A Wall Street Genius's Final Investment Playbook-Chapter 321: The 100-Billion Race (17)
Meanwhile, there was one man grinding his teeth as he watched all of this unfold.
That man was none other than the Saudi Crown Prince, Fahid bin Salman.
—The pride of two mega funds on the line in this race! Who will emerge victorious? Wall Street analysts are split!
The anchor’s voice pierced sharply through the prince’s ears.
The muscles in his jaw tightened ever so slightly.
“A race...?”
There was never supposed to be any competition to begin with. This investment stage was meant to be Saudi Arabia’s exclusive spotlight.
Why had he poured in that astronomical sum of 45 billion dollars?
For Saudi Arabia, this investment was not some mere financial play. It was the kingdom’s bold declaration to cast off the outdated image of an “oil nation” and rise as the dazzling “epicenter of innovation.”
Moreover, this investment itself was designed as a grand global showcase for the Crown Prince’s own “Vision 2030.”
But then—
“Ha Si-heon...!”
An unpredictable variable had appeared, splitting the spotlight that should have belonged solely to Saudi Arabia cleanly in two.
In simple terms, what was supposed to be a one-man show had suddenly become a two-man act.
“That alone is infuriating enough...”
When he changed the channel, an even more aggravating segment was airing.
—Debate continues to rage over who truly originated the concept behind the Visionary Fund.
—With a staggering capital force of 100 billion dollars, the fund has proposed a radical paradigm—rather than picking winners, they will create them. The question is, who first conceived this idea?
The prince’s gaze turned razor-sharp.
Accusations of plagiarism.
This was the most lethal blow of all.
Perhaps it was not a legal issue, but it was absolutely a matter of national honor and dignity. If Ha Si-heon’s narrative became accepted as truth...
In that moment, Saudi Arabia would be seen not as a prophet of innovation but as a fool who dumped 45 billion dollars into a fraud. And the label “dumb oil money” would spread across the world like wildfire.
The astronomical sum he had invested to elevate the status of his nation might instead become a poison that damaged its prestige.
Yet for the proud Crown Prince Fahid bin Salman, to be mocked as “foolish oil money” was utterly unacceptable.
The prince immediately contacted Masayoshi.
“Is this the price I pay for trusting you? All I receive in return is humiliation and disgrace.”
But on the other end of the line, Masayoshi’s voice held unwavering confidence.
—Your Highness, please do not be swayed by Ha Si-heon’s petty tricks.
—The truth will inevitably be revealed. Grant me three days, and I will clear every doubt.
Masayoshi moved swiftly. He purchased prime-time slots across CNN, BBC, and Bloomberg, launching a massive counteroffensive. He unleashed a barrage of prepared evidence—timelines, email records, rock-solid witness testimonies—to assert his innocence.
And Ha Si-heon’s response was...
—Ah, I see. Sure, let’s go with that then.
Just one short, casual line.
That was all.
Masayoshi froze.
Normally, these types of disputes culminate in a fierce public showdown to determine the rightful originator. Masayoshi had staged this entire spectacle precisely to force Ha Si-heon into the ring.
But—
Ha Si-heon had no intention of ever stepping onto the stage Masayoshi prepared.
“‘Let’s go with that’? That’s it?”
But once Masayoshi had begun proving his innocence, he couldn’t stop midway. And so his one-sided declarations echoed into the void, unanswered...
In the end, instead of reclaiming his honor as the victor, Masayoshi found himself throwing punches into thin air like a fool.
Meanwhile, public opinion online began to take a strange turn.
—He already said it’s fine, so why is Masayoshi losing his mind all by himself? Kinda makes him look more suspicious.
—Would a real innovator even care what a fraud says? That’s a waste of time.
—His ‘evidence’ is just PowerPoint timestamps? What is this, a group project?
—Game’s already over, but he’s the only one screaming for overtime and exhausting himself lol.
—Every time I hear Ha Si-heon say ‘Sure, let’s go with that,’ I don’t know why but my blood pressure spikes. Is it just me?
No matter how loudly Masayoshi shouted, Ha Si-heon maintained the same attitude. A calm, dismissive superiority.
And finally, with an air almost of pity, he said:
—I’ve already acknowledged you, haven’t I? Let’s say we both came up with it at the same time. Reaching such an innovative idea at your age... I truly respect it.
—I’m not being sarcastic. I sincerely believe it. Who would dare interfere with a man igniting his final blaze in the twilight of his life?
Ha Si-heon was truly infuriating.
On the surface, he appeared considerate, even respectful—but in reality, he was branding Masayoshi as an “old relic long past his prime.”
As a result, the more Masayoshi thrashed to prove his innocence, the more he appeared to the public as a pathetic old man clinging desperately to faded glory.
However, just as Masayoshi’s honor was crumbling and teetering on the brink—
A decisive event occurred that flipped the game entirely.
<Republic of Korea makes explosive decision: to invest 50 billion dollars into Ha Si-heon’s ‘Cure Fund’>
At last, Ha Si-heon had secured an anchor investor. And with a capital sum that surpassed Saudi Arabia’s 45 billion dollars.
The Crown Prince’s mood soured once again.
“That was our record...”
Saudi Arabia had previously held the title for the largest single investment amount in history. Their glittering achievement had been shattered. And the one who broke it was a country they had never even considered a competitor: South Korea.
But the problem didn’t end there.
<The rebellion of passive investors... Canada and Singapore join forces with Ha Si-heon in the mega-deal!>
Major investors were now lining up to join Ha Si-heon’s camp, one after another.
At this point, no one could confidently predict the outcome.
The worst scenario began to form in the prince’s mind.
‘If... the Visionary Fund fails to hit its target and sinks?’
Saudi Arabia would go down in history as the foolish capital that went all-in on a fraud, abandoned by the world.
“That must never happen.”
The collapse of the fund was absolutely unacceptable. They had to win.
Yet—
—The competition is really heating up now! Both sides have around 20 billion dollars left to secure in the 100-billion race. What do you think will determine the winner?
—It all comes down to which side can secure the remaining major investors. A fierce battle is expected as both teams court them individually.
—In terms of reputation and credibility, Masayoshi Son and Ha Si-heon are evenly matched. So the final decision will hinge on the investment thesis. Which will prevail—tech or healthcare?
—Given the current market conditions, healthcare has the upper hand. Institutional investors are already heavily weighted in tech, so they are likely to favor healthcare for diversification.
The momentum was now shifting decisively toward Ha Si-heon.
And Masayoshi Son’s response was...
—The fastest solution is to increase our investment capital.
The moment he heard those words, the Crown Prince’s voice turned icy.
“Unless your value has increased—which it has not—why should we put in more money while you are plummeting?”
If Saudi Arabia injected additional capital at this stage, they would undoubtedly be recorded in history as the ultimate fools of the century.
His voice was cold and resolute.
“We partnered with you solely because our interests aligned. We never promised to bankroll you indefinitely. If you think we will keep pouring money in just because we’ve already invested, you are gravely mistaken.”
Only silence came from the other end of the line.
And then, just as their relationship seemed irreparably frozen—
“Your Highness, Ha Si-heon has requested another meeting.”
The man at the center of all this chaos and conflict had returned to face the Crown Prince once more.
***
When they met again, Ha Si-heon spoke with astonishing calm.
“Your Highness, I came to see if you might have changed your mind.”
“Changed my mind? About what?”
“Did I not already tell you? Having more than one insurance policy is never a bad thing.”
Insurance. That is what Ha Si-heon called Saudi’s investment. In a way, it was an accurate metaphor. As the age of oil comes to an end, the astronomical capital Saudi Arabia was pouring out was, in essence, nothing more than a colossal insurance policy against an uncertain future.
However—
“Take out more than one insurance policy. What you really mean is that we should invest in your fund as well, correct? And during a situation like this, of all times.”
The Crown Prince let out a cold laugh as he continued.
“You must be well aware of how ridiculous our image would become if we did such a thing.”
Betraying Masayoshi itself was not the issue. Alliances in business were always subject to change.
The real problem was face.
Saudi Arabia had already declared, before the eyes of the entire world, that it was the “strategic partner” of the Visionary Fund. They had also proclaimed, alongside a staggering sum of 45 billion dollars, that they would “shape the future together as partners.”
And now, switch sides to Ha Si-heon?
That would be no different than publicly announcing to the world, “Our judgment was wrong. We mistook a fake for the real thing.”
The Crown Prince’s jaw tightened.
“It is not yet so urgent.”
Besides, the race had not been completely decided yet. As long as victory was still possible, there was no need to humiliate themselves prematurely.
But upon hearing that, Ha Si-heon’s eyes curved slightly. The thin corners of his lips lifted with an enigmatic smile.
“‘Not yet,’ you say...”
Ha Si-heon rolled that single word in his mouth for a moment. Then he spoke again, still smiling.
“So, in other words, you believe it’s unnecessary at this moment. But that is precisely the misunderstanding of what insurance truly is. Insurance must always be taken out before disaster strikes. Cancer insurance is only meaningful before one gets cancer. Fire insurance is only useful before the fire begins. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“That only applies when the premiums are reasonable.”
However, the price currently being asked was anything but reasonable. Saudi Arabia would have to put aside its prestige, its pride, and the honor it had accumulated on the world stage.
“If the price we must pay is outrageously high, then there is no reason to prepare for a disaster that may never come.”
“That is exactly why I have come in person. Because disaster is inevitable for the tech sector.”
Having said that, Ha Si-heon paused, then slowly took a sip of Arabic coffee.
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Everything about him suggested he was waiting for the Crown Prince to ask what disaster he was referring to. Ordinarily, the Crown Prince would never fall for such an obvious ploy... But the man before him was Ha Si-heon—the one who had predicted multiple so-called “black swan” events that no one else saw coming.
In the end, the Crown Prince’s tightly sealed lips slowly parted.
“What disaster is coming?”
“Ubers.”
“...!”
At that one word, the Crown Prince’s face hardened like stone.
Ubers. It was the undisputed leader in the ride-sharing industry, the most celebrated unicorn in Silicon Valley.
And Saudi Arabia had already invested 38 billion dollars into it. At the highest possible valuation, at the peak of the market. Of course, they believed it was worth it. Ubers would continue to grow, indefinitely.
Yet now, Ha Si-heon was forecasting disaster for Ubers itself.
“In terms of growth potential alone, there is no room for doubt. But the true value of a company is never decided by growth alone.”
“Is this about the recent scandals?”
The Crown Prince asked sharply.
Lately, Ubers had been embroiled in a series of controversies over inappropriate remarks from executives and various internal conflicts, even sparking boycotts that were gaining traction.
However, the Crown Prince dismissed these as temporary disturbances.
“Those are isolated incidents. Misunderstandings fade over time.”
But Ha Si-heon did not back down in the slightest.
“In one month. Within one month, Ubers will be shaken so violently that people will start questioning whether it will survive.”
If that prediction proved true, Saudi Arabia—having purchased massive amounts of Ubers stock at its highest price—would become an object of global ridicule.
Just imagining it sent a chill down his spine, but the Crown Prince maintained a calm expression.
“People who sell insurance always preach the end of the world. That’s how they sell fear and make their money. So what if I choose not to believe your prophecy?”
Ha Si-heon simply shrugged.
“That’s your choice.”
It was unexpected. Such an indifferent response. The Crown Prince had anticipated a barrage of arguments, data, warnings about Ubers’ imminent collapse.
Yet Ha Si-heon stepped back so easily. Then he smiled. It was a smile that seemed to read the Crown Prince’s bewilderment perfectly.
“There is a saying in the East. ‘Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.’ If you cannot bring yourself to believe my words, then the only thing left is for you to witness it with your own eyes.”
There was something chilling in those words. As if, no matter how much the Crown Prince tried to deny it, the disaster was already on its way—inevitable, unavoidable.
“Then, I shall take my leave. I only hope it won’t be too late when we meet next.”
With those words, Ha Si-heon rose from his seat.
As the Crown Prince sat alone, struggling to shake off the unease creeping up his spine—
Ha Si-heon walked lightly down the palace corridor, humming to himself.
He had failed to persuade him...
‘But that was even better.’
There was no need to cling desperately.
In truth, it was far more advantageous for Ha Si-heon if the Crown Prince held out to the bitter end. Because the disaster he had foreseen was no bluff.
At that very time, Ubers was destined to be struck by a series of catastrophic events that would push it to the brink of collapse. Worse yet, these catastrophes were sensational—practically made for headlines.
‘Why waste such good material?’
If Saudi Arabia switched sides now, the reversal would be modest. But if they were forced to switch after every bomb had exploded—
The shock and drama would be unparalleled.
‘Originally, these events were supposed to happen one by one over six months…’
Each was a time bomb with a delayed trigger. But to Ha Si-heon, who already knew the exact location of all the fuses, they were nothing more than fireworks ready to be lit at his command.
Thus, only one task remained.
‘To make them step on the landmines one by one.’
Until Saudi Arabia had no choice but to come begging for that “insurance” themselves.
