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CH15 | Heir
🕑 Added 2025-03-13 03:40:00 +0000 UTCI asked Jeffrey and Team Leader Han how we could best take advantage of the situation.
It was a difficult question, and after a long silence, Jeffrey finally spoke up.
"If we can pinpoint the exact moment of betrayal, we could make an astronomical profit."
"I disagree with the vice president," Team Leader Han countered.
"Yes, we could make a profit, but we'd earn the resentment of not just Quantum Fund but the entire Wall Street."
It was a clear divide between their viewpoints.
Jeffrey prioritized maximum profit.
Team Leader Han valued stability.
Normally, I would completely agree with Jeffrey, but this time was different.
If we were to betray first, then we’d become the target of Wall Street’s rage, rather than Quantum Fund.
Sure, we could make billions, but was that really worth it?
"Then we’ll take an entirely different approach. While Quantum Fund sells marks and buys francs, we’ll profit through short-selling."
"We can’t be too obvious, but even with a modest approach, we’ll still outperform most investment products."
"So, you’re saying we’ll take just enough profit without drawing attention?"
"Exactly. We just need to do the opposite of what George says in the media.
If he claims the franc is undervalued, we short the franc.
But we must keep the position small—who knows when he might change his mind?"
This investment would earn Quantum Fund the nickname "The Cunning Chameleon."
Their public statements never matched their actual moves, making them infamous for sudden changes.
If we could predict their moves, making money would be easy.
But if we invested too heavily, they might change course again—so we needed to play it safe.
"We’ll keep our trades under $2 billion."
"That should be safe. Jeffrey, handle the remaining $12 billion as usual."
"Understood. At the very least, I can guarantee we won’t lose money."
"I’ll pass you good intel from time to time—make sure to use it well.
"Oh, and about your startup idea—if you ever want to launch it, just say the word. I’ll cover 100% of the funding."
Historically, Jeffrey was supposed to start Amazon in 1994.
Now, less than two years remained—the perfect time for his entrepreneurial ambition to ignite.
"At the very least, I’d like to stay with the company until next year. In the meantime, I’ll work on my startup preparations."
"Do you have a name in mind?"
Jeffrey's eyes widened in surprise.
"How did you know? I was thinking of naming it ‘Cadabra.’ Doesn’t it sound perfect for the first online bookstore?"
I knew it!
Originally, Jeffrey wanted to name Amazon "Cadabra," but later changed it because it sounded too much like "cadaver" (a dead body).
I had to prevent that hassle ahead of time.
"I see, it’s inspired by ‘Abracadabra.’ Great meaning, but the pronunciation could be an issue."
"How about ‘Amazon’ instead?"
"…Amazon. It’s definitely easier to pronounce."
"Take your time. There’s no rush to start your business right away. And once again, let me assure you—when you do, you won’t have to worry about money. I’ll pull out every last dollar from SAVE Investment if I have to."
"I really appreciate that."
By no later than the year after next, Jeffrey would leave to start his own company.
When that happened, Team Leader Han would take his place.
All he needed was a little more experience under Jeffrey’s guidance—his abilities were more than enough to lead the investment firm.
***
Screeeech!
Just as our conversation was wrapping up, the conference room door swung open.
A bearded and disheveled David strode in, raising his voice.
"Boss! I’m back. Everything in Russia went perfectly."
"You’ve been through a lot. Did you come straight to the office? You should’ve taken a break."
"With you possibly heading back to college at any moment, who has time to rest?"
David had just returned from meeting with Putin in Russia.
Judging by the bright expression on his face, it seemed things had gone well.
"So, did it go as planned?"
"Of course! Here’s a message from Putin for you."
David handed me a piece of paper.
On it, a single sentence was written in English:
[I NEVER FORGET IT.]
"He’ll never forget it? Is that what it means?"
"More or less. Putin’s going through a rough time, but when we stepped up to help, he was extremely grateful."
"Maintain a good relationship with him going forward."
"No problem! As long as I keep getting unlimited vodka every time I visit, I’m all in!"
David’s gift for building relationships was truly unmatched.
Whether in the U.S., Russia, or even South Korea, he could get along with just about anyone.
"I feel bad giving you another task the moment you get back, but I’ve already picked out a few key people to recruit."
"Wait… you’re not sending me overseas again, are you?"
"This time, it’s neither far nor dangerous. All you need to do is fund a few university professors’ projects."
"That’s as easy as drinking soup while lying down."
I handed David the documents, and Jeffrey and Manager Han reviewed them as well.
David raised an eyebrow as he scanned the files.
"Boss, aren’t these professors working on battery research? I get investing in IT, but why are we supporting these guys?"
"Because they show potential."
In 20 years, these individuals would win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
From SAVE Investment’s perspective, they weren’t particularly important.
But three years from now, when I returned to Taewoo Group, both their talent and their technology would be invaluable.
"So you’re not just asking me to fund their projects—you want to secure equity in exchange for our investment?"
"Exactly. Get as much equity as you can. Give them as much funding as they ask for."
"That’s an easy deal."
I added names to my recruitment list every day.
Among them were the future founders of Google.
I wanted to secure them immediately, but they hadn’t even enrolled at Stanford yet.
For now, I had to wait.
The same went for Facebook.
Its future founder was still years away from entering Harvard, and even if Facebook were created now, it wouldn’t gain traction—the internet wasn’t widely commercialized yet.
"I’ll keep updating the list regularly. If you need any support, just ask Jeffrey or Manager Han."
"As long as we have a solid budget, my team can handle everything. Oh, and by the way, the Clinton campaign reached out. They said if he wins, they’ll arrange a meeting."
"The election is only a few months away. If he wins, I should at least make an appearance."
With the groundwork nearly complete, everything was falling into place.
With these preparations, in three years, when I joined Taewoo Group, I could wield my sword freely.
***
Three years at Harvard.
A long time—or a short one—depending on how you looked at it.
Thanks to the early graduation support team, I earned my degree in just three years, just as planned.
During that time, I forged connections with countless talented individuals and established ties with the U.S. government.
And at last, I returned to Korea.
***
December 31, 1994
On the last day of 1994, with nothing but a single bag, I landed at Gimpo Airport.
Since Incheon Airport had yet to open, I had no choice but to use Gimpo, which had only a few international routes.
Homecoming
"Young Master, welcome back! You’ve changed so much since I last saw you. Why didn’t you visit Korea during your breaks? The Chairman really missed you."
"I didn’t have time. I took classes even during breaks. And I saw Grandfather every time he visited the U.S. You were with him, weren’t you?"
"Seeing you in the U.S. isn’t the same as seeing you in Korea! Ah, I’ve kept you standing for too long. Please, get in the car. The Chairman is waiting at the mansion."
"What a surprise. Grandfather’s actually in Korea? He spends 200 days a year abroad."
"He postponed his trips to wait for you. We should hurry before his patience runs out."
As soon as I set foot in Korea, I felt the tension melt away.
The moment I got into the car, my eyes grew heavy, and by the time I opened them again, we had arrived at the mansion.
"Young Master, you must be exhausted. We’ve prepared a hot soup for you. Have a drink with the Chairman and relax."
"Thank you, Chief. I’ll be relying on you a lot from now on."
"Hahaha, just say the word! There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Young Master."
We chatted as we walked inside, and at the mansion’s entrance, my grandfather stood waiting with open arms.
"Min-jae, my boy! You’ve worked so hard. Really, you’ve worked so hard."
"It’s not like I was deployed to a war zone. I just studied in comfort. It wasn’t hard at all."
"Come inside. I’ve gathered the finest dishes from all over Korea just for you."
It seemed like all grandfathers found joy just from watching their grandchildren eat.
Grandfather simply watched me with a pleased smile, and only after I finished eating did he continue the conversation.
"So, what do you want to do now? Boys your age are still enjoying college life. You could take a break."
"What’s the point of that? The younger I am, the more I should work. I want to start at Taewoo Group next year."
"Really? A grandfather shouldn’t overwork his grandson, but I feel reassured knowing you’ll be joining the company."
Grandfather’s face lit up with joy.
But I wondered… would he still smile like that once he saw what I was about to do at the company?
"Grandfather, may I choose which department I join?"
"Do you have a department in mind? I was planning to place you in the Planning Office."
For most second and third-generation chaebols, joining a company meant immediately receiving a managerial position, such as department head or executive director.
Some started as regular employees and climbed the ranks at lightning speed, but they all worked in key departments regardless.
"I want to start at the factory. You have to understand the field before you can handle real business operations, right?"
"You want to start in a rough factory environment? The workers there can be harsh. They might not take you seriously because you're young."
"That’s fine. Who would dare lay a hand on your grandson?"
Learning the business from the ground up.
Grandfather was so delighted by my words that he grinned from ear to ear.
It was only natural—his grandson willingly stepping into the toughest part of the company? What more could he ask for?
But I had my own reasons for choosing the factory.
It was the perfect place to ignite the first spark of my revolution.
I had spent five years sharpening my blade, and now, it was finally time to wield it.
