Chapter 72: The Shadow of the Genovese

“Are you looking to acquire? At $60 per share,”

Anderson’s smile faded as he sipped his drink.

“Hey James, do we really have to talk about this today of all days?”

“I’m happy and thrilled too, but work needs to be done,”

Han Gyeong-yeong continued, a smile still on his face.

“The market closed at $57. If our shares get transferred to someone else, it could jeopardize Anderson’s control. That’s why I’m giving you this option. A $3 premium isn’t a huge amount, especially given the current atmosphere. Our boss is honoring the priority he promised.”

“Where’s Charlie?”

“The boss is busy.”

“Come on, where am I supposed to find that much money right now?”

Han Gyeong-yeong couldn’t make sense of Netscape’s unusual stock price.

It was a company that had never posted a loss. Yet, its market cap closed at $3.9 billion on its first day of trading.

“You should consider using the stocks you hold as collateral or find a way to buy them back. Even if you can’t buy them all, you need to defend your control,”

Anderson paused for a moment before responding.

“Just give me a few days. I’ll find the money, but I can only take half of it. I can’t manage the whole thing right now.”

“Understood. No matter what the share price is, it’s $60. If you break your promise because the price drops…”

Han Gyeong-yeong trailed off, but Anderson understood without needing to hear the rest.

“Got it. Thank Charlie for me, will you?”

“I’ll let the boss know. Should I look for a buyer for the other half?”

“I’ll handle that too.”

“Alright, then I’ll see you at the contract signing. And congrats again on Netscape’s successful IPO.”

“No need to see me off.”

Han Gyeong-yeong left with a smile, the once tense atmosphere slowly becoming lively again.

* * *

Though they had spoken a few times, this was the first time they were meeting face to face in quite a while.

Despite my investment, Pixar had yet to produce solid results.

“Charlie, it’s been a while!”

Steve greeted me warmly, someone else standing beside him.

As I glanced over, Steve introduced the person.

“This is Andrew Gigante, a businessman from New York I invested in when he was at Apple.”

The middle-aged man stood up and extended his hand.

“I’m Andrew.”

“Charlie,” I replied.

His face seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him.

I couldn’t remember who he was.

“I had to sit with you since you showed up unexpectedly. Hope that’s not a problem?”

“Of course not. Who doesn’t know Steve is always busy?”

Everyone took their seats, and food appeared as if Steve had ordered in advance.

“Did you come to the U.S. because of the Netscape IPO?”

Steve asked, munching on his salad.

“That, and to meet you. How’s Pixar doing?”

“We have a movie coming out soon, in collaboration with Disney. It’s called Toy Story.”

Toy Story was the film that would put Pixar on the map, just before it was on the verge of collapse.

“Oh! That’s great news! It’ll do well!”

“Aren’t you worried? You’re a valued Pixar shareholder too.”

“Like I said before, I invested in Steve Jobs, not just in you.”

Gigante remained silent, cutting his steak while listening to our conversation.

While talking to Steve, my mind kept drifting back to that man.

I was sure I’d seen him somewhere before…

“I don’t expect huge profits from an animated film, but it does hold the significance of being the world’s first fully computer-generated feature film.”

Steve’s words made me suppress a laugh.

It would become the highest-grossing film in North America in 1995.

With its release during the Thanksgiving season, it achieved long-term box office success, giving Steve the confidence to proceed with Pixar’s IPO just a week after the film’s release.

“It’s going to be a success.”

“I hope so. Honestly, I’m a bit drained right now.”

Though Steve was pushing forward, it was clear he was worried.

“Let me know anytime. I’m ready to invest if needed.”

“Haha, you’re a funny guy, as always.”

Steve turned to Gigante.

“Andrew, what do you think? Am I right?”

“Hmm…”

“You’re a fun guy. Definitely different from the old-timers on Wall Street, right?”

“I’d say so. If I were an investor, I’d never put my money into Pixar.”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Did I seem insincere?”

As I listened to their conversation, I studied Gigante’s face, trying to remember where I knew him from.

“By the way, how’s your father doing? I see his name in the news often.”

“It’s always like that. I don’t know why they keep bringing him up when he’s sick.”

“He’s helped many people, though I’ve never met him myself.”

“His health isn’t good, so he rarely meets anyone. Helping you was something I asked him to do.”

It seemed Andrew’s father had considerable influence in the U.S.

Wait, Gigante?

A name suddenly popped into my head.

Vincent Gigante!

He was known as the head of the Genovese Family, one of the five major families in New York.

His brother was a city councilman, while he himself was a powerful figure in the American Mafia with a strong voice on the Mafia Commission.

“His health fluctuates. Mental illness tends to be like that, doesn’t it?”

“True…”

Steve’s comment implied he’d received help from the Mafia… but it didn’t fully click.

I listened closely to their conversation, but it was challenging to gather more hints.

Just then, Steve’s phone rang.

“Excuse me for a moment, I need to take this call.”

Steve picked up his phone and stepped out, leaving just me and Gigante.

An awkward silence filled the space until Gigante spoke up.

“So you’re from a country called Korea?”

“Yes, do you know about Korea?”

“I don’t know much, but I’ve heard of it.”

Gigante scrutinized me as we spoke.

“What do you do in Korea? You look young, yet you seem to be investing a significant amount.”

“I run a family business.”

As I casually mentioned ‘family,’ his expression shifted slightly.

“Sorry, I have an important call.”

Just as Steve returned, perfectly timed.

Steve alternated between talking to me and Gigante.

After finishing our meal, we planned to meet again before heading back to Korea, but just then…

“Care for a drink?”

Gigante subtly asked me.

“Sure.”

We entered a nearby bar with Gigante.

The staff seemed to recognize Gigante and guided us to a private table.

It appeared Gigante was a regular here, as he didn’t even need to place an order before the staff left.

Once the staff was out of earshot, he broke the silence.

“Do you know anything about me?”

His direct approach prompted me to respond just as straightforwardly.

“At first, I was uncertain. I couldn’t be sure just from the name. But after listening to your conversation with Steve, I got the gist of it.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re Andrew Gigante, son of Vincent Gigante, the head of the Genovese Family, one of the five major families in the U.S., right?”

Just as a staff member returned with drinks, our conversation was briefly interrupted.

Once the staff’s footsteps faded, Gigante quietly picked up his glass, a chilling smile forming on his lips.

“Very few know the exact identity of my father, even the FBI only speculates. Yet you’re confident enough to call him the head of the family.”

“Everyone suspects, but it’s accurate to say they lack evidence.”

“Are you involved in similar activities?”

Involved in similar activities…?

The American Mafia was involved in anything profitable.

Especially since the Genovese Family was considered the rightful successor to the Luciano Family, they were a powerful organization.

Centered around New York, with influence extending into New Jersey, they operated in gambling and loan sharking, wielding considerable power over trucking and dock unions.

In the massive war against crime in the U.S. during the 1980s, Vincent Gigante, the current head of the Genovese Family, was the only boss among the Five Families to evade the law.

During the infamous Mafia Commission Trial of 1985, it was his underboss who was found guilty, while he remained in the shadows, orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.

“We’re in a similar line of business,” he remarked.

“So, there really is a Mafia in Korea, but it’s not quite the same as the gangs…”

The Mafia always stressed that they were distinct from mere gangs.

In my view, they weren’t all that different.

“Did Steve ever have dealings with the Mafia? It doesn’t seem like he would.”

“Not the Mafia, but I did help Steve a bit when he first started his business, since we were friends. That’s how our connection has lasted this long.”

When Steve founded Apple, it was a time when the Mafia had their hands in every lucrative venture.

Without the Mafia’s assistance, it would have been nearly impossible to manage distribution and sales, so it wasn’t surprising given the era.

It wasn’t anything particularly special, just a friendship.

I nodded, believing only about half of what he said.

“Is the man behind you one of your subordinates?”

Manager Ma stood behind me like a silent shadow.

“Subordinate? Let’s just say he’s my representative.”

“You subtly hinted that you know I’m connected to the Mafia, so it seems you have something to discuss with me.”

“It’s not urgent; I just thought it would be good for us to know each other. There are things I can’t say in front of Steve.”

“Of course, those things can’t be said in front of Steve.”

If there are ties to the New York Mafia, it would greatly benefit our business in the U.S.

Unlike in Korea, the Mafia hides well behind legitimate businesses, offering avenues for lobbying in political and governmental circles.

“You think knowing each other would be beneficial? What could the Mafia from a small Asian country possibly offer me?”

“The world is changing rapidly. The Mafia in Asia is not weaker than the New York Mafia. Just look at the Yakuza in Japan; they wield power similar to the American Mafia. The Chinese Triads and the Taiwanese gangs are just as formidable. I’m sure you know that.”

“Hmm…”

I raised my glass, showing I had no concerns. After all, I had nothing to lose.

Gigante, who had seemed hesitant, eventually nodded.

“Alright, let’s keep in touch. Whether it will benefit us remains to be seen, but I welcome a wealthy friend.”

“Hahaha.”

He was an honest man, someone with significant influence in the Mafia community. It was worth remembering him for future reference.

We spent hours drinking and discussing various topics, and he showed a keen interest in Korea.

As our enjoyable evening came to an end, he casually handed me a gift.

It was news that the FBI had been closing in on Vincent, accompanied by the name of an informant who broke the code of silence…

A gift to commemorate our new friendship.

In the end, Han Gyeong-yeong negotiated to sell our shares to Anderson and the investors he introduced for $55 a week.

He also brought capable stockbrokers and finance personnel from Wall Street into the company.

After the initial public offering of Netscape, which signaled the start of the dot-com bubble, the Nasdaq experienced an unprecedented boom until the early 2000s.

“For now, let’s invest all our funds in Dream High on the Nasdaq and make sure to keep an eye on the employees to find trustworthy individuals.”

“Okay.”

“Only my brother knows about the ghost company operations; the rest is left to the employees. I want the company to run smoothly without me. If there’s a manpower shortage, we should consider acquiring another investment firm.”

“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

“I trust you. Also, it seems you need a bodyguard, brother.”

Manager Ma stepped outside at my words.

Moments later, he returned with a man.

“This is Michael. He’s a veteran who worked with me at EO.”

“Michael, boss.”

“This is James, the boss. Since he’s an American, he’ll accompany you everywhere. Michael, this is your new boss. Treat him well.”

Han Gyeong-yeong looked a bit surprised by the mention of a bodyguard and seemed taken aback by Michael’s imposing figure.

“If anything happens to you, all my plans will fall apart. Always be careful and never go anywhere alone. Keep Michael with you at all times. This isn’t a request; you understand what I mean?”

Han Gyeong-yeong nodded at my words.

Perhaps it was my serious expression that kept him from arguing.

In the hotel room where Han Gyeong-yeong and Michael had just left.

“Is Michael trustworthy?”

“Yes, I worked with him at EO.”

EO, Executive Outcomes, was the best private military company existing at the time.

It was still before Blackwater was even established.

“Make sure he monitors and protects Han Gyeong-yeong properly. That $200,000 annual salary isn’t just for show. Let’s create a proper agency while we’re at it. Do you know anyone reliable?”

“I know an administrative expert at EO. He was my superior. I’ll propose it to him.”

“Let’s set up the headquarters in the U.S. and a branch in Korea since regulations are stricter there.”

“Sure, I’ll report back as soon as it’s ready.”

Before the proper PMCs emerged, I wanted to secure some manpower. Manager Ma’s connections from his mercenary days were proving invaluable.

On August 15, the demolition of the Joseon Governor-General’s Office was broadcast live in the U.S.

I watched on the hotel room TV as the spire of the Governor-General’s Office came crashing down, and I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about how the Cheongpung Group’s associates would feel.