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CH109 | DI
🕑 Added 2025-05-14 12:25:55 +0000 UTCDing!
A notification sound rang from my smartphone.
Checking the screen, I saw an email from Raymond.
The body of the email briefly summarized the schedule of an event I was to attend in about ten days.
It also mentioned that the physical invitation would be mailed to Goldman.
A natural smile tugged at my lips.
This event wasn’t just any ordinary gathering.
It was a meeting with none other than the Theranos Board of Directors.
<2014 Philanthropy and Innovation Gala>
The gala was a black-tie event.
Men wore tuxedos with bow ties, and women dressed in elegant gowns.
This year’s gala seemed to be held to celebrate the most noteworthy philanthropists and innovators.
And if Theranos board members were attending, that meant the rest of the guests would also be from similar high social circles.
I glanced down at my attire absentmindedly.
‘First, I need to match the level.’
I was just entering my second year as an analyst, and my wardrobe was filled with business suits fitting for someone at my career level.
But wearing such suits to a gala was out of the question.
As if being an Asian in a crowd where there were likely few wasn’t enough, showing up in shabby attire would surely make others treat me like some kind of plague.
Thus, I decided to purchase new clothes.
‘And I happen to have some extra funds now.’
I had successfully received the $150,000 bonus that Pierce had mentioned earlier.
Since it was completely unexpected income, spending a bit of it wouldn’t hurt.
I settled on Brioni as the brand of choice.
But then…
That…
“Oh? Are you by any chance… the shark hunter?”
The store clerk, who should have maintained the dignity befitting the brand, suddenly became overly excited upon seeing me.
Without giving me a chance to respond, he launched into a fervent speech.
“Wow, no way! I’m a huge fan! I rewatch that broadcast all the time—”
“Thank you, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
I politely cut him off and got straight to the point.
“How long would it take to make a bespoke suit? Assuming you expedite the process as much as possible.”
Off-the-rack suits in my size were always too loose-fitting.
That’s why I intended to order a bespoke, tailored suit, but this process naturally took quite a bit of time.
“Even if we start consultations today, it would take one week for fabric selection and design meetings, three fittings every two weeks, six weeks for production… at least 13 weeks in total.”
The previously excited clerk quickly switched to a professional demeanor as he answered.
Thirteen weeks at minimum.
“Is there a way to expedite the process with additional costs?”
“Our reservations are currently full, so that would be difficult. Besides, a true artisan’s work shouldn’t be rushed.”
Indeed, some things in this world couldn’t be bought with money.
And time was a prime example of that.
The gala was in ten days.
Since bespoke tailoring wasn’t an option within the timeframe, I had no choice but to go with ready-to-wear.
However, while getting the fit adjusted and making alterations, a thought struck me.
“No, I’ll go ahead and order a bespoke suit as well.”
“But the time…”
“Thirteen weeks means about three months, doesn’t it? That’s more than enough.”
Three months later.
By then, I would be quite the public figure.
And a person of status needed attire that matched.
After solving the clothing issue, I also purchased a proper pair of shoes.
And since I was at it, I decided to treat myself and bought a new set of bedding.
“Oh! Are you the shark—”
Another store clerk recognized me.
But I preemptively cut her off.
“I’m in a hurry. I’d like to see Egyptian cotton products with a thread count of at least 1,200.”
Bedding was crucial for me, as I suffered from severe insomnia.
Ever since my regression, I had been using cheap bedding, which meant it always took at least an hour to fall asleep.
I had planned to buy a proper set at some point, but work kept getting in the way.
So now was the time to finally get it.
After selecting just a few items, I had somehow already spent nearly $50,000.
‘Should I stop here…?’
If I spent like I did in my past life, I’d be left with nothing.
Pierce’s bonus was $150,000.
After taxes, that left me with $95,000.
After shopping, only $45,000 remained.
I decided to put this amount into savings.
And by savings, I meant…
<452 BTC>
Cryptocurrency.
For now, it was just a small amount.
I was only depositing $3,000 per month.
As I had mentioned before, it would be difficult to fund my medical expenses with cryptocurrency.
To access funds, I’d need to withdraw a large sum all at once, and crypto wasn’t ideal for that purpose.
Besides, I needed clinical trial funds immediately.
By the end of this year, I had to begin rapamycin trials, and in 2017, I needed to start clinical trials for my own treatment.
Waiting until crypto hit its peak wasn’t an option.
From what I remembered, Bitcoin briefly hit $20,000 at the end of 2017, then dropped again, only surpassing $50,000 in 2021.
If I waited until then to fund my trials, I would be as good as dead.
So, this wasn’t meant for my medical expenses—just pure savings.
However, there was one critical rule for this savings plan.
It had to remain an absolute secret.
No one around me could know that I was investing in cryptocurrency.
‘Just in case I need it.’
If my predictions were correct, I might need a large sum of money around 2020 or 2021.
There might even be a high-stakes auction.
By then, people competing with me would emerge, trying to match my financial power.
They would estimate my wealth based on my visible assets and prepare just a bit more than that.
This cryptocurrency was my hidden ace.
Imagine this—
My opponent calculates my ammunition down to the last bullet, moving accordingly…
And then, I suddenly pull out a stockpile of hidden bullets?
By that time, this minor savings plan would have multiplied in value at least 150 times.
It would be an amount too significant to ignore.
That was my aim.
Victory in battle isn’t determined solely by the quantity of ammunition.
If an opponent accurately gauges my firepower, they can craft an appropriate strategy.
That’s why a secretly prepared trump card can be the decisive factor in a fight.
Of course, this was all a matter for the distant future.
For now, I needed to focus on the present.
Just then—
<Everything is ready.>
The long-awaited message arrived.
This time, it was from Pierce.
***
“Meet the team you’ll be working with in the task force. Introduce yourselves.”
Four unfamiliar faces stood before me.
“This is Mia Scott from the Risk Management Department, Ruben Marshall from the PE Group, and Ted Kane from the Legal Team.”
A TF team, or task force team, is a temporary team assembled for a specific purpose.
As I had requested, Pierce formed a TF team for risk management regarding Theranos and placed me in it.
“Sean will handle most of the fieldwork. The rest of you should consider yourselves advisors, providing input as needed.”
Aside from regular meetings, these team members would continue their usual duties in their respective departments.
However, if anything urgent arose, I could seek their counsel.
Market risk analysis, regulatory compliance, startup investment caution, legal consultation—this team covered a broad range of expertise.
“Well then, I’ll leave the rest of the explanation to Sean.”
As Pierce took his seat, I stood up.
“Our client in Goldman’s asset management division, RP Solutions, has requested strategic consulting.”
RP Solutions was none other than the company founded by David.
In other words, it was a nonprofit subsidiary under the Castleman Foundation.
RP stood for “Rare Path,” meaning “Solutions for a Rare Path,” but…
‘That’s awful.’
Still, it was his choice, so I decided to respect it.
“RP Solutions has already decided to invest $30 million in the startup Theranos and has submitted a term sheet.”
A term sheet is a document summarizing the key terms of an agreement.
In other words, David’s company had pledged a $30 million investment in Theranos.
Of course, this was a planned move.
My strategy required a ‘victim,’ and RP Solutions would play that role.
After my meeting with Prescott from the Heritage Group, I had concluded that persuading the existing victims was nearly impossible.
Despite being presented with clear evidence of fraud, he hesitated, intimidated by the reputation of the board members.
‘The other victims probably won’t be any different.’
To be blunt, no sane person would willingly comply with my request.
Finding and convincing the existing victims one by one would be a futile waste of time.
So, the answer was simple—
‘If there isn’t a victim to use, create one.’
That was one of the reasons I had convinced David to establish this company.
“RP Solutions requires due diligence and strategic consulting regarding its investment in Theranos and has specifically requested risk management support…”
After my brief explanation, the meeting concluded.
Once everyone had left the conference room, Pierce approached me.
“Report any progress immediately.”
For reference, Pierce was the head of this TF team.
“I expect updates on business trips, new risk factors, and schedules—everything.”
“Yes, understood.”
“…”
I had answered obediently, but Pierce’s sharp gaze remained fixed on me.
“I’ve been invited to the gala in ten days, where the board members will be present.”
“I will submit all relevant matters in report format.”
“Not just reports—send updates via email, immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
“…”
Pierce stared at me for a moment longer before finally turning away.
‘Did he figure it out?’
Pierce seemed to suspect that I had a specific reason for pulling him into this.
However, he likely hadn’t yet grasped the full extent of it.
On the surface, my reason for approaching Pierce was that, as a member of the M&A division, I didn’t have the freedom to act independently.
But in reality, I had another objective.
I needed to prepare after hearing Raymond’s warning.
— Theranos has top-tier law firms on retainer and frequently initiates lawsuits.
Holmes sues anyone who so much as questions Theranos’ actions.
So the moment I start seriously investigating them, I can expect a lawsuit to land on my desk.
And this won’t just be a scare tactic—it could escalate into an actual legal battle.
And in that battle, I must win.
If I lose, I’ll be forced to return all the funds I painstakingly siphoned away.
So the bottom line is…
This fight will inevitably end in court.
I need to prepare accordingly.
‘Which means acting alone is dangerous.’
If I went at this alone and Holmes sent a lawsuit my way, Goldman would likely reprimand me just to avoid any complications.
In that case, the jury would only see me as a ‘problematic employee who got disciplined by Goldman.’
Worse, it could be misinterpreted as me meddling in an unrelated matter out of personal resentment toward Holmes.
‘That would be unacceptable.’
That was precisely why I brought Pierce into this.
I needed to establish legitimacy from the start.
If I acted as a member of a TF team personally assembled by Pierce—
And if this team was specifically created for Theranos risk management—
Then my actions would clearly be within the scope of my job.
The jury would see me as someone simply doing what needed to be done.
Jury perception was key.
Beyond that, involving Pierce also had practical benefits.
For one, it saved a significant amount of time and money.
‘I won’t need to hire a lawyer myself.’
To counter Holmes’ legal threats, I would need an attorney.
Raymond was too expensive and couldn’t represent me due to a conflict of interest.
That meant I would have to find a lawyer myself—an effort that would cost both time and money.
But if I acted under Pierce’s authority—
Since this team was created by a Goldman executive, Goldman’s legal team would be obligated to handle the case.
Instead of me fighting Theranos, Goldman would do it for me.
Pierce’s constant talk about ‘debts’ like a loan shark was annoying, but…
Considering the trouble he’d be going through, I figured I could owe him this one.
This lawsuit might become one of the most high-profile cases in history.
And it would all start with Pierce.
Since he was the one who formed this team, he would be blamed when the storm hit.
I could only imagine how much flak he would get from Goldman’s CEO and other executives.
But that was a problem for later.
Right now—
‘I have someone to meet.’
I had secured a legal shield.
Now, it was time to start shaking Theranos for real.
