LRAB Chapter 129: Change in the Business World Map
Chapter 129: Change in the Business World Map
My eyes flashed even more sharply.
“This time, it is literally a head-on breakthrough. President Yu, can you prepare?”
Yu Hyeon-seok answered with a voice full of determination.
“Of course. If you open the way, Representative, we will respond with technology with all our might. We believe there is already a sufficient chance of winning in the fields of LNG carriers and special vessels.”
I wore a satisfied smile.
A specific picture was already drawn in my head.
‘This US visit will not be a simple diplomatic stage, but a stage to make the names of HJ Partners and HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering known to the world.’
***
While HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering was preparing to go to the US, the global economy was swept up in the shock of a crash in oil prices.
The winter sunlight shimmered beyond the glass window and shone inside the conference room.In the center of the large oval conference table, bundles of materials printing the latest economic indicators and oil price charts were placed neatly.
On the large screen on the wall, the oil price chart was moving in real-time.
The futures prices of WTI and Brent crude still did not stop their downward trend.
The air inside the conference room was strangely tight.
The first one to open his mouth first was Lee Hyeon-seok, the Risk Management Team Leader.
“Representative, after the oil price broke the $50 per barrel line last week, it went down below $45 over the weekend. This is not a simple adjustment. Demand slowly overlapped with global oversupply, and OPEC went on the offensive while refusing to reduce production. Emerging oil-producing countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Brazil saw their exchange rates plummet, and instability is spreading throughout the financial market in general.”
General Manager Han Seung-woo nodded and continued speaking.
“That is right. Now, it looks like a structural turning point rather than a simple price drop. The market initiative is changing after the shale revolution. This is the time for us to move.”
At this time, Team Leader Park Jae-woo carefully opened his mouth while turning the slides he had prepared.
“In fact, as you directed, we built derivative product positions according to the oil price drop a while ago.”
The gazes of the people gathered in the conference room shifted to Team Leader Park and me, Representative Lim Hyunjun, all at once.
On the screen, a WTI futures option graph and the profit rate curve of an account named HJ Global Fund - Commodity Strategy appeared.
It was a graph close to a nearly vertical rise.
Team Leader Park Jae-woo began the explanation.
“As per your judgment, Representative, you said the oversupply would continue without a short-term rebound. So we created a position by combining futures shorting and buying put options. The total investment scale is 1 trillion won.”
The air inside the conference room was to the point of freezing due to the enormous investment scale.
Silence was full while everyone just had their mouths agape.
Choi Seo-jun looked up as if he could not believe it.
Park Jae-woo continued speaking slowly.
“As a result, the profit so far is approximately 7.3 trillion won.”
Choi Seo-jun asked again as if he could not believe it even after seeing the numbers written in front of his eyes.
“Wait a moment. Did you just say 7 trillion?”
Team Leader Park Jae-woo answered.
“Yes, that is right. It is 7.3 trillion won. As per your prediction, Representative, the oil price plummeted and the option strategy fit perfectly.”
Advisor Hong Jang-gun also closed his mouth for a moment and then began to laugh loudly.
“Hahaha. This is not just earning some money, you completely cleaned out the market. Wow.”
Han Seung-woo, the Strategy Planning Director, immediately looked through the materials again with a cold face and said.
“If it is this scale, it is not simple luck… it is truly perfect timing. Representative, how do you predict this?”
I, who had been sitting still and just watching in the conference room until now, was looking at the screen calmly with my arms crossed.
My expression looked as if there was no inspiration.
Rather, cold eyes were full.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“This oil price drop is perhaps something everyone expected. It is just that one cannot approach easily because the fear is great.”
Lee Hyeon-seok, the Risk Management Team Leader, cut in cautiously.
“Representative, the timing for profit realization also looks important now. Since the financial market itself is shaking, volatility could become greater.”
The reason I proceeded with the bold investment this time was a decision made because I really needed money.
“Clear some to realize profit and leave the rest as a hedge position. We will not be satisfied with only short-term profits. However, I do not intend to maintain the hedge position for long either. We will have to liquidate this too soon. This capital will become the fuel for the businesses we will unfold in the US in the future.”
Legal Advisor Baek Yu-jin wrote calmly and spoke.
“If it is this much capital, you can push forward with everything you are thinking of all at once. However, we must meticulously check the Jones Act, tax, and financial laws. Our team will set to work immediately.”
I nodded.
With the oil price chart floating on the screen as the background, my voice became even more resolute.
“The world is currently in shock. We will not ride that wave, but stand at the epicenter of the wave and design the direction. This is only the beginning.”
Tension and excitement spread through the conference room at the same time.
No one had imagined that the huge sum of 1 trillion would swell to 7 trillion before sitting in this spot.
But HJ Partners did it.
***
The commercial district in Gangnam, Seoul, where companies are concentrated.
As soon as the lunch hour began, office workers in suits flocked to nearby restaurants and cafes.
Vigor was overflowing as the sound of conversations mixed while eating here and there.
Assistant Manager Kim said while eating the stew.
“Did you see that? The article about HJ Partners.”
“I saw it. Is there anyone who does not know that these days? They say it is a 7 trillion profit. 7 trillion!”
At that time, someone said,
“Our company’s market cap is not even 3 trillion, this is crazy, really.”
Section Chief Park, sitting opposite, shook his head while slurping soybean sprout soup.
“I mean, this is not some kind of game money and they say they earned real money like that. 7 trillion in one go….”
“Everyone has been talking only about that since this morning. Lim Hyunjun overturned the rankings of the Korean business world.”
At a corner seat of the restaurant, a female employee showed her phone and everyone’s gaze shifted to the screen.
A bold title was written on the article.
[HJ Partners Profits 7 Trillion from Big Bet on Oil Price Crash. Shakes the Business World Map]
“Wow! At this rate, won’t they overtake Daehan soon?”
“No way? Still, there is what Daehan has built up until now.”
“No. Who knows? Now Hanmyeong Group and Daehan Group will have to be a bit nervous. It looks like Taeseong will be caught up soon too.”
At that time, someone said with an unfair voice.
“While -38% is recorded in my bank account, it is 7 trillion over there. I want to earn some too.”
HJ Partners was the topic at every table.
Someone was talking like a joke, but the name Lim Hyunjun flowed out several times between their conversations.
Unlike the noisy Gangnam streets during the lunch hour, the conference room of the HJ Partners headquarters was quiet.
I stood by the window and looked outside for a moment, then sat down slowly.
It was because the sound of the door opening was heard.
Legal Advisor Baek Yu-jin came inside holding a thick file.
“You are here, Advisor Baek.”
She bowed her head briefly and sat down.
I went straight to the main point.
“Regarding the Elina matter, how is the situation going right now?”
When I asked, Baek Yu-jin adjusted her glasses and answered calmly.
“Currently, the first public trial is in progress at the Seoul Central District Court. The prosecution came out stronger than expected. They are dragging out time in evidence adoption and witness interrogation, but because the evidence itself is so clear, the possibility of the result being overturned is small.”
I wore a somewhat troubled expression.
Elina was currently standing trial in Korea because of the incident that happened in Iraq.
The conversation I shared with her flashed through my head.
I asked again.
“How is the media reaction?”
“For now, it is buried in the news of HJ Partners’ 7 trillion profit, but foreign media are keeping an eye on this trial. Particularly, in the US media, words are coming out little by little that the organization Elina belonged to, Onyx Crow, is entangled with Al-Jahad.”
When Baek Yu-jin finished speaking, the air sank somewhat heavily.
The fact that these two names, Onyx Crow and Al-Jahad, were being mentioned in the media at the same time meant it could spread into a matter directly linked to the international situation rather than a simple criminal trial.
I tapped the conference table slowly with my finger and was lost in thought for a moment.
My gaze was sunken coldly.
It was to the point where only the sound of the clock’s second hand could be heard clearly in the room.
“How are the moves on the US side?”
To my question, Baek Yu-jin answered while checking the documents she had prepared.
“The State Department and the CIA are showing unofficial interest in this trial. As the circumstances of Onyx Crow providing weapons and funds to Al-Jahad were revealed, the atmosphere for the US is also expanding from this incident being a simple trial of a foreigner to a matter linked to a terrorist organization’s funding network.”
My eyes narrowed.
I knew that this situation would not end as a simple legal battle, but still, there was a promise I made.
“How is Elina doing?”
“She is showing a cooperative attitude to the maximum. We are also emphasizing that she was nothing more than a low-level member of the organization and that she had no choice but to do it because of the organization called Onyx Crow.”
I leaned my body back in the chair and closed my eyes for a moment.
That day in Iraq came to mind in my head.
Gunshots and thick dust, the memory of collapsing in the confusion.
Elina was at the center of all those incidents.
At that time, Elina clearly tried to kill me.
But that did not originate from sincerity.
I knew that better than anyone.
I muttered with a low voice.
“She had no choice but to do that work.”
Baek Yu-jin looked at me and said,
“Yes, that is right. The investigation results also support the circumstances that she had been monitored and threatened within the organization. In fact, it was also confirmed that her family was held hostage.”
I opened my eyes.
“That is why I brought all of her family members to Korea. Legal protection procedures are already in progress and we are providing a safe house on our side. We are guarding them so that Onyx Crow can no longer reach them.”
Not only simple sympathy was embedded in those words.
Guarding Elina’s family was not simple goodwill, but also included a strategy to completely bring her to the HJ Partners side.
Baek Yu-jin nodded and said.
“Elina also knows that well. It seems the cooperation so far is also thanks to that. Because she has the conviction that her family is safe.”
I let out a quiet breath.
The surgical scar still remained clearly near my chest.
That wound was not a simple trace, but also a symbol of this matter.
Baek Yu-jin looked at him for a while without a word.
I looked calm, but a mysterious compassion was felt within.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“We cannot say that she is completely innocent. However, it is also true that she was pushed into this situation. I do not intend to ignore that either. At least I want to keep what I promised.”