The reason I wanted to help Korea first wasn’t just because it hurts more when you fall from higher ground... but also to gain total dominance in the political game.

[Alpha Fund’s efforts have undeniably benefited Korea considerably, but due to legal concerns, we are unable to proceed at this time...]

– Click.

I glanced through the email and shut the screen off.

"...They’re saying we can’t proceed because of foreign company regulations. Unbelievable."

"Ha-yeon, what’s wrong?"

"Oh? You’re calling me by my given name? I’m honored, Charles."

I gave him a teasing smile, and the blond youth blushed again.

"Y-you said to use your first name, so..."

"Yeah, yeah, I’m just kidding. I got an annoying email, that’s all. Looks like it’s going to take a bit more time for Alpha Fund to officially enter Korea."

They claim it’s impossible under current law, that there’s a severe lame-duck period, and they’ll need time to persuade lawmakers... But do they really ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ expect me to believe that?

I literally signed the email with Yoo Ha-yeon, and I’m Korean. They’re clearly brushing me off because I’m young. Unless someone like Ha Yeong-il or Chairman Yoo Seong-pil shows up directly, they’re too nervous to trust the situation.

Well, I get it. Honestly, if Charles came to me with a 10 billion dollar contract, I’d be skeptical too.

But still...

"Saying stuff like that in this situation just shows they don’t understand the power dynamics. Who do they think’s holding the knife here?"

In times of chaos, power is the law. And right now, I wield the most financial power in Korea.

They may want to hear it from Alpha Fund officially rather than from me... which means it’s time I got another promotion.

"So, what did the original contract say? Even if the law’s unclear, the government did make a promise, right? Verbal or not, a contract’s still a contract—especially if it was written down."

As I frowned in thought, Charles Gray hesitantly asked.

"Ah, there was no such clause in the contract. The deal with the Korean government has already been fulfilled."

Thanks to it, Daehwa Group received massive—and suspiciously generous—support from the state. Contracts originally awarded to Mirae Group were suddenly canceled and handed to Daehwa, and prime Seoul real estate quietly transferred hands without any auctions.

But there was one problem.

I wanted to bring dollars into Korea to help them out a little—and now they’re trying to block me?

Ridiculous. They’re claiming that sudden inflows of foreign capital could pose monopolistic risks.

‘Well... technically, they’re right.’

Still, it’s not like I’m cornering the market illegally. I’m just handing out cash in the legislature to get them to pass a few helpful laws.

***

Every year on Wall Street, a few star fund managers are born—and just as quickly fall.

The reason is simple. In an industry where thousands of fund managers claw at each other’s throats, someone has to come out on top.

But the idea that great returns prove someone’s skill? It’s an illusion. The world’s top fund managers lose to passive index funds 90% of the time.

Across the entire Wall Street landscape, fewer than 1% consistently outperform index funds over the long term.

Of course, I am the exception.

That’s why I never worried about lacking reputation. Breaking into this world was the hard part. From there, it’s simple—make money, and you win.

The hard part is just how difficult that actually is.

"Gray, how’s today’s performance?"

Charles Gray, having worked hard with the 500 million dollars I gave him, sighed and shook his head.

"...Not great. Maybe 800,000 dollars in profit?"

"Oh, that’s still quite a bit! You’ve been earning at that pace all week, right?"

Looking at it roughly, that’s a daily return of 0.1% to 0.2%. Annualized over roughly 250 trading days, that’s an annual yield of 30% to 60%.

Even assuming the lower estimate of 30%, it’s still an excellent performance.

"I mean... I only made that much because I was given good positions. And the smaller the amount you manage, the higher the yield usually is."

I dunno. Sure, thanks to a benevolent and wise young lady, he did get some very favorable positions—but 500 million dollars is not small.

Should I tell him now that the amount he’s trading with is enough to qualify as a major player in the options market?

Either way, I’m in a good mood. Snagging a promising recruit lightened up my earlier irritation.

– Hmph.

As I smiled with satisfaction, Gray frowned like he’d just figured something out.

"Fine, you win. You’re managing 10 billion dollars and pulling in over 50 million daily. At this rate, you’ll clear a hundred billion by year’s end. No wonder you’re the youngest VP ever..."

"Ahaha, aren’t you exaggerating a little? Right now, the market’s basically giving out free money. Besides, if the team next door hadn’t been absorbing losses to support the won, I couldn’t have profited like this."

More importantly, Gray and I are both on option short positions.

– Click.

[Contract complete]

Just now, with one click, I issued another contract worth 300 million dollars.

And I rolled the premium I earned right back into margin, using that to sell even more options.

Whew, this is nerve-racking as hell.

Options are like insurance. What I’m doing now is like an insurance company thinking, “Hmm, I don’t think we’ll have to pay out any claims this year,” and then spending all the premiums on external expansion.

But if the won hits 2,000 to the dollar and triggers those options, and I have to pay up?

That’s the day Alpha Fund gets liquidated.

In theory, losses from option shorts are infinite.

Under normal conditions, even I wouldn’t ignore margin requirements and go all-in like this. Gray still has a logical mind and is trading cautiously.

But me? I went all-in anyway.

[10 billion dollars profit in one month from option shorts... Alpha Fund has a madwoman in its ranks]

[Alpha Fund fund manager ‘Yoo Ha-yeon’ rumored to have bet on won stability... An interview with the 18-year-old fund manager]

[Yoo Ha-yeon’s ROI defies logic; some experts suggest price manipulation... Rumors swirl that Alpha Fund used internal wash trades to funnel profits to her]

I had become a Wall Street celebrity.

***

– Flop.

"Ahahah~"

I sprawled across my bed, beaming. Newspapers were piled high beside me.

"That good, huh?"

Ha Yeong-il, who had been flustered by my sudden request to collect every newspaper with my name in it, fulfilled the task without a word. Thanks to him, I had a nice supply of dopamine.

"Of course it’s good! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day? I’m so sick of being the puppet master in the shadows. I want people to worship me, to cheer for me."

Usually, I only remembered headlines. But today was different.

I memorized everything. Every article with my name in it—I crammed it all into my brain.

– Rustle.

[“Alpha Fund’s Rising Star”: 1 billion dollars in a month, massive win on won options]

Wall Street Journal

———

In the storm of the Asian financial crisis, young Alpha Fund manager Yoo Ha-yeon drew attention for her daring bet on the Korean won’s stability. Within a month, she reportedly earned over 1 billion dollars in premium through shorting won options. Praised as a bold, opportunistic move that flipped market fear into profit, some express concern over the scale of her leverage. In a brief interview, Ms. Yoo said, “It was a decision based on accurate market analysis.”

– Rustle.

[“Witch of Wall Street” or “Genius Investor”? Yoo Ha-yeon rattles the Street]

New York Times – Business Section

———

Known as the youngest VP at Alpha Fund, Yoo Ha-yeon’s aggressive investment style has become a hot topic. Her won shorting strategy is praised as a masterstroke, but also criticized as reckless gambling. Analysts say, “Her returns defy conventional analysis.” Some suspect insider advantages from her background as a ‘chaebol’ heiress in Korea, citing that she may have known about Korea’s foreign reserves in advance through family connections. Alpha Fund declined to comment, stating: “If she did know, it only proves her and Alpha Fund’s excellence. It’s the incompetence of other funds that they didn’t.”

Ah. This is it.

I missed this feeling.

"Yeah... this should be enough. Korea’s gotta know by now too, right?"

"Yes. The story’s broken not only in financial sections but current affairs as well. Your cultivated genius image helped suppress the manipulation rumors, too."

Excellent.

Ha Yeong-il looked at me and asked cautiously.

"So... will you keep this position going? With the media buzz, the impact might be less than expected in Korea."

Ahaha—as if. And it shouldn’t be.

I gave a light laugh and shook my head.

"Nope. I’ve milked this for all it’s worth... Now it’s time to bash the heads of the hedge funds that came sniffing around."

"Then negotiations with the Korean government will probably get harder. Right now, they’re grateful for your defense of the won, but..."

– Heh.

"You’re talking nonsense. We’re the ‘good’ fund, remember? After all we’ve done to help Korea, shouldn’t they be helping us now? Too bad we just don’t have the strength to keep defending the exchange rate."

The truth is, nobody knows exactly where hedge funds are moving or how. All people have are rumors and heroic tales leaked on purpose.

Which means if Alpha Fund quietly pushes Korea off the cliff later, no one will realize.

And even if they do figure it out later—so what? It’s not illegal. It’s just healthy capitalist activity.

In the end, it wasn’t us who opened the financial markets.

It was the IMF.

And well... if the market’s open, we might as well walk right in.