A Wall Street Genius's Final Investment Playbook-Chapter 196

‘Shall I step on it here?'

Seeing Schmitt standing proudly in front of me, such an impulse suddenly arose.

I had plenty to rebut, and when it came to arguments, I had never lost.

But I held back.

Delivering a blow right now would be as easy as eating cold porridge, but…

‘Now is not the time.'

Would I have come all the way here just to defeat Schmitt?

The reason I attended this summit was clear from the beginning.

To build a reputation.

In that regard, the current situation wasn't bad.

What is the most fun thing in the world?

Watching a fire, and watching a fight.

And right in front of me, a fight was quietly being set up.

‘It could be useful…'

Still, there were two problems.

First, this wasn't much of a fight yet. It was just a difference in opinions between an investor and a CEO.

Second, the stage was still too small.

The people glancing at us were no more than a handful of ten.

To spread a "reputation" with this was insufficient.

‘First, let’s enlarge the stage.'

With that conclusion in mind, I slowly nodded my head.

“It's really a shame that you refuse the investment…"

I added a deliberately solemn expression at the end of my sentence.

"Of course, I would like to persuade you further, but that would be meaningless. Realistically speaking… yes, your judgment might be right."

I left a slight lingering tone on purpose.

On the surface, it seemed like humble agreement, but underneath, I planted a subtle nuance. freeweɓnovel-cøm

Anyone who heard it might think there was a major disagreement between him and me.

"Well then, I hope you have a pleasant time."

With that, I turned and made a gesture as though I was about to leave.

However, of course, I had no intention of ending it like this.

To set the stage, more drama was needed.

For the rest of the summit, I followed Schmitt around like a shadow.

Whenever he turned around unexpectedly, I was always there, a few steps behind him.

And each time our eyes met, I gave an innocent expression as if to say, "What a coincidence."

‘If scratching doesn't break it, just keep scratching until it does.'

Following him like a shadow.

It wasn't a big deal, but it strangely annoyed him.

Anyway.

At first, Schmitt shrugged it off as no big deal, but after about ten repetitions, his gaze started to change.

“Are you following me?”

Unable to hold it in any longer, he asked accusingly, and I widened my eyes in an innocent manner and waved my hands.

“That can’t be. It's just that wherever I go, you're there. Isn’t it strange how often we run into each other by chance?”

“As I said before, the investment conversation is over.”

“Yes, I know. And as I said… I understand fully.”

Schmitt glared at me, but what else could he do?

Eventually, he huffed and walked off, and I followed him again.

But he entered a session that happened to be quite interesting.

<The Human Element: Redefining Value in Innovation>

"Community, value, trust."

It was a debate wrapped in grand words.

When I entered the session again, following him, Schmitt glared at me fiercely.

Moreover, during the debate, he even said this:

“Innovation is based on the value and trust of the community. However, the approach of converting that value into profitability and numbers inevitably destroys the community.”

This was clearly a message aimed at me.

‘A person who measures everything with numbers.'

The symbol of capitalism that destroys the value of community.

This was how Schmitt defined me, and the reason why the idealists here could never accept me.

But, I opened my mouth calmly.

“That’s an interesting point. Certainly, we often see such phenomena in the Western world. However, let me share an experience from another culture… In Korea, there is a concept called ‘Jeong (情).' It refers to the bond between friends, neighbors… it's a deep emotional connection between people, a bit different from friendship.”

I continued with a wise Eastern smile.

“The interesting thing about this concept of Jeong is that it naturally includes an economic element. For example, during weddings or funerals, people help each other with monetary gifts. Money is exchanged, but the act strengthens mutual trust and solidifies relationships. In fact, the number makes the community bond even stronger.”

I directly countered Schmitt’s attack by referring to Eastern culture.

‘This should make it hard for him to attack.'

I brought up the keyword "culture." At this point, if Schmitt criticizes me, he will be labeled as a narrow-minded white idealist who doesn't understand other cultures.

Schmitt’s expression was visibly contorted. No matter how much he tried to shake me off, I kept following him, and now, even in the midst of this debate, he was getting an argument he couldn't easily counter. Naturally, he was not happy.

Anyway.

By continuing to follow him like this, I finally achieved the result I wanted.

Rumors about the two of us began to spread.

“Is something going on between you and Schmitt?”

After the event, such questions started popping up here and there at the cocktail bar.

But, each time, I smiled awkwardly and replied.

“Oh, it’s just a difference in opinions about the investment.”

“That doesn’t look like it.”

“Well… sorry. I can’t get into details… it might be rude to him.”

I left my words trailing off, subtly implying that there was something more than just a conflict.

After all, rumors are born from such vague tones and ambiguous atmospheres.

Then, the next day.

Finally, the moment arrived when I could scratch everyone’s itch.

The "Intention Setting Circle" session.

This was a place where each person declared their life goals and visions.

Schmitt, of course, attended, and I naturally sat next to him.

It seemed like he had decided to completely ignore me, not saying a word.

After meditating to the subtle sound of a singing bowl for five minutes, the participants gathered in a circle.

The facilitator spoke in a calm voice.

“This circle is a place where we share bold projects that can change the world. Don’t be bound by feasibility, just share your deepest passions and ambitions. You can tell us about your moonshot project.”

A moonshot project.

As if launching a rocket to the moon, the Silicon Valley spirit of ‘seemingly impossible challenges are the start of innovations that can change the world.'

“I want to create a brain-computer interface for patients with neurodegenerative diseases to freely communicate with the world.”

“We are going to build a global consciousness platform that allows millions of people to meditate in real-time and spread collective healing.”

“My goal is to build an AI system that decodes dreams and transforms the unconscious into a personal growth engine.”

Each person declared their moonshot, and finally, it was Schmitt’s turn, sitting next to me.

“We live in an age of fragmented healthcare data. The human body, environmental, and genetic data are constantly being generated, but all that information remains as meaningless scattered fragments. Tempest's goal is to consolidate these fragments and build an operating system for the healthcare sector.”

A pretty big goal.

However, he would soon succeed in actually achieving it in the near future.

So, that's why I want to invest in his company.

“This is not just a simple AI prediction model. We are combining machine learning with human medical judgment to create a world where everyone can make the best choice. Moreover, we aim to provide a unique solution for each patient.”

After finishing his statement, Schmitt glared at me.

His gaze spoke volumes.

‘Does someone like you, obsessed with numbers, even understand what a moonshot is?’

Well, the buildup was long enough.

Shall we begin?

I quietly smiled and slowly opened my mouth.

“My dear friend is suffering from a rare disease called Castleman’s disease. There are only 2,500 cases a year, and because of its lack of profitability, no one is developing a cure for it…”

At the mention of the rare disease, puzzled looks turned towards me.

They expected me to talk about ambitions to dominate the financial market, but this was completely unexpected.

“I plan to build an infrastructure that can treat even these extremely rare diseases. And, I will certainly find a cure for Castleman’s disease.”

Yes, this is my moonshot project.

It wasn’t a lie.

This is actually the most important mission of my second life.

“If we leverage the rapidly advancing AI technology, it’s not impossible. Technically speaking, that is. But the real issue is something else. The real issue is that no one is stepping in because it’s not profitable.”

Here, I lowered my head and gave a solemn expression again.

The one I often used during the mental sparring with Schmitt.

Then, I glanced at Schmitt…

His eyes were wide, and his expression was cracking.

‘Looks like he figured it out.’

Meanwhile, the onlookers seemed to have understood everything, nodding in agreement.

‘Ah, so it’s because of the rare disease.’

In the new narrative I had set, his role was simple.

A righteous voice exposing the fraud of Theranos, an Orca protecting the people's medical costs, Ha Si-heon.

He had encouraged Schmitt to invest in the rare disease, but Schmitt refused, saying it was not profitable.

But Ha Si-heon, though disappointed, still understood, saying, “It’s an unavoidable choice since it’s not profitable…”

Now, who is really the one focusing on the bottom line?

If Schmitt continues to refuse my investment, his moonshot, Tempest, will only be a "customized solution company that ignores rare disease patients."

But.

I wasn’t planning to stop here.

Now, it was time for me to build my reputation.

“Of course, my hedge fund investors won’t sponsor such a moonshot project either. As I said, it’s not profitable. So…”

I paused for a moment, gathering everyone’s attention, then boldly declared.

“So, I am planning to donate $1 billion of my personal assets to develop the cure for Castleman’s disease. I have great hopes for the potential of AI, and if anyone has the technology or ideas that could contribute to this mission, please come and see me anytime.”

***

Ha Si-heon and Schmitt’s rumor spread like wildfire.

“I found out why Ha Si-heon fought with Schmitt! It’s because of the rare disease investment!”

“Rare disease?”

The conflict between Ha Si-heon and Schmitt became a hot topic at the summit.

Here, Ha Si-heon’s reputation played a part.

A genius strategist and a leader in ethical investment.

That Ha Si-heon clashed with a promising startup CEO was a story that practically told itself.

‘What could have happened?’

Soon, the curious crowd heard the same news.

“He’s going to pour $1 billion into curing rare diseases using AI?”

At first, everyone was wide-eyed in surprise.

But after digesting the news, a sense of greed and desire slowly began to stir in their pupils.

Silicon Valley always cheers for ‘humanity’ and ‘innovation.’

But the essence that drives innovation is ultimately money.

AI, in particular, was no exception.

Designing a sophisticated AI model is incredibly expensive.

The high-performance computing power required for calculations, the arduous process of refining and labeling billions of data points, and the cost of the experts leading all these tasks.

Even the initial cost to get started was astronomical.

Yet, venture capitalists and private equity investors always asked the same questions.

Is this technology feasible?

When will it make a profit?

– Is the market potential confirmed?

The developers didn’t have the answers either.

How could they guarantee results when they hadn’t even built the technology yet?

It was an ironic situation.

They had to show results to receive funding, but to create those results, they needed money first.

But.

For those struggling in this vicious cycle, Ha Si-heon’s declaration resonated differently.

He had only one condition for investment.

Could this technology help treat Castleman’s disease?

He didn’t ask about market potential or profitability.

This was virtually a free flow of money without many restrictions.

As a result, a buzz started to spread among the AI developers.

“Should we pitch to him?”

“Let’s give it a try. We’ve got nothing to lose, right?”

So they went to Ha Si-heon.

And Ha Si-heon gladly welcomed everyone who came to him.

“Do you have a business plan ready?”

He listened seriously to every presentation, sometimes asking sharp questions, and even made decisions right on the spot.

“We will support the initial funding of $5 million for the model design you mentioned.”

“Really…?”

“However, there’s one condition. If the model is successfully implemented, please examine whether it can be applied to Castleman’s disease. This project is a moonshot for treating Castleman’s disease.”

His condition was simple.

If the results come through, apply them to treating Castleman’s disease.

‘At this point…!’

For developers tired of fundraising, this was an opportunity.

“Do you think we need imaging technology too?”

“Just pitch it. There’s a team that secured $7 million with a pattern recognition model.”

“What should we do… VC’s have burned us too much…”

“This is Ha Si-heon’s personal offer, isn’t it?”

“Are you sure?”

Developers who were worn out by the strict conditions of venture capital and private equity.

Ha Si-heon’s appearance was like a ray of light to them.

Ha Si-heon declared this great challenge not through hedge funds like Pareto Innovation or its affiliates but as an ‘individual.’

It was truly a moonshot project.

Moreover, the funding he offered was a massive $1 billion.

Of course, there was a reason Ha Si-heon named the $1 billion.

‘Because the founding members invested that much.’

It was the same amount reportedly invested by the founding members of Next AI.

And it wasn’t just that.

Among the founding members, there were CEOs of famous companies, but they participated not as representatives of companies or institutions, but strictly as individuals.

‘That seems to be the crucial condition…?’

Ha Si-heon had that instinct.

And his intuition was right.

The next day, a figure approached him.

“Ha Si-heon?”

It was someone he hadn’t met before, but the face was familiar.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Alex Sander, the CEO of Hatchwork.”

Alex Sander.

He was the man who would later become the CEO of Next AI.

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