CBR 2

Jaewon felt the muscles around his lips contract, so he pulled the book out of his bag. Seeing the title, his uncle showed interest, saying it looked like fun.

“Whad’s this?”

Flipping through the book swiftly, he pointed out a questionable section. It was on the very first page of the book.

This book, which originally started in England and moves around once a year to grant the recipient’s wish, has now been passed to you and must leave your side within 4 days. Including this book, you must send 7 copies to people who need good luck. You may also make copies. You might think this is superstition, but it is true. A man named JOHN NASE in England received this book in 1930. After making a wish, he had his secretary copy and send it. A few days later, he won the lottery and received 2 billion won. Someone else received this book but forgot that it had to leave his hands within 96 hours. He was soon fired. Only after learning this fact later did he send 7 copies of the book, and he landed a good job again. President Kennedy of the United States received this book but simply threw it away. Ultimately, 9 days later, he was assassinated. Please remember. If you send this book, you will have 7 years of good luck, but if you do not, you will have 1 year of misfortune. Also, you must never throw this letter away or scribble on it. It is 7 copies. Good fortune will reside with the person who receives this book. It might be hard, but think of it as a good thing. Wishing you 7 years of good luck…

On the very first page visible upon opening the book, text that had once been wildly popular like a frenzy was written. Though unique, in the end, it was merely a part of marketing.

“I’d say it has to leave you in 4 days?”

“You believe that? Besides, it’s been less than a week since we started this book.”

His uncle, whose ears were as thin as tissue paper, easily believed ridiculous superstitions. Looking at him, Jaewon felt he understood why humans in the Bible kept erecting golden calves day in and day out even while being swept away by floods.

“Say you lost it and read somethin’ else.”

“I don’t want to be chopped into pieces alive by Jung Soojung.”

Jaewon recalled a time in the past when he had lost a book—whether intentionally or by mistake. Of all things, it had been an out-of-print book, and at that time, Jung Soojung was like a berserker burning through the candle of her life.

“It says you’ll win the lodtery if you send it.”

His uncle’s finger pointed at the page. ‘A few days later, he won the lottery and received 2 billion won.’ It was a tempting phrase, but he did not make the foolish move of investing in uncertainty. Buying just one lottery ticket a week amounted to enough money in a month to buy a whole brand-name fried chicken.

“Buy one, the lodtery.”

Even so, he didn’t turn down free money. Jaewon respectfully accepted the ten-thousand-won bill his uncle handed him.

“Right, Uncle, you said you had something to tell me. That’s why I came.”

“Nothin’.”

His specialty was robbing a poultry farm and then feigning innocence like a duck displaying its feet. Pulling a fast one on people like this wasn’t a one- or two-day occurrence. Jaewon instantly felt a surge of murderous intent.

“Take this, too.”

His uncle pulled an additional fifty-thousand-won bill out of his wallet. Making eye contact with Shin Saimdang, Jaewon’s violently shaken mind regained its composure.

“Do you happen to have any further grace to bestow?”

“No, you brat.”

“Then this humble one shall take his leave.”

Rising from his seat, Jaewon scuttled backward. Just as his hand reached for the sliding hospital door, his uncle shouted from behind his back:

“If you win, fifty-fifty.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’m always gradeful, Jaewon-a.”

“Just get well quickly.”

Jaewon muttered as he pushed the sliding door open.

“Jaewon-a.”

Through the gap of the closing door, a voice leaked out. Raising his head, he saw his uncle with an unreadable expression. Looking unusually serious, he added with clear pronunciation for some reason:

“Life is a gamble. You gotta place your bet to find out.”

‘What is he talking about.’

Stepping out of the convenience store after purchasing a lottery ticket, Jaewon snorted. Life was a plan. Was there anything one could achieve without a plan? The genre of the world he lived in was reality, not a shonen manga.

Jaewon wanted to succeed. A life with a narrow range of choices always made him feel suffocated. Hearing that reading books showed the path, he had conquered many books, but only a small minority were of practical help. Humanities and philosophy in particular seemed impossible to utilize productively unless one invented a time machine and went back to ancient Greece.

The field where Jaewon found his answer was financial tech. The fastest, most dazzling path to results within the boundaries of the law.

Investing.

In a capitalist country, there is a saying that to become rich, one must either inherit wealth, strike oil, or be born an IT genius or a talented merchant. Jaewon realized early on that he fell into none of these categories and jumped into the stock market. Direct capital gains, high cumulative yields, low costs and fees, and outstanding liquidity leading to excellent convertibility. There was no reason for him not to be fascinated by stock investment. Of course, light and shadow both existed, and one might witness the amazing magic trick where paper bills transformed into scrap paper, but either way, there were no returns in the world that didn’t accompany risk. Above all, as someone from the working class who was born holding a shovel instead of a spoon, it wasn’t the time to be picky about warm or cold rice.

Investment methods were varied, to be sure. But examining them meticulously one by one, only one well remained. Real estate investment was absurd, and the idea that savings were the answer was a thing of the past. Considering inflation, interest rates, and taxes, savings deposits were no different than paying the bank a storage fee to hold onto one’s money. One couldn’t aim for a life turnaround with bonds. Being born an ant was beyond his control, but Jaewon wanted to live and die as a super ant if he could help it. To him, stock investment was a ladder that would change his social class.

Youth has high collateral value. Buying the affluence of life after middle age with the boundless potential of youth was Jaewon’s ultimate goal. In his life, where he never wasted a single moment and drew up blueprints for the future, nothing was unplanned. Admission to a prestigious university, top of his department, full-ride scholarship recipient, and even a colorful array of awards. Stepping faithfully along an elite track, Jaewon was riding the highway to success. These were things he wouldn’t have achieved if he had lived his life like a gamble.

Participating in the mock investment competition was also part of the blueprint. Though the prize money of several million won and opportunities like big-corporation internships were valuable enough to challenge and gain, above all, Jaewon wanted to test himself. It had been a few years since he jumped into the investment world, and it was time to step onto the stage to unleash the knowledge and know-how he had accumulated. The return rate he had posted over the past month was a total of 168%, a score that could be considered a safe bet for winning a prize unless there were major variables. Although he launched in a direction contrary to his investment philosophy by employing a typical short-term investment style using swing and scalping techniques, all roads led to Rome, and at any rate, smooth sailing was underway.

While everything was progressing smoothly, Jaewon let out a sigh and shoved his cell phone into his pocket. He raised his head and looked up at the sky. Over his seemingly indifferent face, a distinct longing flickered.

Being recognized for his skills was encouraging, but in the end, it was merely a mock competition. Watching the mock investment funds swell with each passing day, he couldn’t help but fall into thought.

‘If only 1 billion won would drop from somewhere.’

What was most regretful at this moment was the absence of seed money. Since the board was full of variables and fluctuations making it unpredictable, shortcuts definitely existed. The ants’ biggest blunder was jumping into the market without seed money, and the presence or absence of seed money set different starting lines for investors by that much. Of course, 1 billion won wasn’t some neighbor’s kid’s name, but Jaewon was of the mindset that one should think big while at it.

However, rain began to fall from the sky instead of money. The raindrops, falling one by one, grew steadily heavier, creating a hazy mist of water on the ground.

“Damn it.”

Having been stabbed in the back by the Meteorological Administration for the fortieth time this year, Jaewon had no umbrella in hand. Weighing the value of time spent waiting for the rain to stop against the price of a convenience store umbrella, he shifted his steps.