The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 77 (77/840)
< Let's Make Everything the Best. >
#77
Let's Make Everything the Best.
A month of living in Busan gave me a new source of energy.
Even though people said I didn't fit in, I was like a puppy in front of my grandmother.
Of course, just because I was in Busan didn't mean I could do nothing.
Especially, the urgent matter related to the shell companies set up in tax havens.
It was a big project that took over a year.
If I had done it simply, it could have been resolved quickly, but I twisted it as much as possible to ensure that no one could trace back to me or Han Kyunggyeong.
I went through several accounting firms, and the fees alone exceeded tens of millions of dollars.
Now, the results were finally showing.
― Should I bring the documents to Korea?
The documents in Han Kyunggyeong's hands detailed the entire route, a web of connections between various corporations.
"Bring them 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.
"Come and see me."
Starting next year, Han Kyunggyeong's role will become more important. I need to explain things properly.
"Han Kyunggyeong is coming soon. No other reports from the U.S.?"
"Yes, he's focused on routine stock investments. His investment firm is well-known in the U.S., and he often meets people."
Han Kyunggyeong was doing the job I had assigned him.
"This is the most crucial period. Only report to me if there are any unusual developments, and let Manager Ma handle the minor issues."
"Understood."
"When is Eric arriving?"
"He'll arrive tomorrow morning. I've booked a hotel in Haeundae. Should I call him here?"
"No, I'll go see him."
"Understood, I'll prepare accordingly."
While talking with Manager Ma, I heard my grandmother's voice from outside the room.
"Muhyuk! Come eat!"
"Okay, I'm coming! Manager, let's eat first and talk later."
"Understood."
Manager Ma was staying in an empty room at my house.
After finishing the meal and taking a walk in the nearby park with my grandmother to aid digestion, we returned home.
"Manager, are there any staff around?"
"Yes."
"What about the car you reported before?"
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 for an investigation.
"It disappeared as soon as we tried to track it."
"Any other developments since then?"
"Nothing special yet."
Although I didn't show it, I felt a strange gaze during our walk in the park.
It felt more than just being overly sensitive.
"Please check the surroundings thoroughly. It feels off."
"Understood."
I hoped it was just a false alarm.
If someone were to infiltrate 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 middle-aged gentleman, completely different 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! The young boss? I'm Eric."
He seemed like a pleasant person.
We entered Eric's hotel room to discuss the establishment of the PMC in private.
"First, I'm recruiting Navy SEALs who were under me in the military. They are experienced and talented, and you'll be satisfied with them."
Eric seemed proud of his subordinates.
"What kind of company do you want to build, Boss?"
"The kind of company I want... someone who can protect anyone, no matter who the opponent is, is enough."
"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."
Perhaps because he had followed orders from above for a long time in the military, Eric seemed to understand that I was his superior.
"I want the strongest, most famous, and largest company in the world."
"Wow! That's ambitious."
Eric smiled and began to elaborate.
"Then we need to recruit a high-influence general."
"A general?"
"Yes, the U.S. military is more closed than you think. While I know the field agents well, the military doesn't run on field agents alone. 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 significant influence.
"Is there a suitable person?"
"I know two people. They have strong influence in Washington politics, but it will require a large sum of money to get them on board."
"Money is not an issue."
"You're a straightforward person, as Black said. If money is not a problem, I'll recruit both of them."
"Black?"
"Ah, Mr. Ma's nickname."
"Hmm."
I looked at Manager Ma with renewed interest.
His expression didn't change, even though he was being talked about.
What a boring person.
Eric also explained the salaries and working conditions of the field agents and provided detailed information about the training academy.
"The most important thing is the latest equipment. No matter how hard you train, it's meaningless if the equipment is outdated."
Eric emphasized the importance of equipment several times.
"The cost of purchasing weapons will be significant."
"That's true. 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 allowed to carry personal firearms."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes."
The agents might have better connections for purchasing weapons.
"What do you think, Eric?"
"Both have pros and cons, but personally, I think it's better to provide proper weapons, even if it means a lower salary."
"I agree. Let's go with the provision option."
Eric added, looking a bit hesitant.
"It will require a lot of money to establish, but the more you invest, the higher the loyalty of the employees will be. You know better than anyone that good equipment increases the survival rate of field agents."
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..."
Eric still seemed puzzled about my involvement in this business.
"I know. I have enough money and will make more. I'm confident that the company will generate sufficient profits once it's properly established."
"Of course. That's why I came to Korea at Black's request. But with such a huge investment, I'm curious about how you plan to profit in the future."
"I'll leave that to Eric. I chose a reliable person for this. I need a mercenary force that I can use when needed. Beyond that, Eric can handle it. Of course, under 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 country 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 like a reliable person. 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."
"Not all special forces or mercenaries are rough. The muscles from training are different from those gained through fitness, so most of them look like regular, fit people. In modern warfare, most maintain a weight around 80 kg."
"I see, Black."
I had tried to provoke a reaction, but it was no fun without one.
"Let's trust him, then."
"He's reliable. 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, who has a face and influence, as the CEO and leave the practical work to Eric.
A few days after meeting Eric, I received a call from Han Kyunggyeong, who had arrived at the airport.
After sending him to the hotel where Eric was staying, I headed there as well.
"Muhyuk!"
Seeing Han Kyunggyeong in a reserved suite gave me a new feeling.
Our first meeting was in a shabby motel.
"Brother, it's been a while. It's been a year, right? Since we last met last year."
"Exactly."
As soon as we sat down, Han Kyunggyeong 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 relationships.
"Even knowing this, it makes my eyes blur."
"Right? I gave up trying to understand it."
If these documents fell into the hands of the U.S. government, Han Kyunggyeong would spend the rest of his life in a U.S. prison.
Seeing his slightly dark expression, I smiled.
"These documents will only exist on paper. They must never be transferred to any electronic device, no matter how inconvenient it is."
"I understand."
"I'll give you the copies when you come to Korea. Don't leave them in the U.S."
If even a few pages of these important documents were burned, it would take a long time to trace the flow of money again.
There were six major shell companies.
Crown Water in the Cayman Islands was invested in and held shares by 12 companies.
Including this, I had established representative investment companies in six major tax havens.
Each had a capital of 500 million dollars, totaling 3 billion dollars.
Finally, my offshore 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 their actions were not illegal, they wouldn't be able to trace the true identity of the final company.
"Next year will be very 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 raise both hands and feet in surrender.
Developing countries would find it even harder to resist. Southeast Asian countries would be good prey for these hyenas.
I would be the one to reap the benefits from behind the scenes.
"Operate the U.S. corporation as legally and cleanly as possible. You've set it up to run even without you, right?"
"Yeah. I hired A-class people. They get the best treatment on Wall Street, so I could get good employees. Money talks."
"Are A-class people too opinionated?"
"They are, but they've all suffered major losses at some point, so they can't argue with my performance. I've set up a system where they only follow my orders. In this age of the internet and phones, it's easy."
"You'll come to Korea next winter. There will be an interesting event in Korea. You'll appear as Korea's white knight. People with power will wait for days to meet you."
Han Kyunggyeong, currently a common hedge fund manager on Wall Street, would become a legend after the Southeast Asian crisis.
Even after Korea reached out to the IMF and accepted humiliating demands, they delayed support and dragged out the process.
When Han Kyunggyeong appeared like a comet with a lot of dollars, he would receive VIP treatment and gain significant power.
Han Kyunggyeong was smiling in front of me, whether he knew it or not.
"Let's eat. I have someone to introduce you to. The money he demands should be paid by your U.S. corporation, so meet and discuss it."
"Who is it?"
"A soldier."
Han Kyunggyeong looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand me, 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 close friends.