Past Life Returner

Chapter 361

Ten thousand tons of gold were being transported from Shanghai Port to New York Port. Although it was an extraordinary operation, the media only covered a few brief articles about it because public attention was fixated on a mercenary. This individual wasn’t the first to set foot on an extraterrestrial planet like Neil Armstrong, but he would be forever recognized as the first person to return from outer space.

“We won a perfect victory with no casualties. Our enemies were helpless as they had no chance of winning.”

I was watching his interview with the Chinese leader who had made a confidential visit to Korea. When I gestured to him to be quiet, the cheers and applause from the interview site became louder and filled the suite. The interview was chaotic, but the hotel staff who were receiving the VVIP would have been the busiest people.

The interviewer asked, “Umm… but where are the others?”

“I came back to just report. It is true that we have successfully occupied the area, but the danger hasn’t been resolved yet. Through operations that govern the occupied territories and quickly establish links with other groups…”

The mercenary appeared to be suppressing his emotions. He wasn’t guilty, but he seemed to be trying to get rid of the excitement he felt from the battlefield.

The mercenaries were responsible for protecting oil drilling facilities and diamond mines in the areas affected by civil war and were sometimes involved in resisting or supporting coups. In the event that their superiors issued orders, they were even required to use lethal force against civilians. Therefore, the battle carried out in outer space was just one of the missions they had to complete as long as they were paid a lot of money.

I said to the Chinese leader while pointing at the mercenary on the television as I needed to clarify something, “You are not the only one who is interested in this. The American and Russian members are all crazy about this, but the civilian population entering the extraterrestrial world will be limited to mercenaries and scientists.”

Our interpreter was Yang Ga-Hye, an Awakened who I had met once before.

The Chinese Leader now found a way to revive his country, whose fate had fallen into the abyss, by using the alien space. He said he would mobilize the entire army if I opened the gate, but that was a foolish display of judgment.

What would be the reason for me using the traditional principles of capitalism to overpower China and entice them into adopting it? If he were to take the next step and delve deeper into my motives for imposing capitalist rule upon the world, then he would realize that it would be inconceivable that I would allow him to throw millions of Chinese into the gate.

Yang Ga-Hye had not translated my words yet, but the Chinese leader looked devastated as if he understood me.

After the interpretation, the leader responded in an exhausted tone.

“He is asking if there would be any reason for the Chinese government to enter outer space on their own,” Yang Ga-Hye said.

I had already opened the way. As the IMF had fully opened the Chinese market, private companies in China were finding their way out. They could grow rapidly or collapse overnight depending on the authoritarian government’s powerful people.

“If the Chinese government itself focuses on growing the private market along with the support from the IMF, then more Chinese private companies will be bound to enter. However, the Chinese government wouldn’t be able to form its own military and advance there. This restriction is not just for China, but for all including my country and the United States.”

I wondered how the leader would take this remark. Since most of the capital focus was in my hands and even the Awakened were under my control, the leader could have thought I was full of greed to hog the world. Not only he, but the club members also would have thought the same thing and complained about it.

However, they would soon figure out if I was truly greedy over dominating outer space or not soon because I wouldn’t violate the internal guidelines. I had no desire to intervene in taking the profits from the extraterrestrial world.

The principle of “first come, first served” prevailed, regardless of whether the owner established a small town, grew into a powerful kingdom, or formed alliances on the land. My hope was that private companies and the Awakened would drive progress through their pursuit of wealth and human desires. I just paved the way for them to go in the right direction!

The entire earth was mine, so there was no reason for me to be greedy about the alien dimension. The war had not started yet, so even if the planet was much larger than earth… I was willing to give up anything to safeguard humanity and maintain the integrity of our land as it was previously. Even if they asked for my soul…

I added, “But the 3.5 trillion dollars has not been deposited yet. I hope that will be sorted out soon.”

***

Similar to the Triangular Committee and Roman Club within the Jeonil Club, there existed a faction composed solely of knights from my financial empire.

Late at night when the leader returned to China without achieving his goals, a meeting of financial empires linking Wall Street and The City was held online. If this was Saint Dragorin, then there would have been a real throne and a place for monarchs. However, you only needed to plug in one LAN cable into a computer here.

When I told Gillian about the visit with the Chinese leader, he asked.

<Gillian: What would you do if the Chinese government selects a private company and forms a partnership?>

Gillian was now in China with Kim Cheong-Soo. However, their backgrounds were different as they were staying in different hotels.

<Seon-Hu: I have no intention of sanctioning them that far.>

<Gillian: Movements similar to that are taking place in countries around the world.>

A number of names were included in the data that Kim Cheong-Soo uploaded on the chat. It was evidence that he was constantly looking at the flow of the market although he was busy putting flags in the Chinese capital city and engulfing them. In that sense, the leader should have faced Kim Cheong-Soo and begged him instead of me.

Anyway, there were many names with MC (Military Company) and A (agency) on the document that Kim Cheong-Soo sent.

The two representative examples were Rothschild’s RMC (Rothschild Military Company) and CVA (Christ Victory Agency), which a Wall Street financier had established. On May 11th, the approval for entry into the financial space marked a significant milestone for these two companies.

The video programs we were using were designed to allow people to have online meetings.

Kim Cheong-Soo drew a red line connecting the dots he pointed.

<Kim Cheong-Soo: AGMC, TTA. Both of these companies were created with investment from the U.S.>

In addition, names involving the British and Japanese governments were mentioned.

<Seon-Hu: But they are latecomers.>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: …You knew about it.>

Kim Cheong-Soo reminded me of Jonathan in his prime, when he lived with bloodshot eyes. Despite having many subordinates who could assist him, he would have likely spent a significant amount of time managing them all and reaching his own conclusions.

Meanwhile, there was a distinct edge to his exhausted voice, which stemmed not only from the fact that he wasn’t Awakened. I could discern this from the fact that he probed into matters that I hadn’t asked for. He seemed cautious about the new market, and I suspected that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

<Jessica: Brian, things are going as Odin wanted. You know that Chris’s CVA and Rothschild’s RMC are driving the global stock market, right?>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: Is that because they are good? It’s only because Odin created the perfect environment for them. Also, the Rothschilds are a member of our club, but not Chris. Also, this is just between us, but I don’t trust Rothschild.>

Gillian remained silent.

<Seon-Hu: So?>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: I want to merge CVA and RMC.>

<Seon-Hu: Even though we would control the listed companies?>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: Yes, we possess fifteen percent of CVA shares and thirteen percent of RMC. That’s how it is for now. It will take a lot more time to calculate the indirectly invested stake.>

The first mercenary who returned was hired by the CVA, and one of their attack squads was leading the operation. The CVA-led craze was sweeping the global stock market.

As I always said, stories were more important than facts in the market. Even if the gold mine wasn’t developed and a new source wasn’t discovered immediately, the public still assumed that they would be pursued and invested without hesitation.

Moreover, it was a time when money was flowing into the stock market due to low-interest rates. The CVA was poised to garner additional investments and draw the attention of the Awakened who were keenly interested in private companies. As a result, the scale of its business would gradually expand over time. Therefore, Kim Cheong-Soo was suggesting that we swallow them before they got bigger.

<Jessica: But, Brian…Rothschild is a member of our club, and Chris in CVA is credited. I understand what you are conscious of. However, have you not thought about how your words are going against Odin’s wishes? If our capital moves aggressively toward new markets, most start-ups will have no choice but to cower.>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: This meeting is limited to capital markets that are getting out of our influence.>

<Jessica: Do you really think so? The boundary was already broken after the Day of Advent, and although it may appear that they are currently distancing themselves from our influence, this may only be temporary. As for merging CVA and RMC, we need to be mindful of the limit to growth. If Odin approves, we can certainly bring their business to new heights in the next year or two. However, we must remember that a company is just a company, and we shouldn’t end up like China. We must exercise caution and not act impulsively, especially people like you who are currently in China.>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: We are not entrepreneurs. We are financiers. If we see money, we should bring it to us.>

Businessmen raised geese that laid golden eggs, but on Wall Street, there was a well-known saying that financiers would gut them at the first sign of wealth.

Kim Cheong-Soo was about to continue after rubbing his tired eyes, but then, Gillian finally opened his mouth.

<Gillian: Please make a decision, Odin.>

Kim Cheong-Soo added.

<Kim Cheong-Soo: I hope you grant permission on mergers and acquisitions.>

Jessica, on the other hand, didn’t speak and had an unwavering look on her face. She was well aware of my intention to thrive in private military enterprises and agencies. I didn’t give the approval, and the next agenda was about issues related to the Chinese market opening.

After the video conference, I contacted Kim Cheong-Soo separately.

<Kim Cheong-Soo: I wasn’t thinking straight.>

<Seon-Hu: How many years have you been working with Jessica?>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: Ten years.>

<Seon-Hu: That’s long enough for you to grasp her meaning.>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: …But she was particularly aggressive.>

<Seon-Hu: Yes, she shouldn’t have been like a girl in adolescence. You put up with it well.>

Even a genius was bound to show weakness at one point if they became emotional.

<Seon-Hu: I heard there was internal data leaked from Carl and Jane’s Accounting Law Firm. Jessica has access to it. I want you to keep your distance from her.>

<Kim Cheong-Soo: I will look into it by myself.>

It was too early to be disappointed because nothing had been revealed.