The funds needed for drug development are about 50 billion dollars. Of that, 45 billion dollars are expected to go to waste. It's inevitable. I'm planning to conduct ten clinical trials to achieve just one success. What investor would tolerate this? That's why I devised this inertia system. The strategy is to captivate investors with an 80% return and use the remaining 20% as a tax for developing the treatment. In short, the 50 billion dollars is just a tax. What I actually need to make is 200 billion dollars. That's roughly 258 trillion won.
At the time of my death, Samsung Electronics' market capitalization was around 330 trillion won. In other words, I have to become a walking conglomerate. In just ten years.
"Well, it's not impossible."
It's possible if I have a large asset under management. Starting with 100 million dollars to make 200 billion dollars is tough, but if I start with 10 billion, I only need to double it. Therefore, what I need is an asset under management. And the fastest way to grow that asset is to leverage a big-name investor, someone like Warren Buffett.
If Buffett invests somewhere, wouldn't you, if you had extra funds, put some there as well? That's credibility.
"Hoping for Buffett is just greedy…"
Anyway, he wouldn't join my fund; our risk profiles are completely different. A man who meticulously values good stocks through rigorous assessments wouldn't fall for something like a 'miracle 80:20 recipe.' I need to aim for a slightly more likely major investor.
In short, someone like a former Secretary of State or legendary diplomat who once helped a con artist steal 10 billion dollars.
"Sean?"
Ah, just in time.
Here's Princess Rachel, the only one in my network with ties to major investors.
"Did I… intrude on someone else's department too casually?" Rachel whispered softly, given that every eye in the department was fixed on her, with a few people even standing with their mouths open. It couldn't be helped. Our princess's appearance is practically cheating.
"Oh, not at all!"
"Sean's friend!"
"Which department do you belong to?"
The men, having regained their composure, swarmed in, but we couldn't waste time here. We had a lot to do today.
"Shall we go?"
We decided to have dinner in Koreatown. Normally, a low-level analyst wouldn't go out for dinner like this. But Rachel is a princess, and I'm a unicorn. Why save privileges?
"Was it wrong of me to come?" Rachel asked worriedly in the taxi. People did seem to give me a hard look when they saw me taking a rare beauty out.
"No, it's just that the people in the department don't really like me. Don't mind it."
"Then should I be more cautious…?"
"No, actually, You being here helps. It would be nice if you came often. It's easy to deal with guys who want to impress a beautiful woman."
"By the way, did you have a good time with your family?"
We've grown quite close over time. Although the princess hasn't directly revealed her father's identity, she's confessed enough for me to know her family is quite well off.
Additionally, yesterday she mentioned she'd be meeting with her father and brother.
"How long has it been since you saw them?"
"Probably about a month? My brother happened to be on a business trip…"
"Where does your brother live?"
"Mostly in Virginia."
"Were they worried? It's your first time meeting them since you got the job…"
I had shared quite a bit with Rachel about the stakes involved in my current wager. I wonder how much of it actually got through to her.
"Worried… yes, they were worried."
Is that it? No follow-up questions like "How's work life going?" or "Any new colleagues you've met recently…"
"Actually, to be honest…"
"We've arrived."
Darn. The flow was interrupted. But I can't rush things. If I ask too many questions, it'll only raise her guard.
"Do you enjoy Korean food?"
"Of course! I love Korean BBQ!"
It seems our princess is craving meat, but not today—I already had a menu in mind.
"Since we need to go back later, wouldn't the smell of meat be a bit noticeable?"
"True, but I don't know many other dishes…"
"How about bibimbap and pajeon?"
Rachel smiled brightly and nodded. It was worth choosing a place without grills to avoid tempting her carnivorous instincts.
After we placed our order, Rachel looked around and started talking.
"This is a bit unexpected. It's the first time I've heard you say you wanted to eat Korean food…"
"Chuseok was just recently, and I was too busy to celebrate."
"Chuseok?"
"Oh, you're unfamiliar? It's the Korean Thanksgiving."
Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. That's when I'm supposed to meet her father at the princess's mansion.
"Korea has a Thanksgiving too?"
"Yes, it's one of the biggest holidays. During Chuseok, families make all sorts of dishes, and in my family, we'd always mix the side dishes into a big bowl of bibimbap. That's probably why I start to crave it around this time of year."
Remember? I'm a poor orphan, longing for family gatherings during the holidays.
"Here is your bibimbap and pajeon."
The food arrived, but Rachel seemed unsure how to eat it, just watching me without picking up her spoon.
"Do you handle spicy food well?"
"I can eat jalapeños just fine…"
"Then add the gochujang, like this."
I added a generous amount of gochujang and sesame oil, mixing the vegetables thoroughly to show her. Rachel followed suit, but as a beginner, she didn't quite know how to mix it properly. She stirred it gingerly, barely incorporating the gochujang.
"Here, let me help you."
"No, it's fine. I can…"
"I'm just hungry, so let's get it ready quickly and eat together."
Rachel reluctantly handed me her bowl, and I gently separated the vegetables with a spoon, mixing it all thoroughly.
"Hmm, why can't I do it like you?"
She seemed genuinely fascinated. Her curious expression was pretty cute, but I couldn't afford to smile too fondly. I had to keep it wistful here.
"I couldn't do it well when I was younger, either. The vegetables are a bit stringy, so it takes effort. That's why my parents always mixed it for me."
"…"
Let's just stop here for today. No need for me to start a melodrama by saying, 'I miss my family.' That would only backfire. A fund manager swayed by emotions doesn't inspire confidence. What's important is associating the word 'Thanksgiving' with me, subtly leading Princess Rachel to invite me on her own. Since I've set that up, it's time to move on to the next mission.
"How have you been lately, Rachel?"
Rachel lowered her head suddenly, pushing her spoon into the well-mixed bibimbap.
"Sigh, I really don't think I'm suited for this work."
This is my second task for today. I have a feeling our princess is close to quitting. If Rachel leaves Goldman, our relationship might fade away naturally. But I can't let that happen. Rachel needs to stay here, building a strong bond with me as her colleague.
"Is the work very difficult?"
"It's not that I dislike the grunt work. I even get to attend client meetings, so I know I'm privileged. But I'm not sure this time is meaningful… it doesn't feel like a good fit, and I lack talent…"
This is a phase every analyst faces. When you're trapped in a building from morning until dawn, doing reverse engineering, it's natural to wonder if this is what life is all about. Honestly, the world wouldn't suffer much if reverse engineering specialists just vanished. The solution? Financial motivation. The problem is that financial motivation doesn't work on a princess who already has plenty of money.
"It's too early to judge your talent or aptitude. Who's great from the start?"
Rachel pursed her lips at my words, and her expression made her thoughts clear: 'You're a unicorn.'
"I didn't have natural talent either. I just put in more time."
"Time?"
"I spent four years in medical school, so I see this industry differently than others."
"That… makes sense."
"Time doesn't lie. The results will reflect the time you put in."
It feels a bit ironic for me to say that, given that I've benefited from some fortunate breaks. But I did put in the time.
"Are you telling me… to put in more effort?"
"No, effort isn't necessary. Just keep doing it."
"What?"
"Effort is a word that appeals to emotions, as in, 'I'm struggling, but I'm still trying my best.' It emphasizes feelings and willpower. But feelings and willpower aren't what matter. In the end, it's the numbers that deliver results."
"…"
"The more you input, the more output you'll naturally have. If you fail ten times, try a hundred times, and something is bound to work. Try a thousand times, and you might succeed ten times. Try ten thousand times, and miracles happen."
It's no lie. I only discovered my big break after countless failures. If I'd given up after a hundred attempts, I would have never found it.
But Rachel just stared down at her bibimbap with a hesitant look.
'Did I sound too much like a lecture?' Judging by her expression, I might have. Time to adjust course.
"Well, I say all that, but…"
Here, I should give a compassionate smile like a wise kung fu master.
"As humans, we're bound to be influenced by emotions, so it's important to do what we love. What is it that you enjoy, Rachel?"
Rachel's expression softened. Fortunately, she didn't seem to mind my awkward topic shift.
"Hmm… what I enjoy…?"
"It's simple. Is there something you continue to put effort into, even if you don't get anything in return?"
It's an abrupt career counseling moment, but if she doesn't fit here, I'll just have to help her find another path.
"Well, it might sound silly… but I actually wanted to pursue art."
"Why is that silly?"
I must have hit the right button, as her green eyes started to shimmer with emotion. Looks like I moved her, which is a good thing, but… Please, don't look at me like that. Her gaze is still something I'm not used to; it never fails to disarm me. If I look away, it'll seem cold, but it's hard to keep looking at her directly. Thankfully, she broke eye contact first, looking down with a faint, bitter smile.
"The truth is… I don't have any talent for art. Not that I've tried ten thousand times or anything…"
This isn't so bad.
"Do you still invest time in it?"
"I make time to visit galleries. I don't actually paint…"
"Then how about becoming a gallery owner?"
I genuinely recommend this path. Art buyers are typically wealthy, and if Rachel runs a gallery, she'll develop her own network of affluent clients, separate from her family.
"To run a gallery, I'd need to be able to recognize the value of art, right? I don't have that kind of eye. I just look at paintings I like… and they're usually not even profitable pieces…"
"That's fine. You can always hire employees who have a good eye and are financially savvy."
"What? But if I do that, what would I be doing…?"
"Rachel, you have a strong background and connections. That's a competitive advantage that money can't buy."
Why hold back when she has such a valuable asset?
"But… isn't that unfair?"
As expected from a princess, she's considerate of her future competitors.
"Instead of competitors, why not think of supporting artists?"
"Artists?"
"Artists who create the kinds of paintings you enjoy. You just mentioned they don't typically create profitable works."
"Yes, I do seem to have a knack for choosing those kinds of artists…"
"That's exactly it. Other gallery owners will ignore them because they don't make money. But the one person who can support these artists is a gallery owner who has the means. There aren't many like that in the world."
"…!"
"Rachel, you could be the guiding light for struggling, unrecognized artists."
Looks like the idea of doing something beneficial resonates with her.
"I hadn't thought of that…"
"Consider it. If you decide to run a gallery, then your time at Goldman won't be wasted."
"What?"
"Running a gallery is ultimately a brokerage job, isn't it? Goldman may be in a different field, but it's also brokerage. The know-how you gain here will be incredibly useful later."
"…!"
Finally, we've reached the main point. To make Rachel's two years at Goldman meaningful, all I need to do is frame it as a stepping stone toward her dream.
"Not only that. Every person you meet now could be a potential client for your future gallery. You can start building your client list in advance. Plus, you can visit their offices and get a sense of their tastes through their decor."
"…!"
"There's no need to decide right away; take your time to think it over. Who knows, these two years at Goldman might become an invaluable asset to you."
"…Yes."
Rachel smiled slightly. It was a smile I'd never seen from her before.
A bright smile, genuinely heartfelt. 'This one might take a while to wear off.' At the very least, she probably won't be handing in her resignation anytime soon.
But then—
"Thank you, really…"
Is it just me, or is there a strange, tingly feeling in the air? This could be dangerous… Maybe I'm overthinking it, but if her feelings toward me develop into something romantic? That would be problematic. To me, Rachel isn't a woman. She's a client, one who can bring in major investors.
"Did you get home late last night?"
"Yes, it was our first time meeting in a while, so we stayed until midnight…"
I quickly changed the topic, and Rachel responded immediately, seemingly wanting to shake off that same awkwardness.
"That's quite late. It must have been tiring for your father, getting to Greenwich at that hour…"
"Oh, he'll be fine. He's been staying at the Met for a while…"
Rachel said it casually, then paused, realizing her slip.
"The Met? You mean the Metropolitan Museum?"
"Yes, he has a place in the city too. It's a bit hard to commute from Greenwich…"
When I brought up the well-known "Met," Rachel visibly relaxed. That told me something important: the "Met" she mentioned isn't an art museum. Given her status, there's only one plausible guess: the Metropolitan Club.
Located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, it's a private social club with a strict membership policy. If this is true… this is a huge opportunity. From Rachel to her father, and from her father to the club. That's only two steps to get in.
'She's definitely a big catch.'
The Metropolitan Club isn't a place where you can just buy your way in; entry is strictly by invitation from an existing member. Wealth is just the baseline; trustworthiness is essential. Building a relationship with Rachel could be the way to crack that barrier in this lifetime. No, I have to make it happen, by any means necessary. The club is a gathering place for only the wealthiest of the wealthy.
How exclusive is it? Well, four U.S. presidents have been members. That gives you an idea.
TL/n -
Metropolitan Club (New York City) - Wikipedia