A month of living in Busan became a new source of energy for me.
Even though I was told I didn't fit in, I was like a puppy in front of Grandma.
Of course, I couldn't just do nothing while in Busan.
Especially, the matter related to the phantom companies set up in tax havens was urgent.
It was a big deal that took over a year.
If I had done it simply, it would have been easy to handle, but I had to make it as messy as possible so that no one could trace back to me and Han Kyung.
I went through several accounting firms, and the fees alone exceeded tens of millions of dollars.
Now, the fruits of my labor are finally showing.
— Should I bring the documents and go to Korea?
Han Kyung held the documents detailing the entire route, entangled like a spider web.
"Come to Busan for a few days."
Those documents had to be in my hands.
— Okay, I'll take the earliest flight. It's been a while since I've been to Korea.
"Sure, come and see me."
Starting next year, Han Kyung's role will become more important. I need to explain things properly.
"Han Kyung is coming soon. No other reports from the U.S.?"
"Yes, he says he's focusing on routine stock investments. His investment firm is also well-known in the U.S., and he often meets people."
Han Kyung was doing the job I had asked him to do.
"The next few months are the most crucial. Only report to me if there are any unusual developments, and Manager Ma, please handle the minor issues."
"Understood."
"When is Eric arriving?"
"He's arriving tomorrow morning. I've booked a hotel in Haeundae. Should I call him here?"
"No, I'll go there myself."
"Understood, I'll prepare accordingly."
While talking with Manager Ma, I heard Grandma's voice from outside the room.
"Muhyuk! Come eat!"
"Okay, I'm coming! Manager, let's eat first and talk later."
"Sure."
Manager Ma was staying in an empty room at my house.
After finishing the meal and taking a walk in the nearby park with Grandma, we returned home.
"Manager, are there any staff around?"
"Yes."
"What about the car you reported last time?"
A while ago, there was a report about a car that kept crossing my path.
It was too frequent to be a coincidence, so I asked him to investigate.
"It disappeared as soon as we tried to track it."
"Any other developments since then?"
"Not yet."
I didn't show it, but I felt a strange gaze during our walk in the park.
It felt more than just being overly sensitive.
"Please thoroughly check the surroundings. It feels off."
"Understood."
I hoped it was just a false alarm.
If someone were to intrude into my only sanctuary, I wouldn't forgive them, no matter who they were.
The next day.
I met Eric Clark for the first time at a hotel in Haeundae.
He was a completely different middle-aged gentleman from what I had imagined.
I thought he would be rough and tough, given his background in the Navy SEALs and as a mercenary.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Charlie."
"Wow! A young boss? I'm Eric."
He seemed like a pleasant person.
To have a quiet conversation, we entered the hotel room where Eric was staying and began discussing the establishment of the PMC.
"First, I'm recruiting Navy SEALs who were under me in the military. They are experienced and will satisfy you."
Eric seemed proud of his subordinates.
"What kind of company do you want?"
"The kind of company I want... I just need someone who can protect anyone, no matter who the opponent is."
"If that's the case, why establish a PMC? A simple security company would suffice. Could you be more specific? The scale of the company will depend on your direction."
Because he had served in the military for a long time and was used to following orders from above, he seemed to have fully recognized me as his superior.
"I want the strongest, most famous, and largest company in the world."
"Wow! That's ambitious."
Eric smiled and delved into specifics.
"Then we need to recruit a general with significant influence."
"A general?"
"Yes, the U.S. military is more closed than you might think. I know the field agents well, but the military doesn't just run on field agents. If you plan to have your headquarters in the U.S., it will be necessary."
I nodded in agreement.
In many countries, including the U.S. and the EU, lobbying is legal and has considerable influence.
"Do you have any suitable candidates?"
"I know two people. They have strong influence in Washington politics, but it will require a significant amount of money to recruit them."
"Don't worry about the money."
"Black was right; you're a straightforward person. If money isn't an issue, I'll recruit both of them."
"Black?"
"Ah, it was Manager Ma's nickname."
"Ah."
I glanced at Manager Ma with renewed interest.
He showed no change in expression, even though his name was mentioned.
What a boring person.
"Eric, the most important thing is the latest equipment. No matter how well-trained they are, it's meaningless if the equipment is outdated."
Eric emphasized the equipment several times.
"The cost of purchasing weapons will be substantial."
"Of course. There are two options."
Eric held up his fingers to explain.
"The first is for the company to purchase all the equipment and provide it to the field agents."
"What about the other option?"
"The second is to have the field agents purchase their own weapons. They would be responsible for their personal firearms."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes."
After all, the agents might have better connections.
"Which do you prefer, Eric?"
"Both have pros and cons, but personally, I think it's better to provide proper equipment even if it means a lower salary. The agents' survival rate will be higher with better equipment, and they know that better than anyone."
I smiled at him.
"Don't worry about the money. The best equipment, the best personnel. Let's make everything the best."
"I don't understand why you want to establish a PMC. Mercenaries are ultimately about money. They work for money, not for a cause or a mission."
"I know. Money is not an issue. I will make more. I'm confident that once it's properly established, it will generate sufficient profit."
"Of course. That's why I came to Korea at Black's request. However, you haven't mentioned how you plan to profit from this astronomical investment."
"I'll leave that to Eric. That's why I'm looking for someone trustworthy. I'll invest, and I need mercenaries I can use if necessary. Beyond that, Eric can handle it. Of course, on the condition that you follow my orders."
Eric nodded in understanding as I smiled.
"Soldiers are simple. The only difference is that their loyalty shifts from the state to the company. The company's boss is ultimately everyone's boss."
"Okay. Then discuss the details with Manager Ma. I'll connect you with a friend in the U.S. for the establishment costs. He'll be coming to Korea soon, so you can wait and enjoy the sights."
"Understood, boss."
Once he understood the instructions, Eric no longer had any doubts.
He seemed trustworthy. If given sufficient compensation, he wouldn't betray me.
"He's more gentlemanly than I expected. I was worried because he's from a special forces background."
"People from special forces or mercenaries aren't always rough. The muscles they build from training are different from those gained through fitness, so they often look like ordinary, fit people. Modern warfare relies heavily on small arms and equipment, so most maintain a weight around 80kg."
"I see, Black."
I tried to provoke a reaction, but it was no fun since there was none.
"Let's trust him and see how it goes."
"He's trustworthy. As long as there's compensation, he won't have other thoughts."
I decided not to think about it further.
I planned to place a general with a good reputation and influence as the CEO, and let Eric handle the operations.
A few days after meeting Eric, I received a call from Han Kyung, who had arrived at the airport.
After sending him to the hotel where Eric was staying, I headed there too.
"Muhyuk!"
Seeing Han Kyung in a suite gave me a new feeling.
Our first meeting was in a shabby motel.
"Bro, it's been a while. A year, right? Since last year."
"Right."
As soon as we sat down, Han Kyung took out a heavy envelope from his briefcase and handed it to me.
"It's the original, with no copies."
The heavy documents contained complex company names and account numbers.
Just skimming through them made my head hurt due to the intricate shareholding structures, so I stopped reading.
"Even knowing the content, it makes my head spin."
"Right? I gave up trying to understand it."
If these documents fell into the hands of the U.S. government, Han Kyung would spend the rest of his life in an American prison.
I smiled at Han Kyung, whose expression was slightly dark.
"These documents will only exist on paper. They must never be transferred to any electronic device, no matter how inconvenient."
"I know."
"I'll give you the copies when you come to Korea. Don't leave them in the U.S."
This important document, if even a few pages were burned, would take an unknown amount of time to trace the money flow again.
In total, six prominent phantom companies.
Crown Water in the Cayman Islands was invested in and held shares by 12 companies.
Including that, I had set up prominent investment companies in six tax havens.
Each had a capital of 500 million dollars, totaling 3 billion dollars.
Finally, my slush fund account in the Bahamas held 1 billion dollars.
I was amazed at how many accounting firms and law firms were involved in this operation.
While what they did wasn't illegal, they wouldn't be able to trace the true nature of this company in the end.
"Next year will be busy. Keep an eye on Wall Street trends. We'll likely start with Southeast Asia."
"From the looks of it, they're eyeing another target after making a lot of money in Mexico and Japan."
If the U.S. hedge funds and investment banks unite to attack, few countries can withstand it.
The U.K. had to throw up its hands in surrender.
Developing countries would find it even harder to resist. Southeast Asian countries would be good prey for those hyenas.
I would be the one to reap the benefits from behind the scenes.
"Operate the U.S. company as legally and cleanly as possible. You've set it up to run smoothly even without you, right?"
"Yeah, I hired A-players. They get the best treatment in Wall Street, so I could get good employees. Money talks."
"Are A-players too independent?"
"They are, but they've all suffered significant losses at some point, so they can't argue with my performance. I've set up a system where they only listen to my orders. In this age of the internet and phones, it's not a problem."
"You'll come to Korea next winter. There will be an interesting event in Korea. You'll need to appear as Korea's white knight. People with power will wait for days to meet you."
Han Kyung, who is currently just a typical hedge fund manager in Wall Street, will become a legend in Wall Street after the Southeast Asian crisis.
Even after Korea reached out to the IMF and accepted humiliating demands, they delayed support and dragged their feet.
When Han Kyung appears like a comet with a lot of dollars, he will be treated as a state guest and gain significant power.
Han Kyung was smiling in front of me, seemingly unaware of this.
"Let's eat. I have someone to introduce you to. The money he demands will have to be paid by your U.S. company, so meet and talk with him."
"Who is it?"
"A soldier."
Han Kyung looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand what I said, so I took him to the restaurant.
Eric was already waiting there.
"This is James, who runs a hedge fund in the U.S. This is Eric, a former Navy SEAL."
"Nice to meet you. I'm James Han."
"I'm Eric Clark."
It was the first meeting of two people who would become inseparable friends.