The sputtering fireworks filled the sky as the Russian bond sales event ended in success at the Moscow Federal Hall. 1.2 billion dollars worth of bonds had been sold before Jonathan’s arrival, but now the amount had doubled up to three billion. Jonathan was the major “contributing” factor as he purchased one billion under the name of the New York firm while his presence impacted other investors.

<Jonathan: Private jets are always the best even though this one is a rental.>

Jonathan was in his private jet and holding a big satellite telephone next to his ear.

<Seon-Hu: It’s time to buy our own jet, so pick the model you like. But don’t only stick to your taste since others will fly in it. Consider the practicality.>

Then, Jonathan asked the flight attendants to give him space and lowered his voice.

<Jonathan: I think I might have ruined the Isle of Man company. I followed your instructions, but this could be a team kill, Sun.>

<Seon-Hu: Don’t worry about it. You have a billion dollar bomb with you.>

<Jonathan: It’s such a difficult task.>

<Seon-Hu: You should pass it on to others within a month.>

<Jonathan: You still remember that the European banks including DP Krump hate us, right? Not just them, but everyone knows that we bet against the great financial institutions on the Hong Kong interest rate and that we took a lot from them.>

<Seon-Hu: So, do as much as you can. I’m certain that Russia will pop champagne tomorrow.>

<Jonathan: They will issue more government bonds, right?>

<Seon-Hu: Yes, they will issue at least six billion Eurobonds and over a billion in government bonds. Isn’t it a justification for you? You can just say you miscalculated.>

<Jonathan: That’s…a good idea. I wrote down the names of those who were dying to buy some today. Ugh, what a waste of money. I paid a fifty million commission fee to the Silverman. We will spend at least another one hundred million dollars on them.>

<Seon-Hu: Yes, maybe.>

<Jonathan: I can’t get used to giving away one hundred million dollars for nothing.>

A billion dollars were thrown away just to fuel the fire in the stock market. It was actually cheaper than I expected. Those who claimed that Russia wouldn’t go bankrupt were willing to purchase bonds, and others joined them while thinking they were missing out on an ‘opportunity.’ A massive amount of money from speculators all over the world was flowing through Russia. Our plan on deliberately starting an artificial boom in Russian Government bonds was working perfectly.

<Seon-Hu: Things are going as we planned, and that’s enough.>

<Jonathan: No one would throw away a hundred million just to raise the stakes, Sun. Thanks to you, every day is spectacular.>

I changed the subject.

<Seon-Hu: What about the Chief of the Presidential Executive Office?>

<Jonathan: He seemed to belong to the KGB at first glance, and he acted like a spy. However, he liked talking about money and asked to move to a private spot for a discussion as soon as I mentioned it. Things ended then as I only had to show him my checkbook.>

<Seon-Hu: So?>

<Jonathan: Two million dollars. But that official must have noticed immediately that it was a bribe. Which hedge fund would guarantee seed money?>

Jonathan had complained no one would waste one hundred million dollars for all this, but it sounded more realistic than a hedge fund guaranteeing seed money. However, we had offered the Russian official seed money, and ensured that we would secure capital. Jonathan asked him to invest as much as he can, and we would give him dividends annually.

<Jonathan: What are you planning to do with connections to the Russian cabinet? The current president’s people have completely monopolized the state enterprises, so there’s no room to squeeze in.>

<Seon-Hu: Russia will go bankrupt soon.>

<Jonathan: Yes, they will.>

<Seon-Hu: Everyone will be replaced.>

Russia’s former president attempted to bring capitalism into a socialist system, but the current government tried to dismantle the current system before embracing capitalism. As a result, he had many political enemies in Russia, and they would start attacking him fiercely when Russia went bankrupt, as it had happened in the past.

<Jonathan: Sun has sentenced poor Russia to death. He won’t last if the country is ruined on his watch.>

Jonathan said he was enjoying himself, and he must be pleased since he called me. It would have been a fantastic experience for him to meet the world leaders in person at the bonds sales event.

<Seon-Hu: How far has the New York company progressed?>

<Jonathan: The three funds managed by Onider Associates has remained the same as there was nothing we had to touch.>

<Seon-Hu: How about the one hundred billion dollars of client deposits from ANC and Blue Rock?>

<Jonathan: The Onider employees…No, I should say they’re our executives now. Anyway, they and the people we got from Blue Rock have suggested that we should run the three hedge funds as Onider had.>

<Seon-Hu: Go on.>

<Jonathan: Since we haven’t named the fund, let’s leave them as A, B, and C. For instance, A is a buy-out fund, B is a market-neutral fund, and C is an event drive fund.>

<Seon-Hu: How much is each?>

<Jonathan: Thirty billion for A, fifty billion for B, and twenty billion for C.>

<Seon-Hu: Make another one, then tie up the US government pensions and our remaining funds. Place the two million we got from the Russian official.>

I explained that the A, B, and C funds would be managed by our elite managers, and the last fund I mentioned would be aggressively invested based on my investment proposal.

<Jonathan: Who’s going to be in charge of it? Didn’t you say that you were busy with offshore funds?>

<Seon-Hu: He would’ve arrived at the New York firm by now. Contact the company.>

<Jonathan: Who did you send?>

<Seon-Hu: His name is Brian Kim, so leave it to him. He’ll look like a loser and others might not like him, but you’re the owner of the firm. Strongly appeal to executives and staff, and in two months, the results will be evident.>

<Jonathan: Complaints will disappear with good results, but the funds exceed twenty billion dollars. Is he capable of managing that amount? If so, I would’ve heard of him, but I haven’t.>

No one knew Kim Cheong-Soo as he himself didn’t know his potential during this period.

<Seon-Hu: Give him as many elites as possible from Onider and also plenty of authority.>

<Jonathan: You’re saying that his background isn’t good. Is…he around my age?>

<Seon-Hu: He is in his mid-thirties. Keep in mind that you are the one who wrote the investment proposal, Jonathan.>

<Jonathan: You’re putting everything on me again. I’ll take it with pleasure.>

***

Kim Cheong-Soo felt weird. The founder of Onider Associates was one of his role models. He demonstrated outstanding performance at Bank of America and expanded his firm by increasing the number of employees from forty to thirteen hundred in just two years. He won many awards that year as well.

That role model had announced that he would sell his company and only manage his own portfolio, which meant his retirement. Kim Cheong-Soo didn’t have much thought when he first heard the news as several other role models followed the same path. When the funds grew too large, one needed to shrink them. The method was simple, and it was selling the company and forming a personal fund with one’s accumulated profits. In other words, it was an honorary retirement.

Kim Cheong-Soo smiled with embarrassment as he entered the former Onider Associates, which was now renamed Jonathan Investments. He used to think Jonathan was only a lucky guy. However, his thoughts changed after reading his book. He had been shocked after receiving a recruiting email, as Jonathan’s name had serious substance.

Russia will go bankrupt as he predicts. Then how much richer will he become?, Kim Cheong-Soo thought.

Kim Cheong-Soo felt as if he was living in the same era as a historical figure that was going to be mentioned for centuries, and the file attached to the email made him think that. The investment proposal was a masterpiece written by a genius.

“Hello, I’m Brian Kim,” he said politely.

“You have an appointment with the CEO. There's a reception room in the secretary’s office on the top floor. He’ll be back soon, so would you like to wait there?” the secretary asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Kim Cheong-Soo replied.

He tried to calm down while waiting for Jonathan as he had to remain cool. He didn’t know how Jonathan found him and what he saw in him, but this was obviously an interview. The portfolio was for twenty-two billion dollars based on the predicted Russian moratorium announcement in late July. Kim Cheong-Soo reviewed the documents he had brought and practiced answering random questions.

Then, he heard someone coming in, and he followed the secretary who guided him into the CEO's office. The same face he saw in Jonathan’s book and the media was smiling at him.

“I’m sorry to make you wait so long. I came running as soon as I arrived from Russia. I hope you understand,” Jonathan said.

Kim Cheong-Soo knew about the event in Moscow yesterday as it was a big deal.

“The news coverage of the event would be available now. Have you checked?” Jonathan asked.

Kim Cheong-Soo realized that he had made a mistake.

“Do you know what I’m asking?” Jonathan questioned.

Kim Cheong-Soo replied,“You’re talking about the Silverman Sox’s bonds sale event at the Federal Center in Moscow. I apologize for not doing so. I was so focused on preparing for this meeting,”

The first interview question was to confirm his qualifications as a manager, but Kim Cheong-Soo couldn't provide an answer. It was a blunder. Jonathan showed him an article on a monitor so Kim Cheong-Soo could see it too. It was about the event that ended in great success where the three billion dollars worth of government bonds were sold in a day. Kim Cheong-Soo’s brain whirred and thought about how much this money would affect the proposal’s estimations.

This amount would have a trivial effect, and this will… Kim Cheong-Soo thought.

He soon looked at Jonathan with admiring eyes.

“Did you buy Russian government bonds by chance?” he asked.

The guy who predicted that Russia would go bankrupt bought their bonds? If that was the case…

“I just purchased a billion dollars worth of bonds. Will I profit or lose?” Jonathan asked.

Kim Cheong-Soo felt a shudder in his spine, and the thrill quickly spread throughout his body.

He is raising the stakes!

The Caucasian guy in front of him was incredibly bold at making a decision.

“Congratulations, Jonathan! You will succeed as you have done in Asia,” Kim Cheong-Soo said.

However, Jonathan’s reply was shocking and thought he heard him wrong.

“Excuse me? Could you please say that again?” Kim Cheong-Soo widened his eyes.

“It’s your turn now. I want to give you a chance. I want you to manage what I got from the Asian Financial Crisis,” Jonathan responded.