A Wall Street Genius's Final Investment Playbook-Chapter 53

[This situation—trapped and unable to move in any direction— It’s like being cornered.]

"……"

At Raymond's words, Gerard couldn’t even offer an excuse. There was no room for rebuttal. This round was a complete defeat for Gerard.

[What do you think is the decisive reason for being driven into this corner?]

Gerard finally realized.

“It’s the three-month deferred payment clause.”

[That must have been his demand.]

“Yes.”

[And you accepted it without much objection.]

“When he raised concerns about liquidity issues, I thought it was only natural to worry about a sudden withdrawal crisis. So, at the time, I didn’t think including such a clause was all that unusual……………"

Back then, he was too preoccupied with trapping Ha Si-heon. To somehow force him to take on half of the losses………….

And because of that, he failed to recognize just how fatal a trap this clause really was.

[There’s no need to blame yourself. When you’re entrusted with other people’s money, including liquidity clauses is standard practice.]

“Are you saying this isn’t a trap?”

[We can’t yet conclude that it was an intentional trap. However, it’s also too suspicious to dismiss as mere coincidence.]

“……You’re right.”

[What do you think? Was this clause a coincidence, or was it calculated?]

Gerard couldn’t readily answer. Seeing this, Raymond assumed his son hadn’t understood the intent behind the question and elaborated further.

[If it was a calculated move, it means he foresaw the bullet recovery operation from the start and even prepared a countermeasure. Do you think he’s someone who can anticipate several steps ahead to that degree?]

‘No way.’

If that were true….. Then Ha Si-heon didn’t just predict Genesis’s sudden rise. It would mean that he anticipated every plan Gerard and his father would make afterward. From Gerard’s whistleblower scheme to his father’s bullet recovery operation. All of it—identified since Thanksgiving dinner? And not only that, but he also preemptively set a trap in response?

Impossible. No genius in the world……………… No, even a genius couldn’t pull that off. This was beyond simply being smart. There couldn’t possibly exist someone capable of crafting such a meticulously designed scenario. It’s like something out of a novel, orchestrated by the mastermind of a massive criminal organization.

However. Suddenly, Gerard recalled a conversation he’d had with Ha Si-heon in the safe room. Back then, too, Si-heon had escaped so effortlessly from the intricate trap Gerard had prepared.

Perhaps…

“It… might have been calculated.”

[On what grounds?]

“That’s…”

Gerard’s words trailed off. To explain his reasoning, he would inevitably have to bring up what happened in the safe room. But if he tried to explain why he took Ha Si-heon there, he’d also have to reveal that the man was essentially a parasite clinging to Rachel. If that happened, Raymond would not hesitate to declare an all-out war. That would be a problem.

Gerard still had to prove his worth as an heir. The issue with Ha Si-heon had to be resolved on his own.

[You’re not yet able to make a clear judgment, it seems.]

“Yes… that’s right.”

[Then prepare a time and place soon.]

“Surely… you don’t mean…”

[I need to meet him in person and make my own assessment.]

Raymond would personally confront Ha Si-heon. To gauge how much of this ‘coincidence’ was actually Ha Si-heon’s plan. This was the best possible strategy to quietly resolve the current situation.

With his father’s seasoned insight, he could expose Ha Si-heon’s true nature and devise a countermeasure afterward. And yet, while Gerard knew this was the correct decision… A vague sense of unease crept over him. His father was not a man who met just anyone. Yet Ha Si-heon, for some reason, was about to meet him directly.

Could this entire sequence of events really be just a coincidence?

‘No, this wasn’t his decision.’

This meeting was orchestrated solely by Gerard and Raymond’s will. Thinking that everything was deliberate would be going too far into conspiracy. Still, Gerard couldn’t deny the fact that Ha Si-heon was now meeting someone he ordinarily would never have access to.

‘Could this… also be his intention?’

The absurd thought flashed through his mind, and Gerard shook his head vehemently. Predicting and calculating every move to this point? That was impossible. No human being could possibly exist who was capable of such a thing.

***

A week had passed since sending the email. Still, there was no response from Gerard.

‘This is strange…’

The email I had sent was effectively a final notice. A message pressuring him to state his stance on redemption.

‘I thought he’d make a decision within four days.’

He was taking far too long. Of course, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. Gerard struck me as an unusually cautious individual. Still, a sense of unease lingered.

It was that gut-wrenching feeling. Such instincts should never be ignored. Usually, when you get this feeling, it’s a signal from your instincts warning of danger.

It might sound superstitious, but in reality, professional investors place a great deal of trust in their intuition. Of course, that doesn’t mean they rely only on intuition when making decisions. It simply means they double-check everything.

‘Do I need to reassess my risk management?’

The most significant factor that separates professional investors from amateurs is risk management. Every investment comes with risk. The most common risk is uncertainty about the future. And while this doesn’t often apply to me—since I’ve returned to the past—

That doesn’t mean there’s no risk. As I said, every investment inherently carries some degree of risk. If there’s no visible risk, it’s likely that arrogance has blinded you to something critical. Finding and managing even those invisible risks is what makes a professional investor.

Take this situation, for example. I already knew the exact timing of Genesis’s stock volatility. It was such a well-known event in the industry. I even remembered that the situation would turn around at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. But does that mean there was no risk?

No. Even if I had poured my entire investment into Genesis, what if Gerard had redeemed early before I could realize my profits? That was the biggest risk in this deal. That’s why I included the three-month liquidity clause in the contract.

That’s risk management.

‘Did I miss something?’

I had already thoroughly analyzed every risk related to Gerard and set up safeguards of my own. And yet, my instincts are sending me a warning. Telling me I’m missing something.

‘Could it be Gerard?’

Perhaps I’ve narrowed my focus so much that I’m not seeing the bigger picture. If that’s the case, I need to cast my net wider and take a broader look.

I resolved to retrace my steps from the beginning when—

Bzzzt—

The smartphone on my desk blared with an urgent notification.

[Mr. Ha Si-heon, please come to the Ethics Management Department immediately.]

It was an email from the Ethics Management Department.

“Immediately…?”

This was no routine matter. But I wasn’t particularly surprised. This, too, was part of my risk management scenario. Well, time to go and check it out for myself.

***

Ethics Management Department. The staff member greeted me with an awkward smile and fidgeted nervously even after I’d taken my seat. It was clear they had something urgent to say, and it wasn’t good news.

“Actually… the SEC has decided to initiate further investigations. They’re questioning the legitimacy of the accounts you’re managing…”

A legal challenge aimed at the informal fund I had created. I was essentially managing customer funds like a hedge fund, and they were now nitpicking whether I had followed the proper procedures. The staffer looked troubled, but I didn’t panic. Instead, I calmly refuted the issue.

“That’s why I opened the account with Goldman. I already inquired about its legitimacy back then, and I fulfilled all the necessary requirements.”

This was a risk I had anticipated. I already had a contingency plan in place. My account wasn’t under my personal name.

I had set it up as a joint account linked with the investors, granting me the authority to manage the funds. From the start, everything had been conducted within the boundaries of the law.

Unusual? Yes.

But illegal? No.

Taxes would be transparently reported, and if any legal issues arose, Goldman’s legal team would handle it. The staffer still looked hesitant.

“Of course, we know that. We’ve submitted the necessary documents to prove its legitimacy, but the SEC insists they need to review the procedures.”

In short, the investigation would proceed regardless.

‘Don’t they have bigger fish to fry…?’

The SEC was likely tied up with far bigger cases at the moment. And with the Genesis incident erupting, why were they bothering to dig into an account that had already been cleared?

This wasn’t the SEC acting on their own initiative. Someone must have nudged them. As soon as I realized this, I nearly laughed.

There was only one person who would benefit from pulling a stunt like this.

‘Gerard.’

A last-ditch struggle, perhaps? It seemed he was scrambling to avoid redemption with every trick he could muster. This was likely why I hadn’t heard back from him. Unfortunate for him, but it’s a meaningless effort.

There’s no way he can attack me through this avenue. Gerard, too, will soon realize this and be forced to back down. In other words, the moment I’ve been waiting for isn’t far off.

“Is that all?”

“No, actually… during the investigation, withdrawals will be restricted.”

My brows furrowed involuntarily.

I hadn’t anticipated this.

“Are you saying the account will be frozen?”

“N-No, not entirely. Fund transfers for investments will still be allowed. However, cashing out will be put on hold until the SEC investigation is complete…”

In other words, until the account’s legitimacy is fully verified, withdrawals would be restricted.

“To enforce that kind of measure, they’d need a warrant.”

The SEC didn’t have the authority to implement such a heavy-handed measure. When I pointed that out, the staffer’s gaze wavered.

“Yes, you’re right. It’s not a legal mandate. This is an internal policy enforced by the Ethics Management Department—just until the results are out…”

In other words, Goldman had preemptively taken action to appease the SEC.

‘Could Gerard have pressured them?’

It was entirely plausible. This wasn’t a legally binding measure, and it was something the Ethics Management team could decide on their own.

If he asked Ferguson, the MD of the Industrial Department, for a favor, this could be pushed through immediately.

“How long will this situation last?”

“Well… it’s hard to say for certain. As I mentioned, we need to wait for the SEC’s conclusion…”

The staffer trailed off, avoiding my gaze. It seemed clear that a swift resolution was unlikely.

“What will you do if I refuse to comply?”

“Pardon?”

“What if I insist on making a withdrawal? There’s no way you could stop me.”

This was nothing more than Goldman trying to play it safe. If I opposed it, there was no legal way to stop me. The flustered staffer responded with an awkward smile.

“Of course… if you decide to take legal action… we couldn’t prevent it.”

In other words, they wouldn’t allow a withdrawal until I brought in a lawyer. A fairly strong-handed stance.

“So, should I proceed with legal action?”

I studied the staffer’s expression. They were trying to read mine as well. If I made an aggressive move here, that information would immediately be reported to someone. Ferguson, or Gerard.

I let out a small, sardonic laugh.

“Of course not. I’m just weighing all my options. That’s all. Understood for now.”

There was no point in staying any longer. I gave a flat response and rose from my seat.

‘What should I do?’

If I brought in a lawyer, Goldman would have no choice but to release the funds. The law is on my side, after all. But that wouldn’t be a wise move. It would give the impression that I was cornered, and worse, it would reveal that I was in urgent need of the funds. That would expose a weakness.

‘I didn’t see this coming.’

The bitter taste in my mouth lingered, but it wasn’t all bad. This gave me a glimpse into Gerard’s tendencies.

‘Messy.’

Dragging his feet even after losing so thoroughly. I’d have to keep this in mind the next time we faced off. But that wasn’t the most pressing issue right now.

‘I need to find another way.’