A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 14

While Choi Seo-jun was staying in the US, the whole world was pouring out the name "Al-Jahad" in the news every day.

It was an armed group that took control of northern Iraq.

The regime was helpless, and the US began to review deploying troops again.

Mosul and Karbala.

And even the area of Kirkuk, where the oil transport pipeline was located.

News of combat was reported almost every day.

International oil prices fluctuated, and Middle Eastern capital felt uneasy, smuggling funds overseas.

Politics, economy, and the market were all shaken.

And Korea was no exception to that confusion.

The news anchor spoke with a somewhat heavy voice."Due to the worsening situation in the Middle East, the unit price of crude oil imports is soaring. A full-scale blow is expected, not only to the oil refining industry but also to aviation logistics."

Stock prices plummeted, and companies entered into austerity measures.

The uncertain international situation began to affect oil-related investments within the Taeseong Group as well.

Choi Seo-jun heard this news and contacted me, Lim Hyunjun.

-CEO, if the Al-Jahad situation is prolonged, there is a possibility that investment by private operators in Iraq itself will be prohibited.

I heard those words and checked my tablet without any sign of surprise.

"The possibility is probably high. More than that, CEO Choi, how is the situation in the US?"

After a moment of silence, the voice of CEO Choi Seo-jun heard over the phone was very bright.

-CEO, to be honest with you... oil-related derivatives are a huge hit thanks to this incident. Today'

s profit alone jumped by tens of percent.

After selling Universe Games and continuing to invest, my funds had increased enormously.

Choi Seo-jun continued his words, unable to hide his excitement.

-Aren'

t oil-related derivatives high-risk products? Because the oil price jumped, the rate of return exceeded 30%.

"In that case, since we invested 20 billion won and applied 20 times leverage, the total profit would be around 120 billion won."

My voice was indifferent.

As if that much was no big deal.

Choi Seo-jun stopped talking for a moment, then spoke awkwardly.

-Actually, I opposed it at first, but at that time, I thought this was gambling. I thought it was nonsensical to apply 20 times leverage and bet everything on a single oil price prediction. But looking at it now, you are truly amazing. How did you predict such a thing?

I, Lim Hyunjun, turned the tablet screen and spoke calmly.

"Hahaha. Shall I say it'

s because I'

ve been interested in the international situation lately?"

I made a bold investment because I knew the future, but how could I say that as it is?

I had no choice but to make an excuse this time too.

I only hoped that Choi Seo-jun wouldn'

t pry further.

-As expected of you, CEO.

Somehow it seemed to have worked out unintentionally, as Choi Seo-jun only marveled while looking at me.

"I was just lucky. It'

s a relief that it worked out well. Then I should prepare to sell now."

A short silence flowed for a moment.

Choi Seo-jun asked with a somewhat surprised voice.

-CEO, are you going to sell now?

Choi Seo-jun'

s tone was still calm, but hesitation was felt somewhere.

-I think it'

s still early. There seems to be room for more rising. The local atmosphere is like that, and the market reaction is still a positive flow. Haven'

t you made the decision too quickly?

I turned the tablet screen without a word for a moment and then answered slowly.

"The time when everyone covets it is actually the time when one must sell. The market always rises amid expectations and goes out amid greed."

Choi Seo-jun inhaled quietly.

The moment he heard my words, his head felt dazed as if hit by something.

He was also a talented person who graduated from the top university in Korea and heard that he was a genius, but in his view, I seemed to have something that transcended that.

Even looking at the words I gave to Choi Seo-jun just now, I wasn'

t just talking about a simple investment principle.

It was a sense that only someone who could look at the market coldly could have.

This was perhaps something one had to be born with, something one couldn'

t have no matter how hard they tried.

Choi Seo-jun answered my words.

-I understand. I will keep those words deep in my heart. I will settle it immediately and report back.

I smiled and nodded.

"You’ve worked hard, CEO Choi."

-Not at all. I had a valuable experience thanks to you, CEO.

After hanging up the phone, Choi Seo-jun sat in front of the computer and began the settlement work.

His touch was cautious as always, but a conviction he had never felt before was settled in his heart.

That the person he was serving was perhaps a more amazing person than he thought.

At first, he had thought of me as just some rascal from a chaebol family.

In fact, people thought of me that way as they watched.

But at some point, I changed and approached Choi Seo-jun.

Looking at the moves I had shown so far, they were only things that not just anyone could do.

The sense of frustration he felt when he first entered Taeseong and took charge of managing me had vanished before he knew it.

Rather, he thought it was great luck that he met me at that time.

If someone else and not Choi Seo-jun had managed me at that time, perhaps the person who came to the US might have been someone else.

For Choi Seo-jun, I was a partner he wanted to be with for a lifetime.

Working with me, he now felt like living was worth it.

He opened his palm, clenched his fist tightly, and then opened it.

With this hand, he could soon manipulate an enormous amount of money.

It was something he wouldn'

t even dare to dream of if it weren'

t for me.

***

Taeseong Construction headquarters 20th floor grand conference room.

The faces of the executives summoned by an emergency call were full of tension.

Exactly one hour ago.

The official notification sent by a Southern Refinery Company in Iraq arrived at the headquarters.

From that moment, the entire company was effectively switched to an emergency system.

This incident was spreading into a sense of crisis for the entire group beyond Taeseong Construction.

President Lim Do-hyun, sitting in the center of the conference room, spoke quietly.

"As you all may have heard, a re-evaluation instruction was issued from the Iraqi side. The official expression is '

re-notification after review,'

but looking at the local situation, it should be seen as an indefinite suspension."

As soon as President Lim'

s words ended, Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk continued the words.

"President, at a point where the progress rate has already exceeded 23%, this kind of suspension will clearly bring financial loss. About 18% of the company'

s liquid assets are tied up in that business. The funds scheduled to be invested within this quarter alone are over 700 billion won. If it goes on like this, there is a possibility of not only a short-term credit rating drop but also the departure of foreign investment funds."

Yoon Jae-hyuk'

s words were an accurate reality mixed with not a single shred of emotion.

It was also the reason why Chairman Lim Man-seok sat Yoon Jae-hyuk in the position of Vice President of Taeseong Construction.

President Lim Do-hyun just nodded without saying anything.

"So what is the countermeasure?"

This time, Jeong Seong-pil, the head of the International Business Department, spoke while turning the report with trembling hands.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the Iraqi government through the local embassy. However, currently, even the Southern Refinery Company, which is the ordering party, is moving by direct order from the government, so it is not easy. There is a penalty clause that we can claim under the contract, but actual execution seems to be quite difficult."

The conference room atmosphere became increasingly heavy.

Then, Lee Tae-jun, the Managing Director of Overseas Subsidiary Management, leaned forward from his seat and raised his voice.

"Then should we just watch? This project is something we prepared for years to win. If we step back now, Taeseong Construction will be labeled as an unreliable company in the Middle East region in the future."

Lee Tae-jun was a long-time close associate of Lim Do-hyun.

"It is a crisis now, but at the same time, it is an opportunity. We need to quickly secure a link with the government'

s diplomatic line and step forward for direct negotiations with Iraq at the headquarters level."

Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk frowned.

"Expecting government intervention is not realistic. This is a corporate risk. It is a weight we must carry."

A subtle tension flowed between the two.

Then, President Lim Do-hyun opened his mouth.

"I understood the thoughts of you two sufficiently well. Now is not the time to weigh whose fault it is. What is needed right now is to mobilize all diplomatic channels to officially confirm the reason for the suspension and keep the possibility of claiming penalties open. And at the same time, we must think of the worst-case scenario and prepare financial countermeasures."

The conference room became quiet again at President Lim Do-hyun'

s firm voice.

This is because everyone instinctively felt that they couldn'

t easily pass over this situation.

It was when a heavy silence descended on the conference room again.

The conference room door opened without notice.

The gazes of all the executives turned in one direction.

Standing there was the chairman of Taeseong Group, Lim Man-seok.

Despite his age with graying hair, there was power in his stride.

It was extremely rare for the chairman to personally appear in the Taeseong Construction conference room.

Moreover, appearing without any notice is unusual.

It was a testament to how important this matter was.

Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk bowed toward Chairman Lim Man-seok.

President Lim Do-hyun also stood up and bowed, saying.

"I didn'

t know Father would come personally. If you had told me in advance..."

Lim Man-seok raised his hand toward his son.

It was a sound to stop talking.

He spat out a word with a heavy expression.

"When the Iraq project might be suspended, how could a person who is the head of Taeseong Construction just sit still!"

The entire conference room momentarily froze at Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s heavy reproach.

In his strict and firm voice, there was not just a reprimand for the situation, but also a warning sent to his son.

Lim Man-seok did not sit down but looked around at the executives with his hands gathered carefully behind his back.

"Taeseong Construction collapsing overseas doesn'

t just mean one construction company is shaking. It means the trust in the name '

Taeseong'

collapses as well."

Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s gaze went straight to Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk.

"Vice President Yoon, how serious is it now?"

Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk answered calmly.

"Chairman, the progress rate is at 23.4%. Furthermore, the scheduled investment funds within the quarter are over 700 billion won. About 18% of the total liquid assets are linked to that business. If the suspension is confirmed, not only the company'

s trust but also the risk of foreign capital departure will worsen."

Chairman Lim Man-seok nodded and closed his mouth for a moment as if in silent meditation.

In the meantime, Managing Director Lee Tae-jun cautiously continued his words.

"Chairman, the possibility is still open. We might be able to turn it into a deferment rather than a suspension by forming a headquarters direct negotiation team and through diplomatic communication via the local embassy."

Lee Tae-jun was the closest associate of President Lim Do-hyun.

His statement was also the opinion of the president.

Lim Man-seok, who was silent for a moment, looked at his younger son, Lim Do-hyun.

"Do-hyun."

"Yes, Father."

"You take responsibility for this and do it until the end. Not as the president of Taeseong Construction, but as my son."

Lim Do-hyun'

s expression hardened.

Taking responsibility for a business that might have already failed was no different from receiving a death sentence.

Regardless of the result, the responsibility belonged to President Lim Do-hyun.

"...I will keep that in mind."

Chairman Lim Man-seok threw his last words after looking around the conference room once with a whoosh.

"Everyone, risk your lives on this incident."

The moment those words ended, the conference room sank heavily, even the sound of breathing.