It took a whopping two weeks just to figure out what a paper company was.
That's what I learned from scouring the internet and specialized books.
Truth be told, setting one up myself would have been a bit of a stretch.
Diverting funds overseas is illegal from the get-go. If anyone got suspicious, every government agency in the book would mobilize to track it down—obvious as daylight.
'Don't make one... buy it.'
Simple principle.
If creating one's too tough, just buy an existing one.
That's how I discovered a ghost company with a Korean representative on paper. This world is full of folks lurking in the shadows; a bit of cash in their pockets, and they spilled all the info they had.
'Whoa...'
An investment firm in the Philippines.
A Korean woman listed as its CEO.
Her resume? Speechless doesn't even cover it.
'What the hell is her deal?'
It was dazzling.
Ex-US military, no less, and she'd bounced around various regions with a PMC—private military contractor.
Even more shocking: Stanford grad.
Top-tier physical skills paired with a brilliant mind.
The idea of someone like that heading a mere paper company sent chills down my spine.
'Why the hell is she selling?'
I read through the details carefully.
Her only family was a younger sister.
The problem? The sister had leukemia, so she'd joined the military for treatment.
US military pay is solid, with great benefits to boot.
Unlike other jobs, they provide housing and top-notch medical support.
That's the path she'd taken, exploiting those perks.
But her sister's condition had deteriorated.
The already frail girl had developed complications on top of the leukemia—day-to-day now, from what I gathered.
Probably selling the company to head back to the States.
'Jin Seol-hwa... 31 years old? Two years my senior. Stanford alum, 172 cm, 55 kg.'
My eyes drifted to the bottom of the page.
'She'd do anything for her sister. Makes sense—her only family left.'
US healthcare is insanely expensive.
In Korea, you can call 119 for a free ambulance without batting an eye. In the States? That alone runs about 500,000 won of our money.
So Americans tough it out unless it's serious.
Unlike us Koreans, who hit up the local clinic for a sniffle.
'Leukemia? That's a fortune. And rare cases need elite doctors and facilities.'
I figured I'd leverage that.
US medical costs a fortune?
Doesn't matter.
I had over 3 trillion won sitting idle.
America: capitalism masquerading as democracy.
The land of the free where money makes anything possible.
I picked up my phone.
"Who is this?"
"…"
The voice didn't match the photo on my monitor.
Jin Seol-hwa in the picture: short bob, cuter than expected.
But the voice coming through the phone was a deep mid-tone.
Like talking to someone devoid of emotion.
No preamble from me, yet.
She must be more impatient than she looked.
"I'd like to buy the investment company you listed recently."
"…The investment company? You know what kind of outfit it is."
"I do. A paper company."
"!"
A brief silence.
Jin Seol-hwa muttered softly.
"You must've hired someone. My info isn't that easy to dig up."
Damn right.
With money, unearthing one person's details is child's play.
A few hundred million, and it's quick.
I smacked my itchy mouth hard with my palm.
"Your sister."
"!"
"Your sister's sick, right?"
"You!"
"Medical support in the military, sure. But not now. Dishonorably discharged, after all."
"…"
She'd been unfairly kicked out of the US military with a dishonorable discharge.
Not even an honorable one...
That's why she'd jumped into PMC work.
Quick cash using her military know-how? Perfect fit.
To gain the upper hand in negotiations, read the opponent's mind. I already knew Jin Seol-hwa's top priority.
Use the sister.
For good, of course.
"Johns Hopkins announced a special program recently."
"…"
I pressed on through the silence.
Cut off here, and the paper company dream dies.
Opportunities like this don't come twice.
First and last shot, I figured.
"Pediatric leukemia cases in the US are up 7.8% from last year. With so many kids suffering, the world's top hospital, Johns Hopkins, set up a new department."
Jin Seol-hwa listened quietly.
Even if I was the buyer, the power dynamic was clear.
I was the boss; she was the subordinate.
Normally, it'd be reversed, but no one saw this coming.
"I'll buy your listing for 3.7 million dollars. And keep you as CEO."
"Wh-what...?"
"Simple. I foot the bill; you head to the US, look after your sister, and run the company. Easy peasy."
An unfair deal.
I was taking a loss on purpose.
Honestly, managing 3 trillion solo was wearing thin lately. Crypto's booming now, but who knows when it crashes.
Money laundering was essential, but with zero expertise, impossible for me alone.
That's why I aimed to bring Jin Seol-hwa, the paper company founder, onto my team.
"Jin Seol-hwa."
"…"
"Join me, and I'll throw everything at curing your sister with the best doctors and facilities."
With 3 trillion.
Overwhelming funds that never seemed to dwindle.
US medicine starts and ends with money.
"Why me? I'm not that special..."
"You know Selig?"
"!"
She couldn't pretend otherwise.
Recent pharma IPO darling.
Top 7 in the US, complete with its own research institute.
Not massive, but solid tradition and backbone.
"You made a killing on Selig. That foresight? I'm genuinely impressed. In Silicon Valley, investors would've dubbed you 'Midas touch'."
"…"
"I rate your skills highly. So come on board."
I landed the finishing blow.
No basic attack—this was a critical hit, booming home.
"Salary: 1.01 million dollars. PMC pay was 130k, right? Over 7 times that."
"!"
"Plus, your sister gets the VIP treatment at Johns Hopkins—top docs, perfect setup."
"…"
"I want you bad. If that's not enough, oh well. I'll find someone else..."
"W-wait a second!"
Jin Seol-hwa let out a massive sigh.
Even over the phone, it felt like her breath brushed my ear.
"…Give me a little time."
"Three days."
"…"
"Three days it is."
I hung up without waiting for a reply.
Drag it out, and the power dynamic flips.
By now, Jin Seol-hwa was probably pacing, torn on what to do.
Accept?
Or carve her own path?
'No way she refuses. She dotes on her sister too much.'
Still, a total nobody like me holding my own against an elite without stuttering?
Nailed it.
"My heart's gonna explode..."
Shaking like a leaf, honestly.
First time I'd had such a deep convo with a woman.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Long time no see—I dropped into Han Yu-jeong's stream and unleashed a Bubble Gifts barrage.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Bukppudeupppu has gifted 1,000,000 Bubble Gifts.]
Today's donation: 100 million won.
The chat lit up like a wildfire.
💬 Chat— Viewer1Go-----d!— Viewer2Whoa! Witnessing a million bubbles pop live—insane!— Viewer3Bukppudeupppu's back after ages. What've you been up to?
Obviously.
Been swamped laundering cash.
Dodging tax nukes takes prep.
I planned to route funds worldwide.
"Bukppudeupppu oppa, long time no see."
Han Yu-jeong greeted me with teary eyes.
Yeah—the chairman has arrived!
Having a blast bantering with Han Yu-jeong when...
My phone buzzed.
Caller ID: Jin Seol-hwa, from three days ago.
"I'll accept your terms."
Yes!
Finally, a reliable loyalist of my own.
Money-born bond or not, I'd approached with max goodwill.
And it worked better than expected.
"Good. Keep the paper company in your name."
"…Huh? What do you—"
"I hate the spotlight."
"Ah..."
Of course.
I'm a total nobody.
But Jin Seol-hwa mistook me for some shadowy overlord and let out a deep sigh of awe.
I'm not that guy, seriously?
Just shy, stingy, and crowd-averse.
"Oh, and one more thing."
"?"
"Selig's on the brink of bankruptcy lately—is that legit?"
Overseas articles painted a rough picture.
She was already scheming an acquisition.
"Yes. CEO's on trial for embezzlement, seat's vacant. And debts are hefty..."
"Got it. Future prospects?"
Her answer came without hesitation.
"Their research team is world-class. But..."
"Shit work environment. Boss was busy embezzling."
"…Yeah."
I drummed the desk.
Articles pegged the debt at 120 million dollars.
120 million USD.
About 160 billion won.
Huge sum, but pocket change for me.
Why Selig? Their latest breakthroughs: cancer and leukemia.
World's full of untamed diseases.
Experts call 'em rare disorders.
Selig specialized in those.
'Perfect—Jin Seol-hwa's sister has leukemia, and Selig's advancing on leukemia research.'
Boosting cure rates by 15% or whatever.
15% jump from baseline? Revolutionary.
I decided to acquire Selig.
"We'll take Selig."
"Pardon? But the debt's 120 million dollars. Where would that kind of money—"
"300 million dollars."
"!"
"Initial investment: 300 million."
She reeled from the shock.