March 27, 1990
Japan's total loan cap system was implemented.
The policy aimed to curb real estate price surges by tightening loan regulations.
It was well-intentioned, but in reality, it became the signal flare announcing the end of the bubble economy.
The long-dreaded explosion had finally gone off, and the exclusive team assigned to the young master was in complete disarray.
"Team Leader, the Nikkei index has dropped by nearly 10% in a single day! Real estate prices are also showing troubling signs."
"Japanese bond prices are plummeting!"
Team Leader Han quickly analyzed the flood of incoming data.
With his sharp analytical skills, it didn't take him long to reach a conclusion.
"The young master was right. Japan's economy just got hit with a bombshell."
"Then… do you think the Nikkei will really lose half its value, just like he predicted?"
"Most likely."
"Then does that mean we'll actually see a return of over 10 times our investment?"
"Not just 10 times… Theoretically, it could even reach 20 times."
Team Leader Han silently tapped away at his calculator.
They had invested 22 billion KRW.
If their prediction held and the return reached 20 times… that would be 440 billion KRW!
He gulped. Unconsciously swallowing his own saliva, he slumped back into his chair.
"Is this what it means to be a genius? 440 billion… What the hell."
"How many years would we need to work to make that much money?"
"Our annual salary is 20 million KRW. Even if we worked until we died and were reborn, we'd never make that kind of money."
In this era, working at a securities firm was a dream job.
Securities professionals earned even more than large conglomerate employees, yet their base salary was only 20 million KRW.
Sure, there were bonuses based on performance, but it was nowhere near the billion-KRW range.
"But how on earth did the young master get this information? Even our securities firm had no idea about this."
"Maybe he got intel from Tae-woo Economic Research Institute? That's the only explanation that makes sense."
"If the economic research institute knew about this, why didn't our firm take action?"
"Because of the risk. The young master is investing with what's essentially his allowance—he doesn't need risk management."
Even as he spoke, Team Leader Han could tell his own explanation lacked conviction.
But if he didn't rationalize it somehow, he couldn't bring himself to accept the absurd reality of making over 400 billion KRW.
Still slumped in his chair, he suddenly sprang up and gathered his team.
"So, what do we do now? Are we going back to the securities firm?"
"…Honestly, I want to stay here. This is the first time I've done actual work."
Lee Dong-han, a first-year employee, spoke hesitantly.
Until now, most of his tasks had been emptying ashtrays and delivering coffee.
He had been learning from his seniors by observing them, but this was the first time he had truly worked on something substantial—and it felt fulfilling.
"I'm staying too. In a securities firm, the only way to make a 20x return is through illegal schemes, right? But here, we can play the game legally on a massive scale. Why would I leave?"
"Same here. No more running around for approvals, and it almost feels like working on Wall Street."
"Then it's settled. We're all staying."
Team Leader Han and the four members of the Young Master's exclusive team had made their decision.
This moment would change their fates forever.
* * *
Late April
I confidently stepped into my grandfather's study.
"Ah, my little one is here! I've been so busy traveling, I haven't had time to play with you."
"Grandfather, everyone in the world knows how busy you are."
"Haha, my apologies."
My grandfather was constantly on the move.
Preaching the gospel of globalization, he had traveled everywhere—from Europe to the United States.
Knowing what lay at the end of this path, I wanted to stop him at all costs.
But for now, I had something else to say.
"Grandfather, I have a gift for you."
"Did my little one write me a letter?"
I handed him an envelope.
He took out its contents and beamed with joy.
"Your high school equivalency diploma!"
"Look at the scores too. I got a perfect score."
"Haha, that's incredible."
Our family had never been good at acting.
Grandfather had probably known about my results days ago.
For the chairman of Korea's third-largest conglomerate, finding out about a high school equivalency exam was a trivial matter.
He had likely been waiting for me to bring it up first.
That's why, instead of going to the office today, he had stayed in his study, waiting for me to arrive.
"Grandfather, I'm starting my U.S. college entrance preparation tomorrow."
"Already? Why not take a break this year and start next year?"
"I don't have time. If I want to enter university next year, even starting now is barely enough."
"Haha, why are you in such a rush? Is someone chasing after you?"
If only he knew—it's the company's impending bankruptcy that's chasing me.
Watching him remain so calm and carefree made my chest tighten with frustration.
There isn't much time left.
"I just want to graduate quickly and start working with you, Grandfather."
"My little one is truly remarkable. Now, let's see… What should I give you as a reward for passing the exam? Would some pocket money do?"
At this point, Grandfather's pocket money no longer mattered.
I only needed it when I was short on initial capital, but thanks to Japan's economic bubble, that problem was now solved.
It was time to focus on something else.
"For my reward, I want to travel."
"Travel? Where to?"
"I heard you're heading to Saudi Arabia. Can I come with you? I've always wanted to visit the Middle East."
"Haha, how could I refuse when my little one wants to go? But aren't you busy studying? Do you even have time for a trip?"
"Don't worry. I've already planned my study schedule for the flight."
"Alright, then. I'll inform Secretary Choi—pack your bags, you're coming with me to Saudi."
Truthfully, my schedule was already packed with studying.
But I insisted on going to Saudi for one reason—connections.
Building relationships from a young age would ensure I had the right people when I needed them.
Shortly after grandfather left for work.
I called the four-man securities team, known as the Young Master's Exclusive Team, to the house.
It was time to review the profits from Japan's economic bubble crisis.
"Have a seat, everyone. You all look exhausted."
"We haven't had a moment's rest while securing the profits."
Realizing gains wasn't easy.
To collect our money from foreign insurance firms, securities companies, and banks, they had worked through the night.
Some insurance policies were even issued in the U.S., and I had heard that Team Leader Han flew to America himself to finalize things.
"Alright, let's do the financial review. Team Leader, please begin the briefing."
Clearing his throat, Team Leader Han started.
"Ahem. To begin with the conclusion—our projected profit is 478 billion won. We expect all gains to be realized by the second quarter of next year. So far, we have successfully secured 121 billion won in liquid assets."
Truly impressive.
Even though I had provided the initial intel, it was their sharp analysis that maximized the profits.
"Excellent. As per our contract, I'll distribute 1% of the realized profits as bonuses for the team."
"W-Wait, are you serious? 1% of 121 billion won is over 12 billion!"
"Split among the four of you, that's roughly 3 billion won each. But I can't transfer it to your Korean accounts, so you'll need to open foreign bank accounts. You all know how to do that, right?"
"Setting up an account isn't the issue… You're really giving us 3 billion won each as a bonus?"
So much doubt.
Then again, in this era, a mid-level securities broker barely made 20 million won a year.
Making a lifetime's worth of money in just a few months—of course, they'd find it hard to believe.
"That's the end of the financial review. Submit the reports in formal documentation. Now, shall we begin the next investment?"
"Already?!"
"Why? Do you not like it? Oh! You must want to go back to the securities firm."
"N-No! I want to stay with you, Young Master!"
Ah, the power of money.
A 3-billion-won bonus had skyrocketed their loyalty.
Their eyes burned with enthusiasm, eager to jump into the next investment.
"Our next target is the Middle East."
"The Middle East? Is this related to the Chairman's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia?"
"Not directly. But you're all aware of the unrest in the region, right?"
"Are you referring to the Iran-Iraq War?"
From 1980 to 1988, Iran and Iraq had fought a brutal war.
Neither side had gained anything—only enormous debt and devastation.
Iraq's situation was particularly dire, and I turned to Team Leader Han to highlight the key issue.
"Iraq came out of the war with over $500 billion in debt. Do you think they'll just sit back and do nothing?"
"But the UN mediated a ceasefire. Would they really start another war?"
"$500 billion—that's 500 trillion won. A sum so massive it could spark a coup at any moment."
The team nodded in quiet agreement.
Thanks to our huge gains from the Japanese bubble, they now took my words seriously.
To the outside world, I was just a high school student.
But to my elite investment team, I was a sharp-eyed, third-generation chaebol—and their leader.
"So, Young Master, are you predicting that Iraq will go to war again?"
"Right now, who do you think Iraq hates the most?"
"Iran, of course. After eight years of fighting, the hatred must run deep."
"Wrong. A traitorous ally is always worse than an old enemy."
"A traitor? Wait… are you talking about Kuwait?"
During the war, Iraq's biggest financial backer was Kuwait.
But when the conflict dragged on too long, Kuwait cut off its financial support.
"Don't you think Iraq believes that if Kuwait had continued its support, they could have won the war? To them, Kuwait is the real betrayer, not Iran."
"So, it's like an interfering sister-in-law being worse than a scolding mother-in-law? But would they really go as far as war over it?"
"Right now, Iraq is unstable. And historically, when a country is in turmoil, it often unites its people by creating an external enemy."
To be honest, no one could predict what would happen in the Middle East at this moment.
But I could.
Because I knew the future.
That's why I could confidently predict war—and my loyal team didn't object much.
"So, you're saying we should anticipate a war between Iraq and Kuwait and make our investments accordingly?"
"Exactly. Since Iraq and Kuwait are on the Gulf, we can call it the Gulf War."
War means money.
And if it's the Gulf War, there's nothing more profitable.
If you know when a war will start, who will win, and when it will end—you can make a fortune.
And I was the only one who had that information.
"I'll start drafting our investment portfolio."
"Once the war starts, oil prices will skyrocket—you all know that, right?"
"Are you considering futures trading? Futures are the riskiest type of investment."
Team Leader Han voiced his concerns.
After spending years in the securities industry, he prioritized safety over risk.
And honestly, he wasn't wrong.
Futures trading was incredibly dangerous.
A 100-billion-won investment could disappear overnight.
In the worst-case scenario, you could be buried under an astronomical mountain of debt.
But on the flip side, it was a market of miracles—where 1 billion won could turn into 100 billion won.
"I expect the war to start in early August. When that happens, we'll leverage as much as possible and bet on oil prices soaring. Until then, start withdrawing our investments from the Japanese bubble."
"Right now, oil prices have stabilized. Saudi Arabia is even planning to increase production."
"That's exactly why this is the perfect time. The moment war breaks out, oil prices will skyrocket without limit. We're looking at a minimum of 2 to 3 times our investment. If we use the maximum leverage, how much more can we gain?"
"…Theoretically, up to six times more."
"That means we can multiply our money by 12."
TL/n -
Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, accused Kuwait of several actions that it considered a "betrayal," which contributed to Iraq's decision to invade Kuwait in 1990. Here are the main accusations:
1. Oil Overproduction & Price Manipulation – Iraq accused Kuwait of exceeding its OPEC oil production quota, which lowered global oil prices. This hurt Iraq, which was struggling economically after its costly war with Iran (1980–1988). Saddam claimed Kuwait's actions were deliberate economic warfare against Iraq.
2. Slant Drilling into Iraqi Oil Fields – Iraq alleged that Kuwait was using advanced technology to extract oil from the Rumaila oil field, which extended beneath both Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq claimed this was an act of theft, though Kuwait denied it.
3. Loan Repayment Disputes – During the Iran-Iraq War, Kuwait had financially supported Iraq with billions of dollars in loans. After the war, Kuwait refused to forgive these loans, despite Iraq arguing that it had fought on behalf of the Arab world against Iran.
4. Territorial Disputes – Saddam Hussein claimed that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq and accused Britain of creating Kuwait as a separate state to weaken Iraq. He revived old territorial claims to justify the invasion.
From Iraq's perspective, these issues were seen as betrayals, but internationally, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was widely condemned, leading to the Gulf War and Kuwait's liberation in 1991.