[You certainly caused quite a stir.]
That was the first thing Raymond said, without even a greeting.
"I was rely doing my job."
[Does everyone in your industry work that way?]
Of course not.
If all investnt bank analysts went on air to humiliate Wall Street’s big players, who would dare to play the role of a shark anymore?
But now wasn’t the ti for small talk.
“How is the investor recruitnt for Theranos progressing?”
Theranos was currently raising funds through a private equity round.
They were selling shares to various institutional investors to attract investnt.
Since this was the critical mont when the ownership of $10 billion was about to change hands, I couldn't help but be curious about the progress.
[It's going smoothly. Due diligence is in full swing. There seem to be so obstacles along the way, though…]
Institutional investors must have demanded technical validation docunts.
But Theranos had likely made every excuse possible to avoid providing them, as expected.
[Even so, they don’t seem to be delaying the schedule. There's a rumor that they’ll wrap everything up within two months, no matter what.]
Normally, if problems arise during the due diligence process and delays are expected, the investnt recruitnt period is extended.
Yet, they were insisting on sticking to a strict deadline without any extension…
Hols’s strategy was obvious.
She was trying to force investors to make a choice.
Either invest despite the lack of sufficient docuntation or miss out on the opportunity.
It was a pressure tactic—forcing them to pick one of the two options.
Right now, Theranos was regarded as the most promising startup in the industry.
Countless contracts had already been signed, and through a collaboration with major supermarket chains, they were operating testing centers.
Moreover, all docunts related to comrcialization were perfectly prepared.
With this setup, investors would easily fall into a particular mindset.
"They've already signed contracts with major corporations—wouldn’t those companies have conducted thorough reviews?"
Even if they had so lingering doubts, the fear of missing out on a golden opportunity would override them.
This was a clever sche that capitalized on the fear of missing out, or FOMO.
In any case, the crucial point now was that Hols was sticking to the ‘two months’ deadline.
That ant I only had two months as well.
"I want to et the board mbers in person."
When I said this directly, Raymond asked back.
[Why are you so eager to get involved in the Theranos case?]
It was an abrupt question, but after a brief mont of thought, I realized it was a natural doubt from his perspective.
To Raymond, I must have seed like soone who had simply stumbled upon Theranos while scouting for investnt opportunities for a family office.
So, why was I taking such an intense interest in a company I had no prior connection to?
"As I ntioned before, Hols is a fraud."
[So, are you trying to play the hero and uncover the truth?]
“Of course not. As I’ve said before, I plan to establish my own fund soon. By resolving this case, I can prevent losses and ensure that valuable investnt capital doesn’t vanish into thin air. At the sa ti, I can prove my abilities.”
[So, you're after the investnt funds.]
There was no need to be coy here.
For Raymond, this case was a matter of honor.
Instead of pretending to be involved out of re curiosity, it was better to be upfront about my clear objectives. That would make it easier to gain his cooperation.
[As I told you before, the board mbers aren’t people you can et just because you want to.]
"Is that still the case now?"
[One-on-one etings are difficult. But as it happens, there’s an appropriate event in two weeks. I’ll get you an invitation.]
For high-ranking individuals, private etings were only possible if there was an extrely close relationship or a special matter to discuss.
At my current level, I was rely soone who could spark curiosity—not soone who could secure one-on-one etings.
This ant he was offering to get an invitation so that I could approach them myself at a large event.
Well, that was more than enough.
“Understood. Thank you.”
With that, I ended the call and imdiately turned my attention to my calendar.
‘Two weeks from now…’
There was a lot to be done before then.
***
anwhile, Raymond was deep in thought after ending the call.
‘Things have gotten complicated…'
One of Raymond’s original plans was to control Ha Si-heon’s career.
He had intended to steer Ha Si-heon away from a conventional career path, ensuring that he would have no choice but to rely solely on the family offices Raymond introduced.
Since he already seed to be a highly capable individual, Raymond had planned to put a leash on him and make use of his abilities.
And if he ever beca too dangerous, he could be cut off without hesitation.
That was the original plan.
However—
With the nationwide Epicura incident that had erupted recently, that plan had been completely derailed.
Ha Si-heon had beco a central figure in the unprecedented Epicura case.
He had even appeared on television, gaining widespread recognition.
At this point, even if he deviated from the conventional career path, his growing reputation ant that soone, sowhere, would inevitably try to recruit him.
He was now free to go anywhere.
Raymond’s carefully constructed trap had been torn apart by Ha Si-heon himself.
That fact irritated Raymond.
‘As expected…'
He was an unsettling individual.
Raymond recalled Ha Si-heon’s expression during the broadcast.
The chilling pleasure in his eyes when he cornered White Shark.
The overwhelming aura he exuded as he delivered the final blow…
‘A dangerous man.'
Ha Si-heon was undoubtedly a genius.
His skills were undeniable.
He possessed logic, strategic thinking, execution ability, and an exceptional gift for persuasion.
At the sa ti, he was an incredibly dangerous type of genius.
A genius who wouldn’t hesitate to tear down those far above him.
Raymond’s initial unease when he first t Ha Si-heon resurfaced.
Most people who pursue wealth long to be accepted into elite circles.
They aspire to be part of the establishnt.
But Ha Si-heon was different.
Even when he stepped into the tropolitan Club, he remained indifferent.
There was no sign of awe or gratitude for being allowed in.
After all, he was the one who had boldly provoked Gerard without hesitation.
That ant he had no desire for validation or belonging within the establishnt.
He was only interested in Gerard’s investnt money.
A genius who pursued only what he wanted.
A genius who used everything around him to achieve his goals.
That made Ha Si-heon even more dangerous.
‘The best solution would be to eliminate soone like that early, but…'
Raymond let out a deep sigh.
That was no longer an option.
Now, he had only two choices left.
To take the risk and use Ha Si-heon, despite the danger.
Or to cut ties with him completely.
Ordinarily, the latter would be the wisest course of action.
But Rachel was already deeply entangled with him.
She refused to step away from Castleman Foundation affairs.
And Ha Si-heon had also insisted on staying with the foundation, citing contractual obligations.
‘If cutting ties isn’t possible…'
Then only one option remained.
He had to find a way to use Ha Si-heon.
To do that, he needed a way to control him. He had to find his weakness.
He had to grasp what he desired most and what he feared. Only then could he hold the reins.
So Raymond began his investigation.
An orphan who lost his parents at a relatively young age.
Struggled alone to enter dical school and then transitioned to Wall Street.
All of this provided so insight into Ha Si-heon’s character, but ultimately, there were no decisive clues.
Choosing Wall Street suggested he had a clear desire for wealth.
Yet, he didn’t seem like soone who could be bound by money.
He was soone who enjoyed the act of making money itself rather than the social or material benefits it brought.
He would only value money that he earned through his own power.
Soone like that couldn’t be leashed with money.
Then how could he be tad?
The key to solving this puzzle probably lay with Rachel.
Thus, on the weekend—
Raymond invited Rachel to the club for a al and asked her,
“What kind of person is this guy, Sean?”
“Well… I’m not that close to him…”
Rachel tried to feign ignorance about Ha Si-heon, but her uneasy shifting gaze betrayed the lie.
“You even went to Philadelphia with him.”
At Raymond’s sharp remark, Rachel set down her fork.
Then, furrowing her cute brows, she spoke in a displeased tone.
“Are you spying on again?”
“I already told you—I assign bodyguards when you travel for business. I was just concerned about your trip to Philadelphia. I don’t have people watching you otherwise.”
Rachel’s displeasure was evident, but she eventually picked up her fork again.
“If you spent that much ti together, you must have ford so impression of him.”
“Hmm… well…”
Rachel pondered for a mont before speaking cautiously.
“If I had to say… soone who wants to move the world?”
Raymond’s brow furrowed instinctively.
It was an expression fitting for soone like Rachel, who admired Steve Jobs.
But applying that phrase to Ha Si-heon gave him a bad feeling.
“He’s certainly been making quite a stir in the world lately.”
He was referring to the Epicura incident and the broadcast appearance.
Sensing her father’s disapproval in his tone, Rachel retorted firmly,
“He spoke out against racial discrimination, didn’t he? He was at the forefront of pushing for positive change.”
“Positive change, you say…”
Raymond’s lips twisted.
Born into old money and devoted to defending it, Raymond did not welco change.
The world was already tilted in their favor.
If the scales were to be leveled, it ant they had more to lose.
It was natural that he couldn't welco such a shift.
But Rachel was different.
She had a strong tendency to pursue ideals, completely disregarding her own privileged background.
“Even if his thods are a bit rough, he ultimately aims to create a better world.”
Rachel’s expression was full of conviction as she spoke.
Raymond studied his daughter carefully before saying,
“You admire him, don’t you?”
“I think he’s an incredible person. Being around him, I learn a lot.”
Rachel didn’t bother to deny it.
She had always admired geniuses, and she never hid it.
It was sothing Raymond could never understand.
“Geniuses aren’t always beneficial to the world.”
Raymond warned in a heavy tone.
“Geniuses tend to overestimate their abilities and take reckless risks. They don’t even listen to others’ advice. Isn’t he the sa?”
Ha Si-heon had a history of disregarding investors’ concerns and going all-in, advocating a ‘high risk, high return’ approach.
He had completely ignored the opinions of those who provided the capital.
That was a hallmark of a dangerous genius.
“They believe that as long as the outco is good, any ans are justified. That’s why they have no hesitation in using others.”
“Isn’t using others sothing everyone does? By that logic, you and Gerard would be considered bad people too.”
“Yes, humans inevitably use each other to so extent. But most people have a sense of morality. They restrain their ambitions within the bounds of rules and norms, ensuring they don’t cause chaos in society. But geniuses like him are different. To them, it doesn’t matter what happens to society or what kind of chaos ensues—as long as they get the result they want.”
This situation was proof enough.
A nationwide upheaval, with nurous city authorities and law enforcent mobilized.
At the center of it all was Ha Si-heon.
“If you stay around soone like that, those around him will also get hurt. That’s why I’m telling you to keep your distance and be careful.”
Raymond did his best to emphasize the dangers of Ha Si-heon.
Rachel remained silent for a while.
Thinking his warning had gotten through, Raymond felt a sense of relief.
But then Rachel spoke, and her words were completely unexpected.
“If soone like that is around us, crossing those moral boundaries… shouldn’t our role be to help them stay on the right path?”
***
I had to go to California in two weeks.
I initially tried to get approval under the pretext of a business trip, but…
“That won’t be possible. If it’s an asset managent matter, isn’t that under a different departnt’s jurisdiction?”
I was rejected.
And for the record, the person rejecting wasn’t Pierce—it was Jeff.
After the Epicura incident, Pierce had been promoted.
He had moved up to the executive committee and was now overseeing the entire investnt banking division, relocating to an upper-floor office.
As a result, Jeff had taken over the MD position.
Sohow, this had led to Jeff becoming my direct supervisor.
“The agreent you made was with Pierce alone. It doesn’t apply to . From now on, avoid external engagents as much as possible.”
Jeff had always been wary of , but after the Epicura incident, he treated like a walking bomb.
And he had no intention of letting this bomb wander freely outside.
What a coward.
‘I need to sort this out first.’
The upcoming event in two weeks wasn’t the only issue.
If I was going to launch a full-scale operation against Theranos, I’d have to travel back and forth to California multiple tis.
I’d also need to visit various places for preparations.
But for now, I was still part of the M&A departnt, and my direct superior, Jeff, was opposed to going anywhere.
If I wanted freedom, I could just quit Goldman.
But that wasn’t ideal.
I still needed the credibility that ca with Goldman’s na.
What I needed was a delicate balance—remaining at Goldman without actually doing any Goldman work while freely investigating Theranos.
There was no way Jeff would approve that.
So…
‘If Jeff won’t agree, I just need to convince soone above him.’
No matter his title as MD, Jeff was still just an employee of Goldman.
If soone higher up told him to approve it, he’d have no choice.
So I planned to negotiate a solution with soone above Jeff.
That person, of course, was Pierce.
A full day had passed since I sent the ssage, but Pierce still hadn’t replied.
I understood that his new position made him busier…
But I didn’t have the luxury of waiting forever.
Just as I was about to send a follow-up ssage—
His reply finally arrived.
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