Chapter 1287 – ##09_Young And Rich (4)
##36
1.
“……”
Sharon, waking up from her sleep, stared blankly at her phone.
Twenty messages had arrived from the brokerage firm.
Even before checking the contents, she felt the blood drain from her face as if she had been splashed with ice water. It was likely due to the investor’s instinct she possessed.
With trembling hands, Sharon checked every single message.
[Richmond Financial] Dear customer, regarding account number 123?XX-XXXX-XXXXXXX, additional margin is required. Please check the details of the additional margin requirement through our HTS.
[Richmond Financial] Forced liquidation in progress, overseas futures [USD] risk level has reached 80%. Forced liquidation in progress, please check your account.
[Richmond Financial] Dear customer, the position of account number 123?XX-XXXX-XXXXXXX has been forcibly liquidated without additional margin deposit due to rapid market fluctuations. Offline fees will apply to forced liquidations.
[Richmond Financial] Urgent confirmation required. Due to liquidity issues caused by a sharp price drop, trades were executed at a lower price than the set loss cut.
.
.
.
Some people might not fully understand.
The perception that futures trading is risky is common, but unlike stocks, which even children can understand, the mechanism is a bit complex.
For example, the liquidity in the corn, wheat, and rice futures markets recently increased more than tenfold compared to usual, right after the Witch War, causing volatility to also increase.
Or, a hedge fund, displeased with Sharon’s position, which had been quietly making money, launched a massive short sell.
Or, because Sharon used such high leverage, her position was forcibly liquidated before a circuit breaker could even be triggered.
Or, because the angle was so steep, the loss cut didn’t work properly, and the forced liquidation proceeded before she could even deposit additional margin….
There’s no need to understand all these complicated details.
You just need to understand this:
All of Sharon’s life savings, which she had diligently accumulated like a squirrel storing acorns for winter over four months, vanished in one go.
In the process of the brokerage firm frantically executing market sell orders to minimize losses, a loss of approximately 58 billion won occurred.
In other words, she was now 58 billion won in debt.
“Ah.”
Coincidentally, that was the same amount of debt Sharon had when she first met Siwoo.
2.
Let’s ask the people around her about Sharon Nevergetmoney Evergreen.
First, her husband, Shin Siwoo.
‘Sharon’s strengths? Well, she’s cute. She’s incredibly bright and cheerful, and you can feel the vitality of someone living like a wildflower.’
Odile and Odette, who are tutored by her.
‘She has big boobs. And they’re bouncy.’
‘That’s right. And her butt too.’
‘Besides that? Hmm, I hate to admit it, but… she’s incredibly sociable.’
‘She gets along with everyone.’
Her friend, Amelia.
‘Sharon is good at role-playing.’
‘Besides that, she’s meticulous and considerate. She has a charming way of smiling brightly in any situation.’
That Sharon is now a wreck.
Since that day, she has locked herself in her room for three days, just drinking straight from the bottle.
“Kuh… glug glug glug.”
With an expression as if she were drinking poison, Sharon struggled to swallow the bitter liquor, then threw the empty bottle onto the floor with a clatter, lamenting.
It was a lament she had probably repeated hundreds of times.
“Why did I do that?”
The economic freedom that had been so close to her eyes had vanished more fleetingly than a mirage.
If she had stopped then?
At least she wouldn’t have had to worry about research funds until she died.
If she had lowered her leverage as Kybele had advised?
She might have suffered losses, but they would have been manageable.
No.
If she hadn’t touched futures trading at all?
Then at least she wouldn’t have incurred any debt.
“Why did I do that? Uwaaaah! Why did I really do that?!”
Sharon couldn’t help but feel chills when she checked the indicators at the time.
It wasn’t a natural market flow.
Rather, it was like a meticulously planned and intentional bombing.
Someone on the opposite side of Sharon’s position had fired a ‘die-beam!’ at her.
Because derivatives are a zero-sum game where someone must lose for someone else to win.
Perhaps Sharon’s repeated investment style had been identified, exposing her position, and they had deliberately targeted her.
Sharon once again realized the fear of the financial market.
Futures trading is cold.
Hedge funds have no heart or tears.
They are more terrifying than public enemies.
“Haaaah….”
Sharon took a deep breath, laced with the smell of alcohol.
Only now does the thought, ‘What do I do now?’ come to mind.
She hasn’t told anyone yet.
Not even Siwoo, let alone her other lovers.
If Siwoo found out, he would roll up his sleeves and try to fix it.
He might say, ‘You must have had a hard time,’ and pat her back gently.
But even though Sharon had playfully declared at the proposal that she would rely on him and act spoiled, she didn’t have the nerve to ask him to pay off her debt caused by a failed investment.
At the same time, Sharon, who isn’t good at hiding her emotions, also didn’t have the confidence that Siwoo wouldn’t find out.
Then there’s only one option.
“Let’s go on a trip….”
Let’s find a job at Location Point and start saving money again, step by step.
Once that’s decided, it becomes simple.
Don’t even look at futures or options, and just diligently accumulate money.
She had realized that place was a hellscape.
Even if she was a witch of acorns, a debt of 58 billion won could be resolved in about 10 years, or maybe 20 years, if she was a witch of uranium.
3.
Today is the day when all the lovers gather for dinner.
Sharon also joined the gathering.
Because she wouldn’t be able to be with them for a while.
Suppressing the urge to burst into tears, Sharon quietly continued her meal. Then, L’Riel whispered to her.
“Sharon. I have made a great deal of money. I have earned a whole 1,000 dollars with uranium futures!”
Fortunately, L’Riel still seemed content with making small amounts of money with a small seed.
Sharon, unsure how to respond, quietly said to L’Riel.
“L’Riel, I think it’s better to stop doing futures now.”
“Hmm? Why? I feel like I’m just starting to understand the market.”
“You’ll find out soon.”
It was Sharon who invited L’Riel to this hell.
Now that she was about to embark on a debt repayment tour, she had sent a letter to L’Riel, detailing the incident, before it was too late.
By the time Sharon left, L’Riel would also stop dabbling in futures.
Sharon quietly prepared for a temporary farewell.
“Amelia.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for being my friend.”
“Suddenly? Of course, I’m grateful too, but…”
“Hehe, I just wanted to say it.”
“Why are you being so shy?”
Amelia twisted her hair around her finger, feeling embarrassed.
“Odile, Odette. How are your lessons going these days?”
“Ugh, Sharon, let’s not talk about work while we’re eating.”
“Kyaaa! I just remembered the homework I have to do today!!!”
“S-Sorry…. But I know. You two will do well in the future too.”
She also said goodbye to Odile and Odette.
She quietly said her own farewells to her other lovers as well, without making it obvious.
“Siwoo.”
“Huh?”
“You know I love you a lot, right?”
“Huh? Of course. I love you a lot too.”
The attention of everyone at the table was focused on Sharon.
As a married couple, flirting was commonplace, but usually, everyone refrained from doing it in front of everyone at a meal like this.
But today, Sharon had said something meaningful to all her lovers, and even declared her love actively.
Dorothy and Linne, who were quick to notice, whispered to each other.
“Something~ feels off.”
“I think so too.”
“It’s like she’s acting like she’s about to leave.”
“I agree.”
But since Sharon didn’t make any other major announcements, the meal ended as usual.
Sharon took one last look at her lovers, laughing and chatting happily.
I won’t be able to see this scene for a while now.
“Come see me for a moment.”
Then, Kybele, who had wiped her mouth with a napkin, tapped Sharon on the shoulder.
The two of them talked on the terrace of the mansion.
“You have an investment problem, don’t you?”
“You gave me advice back then. I was just being arrogant.”
“Yeah, I thought you’d get a big slap soon, acting arrogant with such a tiny seed.”
“Huk….”
“Don’t do things like futures from now on. In the first place, this recent crash was a setup to fleece you, wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t think… I wouldn’t be able to respond to this extent.”
Sharon became even more dejected at Kybele’s harsh criticism.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to go to Location Point and earn money.”
“You can borrow from other people, can’t you? Should I lend you some?”
“No, it’s my mistake, so I have to take responsibility.”
Kybele, who had been quietly tapping on her phone while looking at Sharon with slumped shoulders, said.
“Okay, it’s done now. Take out your phone.”
“Yes?”
“Take it out. Open the app. Yes, check my account balance there.”
Sharon, feeling puzzled, took out her phone and did as Kybele told her.
And she saw something unbelievable.
Account Balance: $120,200,302
The account balance, which had clearly been in the minus just a moment ago, was now in the plus.
Even after rubbing her eyes, the same number was still there.
“Do you remember when we met before? Right after that day, your account was switched to a mock investment account. The messages you received a few days ago were also for mock investors.”
“What…? A mock investment? I’ve never opened anything like that….”
“And the position you took three days ago, I closed it arbitrarily before the crash. I did lose some money selling it at market price, but I also defended it by hedging with options.”
Kybele continued to explain to Sharon, who was still bewildered.
So, the series of events originally went like this: Sharon and Kybele meet – crash – Sharon becomes a debtor.
But in reality, it was: Sharon and Kybele meet – Kybele takes some measures to switch Sharon’s investment account to a mock investment account – the contracts remaining in the actual investment account were closed at a reasonable price.
So, the crash hit a mock investment contract, not Sharon’s actual contract.
“Is that even possible?”
To dispose of someone else’s account contract arbitrarily.
Not only that, but to switch an account that was actively being invested in to a mock account without the owner’s knowledge.
Furthermore, Sharon hadn’t noticed any of these events.
This was unheard of.
Wasn’t this a case of a brokerage firm managing funds in a way that wasn’t even mentioned in their terms?
It was an act of overreach that could lead to a huge scandal and the collapse of the brokerage firm.
“Normally, it would be illegal, of course. I don’t have the authority to do that either.”
“Normally…?”
“Richmond Financial is owned by me. How about that? If you keep quiet, there won’t be any problems, right?”
Okay, there’s no need to understand this in a complicated way either.
Sharon’s debt has disappeared.
Because it wasn’t an actual investment, but a mock investment.
Sharon’s assets are still close to $100 million.
Because Kybele, sensing the danger, had taken out and closed Sharon’s positions in advance.
“I thought you were getting too cocky, so I gave you a lesson before you fell harder. But this is the last time I’m helping you. And derivatives are meant to fleece others, you know? Someone as pure as you isn’t cut out for it.”
At that moment, Sharon saw a holy halo rising behind Kybele’s back.
A saint, no, an angel.
She must be an angel.
The fact that she didn’t tell her the truth was also a loving lesson to prevent Sharon from making the same mistake again.
“Kybele…”
“Why are you being so creepy… Kyaaak! What is it! Why are you kissing me all of a sudden…?! Uubub…!”
“Chup chup chup, I love you! You’re the best! Baron Periwinkle is the best! Kybele is the best! Hwaaang! Hwaaaang!!!”
Sharon rushed at Kybele and showered her with kisses on her lips, cheeks, and forehead, with all her might.
“Tsk, you’re still a kid.”
Kybele, who had been horrified, also patted Sharon’s back, who was crying like a child, as she resolved her past hardships.
Well, something like that.
Today, Sharon’s investment life is peaceful as well.
