn’t they make a fortune if the market crashes instead of skyrockets?”
“What?”
“In most gambling, the big wins come from betting on a crash. So, is there a chance our stock market could crash?”
Greece was unstable, but its impact on us was minimal. A European crisis was looming, but it wouldn’t turn into a major storm.
In fact, the Korean stock market was steadily rising. We were even hoping to break the 2,000 mark on the KOSPI index next year.
“That’s it!”
I slammed the table, shouting without realizing it.
I didn’t care that all eyes were on me.
“This is urgent. It doesn’t matter if it’s Deutsche Bank or anyone else. Whether it’s futures or derivatives, find the institutions betting on a market crash. Start with the ones making outrageous bets. Hurry!”
I had a vague picture of their plan. The key was knowing when they would place their bet. Without the exact date, even knowing the plan wouldn’t help us stop it.
The bet would be over in a flash.
November 11th.
What on earth was going to happen that day? What event was Deutsche Bank so sure of that they invested in a market crash?
I pondered over the reports.
I had no memory of November 2010. The major event the newspapers were buzzing about was the G20 Summit on the 11th.
And then there was Pepero Day. That was it.
The government was busy promoting the rosy outlook of the G20.
They were even making absurd claims about the economic impact being 4.3 times that of the 2002 World Cup, talking about hundreds of trillions in ripple effects.
Even if it wasn’t hundreds of trillions, it was still a positive event. With world leaders gathering to discuss various issues, surely at least one problem would be resolved. At the very least, the stock market wouldn’t fall. Unless, of course, there was a bomb attack at the summit.
If there had been a bomb attack, I would remember it.
I tapped the desk, analyzing all the data.
Then, suddenly, Deutsche Bank’s scheme became clear.
“Those bastards… This is fraud!”
If Deutsche Bank dumped over 2 trillion won worth of stocks during the closing auction, other securities firms’ programs would follow suit, flooding the market with sell orders, causing the KOSPI index to plummet. It would happen in minutes, leaving no time to react.
It was a classic case of institutional market manipulation, and Deutsche Bank’s stock holdings were just a tool for the scam.
Knowing when and how they planned to execute the fraud meant we could avoid it. Or, I could discreetly join in and pocket hundreds of billions.
Or, I could stop their scheme entirely.
Choosing one of the three options didn’t require much thought.
Standing by as a third party while a major financial scandal unfolded would be as foolish as missing an opportunity.
Profiting from the scam wasn’t a bad idea, but the money from a KOSPI crash would be peanuts.
Naturally, I leaned towards the third option.
Stopping a monumental financial fraud shouldn’t start with a sense of justice. There had to be a more compelling reward.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
The reward I wanted was admittedly a bit cheesy.
Back in the meeting room, everyone was stunned.
It was hard to believe that a foreign investment bank would orchestrate such a bold scam, and it was absurd.
“Who would have thought a major investment bank like Deutsche Bank would resort to such an old-school tactic?”
The executives’ words reflected their disbelief.
“The most classic and typical scams are often the most effective.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Shall we stop their little game? We can prevent losses for our country’s individuals and institutions, and watch Deutsche Bank’s shocked faces. Heh.”
The person who turned the palest at my laughter was the president of Sunyang Securities.
Naturally, Sunyang Securities would have to play a key role in thwarting the scam, and it had to be done in a split second.
Just minutes before the market closed, maybe even one or two minutes. If we missed the timing and made a mistake, we’d pour in a massive amount of money only to watch Deutsche Bank laugh.
Looking at him, I said, “I’ll take charge of this. To prevent the crash, we’ll need to inject at least 2 trillion won. Mr. President, please assess our available funds. I’ll bring in the rest from Miracle.”
Hearing that I would take responsibility brought a flush of relief to the president’s face. Some executives caught the meaning behind a single word and looked surprised.
“Bring in.”
Not “borrow,” but “bring in.”
It was as if I had confirmed the rumors with my own words, so their expressions naturally changed.
Their surprise soon turned to joy. They realized the lifeline they had grabbed was an immensely wealthy benefactor. Whenever the company faced a crisis, I would step in as the savior, eliminating a major worry.
I must have a lot of money if I’m willing to step in as a savior to prevent the Korean stock market from shaking, even though it’s practically someone else’s business.
“Alright, let’s wrap up the meeting. We don’t have much time left, so keep a close eye on Deutsche Bank and Deutsche Securities’ movements.”
Usually, such meetings would end with tension, but the executives seemed oddly excited. It was as if they were watching the amusing antics of a wealthy owner who couldn’t contain his overflowing wealth.
After the meeting, I returned to my office to find a few people waiting. They were PI experts and PR team members.
Their eyes were filled with anticipation. They had been urging me to share a bit of my newlywed life, but I had refused, finding the idea too cringeworthy.
They were hoping I had changed my mind, but I couldn’t meet their expectations.
“With all the media buzz, you know what day the 11th is, right?”
“Yes, it’s the G20 Summit day, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. So on the 12th, all the media will be extensively covering the G20, right?”
“Of course. Are you involved in it somehow?”
“I’m not involved with the G20, but I am with November 11th.”
I briefly explained Deutsche Bank’s stock manipulation scheme to them.
Like most people, they looked as if they were hearing a foreign language.
“So, sir… In simple terms, Deutsche Bank? Those guys are going to manipulate the stock prices, and you’re going to stop them, right? Is that correct?”
“That’s right.”
They spoke with a more serious expression.
“If you stop the stock manipulation, it won’t happen, right? How can we prove it?”
They had already figured out what I wanted and were checking the materials needed for the task.
“There will be transaction records. Proving it won’t be a problem.”
“Great. Haha.”
They burst into bright laughter.
“But won’t it be difficult for your story to come out? The government is heavily promoting the G20, and your article would have to overshadow that.”
“Sir, media outlets prioritize their advertisers. You know that, right? No matter how powerful the government is, it can’t beat the advertisers.”
Damn it, I can practically hear the money slipping away again. How many more ads will we have to distribute?
“And the content is solid. Isn’t it a righteous act to detect and prevent the fraudulent schemes of foreign capital in advance?”
I should share something to brighten their expressions a bit.
“Deutsche Bank is going to pour in over 2 trillion, and I’ll be matching that amount to counter it. If we don’t stop this, about 30 trillion won in market value will vanish, and tens of thousands of individual investors will be left high and dry. How does that sound when you hear the actual numbers?”
I meant to lighten the mood, but they just look shocked. You’d think they’d be used to this by now.
“Still not used to numbers in the trillions, huh? They’re just numbers. You can’t touch them or spend them. But they sure do have a way of startling people, just like you’re experiencing now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It does feel like a mirage, just as you said. But… that’s what makes it all the more intriguing.”
“With figures like these, the media will definitely take notice, right?”
“Absolutely. Those are numbers worth drooling over.”
Seeing their satisfied expressions, I turned to the PR team.
“Leak to the press that we’re doubling the advertising budget for both Sunyang Financial Group and HW Group. That should have them swarming like moths to a flame.”
The PR team looked pleased too. It’s been a while since they had something big to boast about to the media.