Jefferson walked in his suit and tie towards the conference room with a frown on his face.
“Today won't be easy either.”
“Hello, Mr. Jefferson.”
“It has been awhile, Miss Johanna.”
Jefferson amiably received every greeting made to him by the passing women. However, after passing them, dark shadows returned to his face.
The company he worked at was Global J.K.I Financial Group in New York!
As was typical of America, they had one motto with their speculative funds:
'Invest in places that make money.'
Resources, people, companies, and countries.
There weren't any restrictions on their investments.
They had been quiet for some time because their endless greed had netted them a big loss. However, they were once again increasing their capital as of late.
Jefferson, the Executive Director responsible for Asia, presided over a meeting with the major shareholders who held the company's wealth.
Their profit from investing on an American and European infrastructure company was excellent. Their investment on Egypt's oilfields was gradually yielding profit, and the investments in environmental technology were also showing promise.
The problem was in Asia.
The shareholders were annoyed because the returns were too high.
“Our share ratio of Unicorn is currently approximately 7.2 %. With current market price, it's estimated to be 16.8 billion dollars.”
“The return of our investment must be over a hundred fold,” said Benjamin Chandler, who had served as a Vice President of the United States.
“Yes. The return on investment is exceeding 130 times. It has the highest return from all the companies we've seen until now.”
“Why didn't you invest a greater amount in Unicorn beforehand?”
A profit of 130 times the investment!
But wasn't enough for the greedy Chandler. The other Directors and Shareholders also criticized Jefferson's mistake.
“We missed out on a chance to make money. Did you forget opportunities soon grows into profit?”
“I cannot believe you were careless with our company until Unicorn developed more maturely.”
Jefferson coughed up an excuse.
“We also tried to take action, but the stock value jumped too suddenly.”
“Stock prices have risen by 130 times. We should have invested more in the beginning!”
“Formerly, it was an unproven enterprise. The press and America's academia treated it negatively, so a greater investment was difficult.”
“How much is the foreign investment for Unicorn?”
“It is about 19.4 %.”
J.K.I. Financial Group, the California Government Employees Pension Corporation, and other investment companies had a combined total of nearly 19.4 %.
“What do you think about combining forces and merging with Unicorn Corporation before it gets any bigger?”
Seizing control with the use of astronomical funds!
It was a remark no one but Chandler would dare to say.
The back of Jefferson's shirt became drenched in sweat.
“We'll only know by exploring the idea, but I think it will be a very difficult venture.”
“For now, we will get the funds.”
“Even with the money, it is close to impossible.”
As Royal Road hit upon its initial success, Unicorn was already experiencing unbelievable growth.
The stock price skyrocketed in a globally unprecedented manner! As soon as the stock market opened, it soared into higher heights.
There were no sellers either. Those who owned stocks were certain it will still continue to rise, so no one wanted to sell. The money they received yearly from just those stock dividends alone was enough to live off of for a lifetime.
In contrast, people who wanted to buy stocks were trying to buy them no matter the cost.
Stock traders worldwide tried to buy just one Unicorn stock, but exploded in anger because no one was willing to sell.
“How can there be a stock like this?”
Chandler felt like his stomach was overturning.
Even now, Unicorn's stock was soaring with no limits, and the current price per stock had become the most expensive in the world.
“Even if we offer a high price, no one is trading. And if rumors spread of our plans to merge, the periodically occurring trades would atrophy.”
Jefferson was sorry he could only inform the major shareholders of the bad news, but it couldn't be helped.
Moreover, Unicorn Corporation had a vast amount of money.
In fact, several finance companies had united and revealed their covert hostile intentions towards Unicorn. They shook Unicorn through the press and credit companies, trying to buy stocks.
Unicorn's response to those actions were drastic.
They used overflowing funds to drastically expand their shares in foreign media and financial companies. They interfered in company management and forcibly replaced board members, so their opposers had to back down.
Foreign financial companies were swayed by the large losses they suffered because of the economic power Unicorn Corporation possessed.
Unicorn was the largest stockholder of a foreign investment bank.
A monthly fee of 200 thousand Won (~$200)!
It was only possible for Unicorn Corporation, who was throwing away astronomical funds every month.
J.K.I Financial Group's meeting concluded without any results.
The major shareholders pulled up their heavy bodies.
“I'm going home to rest.”
“Abigail, are you planning on connecting to Royal Road today as well?”
“Certainly. I even bought a villa near the sea.”
“What level are you, Mr. Chandler.”
“290. Do you want to go hunting together?”
“Sure. Please help me level a little. Hunting is really difficult after passing level 200.”
“It's bound to be hard without know-hows.”
The major shareholders were also players of Royal Road.
They had accumulated wealth and power in the real world. Since they could live new adventures and experiences on the Versailles Continent, there was no reason to dislike it.
They lived new lives with slightly younger and more handsome bodies.
“I'll see you in the next meeting.”
Jefferson even politely saw off the luxury cars from the door.
He was also a Royal Road player.
Since he was an investment company Executive, he had chosen Merchant as his profession. He was struggling to earn a lot of money through trade to acquire a land and a title as nobility.
After all, Royal Road was an alternate reality no one could help but be sucked into.
Moooo!
Yellowy bellowed ponderously.
He looked tired, as if he had been arduously plowing the fields all day!
It was because he had struggled to familiarize himself with strange footwork to be helpful during battles.
Weed pulled out his sword.
“Charge. Yellowy!”
Moooooooooo!
Yellowy stamped his hind foot and ran.
Wild Bull Rush. As they ran fearlessly down the steep rocky mountain. Their speed got faster and faster.
Weed's mantle flapped wildly in the wind.
“This is the feeling.”
There was nothing cooler than a flapping mantle when you while running quickly.
Weed was fully armed in his best equipment.
His blade was the Daemon Sword he'd acquired in Todeum. It was the prized possession of the honorable Knight Kolderim of Kallamore Kingdom. The light-absorbing Talrock's Armor, the noble Black Helmet of Elegance, Vampire Cloak, and black boots. He even had his Ancient Shield equipped.
Even if he were to ride a wild mustang in the wilderness, his appearance couldn't be any cooler.