Chapter 501

The goal of the Chang'e program was to explore the resources of the moon and return with samples. Although the design was hastily changed, the amount that could be loaded onto Chang'e 8 was limited.

The sample brought back to Earth was only 860 kilograms, and of that, 620 kilograms was Geratinium.

Nothing had changed immediately. It was just that the amount of Geratinium on Earth had increased by 620 kilograms, which in terms of price was only $150 million.

This was less than a tenth of the cost of sending Chang'e 8 to the moon.

Although it was confirmed that a Geratinium mine existed in the Sea of Tranquility, there was still no guarantee that they could mine as much as needed.

The mass production plan announced by Seosung SB was also hard to believe. It was unclear how much the annual production volume would be, or what the yield would be.

But just showing the possibility was enough to turn the world upside down. The world stock markets all soared, and safe assets such as the dollar and gold showed a downward trend.

Investment companies and economic research institutes began to analyze the economic effects that the JN Battery would have on each industry in the future, and battery companies began to research batteries using Geratinium.

Each country pondered ways to secure the Geratinium on the moon.

Right now, only the United States, China, and Russia can send a spaceship to the moon. But that didn't mean they could just sit back and do nothing.

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced a plan to send a probe to the moon, and European leaders decided to gather in Paris to discuss future space development plans.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) showed signs of joining hands, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) decided to pursue a joint launch with Roscosmos.

***

The Asian currencies, which were linked to the value of the yuan, also all increased their gains.

In particular, the appreciation of the won was remarkable. It had fallen to just before 1,500 won per dollar, similar to the financial crisis. But as foreign capital scrambled to buy up won assets, there were even signs of it breaking 1,000 won per dollar.

The money that Kang Jin-hoo had raised by selling bonds was used to absorb the short-selling. Until now, to prevent a global economic collapse, he had been buying up not only the yuan but also the currencies of emerging countries.

As the amount of buying increased, the losses snowballed. It was a precarious situation where it felt like he was barely holding on.

It was safe to say that all the money invested in various derivatives was gone.

Far from recovering the principal, if the global economy sank as it was, it would be absolutely impossible to repay the debt. But in an instant, the situation was reversed.

The sight of the stock market Jumbotron, which had been all blue, turning red in an instant was a breathtaking spectacle that was hard to see anywhere.

Jung Gi-hong muttered with a dazed expression.

"I've never seen anything like this in my life."

Park Sang-yeop nodded.

"It's like watching a North Korean card section."

Jung Gi-hong turned his head to the side and asked.

"What do you think the rate of return will be?"

"At least double. Won't we make about 1 trillion dollars?"

The staff were at a loss for words, shocked.

It's easy to turn 80 million won into 160 million won. It's not easy to turn 800 billion won into 1.6 trillion won, but it's possible.

But is it really possible to turn 800 billion dollars into 1.6 trillion dollars in just a couple of months?

It was an unbelievable sight even seeing it with their own eyes.

"Should we contact the Guinness Book of World Records?"

"For what?"

"For the largest profit made in the shortest period."

The bet that risked everything had paid off.

OTK Company had made the largest profit in the shortest time in history. This record will never be broken in the future.

***

I woke up from my sleep.

It felt like I had just closed and opened my eyes, but surprisingly, 15 hours had passed. I don't know when was the last time I slept so soundly.

I opened the blackout curtains. The sunlight poured in, making it difficult to open my eyes.

Surprisingly, the sky in Beijing was clear. The reason was that the factories around the city had stopped due to the economic crisis.

I looked down at the city. The roads were packed with cars, and people were busily passing by.

A day had passed, but the world was still the same.

Come to think of it, it's a natural thing. Just because a new technology has come out doesn't mean the world changes right away.

What has changed is people's perception.

It will take a few more years for the JN Battery to be mass-produced in earnest. But now, everyone believed in the possibility of the Geratinium mine on the moon and the JN Battery.

If everyone believes, it becomes a reality.

When I checked my phone, I saw that dozens of calls had come in.

I called one of them.

"You called."

Ellie said in a happy voice.

[What's going on? I was worried because I couldn't reach you.]

"I'm sorry. I was sleeping."

It's a bit noisy around her.

"Are you working?"

[Of course. I'm busy because of you, Jin-hoo. I think I'll have to work late for a few days.]

"Again?"

[Financial companies are busy when the market is bad, and they're busy when it's good.]

That's so true. OTK Company is probably in a similar situation.

[Are you eating well?]

"Of course."

[Liar. I saw you on TV, and your cheeks were sunken.]

In fact, I had been skipping meals. I couldn't even remember when I had eaten what. After hearing Ellie's words, I suddenly felt incredibly hungry.

Since I'm in China, I should probably go on a food tour of the continent.

Ellie said jokingly.

[I saw the market today, and you must have made a lot of money. How does it feel to make that much money?]

"It's just okay. I miss you more than that, Ellie."

At my words, Ellie's face lit up.

[Really? How much?]

"A lot."

[Hmm, besides missing me, is there anything else you want to say?]

I thought for a moment and then said.

"I love you."

[I love hearing that. Can you say it one more time?]

I said it several times.

"I love you."

[I love you too. Don't let your eyes wander to the beauties of China.]

I chuckled.

"Okay."

After hanging up the phone, I thought I should get something to eat.

I washed up and got dressed. When I opened the door and went out, the waiting security guards were flustered.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm going to eat."

As I took the elevator down with the security guards and was about to leave the hotel, a problem arose.

Not only media from all over the world, but also a large number of people had gathered at the hotel entrance. When they saw me, they cheered.

"Waaaaah!"

The reporters pushed their microphones forward and threw questions.

"Where did you get the information that there is Geratinium in the Sea of Tranquility?"

"What is the launch schedule for the JN Battery?"

"Please say a word about the global economy."

Dozens of questions poured out at once.

What is this to a person who is starving to death?

One of the reporters asked, as if shouting.

"How do you feel right now?"

I said honestly.

"I'm hungry."

***

[World Stock Markets Continue to Soar!]

[Hedge Funds on the Verge of Bankruptcy!]

[J.P. Morgan, Redstone Stock Prices Plummet Due to Concerns Over Derivative Losses!]

[Short Covering to Continue for a While...]

[OTK Company, Largest Profit in History!]

[Profit Estimated to Reach 1 Trillion Dollars!]

[Kang Jin-hoo, 'I Am Still Hungry']

[Not Satisfied Even with a 1 Trillion Dollar Profit...]

Articles poured out ceaselessly, and the internet was in an uproar.

- Kang Jin-hoo has changed the world.

- Is the era of OTK Company now beginning?

- In the future, when the history of the world economy is written, it will be divided into before and after Kang Jin-hoo.

- One person has reversed the flow of the collapsing global economy.

- This can only be described as crazy.

- Ahh ㅜㅜ I should have bought some stocks after listening to Kang Jin-hoo ㅜㅜ

- Aack! I should have held on to my China fund instead of redeeming it!!

- LOL, 1 trillion dollars. Making money was the easiest thing in the world.

- High risk, high return. He absorbed the short-selling volume by pouring in all his personal wealth.

- This money is mine now!

- But I am still hungry!

- This is the class of a Korean speculator!

- F***, how much more is he going to make?

- When the JN Battery is launched, won't he make more money than he has made so far?

- I want to get a job at OTK Company~~

***

Many people were relieved and cheered at the recovery of the financial market. But not everyone could smile.

A terrible situation unfolded for the hedge funds that had been pouring out short sales in the hope of a global economic collapse.

Falling from heaven to hell was instantaneous.

The Chinese financial authorities did not even give them the leeway to liquidate their positions. There was even talk of raising the reference rate, which was 6.2 per dollar, to 5.5.

Their determination was to raise the value of the yuan as much as possible in a short period and to finish off the speculative capital.

The hedge funds that had been pouring short sales into the Chinese market suffered an irreversible blow. It was meaningless to even estimate the amount of damage. As the margin decreased, a margin call came in, but there was no way to get more money.

Carl Singer, the CEO of Albert Management, continued to contact Rothschild for information and support, but he had not been able to get through for several days.

"Damn it! Why aren't they answering the phone?"

On the other hand, calls from large investors were flooding in.

Until recently, people had come with their money from all over, and everyone was desperate to invest. But now, everyone was desperate to recover their investment.

Unfortunately, even if he wanted to return the investment, there was no money to return. As it stood, even repaying the short sales was impossible.

If this continued, he would not be able to avoid bankruptcy.

To discuss a response, he contacted Paul Schnitz, the CEO of the private equity fund Schnitz Investment. But as soon as the other person answered the phone, he started shouting.

[You son of a bitch! How could this happen? You stabbed us in the back like this?]

"What are you talking about?"

[The banks owned by Rothschild have bought up a large amount of the futures and options that we have been selling. Don't tell me you didn't know.]

"What, what did you say?"

[They've been liquidating their positions and escaping since last month!]

"N-no way. That can't be..."

[Damn it! You said we would definitely win, and now we're all going to die together!]

With those last words, the call was cut off.

After being dazed for a while, Carl Singer let out a laugh without even realizing it.

"Hahaha."

After founding Albert Management, he had done whatever it took to make money.

He had bought the government bonds of countries on the verge of bankruptcy for a pittance and then collected the full principal and interest by seizing their private jets and ships. He had even made a profit by taking the international community's aid for children's vaccinations.

All sorts of criticism had poured in, but he hadn't batted an eye.

His conviction was that there was no right or wrong, good or evil, or friend or foe in front of money. And Rothschild had acted according to that conviction.

At the last moment, instead of pushing others into a corner, they had created an opportunity for themselves to escape. He was just a chess piece that had been used and discarded.

Carl Singer finally realized that he had been abandoned.

'I thought I could have everything...'

The things he had once held in his hands had slipped through his fingers at some point. He reached out to grasp them again, but it was no use.

What on earth had gone wrong?

Everything was perfect. It was a job that could not fail. But it had failed.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was only one reason why this had happened.

Something was boiling up in his chest.

Carl Singer could not hold it in and let out a painful scream.

"Aaaah! Kang Jin-hoo!"