“You shouldn’t copy and paste the major websites just because you’ll receive a lot of funds. I’m certain of PageRank technology’s searching methods. I’m asking for just two things,” Jonathan said.

“First, maintain a simple text-based design exclusively for search. Second, there should be mutual consent regarding mergers and acquisitions. If you agree to these two conditions, I’ll hand over everything else so that you can move forward in building your new company as you wish,” he added.

All the documents had been prepared in advance, and the man’s fear quickly disappeared as he talked with Jonathan about his vision for the new business. The contract was now concluded.

“You’ll have a celebration party with your partner, right? To celebrate becoming a millionaire,” Jonathan asked.

“Of course,” the man answered.

Jonathan asked, “Do you mind if I join? I’d like to attend as a friend, not as a manager of an investment company. Also, I’d like to meet your partner.”

“Yeah, sure. I can’t wait to tell you everything about this.”

The man left the office with a smile, but Jonathan lost him when he was gone.

“Oh, gosh. I can’t believe that idiot was really about to turn down twenty million; at least he took it in the end. Computer nerds are…”

History had changed again, and Googol would start with a proper office in Silicon Valley instead of in a garage. Also, they would start hiring people they wanted now instead of when the dotcom bubble broke. Of course, they wouldn’t be able to grow quickly at the present. There were pieces of a puzzle that needed to be put together such as the change of advertising strategies from television to the internet. Then, things would explode quickly.

“Well, it was like this when you sent Brian Kim to me,” Jonathan said while staring at me.

I took out a piece of paper with a bankbook and password on it.

“Unicorn Corporation?” Jonathan checked the bankbook.

Unicorn had succeeded in making a legendary profit rate during the Russian financial war, so it was our symbol of fortune. With the money, the firm could now purchase another IT firm that had been put off until now: a software and data company.

“The entire IT industry will go crazy soon, so we have to secure Predict no matter how aggressive the merger or acquisition becomes,” I said.

“Under the name of Unicorn Corporation, right?” Jonathan questioned.

“Of course,” I replied.

“Ah, I shouldn’t make the board members do this. I guess I have to be responsible for this, but under this firm’s name,” Jonathan held up my password and the bankbook.

I looked at him. “You must have lots of connections by now.”

“The workload doubles whenever you come…But yes…more money.”

Jonathan got up with a smirk and put on his overcoat. He had to leave now to attend an appointment with the Secretary of the Treasury, and I could see Jonathan’s secretary’s shadow outside.

“We should continue what we started yesterday, Sun. You won’t chicken out, right?” Jonathan smiled.

“Just go,” I said.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go. I already know what they’ll say and how they’ll look at me,” Jonathan whined.

The U.S. Treasury Department hoped to influence and intimate Jonathan Investments as we now managed over five hundred billion dollars. I heard a knock, and it was Jonathan’s secretary.

“The board members left first. You should leave now, sir,” the secretary said.

“Wait a minute. Can’t you see that I’m wearing my coat?” Jonathan grimaced at the secretary.

Jonathan waited for the door to close again and said, “The government doesn’t want us to start a bank. I haven’t mentioned a single word, but they have chickened out already.”

He stared at me, and while I had not said a single word, he seemed to be aware of what I had wanted for a long time. He was waiting for my instructions and added one more thing.

“We can be aggressive now. Tell me. What do you want me to do?”

It wasn’t the time yet.

“The Treasury Department  will make an offer one day. Just keep your mouth shut and get the pension funds,” I responded.

“You’re so…Us idiots can’t keep up with your thoughts. Okay, good. Things are getting very interesting. I’ll be back, so don’t forget about tonight. I’ll be insanely mad if you fly to Seoul,” Jonathan said.

***

The snow began to fall harder, and I wondered where the First Evil would be. I was certain that he became a psycho even before the Trial Tests, and that was why I searched for him first among the Eight Evils and the Eight Virtues. He was called evil for rejecting the System, but it was the perfect word to describe him. His whereabouts were still unknown.

I visited a private investigation firm I had hired, and John Clark of the ZOPI Group looked like he had been waiting for me. He would be as I would be their biggest client.

“We’ve sent you 1500 photos so far.”

In the meantime, he explained how hard they had been working, and I agreed. They were doing everything they could except one thing.

“There’s a high possibility that he has gone down a bad path. This boy has no family,” I said.

“But juvenile prison is out of our bounds as our group doesn’t have access to the court database,” he replied.

I suggested, “Why don’t you start with the missing children in the orphanage?”

“What’s the scope of the investigation?” he questioned.

“The same as before. Start in New York, then expand the search. As I said, the cost isn’t a problem, so please find him,” I replied.

John Clark stood up as if he had been waiting for this word, then locked the office door. He didn’t look hostile but cautious as he spoke.

“I apologize, but I have investigated you and your company using your business card as I had to report something urgently and was unable to reach you.”

He was talking about the month when I entered the dungeon in Hwasung.

“The phone number is fake, but why is that a problem?” I asked.

Paper companies were everywhere on Wall Street.

“Of course, you can feel uncomfortable, but I want you to understand that we work as lawyers. We keep our clients’ secrets to our graves. We weren’t supposed to investigate the client, but as I told you, it was inevitable.”

He looked at me as if he smelled money or had made a huge bet despite not knowing the outcome. He must have remembered the numbers he had seen while cleaning up Wall Street. I was becoming more interested in this man.

“You’re rambling,” I said.

“I knew it from the first time I saw you, Ethan. You smell like me. I mean, we have the same vibes.” He was certain.

“I’d like to meet your boss,” he added.

He was now dreaming of deviation. He was a veteran who smelled a large amount of money, and didn’t want to stay only a partner of the private investigating firm ZOPI. When he didn’t hear the answer he had been waiting for, he said tentatively., “The ZOPI group cannot access court data, and you won’t find such a service in other companies either. However, there’s an illegal way…”

“That’s why you want to see my boss,” I said.

“Yes, I’d like to elaborate on the services I can offer,” he replied.

“If that’s the case, you don’t need to see my boss. I understand what you mean, and I have enough discretion in situations like this,” I answered.

This guy wanted to go solo and earn a sponsor with money. Who wouldn’t when they saw all the money flowing out of Wall Street? We called these people ‘cleaners,’ those who did anything for money.

“You’ve become one of us after working in Wall Street,” I said.

He smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He was betting on his career. If I accepted his offer, he would win big, but if I refused and accused his group, he would lose everything.

“Can I look forward to other services from now on?” I asked.

There was no need for details as he suggested he would work outside of the law. John agreed outright.

“We should nullify our contract with ZOPI. Please bring me the cancellation document,” I said.

He seemed ecstatic like he had won everything.

“And please give me a budget as soon as you get ready. You just have to put in the amount as much as you want without going into details,” I said.

Wall Street was special as it had an endless cornucopia of money, enough to make a soldier like John who fought for me voluntarily become a cleaner.

“Let’s get to work, John.”