Sabina was a strikingly beautiful woman. In fact, her beauty never paled in comparison to Catalina’s, even when the spotlight was on the other woman.

「I will see you there.」

She got up after receiving the message. She kissed the forehead of a conservative U.S. politician sleeping next to her and left as if she was Cinderella at midnight.

Her face froze when she got out of the shabby motel due to the current grave atmosphere of the world. It had been four years since she had entered the U.S. on a study visa. She actually received a master’s degree in international relations from a graduate school in Washington and established a small organization among her colleagues.

However, this was all a disguise. The truth was that she was a Chinese spy! The way she looked around resembled the sharp eyes of the Awakened. Fortunately, there was no one tailing her.

Sabina moved to the contact point while thinking that the Chinese authorities were overtaxing themselves. Hastening in this manner would inevitably exacerbate the situation.

In fact, engaging in any wrongdoing could result in her prosecution under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) for failing to register with the U.S. government while working for a foreign country. Considering the present political climate, the prospect of a spy exchange between China and the U.S. seemed far-fetched, especially if she was revealed to be a spy.

“If we keep doing this, this will only raise suspicions. Do you know who I was with?”

Sabina was simply nervous. She needed a good night’s sleep as she always had to maintain her looks, but she had been suffering from insomnia recently. China’s relations with the U.S. had deteriorated to an extreme. No bullets had been fired, but it was a war.

Sabina was nervous when she looked at her silent contact. Then, the contact handed her an envelope. Sabina froze as she noticed the envelope was red. That meant Code Red! The worst-case scenario was actually happening, and the Chinese government was unsheathing the sword.

“...Is this true?” she asked.

The contact only nodded. After he left, Sabina was afraid to open the envelope because she felt like a nuclear bomb would explode as soon as she did that. Code Red was full of missions that marked the start of World War III, including nuclear attacks and data system paralysis.

Of course, she was a mere intermediary like the man who had delivered the envelope, but that didn’t ease her mind. Thanks to the Awakened, Earth had barely averted an assault by extraterrestrial creatures, but now the world and China were engaged in a war without bullets that was rapidly approaching its conclusion.

Sabina opened the envelope with trembling hands. A map appeared.

After following the directions, she arrived at a place disguised as a pedicure shop. It was full of computers and whiteboards. Sabina wasn’t quite sure what was going on when she got there because people there didn’t appear to be hackers or soldiers. Rather, the place felt familiar to her.

A man asked her, “Are you familiar with the chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), Sabina?”

Sabina nodded because he was among the people she had to seduce. “Yes, but I still don’t know who you are.”

“I’m Mickey Chung,” the man responded.

Sabina scanned Mickey from head to toe. He was clad in a fine suit and with impeccably styled hair, so he exuded the typical image of the Wall Street elite. As expected, he told her that he was running a hedge fund.

“Where is this?” Sabrina asked.

“I’m developing a cannonball. I completed it a long time ago, so all we have left is checking some stuff.”

All she could hear was the clicking of a keyboard, and there was no hint of gunpowder in the air.

People were speaking in raised voices at some tables, engaging in discussions about financial data using technical terms specific to the industry.

Sabina said, “It looks like my job is to connect you to the chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange.”

She had to remember that this mission corresponded to Code Red, so she shouldn’t be prematurely relieved that it wasn’t a nuclear attack. Instead, they would attack the U.S. mainland with something equivalent, and Mickey Chung likened it to a ‘cannonball.’

Sabina focused on her surroundings and the sounds of the meeting, then soon realized that it was a war of money! The Chinese authorities were risking both the fate and the power of their nation!

Finally…

“Come this way.”

Mickey guided Sabina to the office, then he said, “There are a few things you need to know in order to connect me to the chairman. I will briefly tell you the basic framework. Before we get into that, how much do you know about the subprime crisis in 2008?”

She promptly responded, “That since then, Jonathan Investment Finance Group has become more prominent.”

“Then, I can just explain it like this and move on. Wall Street geniuses were good at beautifully wrapping up dangerous waste. They finally created the evil species by combining and twisting everything.”

Sabina interjected, “Then, the Rothschilds swallowed it all.”

“Anyway, that complicated mechanism has inspired us all. Hence, ‘Small Golden Fish’ was born that way.”

“A small golden fish?”

Mickey shrugged. “The authorities gave it that name. It doesn’t matter.”

Sabina concentrated on Mickey’s explanation. Despite possessing fundamental financial knowledge, she struggled to comprehend the intricate structure of Small Golden Fish as Mickey expounded on it with professional expertise. The extent she understood was that a derivative named Small Golden Fish was closely linked to gold and the renminbi1.

“It’s difficult.”

“While it is indeed true that the dollar has lost its position as the world’s dominant currency, it has been enjoying its heyday since the Day of Advent. What do you think will happen if the dollar collapses now? The entire world would be unable to avoid fallout.”

“Then, even our nation will…”

Mickey nodded calmly. “The People’s Republic of China will also have a fallout.”

***

Fuck! This is crazy! This is crazier than what the entire world is doing to China!

Mickey shouted inwardly after meeting with the chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange after Sabina introduced him. In fact, Mickey, who had hoped that Small Golden Fish would go down in smoke, couldn’t hide his disappointment. The chairman affirmed that he would release Small Golden Fish into the market, as though Sabina had exploited his weakness and seduced him.

This world has barely managed to survive! But this means nothing matters as long as they maintain their power! But what about our people? My family? And me?

Mickey swallowed his anger. For now, he thought it was a priority to get Sabina’s eyes off of him. Of course, he put in effort to help her realize the seriousness of the situation, but she valued her own life more than the collapse of the global economy.

I shouldn’t have expected anything.

He smiled at Sabina without revealing that his mind was going crazy.

Sabina answered with a smile, “I’m glad the conversation worked out well.”

“But Sabina… Don’t you want to make a fortune? As a person who handles money, I won’t be able to close my eyes when I die if I miss this opportunity.”

“It sounds like you are going to use the authorities’ tactics.”

“It won’t be a big deal if you turn a blind eye. I can guarantee at least ten million dollars. Of course, I will exchange the dollar in spots before it turns into a worthless piece of paper. We will share the profit exactly half and half.”

“...”

He continued, “Let’s let the higher-ups take power, and let’s share some money.”

Sabina hesitated and finally said, “...What is the plan?”

“The government will notice if I intervene myself. However, I have a friend. He was successful even in the midst of two global economic crises, including the subprime and the Day of Advent. We can hand him the investment proposal and just wait.”

“Are you talking about Jonathan Hunter?” she asked.

Sabina had managed to alleviate her tension to the extent that she could make jokes.

“He is Chris Lee.”

“This is my number. I’ll be waiting for your call,” Sabrina said.

Mickey headed straight to Chris’s office which was close by. The world was in a great economic boom. The rally was just in the beginning phase, so it was too early to predict the end. Chris’s office was full of joy like any other office on Wall Street.

Chris was having a meeting with a man when Mickey arrived there. Mickey didn’t pay much attention to that. However, once something colorful flashed from the man’s hand beyond the window, Mickey realized that the man was one of the Awakened. Then, he saw them exchanging documents and shaking hands.

More time passed.

The office door finally opened, and Mickey couldn’t bear to make eye contact with the Awakened. Media censorship alone was inadequate in concealing the problems that the Awakened had caused in the private sector, so Mickey was aware of several incidents too.

“Mickey?” Chris continued to speak while Mickey stared at the Awakened’s back. “I was expanding my business. I had something to talk to you about, and you came just in time. Come on in.”

Mickey momentarily forgot his purpose for coming. He pondered what kind of business venture had motivated Chris to bring along such a dangerous Awakened.

Chris clarified, “The formal contract will be made after the registration day of the Awakened.”

“What is going on?” Mickey asked.

“We are in a hurry because we have to enter before military law gets strengthened. Simply put, it’s similar to management.”

Management? Managing the Awakened?

Mickey shuddered at Chirs’s audacity because he wasn’t a guy like this. He had an excellent success rate in the market as a person who ran a successful hedge fund.

However, he changed from the Day of Advent. When everyone, like friends, colleagues, and rivals, in the industry, was busy disposing of their assets, Chris instead jumped into the ranks of defenders. Then, he became a passionate believer in two financial conglomerates, Jonathan and Gillian.

In fact, that was why Mickey was visiting Chris. Mickey thought Chris would take his situation boldly and help him out.

Chris said, “Why didn’t you answer my call? I was very worried, thinking that you had gone back to China.”

Mickey grimaced. “Even if I try to go back, I can’t. The important matter…”

“Did it go well?”

“It was a project that I’ve been in charge of for a long time, and I just finished it.”

“Please take a seat first.”

Mickey sat on the couch where the Awakened used to sit. Chris opened his mouth while Mickey was trying to figure out how to start the conversation.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from .com.

“I don’t have many people to trust, so I have been only waiting for your call. There’s no time to rest now. The market targeting the Awakened is rapidly forming, so we should jump in faster than others.”

Mickey found himself envious of Chirs’s gleaming eyes, and he unwittingly fixated on them for an extended period.

Chris’s voice broke through, “Are you okay? Whatever it is, don’t hesitate to tell me, Mickey.”

“...There is something I haven’t been able to tell you.”

“Yes.”

Mickey confessed, “I’m from China.”

“Yes, so?”

Mickey continued nervously, “I… I was working for the Chinese authorities. Please help me. I beg you, Chris. Please connect me with the U.S. government and Jonathan Investment Finance Group.”

“...”

“The Chinese government is trying to self-destruct with the world. Please protect me and my family. Please,” he begged.

That night, Mickey received a phone call. It was an unfamiliar number that wasn’t registered on his phone.

It was Brian Kim, the Chief Financial Manager of Jonathan Group! The vanguard of the Great Financial Empire!

Mickey became speechless for a few minutes, then he started brooding over Brian Kim’s determined words.

“Yes… You guys… are… Jonathan Group…”

***

There was a thing called the IMF special withdrawal right (SDR). Aside from the role of managing it, it was important to note that the constituent currencies of the SDR played a vital role in the world economy as a global currency. Until 2016, there were only four: dollars, euros, pounds, and yen.

However, China’s renminbi was then added, so one could argue that the dollar was the party venue while the other four currencies were guests. Basically, one party drove the world economy.

There was a reason why the renminbi was able to occupy such a significant position. When Yeon-Hee and I were wandering around nonstop, the renminbi issue also emerged in our club. It started after one of the club members, the IMF chairman, complained that pressure was growing in China.

China desperately desired to integrate the renminbi into the currency party that governed the global economy, asserting that their significant growth warranted recognition from the world. They even threatened to divulge the number of gold reserves they possessed to the world unless the global economy accepted the renminbi as a party member.

Of course, China’s intimidation didn’t work at the time. Why? Because they would never reveal the number of gold reserves they held to the public. They didn’t want the international gold market to falter as much as we did.

Nevertheless, we invited the renminbi as a party member under the dollar. Why? Because it not only benefited us but there was also another important reason to comfort China. We had to use either force or somehow convince them not to use nuclear power arbitrarily on the Day of Advent.

“I think it’s the beginning of the Big Golden Fish.”

Kim Cheong-Soo’s voice boomed from the speaker, while at the bottom of the screen, the breaking news headlines continued to scroll on the Internet news feed.

「 Breaking news: China’s Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs, “The authorities’ gold reserves are more than fifteen thousand tons. Number one in the world.” 」

「 Breaking news: China’s Reconstruction Movement Began, Similar to Korea’s IMF Gold Collection Campaign in 1997. 」

「 Breaking news: International Gold Prices Soar in the Wake of China’s Remark. Global Stocks Turn to Decline.」

The briefing that China’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs gave to the world was as intense as Lee Tae-Han’s press conference.

「 Is Renminbi’s Inclusion in the Currency Party a Prelude to a Gold-based Currency Promotion? The Future of the World’s Dominant Currency, the Dollar, Remains Uncertain.

- The Counterattack of China, a Country on Economic Sanctions. A Head-on Challenge to International Order.」

「 Have you Heard of the Phrase ‘Only China Saves Capitalism?’

- The True Meaning of China’s Gold Reserves. China’s Holdings of U.S. Government Bonds. 」

「 Whose hand will the Big Four, the Financial Empire, Raise? The United States or China?

- Is Jonathan Hunter a Financier or an Awakened? 」

The world was becoming clamorous again. 2018 would be remembered as the most dramatic year in recorded history.

“Things are going as you said. Then, I’ll contact the club members.”

I commanded, “Tell them that any seceders will face the same fate as China.”

“Yes, sir.”

I accepted the currency war. Breaking into the People’s Bank of China and stealing their gold didn’t exist in the future I was drawing. Without resorting to extreme measures, I could easily crush the small and big fish with my financial power and claim the valuable rewards that awaited me.

Yes. I had relied on the past so far, but now was the moment for me to create my own history.

Welcome to the history that I will be making.

1. The official currency of China. ☜