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CH97 | GSI
🕑 Added 2025-02-03 03:30:01 +0000 UTCA brand-new black BMW sedan, replacing the car involved in the accident, glided smoothly to a stop in front of the hotel’s main entrance.
As the neatly uniformed doorman quickly approached and opened the driver’s side door, Seok-won, dressed in a sophisticated suit, stepped out of the BMW, extending his long legs.
"Take good care of it."
Handing over the car key, Seok-won offered a banknote. The doorman, with a polite smile, bowed slightly as he accepted the tip before sliding into the driver’s seat.
After entrusting his car to the valet, Seok-won checked the time on his Rolex wristwatch and strode toward the luxury hotel lobby.
The lobby, adorned with marble tiles and a grand chandelier, exuded opulence. The people passing through were all impeccably dressed, radiating wealth, and the occasional presence of foreign guests was noticeable.
As Seok-won walked across the lobby toward the elevator, he felt a brief vibration from his inner pocket.
Taking out his phone, he answered the call, hearing a familiar voice.
"Hello."
[It's Team Leader Choi, Director.]
Following the small-scale personnel changes that took place after Chairman Choi Jin-woo’s scheduled resignation last month, Seok-won had been promoted to Director, just as he had been tipped off in advance.
Likewise, his close associate, Choi Ho-geun, had been promoted to Team Leader, taking charge of Investment Team 4 in Seok-won’s place.
[The article you instructed about last time is set to be published tomorrow.]
At Choi Ho-geun’s words, a glint flashed in Seok-won’s eyes, and he halted his steps.
Still holding the phone to his ear, he altered his direction and continued the conversation in front of a sunlit glass wall.
[It’s also scheduled to be the main article on the front page of the newspaper.]
Hearing this unexpected news, Seok-won’s expression showed mild surprise.
"Considering the Seongsu Bridge collapse, I assumed they wouldn’t bury the article like last time, but a front-page feature? That’s unexpected."
A front-page article meant it was the most significant and newsworthy piece of the day, so his surprise was understandable.
[The heightened awareness of poor construction and mismanagement after the disaster, along with the fact that the problematic department store is a widely used public space, seem to have played a major role.]
"That makes sense."
It had already been fifteen days since the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge, yet South Korea remained engulfed in shock and deep sorrow.
Although the number of casualties had decreased due to Seok-won’s intervention, it was still a massive disaster that had taken place in the heart of Seoul, leaving dozens dead or injured. The lingering impact was inevitable.
[On top of that, if there’s even a hint of collapse risk at the country’s top-grossing luxury department store, it’ll generate a massive public outcry. They’re likely emphasizing it on the front page to stir up even more attention.]
"So, in the end, it’s just a ploy to sell more newspapers."
[Exactly.]
Seok-won swallowed a sigh, his expression turning bitter.
He had never expected the press to fulfil its supposed mission—pursuing truth and facts in the name of social justice and the public good, ensuring citizens’ right to know.
But even after witnessing the tragedy of the Seongsu Bridge collapse, their calculating nature, prioritizing profits over responsibility, left a sour taste in his mouth.
‘Their motives may be impure, but if this issue gains enough traction, the likelihood of the Sampoong Department Store disaster happening will significantly decrease. That’s what really matters.’
Forcing himself to focus on the positive, Seok-won ended the call.
"Good work. We’ll go over the details at the office tomorrow."
Slipping his phone back into his inner pocket, he stepped into the waiting elevator and ascended to the third-floor restaurant.
As he entered, soft classical music played in the background. At the entrance desk, a tall female staff member greeted him with a pleasant smile.
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
"It should be under Park Seok-won."
After checking the reservation list, the staff member promptly responded.
"You've booked the Crystal Room. Your party has already arrived. Allow me to escort you."
With a polite demeanour, she led Seok-won toward a private dining room inside.
Since it was still early for dinner, most of the tables remained unoccupied, with only a few scattered guests seated throughout the restaurant.
On the central stage, a female pianist in a backless dress sat before a grand piano, playing a soothing melody.
The reserved room was a private space set apart from the main dining area, allowing for a quiet meal without outside disturbances.
As Seok-won stepped through the door held open by the staff, he found Landon and Andrew already seated at the table. They stood up to greet him warmly.
"Welcome, boss."
"You must’ve had a long trip to Seoul."
"When the boss calls, we come running."
Landon’s usual cheerful demeanour brought a small smile to Seok-won’s lips before he shifted his gaze to Andrew, standing beside him.
"Have you been well?"
"I’m always the same."
Andrew smiled as he took Seok-won’s extended hand in a firm handshake.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Seok-won gestured toward the table.
"Let’s all have a seat."
As Seok-won took his seat first, the other two sat down across from him.
"Would you like to place your order?"
A staff member, who had skillfully set the table with forks and knives, held out the menu.
"The signature course here is quite good."
"Then let’s go with that."
"Works for me."
Since it was their first time at the restaurant, both Landon & Andrew simply followed Seok-won’s recommendation without hesitation.
"We’ll have three signature courses, please."
"Understood. Would you like me to bring the wine you requested in advance?"
"Yes, please."
After confirming the order, the staff member left the private dining room. Seok-won then glanced at both and spoke.
"I heard you took the new private jet for the first time on this trip."
"That’s right."
Among the three Gulfstream business jets recently purchased, the one designated for corporate use had been delivered first, allowing them to use it for their flight to Korea.
"How was it?"
"It felt much more comfortable knowing it was our company’s jet rather than a leased one."
Landon responded with a satisfied expression, and Andrew added his thoughts.
"The original owner had ordered it with top-tier specifications, so the onboard facilities were excellent. Honestly, it felt more luxurious than most hotel rooms."
As Andrew noted, the aircraft had been outfitted with premium options, so instead of undergoing a major interior renovation, only minor adjustments—along with an exterior repaint—had been made, allowing for a quicker delivery.
While the two continued sharing their impressions of the jet, the staff returned with the pre-ordered wine.
"Is that Romanée-Conti?"
Landon’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the bottle, then turned to Seok-won.
"It’s a 1990 vintage, from a great harvest year when the entire Burgundy region experienced exceptional yields."
"Ah, 1990—one of the finest vintages of Romanée-Conti. It’s well known for its outstanding quality."
Landon, an avid wine enthusiast who had even built a dedicated wine room in his recently acquired mansion, looked eager as he took a sip of the Romanée-Conti poured by the server.
"Hmm."
Holding the wine glass in his hand, he gave a small nod of appreciation.
"It’s elegant yet powerful, with a deep and structured balance of fresh fruit. No wonder it’s called a magical wine."
Unable to resist, he took another sip.
"I may not be as knowledgeable about wine as Landon, but I can certainly see why this one is famous. Even the aroma has a uniquely captivating charm."
Andrew, also pleased with the selection, sipped his wine with a contented expression.
"I’ve set aside a bottle for each of you as a gift, so be sure to take them with you later."
"Really? Thank you, boss."
Landon’s face lit up with delight.
Though he had received millions in bonuses just last year and could easily afford this wine himself, receiving it as a personal gift was different. He was genuinely pleased—especially since Seok-won had carefully chosen something to match his tastes.
"I’ll enjoy mine as well. Thank you."
Andrew also expressed his gratitude.
Meanwhile, their ordered course meal was served.
The aromatic buttered bread and soup, along with canapé made from fava beans and a caviar-based dish, perfectly whetted their appetites. The main course was a tender, juicy duck breast steak.
The three of them engaged in light conversation as they slowly enjoyed the meal. By the time dessert and espresso were served, they found themselves quite full despite eating at a measured pace.
After sipping his espresso and placing the cup down, Seok-won turned to Landon and Andrew, naturally steering the conversation toward the reason he had called them to Korea.
"How’s the peso moving?"
Andrew wiped his mouth with a napkin before responding.
"After the election, it showed a brief recovery, but as you predicted, it’s steadily declining again."
Landon, now opting for wine instead of tea, continued with a serious expression.
"It’s already surpassed 3.5 pesos per dollar, and at this rate, breaking past 4 pesos is only a matter of time."
Andrew nodded in agreement.
Leaning back in his chair, Seok-won spoke calmly.
"As I mentioned before, the real collapse of the peso will begin after the new president’s inauguration in December."
Since everything was unfolding exactly as predicted, without the slightest deviation, Landon and Andrew listened with unwavering trust and full attention.
"So, let's continue holding our current position."
"We will," Andrew replied.
Landon, sitting beside him, glanced at Seok-won with newfound admiration.
"I never thought President Salinas would act so recklessly, only trying to evade responsibility without considering the consequences."
"That’s human nature. If he truly had foresight and cared about his people, he wouldn’t have let things reach this point."
Landon and Andrew both nodded in agreement.
"That aside, excluding our position in Mexico, how much available capital do we have?"
"Our immediately accessible liquid assets amount to roughly 900 million dollars," Landon reported.
Seok-won crossed his arms, resting his chin on one hand as he pondered.
"With leverage, that should be more than enough."
Noticing the shift in his expression, both Landon & Andrew immediately realized he was planning something new.
Landon couldn’t contain his curiosity and leaned forward.
"Have you found a new investment target?"
A subtle smile appeared on Seok-won's lips as he gave a small nod.
"I'm planning to short the Japanese stock market and the yen."
"Japan?"
"That’s right."
Hearing this unexpected move, Landon and Andrew exchanged puzzled looks.
"The worst-case scenario of the U.S. invoking Super 301 has been avoided, but tensions from the trade dispute between the two countries still linger. You both know that means the situation could flare up again at any moment."
As both listened intently, Seok-won continued in a serious tone.
"Given the current pressure and scrutiny from the U.S., I believe Japan's economy won't be able to reclaim its former glory anytime soon."
Of course, his real reason for shorting the Japanese market and yen was something else entirely.
However, he had no intention of revealing the full truth, so he offered a plausible justification instead.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Andrew was the first to respond positively.
"It won’t be as dramatic as what we’re seeing in Mexico, but Japan’s economy has indeed lost momentum. We should be able to secure decent returns."
"I think it’s a solid bet as well," Landon added.
Seeing both of them in agreement, Seok-won gave a slight nod.
"Then let's move forward with it. There's one more target I have in mind."
"Where?"
At Landon’s question, Seok-won’s lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Barings Bank."
