The morning sunlight streamed weakly through the apartment window, casting long shadows across the small kitchen. Daniel sat at the table, surrounded by stacks of notebooks, papers, and printouts. His mother moved quietly around him, organizing breakfast, yet keeping glances on her son. The 500 million KRW cheque from BlueInk Publishing lay between them like a bridge to a completely different life.
"Daniel… this… this is a lot of money," she whispered, holding it with trembling hands. "I don't even know what to do with it."
Daniel's eyes, sharp and calculating, met hers. "Mom… this isn't just money. This is the first step. We can use it to start businesses, invest in stocks, and build capital. We won't just live comfortably—we'll create a foundation for the future. Every won will be leveraged."
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Studying the Market
As he spoke, his mind flashed back to Jinwoo's meticulous research in his past life. Years of knowledge about global markets, trends, and business strategies were now being applied.
He studied KOSPI and KOSDAQ, identifying companies with strong fundamentals but undervalued potential. Technology firms with international growth prospects, consumer goods companies with rising demand, and small online platforms ripe for investment all made his list.
Emerging Korean startups caught his attention, especially e-commerce, manhwa platforms, and small tech companies. He considered partnerships, equity acquisition, and early-stage investments.
He observed foreign stock exchanges, including NASDAQ, NYSE, and Tokyo Stock Exchange, to understand capital flows affecting Korean companies.
Real estate and small business franchises were noted for their stability and consistent return potential, a balance between high-risk and low-risk investments.
He even analyzed trends in consumer behavior, entertainment, and youth spending, connecting them to potential profits in online content and publications.
Daniel's notebook filled with detailed charts, graphs, and annotated tables. Each investment was a calculated move, based on rigorous research rather than guesswork.
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Cataloging Bullies and Their Families
After planning his investments, Daniel focused on his school bullies and their families. He compiled:
Names, family members, and extended relatives
Family businesses, from restaurants and convenience stores to real estate holdings
Estimated net worth and connections to local political or business networks
Shady dealings, including bribery, underground loans, gambling fronts, and protection schemes
He observed each bully at school: timing their routes, noting social hierarchies, and mapping their alliances. Even casual interactions were logged as data for later.
Every insult, every taunt, every subtle display of arrogance was cataloged. Patience now would allow precision later.
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Escalating Training
Physical training intensified to match his expanding mental efforts:
Endurance runs increased in duration and intensity, incorporating hills, uneven surfaces, and obstacle routes to simulate combat conditions.
Shadow sparring involved multiple simulated attackers, focusing on rapid counters, evasion, and adaptability.
Martial arts techniques became more complex, integrating combinations of strikes, grapples, and defensive maneuvers.
Observation training honed his "Eye of War," allowing him to analyze movements, anticipate reactions, and plan counters with extreme precision.
Daniel's body was transforming. Leaner, stronger, and faster than ever, each movement carried the precision of a hunter preparing to strike.
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Surveying the Town
After training, Daniel explored the town, taking note of every corner, alley, and business.
He mapped gang territories and thug operations, identifying strongholds and the nature of their business.
He cataloged legal and illegal enterprises, noting which families or individuals controlled them.
Connections to school bullies were carefully observed. He tracked their parents' activities, business dealings, and hidden sources of influence.
He noticed patterns: families using intimidation or bribery to maintain power, alliances between businesses and underground networks, and which individuals were potential threats or useful allies.
Every piece of information was meticulously written down, forming a comprehensive map of his town's social, financial, and criminal landscape.
Information is power. Observation is preparation. Patience is victory.
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Evening Reflection
That night, Daniel returned home, exhausted yet invigorated. His mother prepared dinner, silently observing him.
"Daniel… the money, the stocks, everything… it's moving. You're serious about all of this," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Daniel smiled faintly. "This is only the beginning, Mom. Step by step, we build strength, influence, and capital. You'll see… soon, we will never struggle again. Every action now is an investment in the future."
Tears glimmered in his mother's eyes. She hugged him tightly, whispering, "My son… I am so proud of you. You've worked so hard…"
Daniel hugged her back, a calm smirk on his face. The path had been laid. Patience, planning, and precise execution—these were the keys to the empire he was building, combining finance, combat, and intelligence into a seamless strategy.
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