New York’s stock market had once plunged by more than five percent. There was the fear of a global economic crisis and the U.S. president was also facing possible impeachment due to his sex scandal. Korea was also tense as the citizens condemned the Daehyun Group for donating three hundred thousand tons of rice to North Korea.

On the other hand, England was quiet. Surprisingly, Jessica flew in from New York, not England, to meet me. Her beauty grabbed people’s attention as she had erased her previous rustic look.

“Long time no see, Ethan.”

The airport restaurant was almost empty, and it seemed it would close soon. Jessica started smoking a cigarette, and I also lit the one she handed me.

“I wanted to see you again, but I didn’t expect to meet you in Korea,” she said.

“The Russian financial war and the Wall Street takeover battle all began in this country,” I replied.

“As far as I know, Korea is not an attractive market. Well, it could’ve been before Jeon-il and the government became friends. Also, the start-up investment company is aggressive but also has lots of money. They invested another ten billion dollars a few days ago,” she responded.

“You’re interested in this country, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Everyone is. As you said, a lot has begun in Korea. But Ethan, why are you here?” she questioned.

I answered, “Let’s stop talking about me.”

“I tried to lighten the mood, but I’ve gone too far. I apologize,” she said.

“It’s quiet, though. This is the perfect place to talk,” I replied.

Jessica nodded with a smile, and I asked, “How was New York?”

“Everyone wanted to work in Wall Street and get hired by those prestigious names, the ones with history and impeccable reputations. It didn’t feel real that I was up against them, but when I saw their desperation during the takeover meetings…How was it? It was an amazing experience.”

She brightened as she spoke, and she was talking about the hedge funds and financial institutions that were on the verge of bankruptcy.

“Do you know that one of the founders of the fund we acquired was the former president’s economic adviser?” she asked.

“You mean the Landmark Capital, right?” I questioned.

“Yes.” Her eyes deepened with emotion.

Jessica must have been recalling the financial war that had happened over the past few months. Although she didn’t have to risk her life like how Woo Yeon-Hee had done in the dungeon, those days were meaningful for her. It was difficult to get an opportunity to see a battle where billions of dollars were flying around. In terms of skill, she had achieved the ‘Night Eyes.’ It was just a level of lighting up the darkness for now, but she could see more as the class went up.

I determined that her apprenticeship had ended because of the message I had received from Gillian. He talked about things he could’ve done more during the battle, and he mentioned Jessica had independently come up with those points.

“Let’s talk about us. Last month, Gillian requested me to let you be the head of a desk team,” I said.

“Ah, please don’t say that,” she responded.

“Huh?”

“I just guessed, and it would’ve been pointless if a single variable changed the war. You haven’t shown them my report, right?” she hurriedly asked.

“What do you mean by them?” I questioned.

She clarified, “The directing department…Those who created the investment proposal. They would laugh at it. Who are they? I still can’t forget the shock of the day. I haven’t slept properly since the day I saw the proposal.”

“You are talking about this.”

I took out a new investment proposal, and Jessica stretched out her hand first. She picked it up but put it down with an awkward smile.

“You can take a look. That’s why I brought it,” I suggested.

“Really?”

Her eyes burned with joy, but she didn’t open the proposal.

“I don’t know how much Gillian exaggerated, but your clients are making a mistake. He said what I learned from this financial war would be useless, and I agree,” she said.

Jessica was a smart woman, and she knew what reading the proposal directly meant.

“I have to study more under Gillian,” she said.

“Hmm, that’s not what he thinks,” I responded.

“No, what I meant is that I can’t leave the Isle of Man. There’s so much left for me to learn from Gillian. Just a few months ago, I was just a phone clerk, but all of a sudden…Ethan, I hope I’m not misunderstanding,” she hesitated.

“My clients and I also think the same as Gillian, but I can’t force you. Would you like to listen to our offer?” I asked.

***

The funds in the Isle of Man were used for the Wall Street takeover. So far, they had acquired three major hedge funds, including Landmark Capital. Two of the three had given up their portfolios, system, and client funds. However, the former U.S. president’s economic adviser from Landmark Capital was different as he managed to save a small partnership. Those people used the firm’s bankruptcy as an investment method, and the New York and the Isle of Man companies were competing against those people.

Some losers received government bailouts instead of getting it from private companies, some managed to make a profit, and the rest lost everything they had to us. This was the takeover battle in Wall Street right now.

“Our clients want to have a global asset manager,” I said.

I didn’t know how much Gillian had told her, but Jessica nodded as if she had expected it from the order to be aggressive in takeovers.

“The takeovers are only the beginning. Not only are the independent hedge funds undergoing negotiation but the investment institutions with various funds are also as well,” I began.

“Yes,” she responded.

I continued, “We’re planning to tie up some of them to a group the size of Bluestone Group.”

“You know that Jonathan Investment is following the same path, right?” she asked.

“I’m the one who got the Isle of Man and New York talking. I guess you haven’t heard that yet,” I replied.

“Oh, really?”

“Jonathan Investment is a key player in this war, and, of course, their warehouses are stacked full of cash. I couldn’t let you compete against them. Also, we’re in a similar situation,” I said.

“Yes, Gillian was reaching an understanding with them. That was because of you…”

Jessica looked at me differently now.

“Wall Street is in a similar situation with this country,” I said.

We would only need to reap the profits after the fires died out.

“The results will be clear as time goes by. It might expand into a bigger firm than the Bluestone, who knows,” I continued.

She replied, “It’s surprising, but I believe that from what I’ve seen.”

“Our clients chose Gillian as the CEO, and he will leave the Isle of Man. He just needs to consent,” I said.

“But am I going to stay?” she questioned.

“You’re not just staying there, but we’d like to promote you to Gillian’s current position,” I replied.

Jessica took another cigarette and stared at the proposal on the desk while smoking without a word. She picked it up after finishing the cigarette.

“This is too much, but I guess this chance won’t come back. Can I decide after reading this? I’d rather give it a try…I can’t resist it,” she said.

“Of course,” I answered with a smile.

Jessica finally opened the proposal and looked like a professor grading reports. Various emotions flashed across her face, but she seemed disappointed.

“Is this from the same department?” she asked.

“What’s the matter?” I questioned.

“It’s different from what I expected. I don’t see the genius here,” she responded.

“Yes, it’s from the same department, and it’s an absolute rule that you must follow,” I replied.

“Is there more?” she asked.

“What are you expecting, Jessica? Did you want the U.S. to collapse this time?”

“How much money will I manage?” she questioned.

“Twice of the original Isle of Man funds. The rest will be allocated to existing major shareholders or transferred to a new asset manager,” I explained.

Then, her face hardened a little.

“Thirty billion dollars…” she mumbled.

“It’s a large amount, but not that much of a challenge,” I said.

She nodded.

“The rules are the same this time. You won’t be responsible for losing money if you follow the proposal,” I added.

“So all I have to do is buy and press down the market,” she replied.

“And you have to lead over a hundred elite managers at the same time. What’s your choice? Would you like to stay on the Isle of Man or follow Gillian? You don’t have to decide now. I’ll give you enough…”

“I’ll stay.”

Jessica answered immediately.

***

The new investment proposal was simple. It could be exaggerated with computer dissemination and Supply Network data, but all it stated was that they needed to purchase major IT stocks in the New York NASDAQ.

It was currently the tail end of 1998 and anyone could earn a huge profit with dotcom. A pet supply firm received two hundred million dollars of investment just because it had dotcom, and the value of companies selling fiber-optic parts jumped more than forty times. It was an era when the dream of communication networks came true. Society’s hope for the twenty first century exploded beyond simple wishes to a fanatic level. The dotcom era where monkeys could make money was about to come as the world went completely insane for internet startups.