InkBound

CH22 | DI

“Live deals… three… all IPO bake-offs… not too long ago…” Brent’s sentence was disjointed, but Pierce caught the key clues hidden within it. 

Bake-off: in Wall Street jargon, a bake-off refers to a private bidding competition where companies invite several banks to bid for their business, and the bank presenting the most ‘delicious numbers’ wins the deal.

“So, are you saying these companies on the list recently held private bidding rounds?”

“Yeah...

CH227

CarOS, true to its company name, is creating an operating system that controls not just autonomous driving but the entire car.

Therefore, it’s the most suitable form for electric vehicles, where everything is powered by electricity. That’s why we ultimately aimed to move towards electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles have been a hot topic for several years, and the names Tesla and BYD are frequently mentioned, but actual electric vehicle sales are only about 1 percent of total...

CH391 - CH392

CH391

Helag said, “But the outcome was good, so there’s no reason to punish me, right?”

Pruis nodded, “Exactly. That’s why, along with our strong arguments, you weren’t punished and even received some rewards. However, due to these factors, your reward was relatively small. A thousand contribution points may seem like a lot, but it doesn’t match your actual contribution.”

“Mainly, when your signal suddenly disappeared, we all thought you...

CH134 | GSI

Chairman’s Office, Daehung Group Headquarters

"The approvals are done. Take them away."

"Yes, Chairman."

Assistant Manager Jung Yoon-kyung responded briefly and gathered a hefty stack of approved documents from one side of the large mahogany desk.

"Phew... Staring at nothing but words all day is exhausting. Bring me a strong cup of coffee."

"Understood."

Chairman Park Tae-hong removed his readi...

CH133 | GSI

"Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule."

At a private room in Tokyo, an upscale Japanese restaurant in Gangbuk, Seok-won sat across from Choi Bok-rak, the Section Chief of the Securities Supervisory Service's Investigation Department 1.

Choi, a man of medium height with a lean frame and gold-rimmed glasses, eyed Seok-won with a hint of suspicion.

“How do you know Professor Woo?”

Seok-won responded with a relaxed smile, his tone smooth an...

CH135 | GSI

April 9, 1995 – New York, USA, 4:30 PM

The setting sun cast a crimson glow between the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, slowly dipping below the horizon.

Landon entered the One New York Plaza building, carefully balancing a takeaway coffee carrier in both hands.

Since it was the weekend, the vast lobby—adorned with expensive natural marble flooring—was eerily silent, save for two private security guards, each with a holstered gun ...

CH226

The arrest of the former president, not even two months after leaving office, was a social shock.

The majority’s reaction was that he got what he deserved, but some supporters held sporadic protests in various locations, claiming Park Si-hyeong’s innocence.

Several conservative media outlets, including the Joongilbo, published articles calling it political retaliation, and the internet was noisy again.

– lol Kang Jin-hoo, not the special prosecutor, arrested the for...

CH155

While Park Ji-hoon devoted himself to rugby, Peter spent every day glued to his computer.

Weighed down by the burden of his scholarship obligations due to his tough circumstances.

But then.

Encouraged by Park Ji-hoon, he ran for the position of freshman vice president!

(Effortlessly, in true Tennessean style) he won and received an incredible prize: a one-year tuition waiver…

Now, he had no choice but to pledge absolute loyalty to his benefac...

CH154

“Where would you like to go?”

The taxi driver asked, turning around as he hailed the cab.

“Please take me to the Royal School.”

“Oh! Are you a student at the Royal School?”

Tennessee didn’t reply to the driver’s question. Instead, he just turned his gaze towards the window.

The driver quietly placed his hand on the gearshift.

Vroom!

As the taxi picked up speed, Tennessee was lost in thought.

—Of c...

CH153

Tennessee faithfully relayed my words.

It seems the other party was puzzled.

“Would Americans really buy such expensive fabric?”

Worry not.

America is truly a kingdom of consumption.

If not available, they borrow, and if there’s nowhere to borrow from, they might as well rob a store… anyway!

Their purchasing power is top-notch globally.

The question is whether there are luxury brands that can handle BQ and fabric, ...

CH152

15 minutes later.

Devon, feeling stifled, called us out of the training room.

On a quiet bench sat four pizzas stacked high.

“What are you doing?”

Devon shot a glare, and a question mark practically popped up over Tennessee’s head.

“Pass them out. Quickly.”

As the son of a noble family, had he ever been treated like this?

“Take three boxes. One is mine.”

“Are we each eating a whole box?”

“Of course.”...

CH151

“Left, check the spacing.”

“Le-eft! Spaaaacing! Pay atteeeention!”

They say his dream is to be a soldier.

Maybe that’s why his voice is already fit for a battlefield.

Tennessee had never, in his life, heard such a loud voice.

It wasn’t just loud.

“Don’t run.”

“Don’t ruuun! You’re scouts! You don’t have to grab everything!”

As expected of Jack, who had a knack for tactics.

“Fall back.”
<...

CH225

Even as this was happening, the number of likes kept climbing. Hollywood stars and all sorts of celebrities were enthusiastically clicking and sharing the post.

What are these people doing, not sleeping at this hour?

Ah! It must be daytime in the US right now.

Unlike my bewildered reaction, the airline services students from Se-in University sitting across from me were squealing with delight.

“What are the odds? For such a famous person to like it!”

“L...

CH132 | GSI

The Next Day

The main hall on the first floor of Daehung Securities' headquarters in Yeouido was, as usual, packed with investors of all ages and backgrounds, radiating an intense energy.

Despite the crowd being so dense that people’s shoulders were brushing against each other, every pair of eyes was fixed on the large electronic display board mounted on one wall of the hall.

Staring intently at the screen, the crowd reacted with expressions of joy, dis...

CH131 | GSI

"Do you need anything else?"

Rodney, who was visiting George Soros's mansion in Southampton, Long Island, smiled at the question from Soros’s wife, Isla.

"Dinner was so delicious that I don’t think I have any room left for more."

"Oh my."

Isla, a strikingly intelligent beauty with dark hair, offered a gentle smile.

As Soros’s wife—seventeen years his junior—her beauty had yet to fade, and she still radiated charm.

"Then I'll leave you two to...

CH130 | GSI

Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

To celebrate the weekend, Woo Ho-geun and his two friends were partying with slender models at Chairman Woo Yong-gap’s villa, built right beside the Bukhan River.

Although it was late March and the weather was still chilly, the large glass greenhouse enclosing the pool was filled with warm water, making it perfect for swimming and relaxation.

A long table was laid out with fine champagne, fresh fruit, and thinly sliced ham,...

CH389 - CH390

CH389

Typically, Helag would spend four to five months on the airship, with a standard room costing around 1,000 magic stones.

A luxury suite for such a duration would normally cost tens of thousands of magic stones.

However, due to vacancies and Brad’s connections, Helag secured the suite at a discounted rate.

The luxury suite spanned over 200 square meters, fully equipped with all amenities.

It included personalized service, with staff a...

CH129 | GSI

Daheung Securities Headquarters

During the morning rush hour, Seok-won, dressed in a navy suit and a luxury tie, walked through the revolving door into the spacious lobby, holding a briefcase in one hand.

With his short, neatly trimmed bangs styled with wax to give a natural texture, his forehead was exposed, exuding the aura of a smart and confident man.

Standing over 180 cm tall, with long limbs like a model and a well-toned physique from consistent wor...

CH128 | GSI

In front of the Walkerhill Hotel Convention Center in Seoul, a BMW sedan glided to a stop.

Dressed in a navy-blue suit, Seok-won swiftly approached, handing a tip to the hotel staff who opened the driver’s side door before entrusting his car to them.

“Thank you.”

Acknowledging the hotel staff’s greeting with a nod, Seok-won looked up.

A massive banner stretched across the convention center’s entrance wall, featuring an Andy Warhol special exhibition annou...

CH127 | GSI

Beyond the wide window, towering buildings overlooked the Donghae Group chairman’s office, where a heavy atmosphere filled the room.

In the center, Chairman Woo Yong-gap sat on a dark wooden leather sofa, his expression hardened. Around him were Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul, his eldest son Woo Ho-geun, and other senior executives of the group.

Everyone held their breath, tense, watching the chairman’s reaction. Even Woo Ho-geun, usually arrogant and overbearing, remained si...

CH126 | GSI

~

“What are you up to?”

Seok-won, as usual, was sitting alone in his small shoeshine shop, polishing shoes when he heard a familiar voice and looked up.

Manager Oh, the department chief, was strolling in, a toothpick dangling from his lips—probably on his way back from lunch.

Without hesitation, he grabbed a blue plastic chair, perched himself onto it, and leaned back casually. At this point, it was hard to tell who was the shop owner and who was the customer...

CH125 | GSI

Daehung Securities Headquarters,

5th Floor Trading Center.

In a spacious office with a large market status board mounted on one wall, dozens of traders sat at their respective desks, keeping a close watch on market conditions as they continuously bought and sold stocks.

The Investment Team 4 was also busy working to meet their assigned profit targets.

Jung Hwan-yeop, an assistant manager who had made a nice profit from short-term trades in the mor...

CH124 | GSI

It was well past midnight, but the lights in the International Division office of the Bank of Japan, located in the heart of Tokyo, were still brightly lit.

A large electronic display showing the exchange rates of the yen against major currencies was mounted on one wall. Meanwhile, more than a dozen employees were either answering phones or sitting in front of their computers, working frantically.

Having been on emergency duty for over two weeks, their faces were gaunt with exha...

CH224

There’s a saying that success breeds friends.

Ever since I became successful, I was overwhelmed with people seeking me out. Not just business people and politicians, but even guys claiming to be kindergarten and elementary school classmates I didn’t recognize came to the company.

Wouldn’t it be fair to say there are thousands of people in Korea alone claiming to be my close friends?

Lost in these thoughts, I arrived at the meeting place and got out of the car. 2025-02-12 03:01:11 +0000 UTC View Post

CH42 | VOC

"A lot of large corporations are expanding overseas these days."

"It's probably because they can make more profit by manufacturing in countries with lower labor costs."

It was Monday morning, time for Chunha Trading's weekly executive meeting.

The attendees were just me, Maru, and Park Jong-bum. With the recent stagnation of our business, our conversations were mostly trivial, but we still held the meetings regularly.

"China is becoming a popular destination. Many ...

CH41 | VOC

"Hello, I'm Kim Yong-tae. I've heard a lot about you."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Park Sol."

I initially tried to politely decline, but I couldn't resist CEO Kim's persistent requests and agreed to meet his son.

The impatient CEO immediately called his son to the seafood restaurant.

Perhaps because of his father's words, Kim Yong-tae seemed stubborn and headstrong.

"Are you still set on starting a business?"

CEO Kim asked, and Kim Yong-tae replied in a fi...

CH40 | VOC

The contract with the smelter finally expired.

"I'm sorry, I failed to persuade them."

Park Jong-bum reported with a dejected voice upon returning from Japan.

"It's okay. We lost the exclusivity, but the data we accumulated over the past year and our track record with large corporations are enough to stay competitive. We're not banned from doing business with the smelter, so don't worry."

We failed to renew the contract, but it wasn't like we couldn't deliver to th...

CH39 | VOC

"What a piece of shit. Trying to take advantage of my kindness."

A frustrating day like this called for soju.

Maru refilled my glass and asked,

"Are you really going to sell them?"

"Yeah, if they keep acting like that, I will."

"But you'll be severing ties with MG completely."

"I can just sell them to Daehoo and Sasung and get their electronic scrap. Money aside, I don't want to put up with this bullshit."

Maru, still concerned, said cautiously...

CH38 | VOC

I only sold the man one VCR, the one he had bought back from the other customer. I told him to come to the company if he wanted to discuss the rest.

I immediately drove back to the company and called Maru.

"Mobilize all the employees and polish those VCRs, the ones with the unknown model that we were going to discard! Make them shine!"

What are you talking about?

"These VCRs are definitely not ordinary. There's something we don't know. Do as I say and display them ...

CH37 | VOC

"It's been a while, CEO Wu."

"It's been a while. Hahaha."

CEO Wu's Korean was improving day by day.

"You've been hard to reach lately. Did everything go well in China?"

CEO Wu used to stay in Korea to deal with secondhand traders, but after we started doing business, he found it unnecessary to stay in Korea, as everything was running smoothly. He started spending more time in China.

"Yes, everything went well. Thank you, CEO Park."

"Is everything okay...